Open incisional hernia

Hi everyone today is the day I'm absolutely terrified about what's going to happen I will be heading to the hospital at 6.30 and just feel so anxious I could be waiting all day to depending on where I am on the list and il be stuck on my own from the minute I arrive as family or my husband are not allowed to wait. I keep wondering if I'm doing the right thing but then I was doubled over again last night and think planned surgery has to be better than emergency surely. Anyway il update asap xxxx

Hi ladies hope your all well? I had my surgery on Wednesday was in theatre just over 4 hrs I came round in a lot of pain which was quickly sorted out. I also have 3 drains a catheter and a drip I won't lie it's been a very rough few days with pain hot flushes and sickness I've had to have 3 diffrent types on antisickness including iv and various pain Meds it's feels like my st9mach is much to full they did an xray that showed lots of gas so they encouraged me to walk which I did and gave me latulose this has decided to be very over effective and I have been up and down all night to the loo. I've not eaten since Wednesday as I just can't manage it i hope it gets easier everyone 😷😪

Hi /vicky glad to hear the worst bit is over, well done.  I gave up on all the meds, as the anti sickness drugs made me worse, the painkillers made me sick, didnt have lactolose.  Just a drip and the antibiotics were put directly into the wound by my surgeon, with 4 drains to take them away.  I dont recommend not having painkillers, its just that I brought them striaght back up so no point for me, good idea if you can tolerate them.  Getting better for me was a slow painful process, but from what I have read many people recover far more quicklythan me.  Rest as much as possible, i wish you a speedy recovery

Hi Vicky, this sounds horrible, but you do know it will get better soon.....baby steps everyday.  What they all told me is walking gets your system moving quicker so you have to keep walking.  The doc should have also given you stool softeners. It took 5 days for my bowls to move and felt like I was exploding. 

So I am in California.  I find it interesting that you all had drains.  After my first surgery in the Azores from a ruptured appendix and sepsis, I had a catheter, side drain and nose drain.  I had no drains in either surgery in U.S.  My last surgery on May 24 was 5 hours both open and lapriscopic inserting a large mesh.  Instead of drains, they put you in a binding to keep the fluids down. I wore this day and night for about 10 days.  Then I wear it only in the day for both support and fluid buildup for another 10 days. It appears both can work. 

So I am much better now.....6 months later.  I never thought I would really get better.  No ab pain but still feel semiobstruction issues from scar tissue. I hope this will pass as well.

the other issue is weak ab muscles.  That made my osteoarthritis much worse in my back. The back spasms were horrendous. The MRI Scan show extremely weak muscles in the back. I am on medication and working with a trainer for back strengthening along with a steroid injection in my back.  It is better. 

We just can't sit around for as long as necessary without other issues setting in. 

Vicky, the worst in behind you.  Yes there will be many rough days still too come so do something creative.  I knitted and did a lot of Ancestry research. I too am English and Scottish. From the Kent area and Lenark, in the Glasgow area. 

Take care, Vicky and keep in touch. 

Hi everyone I am now at home after 9 days only because the surgeon agreed being in hospital wasn't helping as I was getting no sleep and getting quite stressed she agreed to let me home with open access to the ward and an understanding that if things don't improve I will go back. I also have to see my gp tomorrow and Thursday to get my blood pressure checked as it's causing concern it's been around 95/66 so quiet low really. I also have a urine infection so have to get that checked again tomorrow as it still hasn't settled. I am still extremely sore and find its causing me pain in my back when I'm walking/standing? I keep telling myself it's still early days sorry to go on hope your all ok? Xx

Hi Vicky gald to hear you are home much better place to recover.  In my experience it does take much longer than the 5 weeks the medics talk about to recover from a hernia repair.  It took me months, so very early days for you, but sounds like you still need medical assistance with your infection and concerns for your bolld pressure.  Do take care and hope all settles down for you.  

Hi everyone thought I'd stop by and give an update hope your all well. Things are not going great I've been on antibiotics for 3 weeks as I have a kidney infection that doesn't want to go. I'm also still very sore and bruised from the op itself and have a very odd thing happening. Where I had a drain keeps puffing up as the day goes on then becomes tender to touch but twice now when I've got up the next day the area has almost sucked in and left an indent but then through the day blown back up and now it just seems to stay as a lump by where the drain was? Also my blood pressure is still low I'm finding it tough right now as feel the hospital have just sent me home an left me to it they knew I had a infection an didn't treat it that's why my gp is struggling to get rid of it I'm very lucky my gp is good. Hope to feel more like myself soon x

Hi Vicky so sorry to hear about your complications,  it is a difficult time anyway just after surgery even if everything is straightforward.  Hope you have people around you to help, it does take a long while to recover, rest as much as you can and take care.  

Hi everyone Happy new year to you all hope you had a lovely Christmas. I ended up at the local walk in centre xmas eve with a kidney infection again I have had it since 14th November and been on antibiotics since 21st November I now have an urgent appointment with a urologist on Thursday to see what's going on. On top of that I've not had my 6 week post op check as she's running behind I still have a bulge where drain was and since I've been doing more my pain has increased and I feel like I have a twisting pain on the left part of my tummy I'm scared it's another hernia but until I see surgeon nobody can tell me what's normal or not it's so frustrating x