Robotic Removal Of Umbilical Hernia Mesh Yes or No?

On Dec. 21st 2016 I had a small umbilical hernia repair and the doctor used a 4.5" round Vertralight ST mesh. I had no time to research anything about mesh implants as I went in on Monday and had the surgery done laparoscopically on Wednesday. I believe now my hernia could have been a watched one as I had virtually no pain and it was only a tiny bulge. At any rate the doctor's talk of strangulation, etc. scared me enough to jump at the chance to get it repaired sooner than later.

So day of surgery all appears to go well. However I was in the recovery room for 4 1/2 hours due to extreme pain. Once they let me go home it was the most horrific pain I'd ever been in but I figured it was just the usual post op stuff. When I went for my 10 day post op check I mentioned all this horrible pain and doc said I was just a slow healer. Nothing wrong with the mesh. Since I am allergic to most all pain meds I was doing this cold turkey...with nothing to help me.

Flash forward now a month and 1/2. Still in pain but not as bad. However instead of all the bad pain I now start swelling. I am a smaller frame lady of 5'2". Well I had to buy maternity pants to fit over my now huge abdomen and I started to get pulling, itching, burning and other odd feelings in my lower pelvis area and across abdomen. I called and finally got in to see the doctor and he says he wants a CT scan (no contrast as I am allergic to that too). I already had an ultrasound which showed nothing but a fatty liver which I've had for years. So I have the CT Scan of my abdomen and pelvis area and they see nothing amiss. No recurrent hernia, nothing appeared out of place or so they said. Yet I still have this HUGE belly and even walk like I'm pregnant.

Then my OB-GYN doctor orders a transvaginal ultrasound to look for signs of ovarian cancer. Nothing found. Everything normal. So I write my doctor and his nurse responds that the doctor would be willing to remove my mesh but he wants to use the DaVinci robotic method. I have been reading pros and cons all over the boards on this device and many are not good. I have no idea how many of these robotic surgeries he has performed and of course I will ask him when I go for the consultation appointment on April 13, 2017, about a week away. I am starting to notice more pain and I can barely touch around my belly button area anymore as it's so sore. I am quite sure I'm highly inflamed inside.

Personally I would prefer a laparoscopic removal without DaVinci due to the many colon perforations that seem to occur from that method. It's all about the doctor's ability and I realize that. So my question is have any of you had your hernia mesh removed robotically and how well did it go for you?? Would you recommend it for removal? How long were you in surgery? They say it takes a lot longer to do the Robotic way and you are under a lot longer. Not safe.

Also has anyone else experienced this extreme bloating that I now have? Have been on a 1200 calorie a day diet thinking that might help belly but no way! I am not sure if it's a bunch of fluid but something is keeping my weight way out of whack here compared to pre-surgery. No fevers as I take my temperature every day.

Especially interested if you have had an umbilical hernia like myself. I never had a hernia previous to this so all new to me. However I did have extensive scar tissue in the area due to a previous infection surgery I had in 2005.  I am just worried the mesh might be shrinking because the doctor used absorbable tacks to place it (2 rows) and I keep feeling tugs and pulls that are not pleasant.

Since it will soon be 4 months since I had this implant I really want it out as I know I am having an allergic reaction to the foreign body inside me. I just want to make the right decision as to HOW it is removed. I am in Southeast Wisconsin, near Milwaukee, in case anyone knows of a good hernia removal surgeon in our area. Would appreciate his or her name.

Thanks and hope to hear back soon!

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