Posted , 7 users are following.
Hi I go for my incisional hernia on the 6 th july three days away, I am very nervous after reading the bad experiences on here :{ which is very sad for the people involved but i don't want to feel gloom and doom before i go into hospital is there any people who have experienced Successful operations please Sue
1 like, 34 replies
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TheToad sue38973
Posted
Yes. My hernia was large from an incision just below my sternum to about my belly button. (I don't have one now!) They sewed in a 'dinner sized plate of mesh' and apart from a bulge which they informed me was fat, I've had no problems. Surgery was over 2 1/2 years ago. Yours is possibly not so large? Best wishes and let us know how you get on.
sue38973 TheToad
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Aw thank you john yes mine seem quite large it from a bowel op i had last november i'm so pleased to hear you have had no problems I will keep you informed thank you and best wishes to you too
TheToad sue38973
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Thank you. Mine was from a bowel op as well but they didn't repair the hernia for quite a while after it was first seen, so it just got bigger and bigger. Going to bed now, looking forward to your happy future posts after the op!
phil17356 sue38973
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Hi Sue,
I had a bowel resection at the end of November 2015 due to having a twisted gut. However after a few days in the critical care unit I developed an infection in the wound. They opened up about half the incision and packed it with Aquacel until the wound healed from the inside out after about 4 weeks.
After the wound had healed up nicely and a few weeks/months later, at least by April 2016, I noticed a swelling that gradually got worse. Obviously I went to my GP and he said I'd got an incisional hernia. After some griping and pressuring of my GP he eventually referred me to Mr. Borley at Cheltenham for a repair.
I did a lot of research on incisional hernia repairs and was extremely concerned about the use of a mesh. Search on this forum for comments by Shirley123 and have a look at the Dutch TV programme that she talks about (Radar) in thread “Laparoscopic incisional hernia repair” started by Selphie85. It's very worrying; having said that John seems to be fine, so I guess luck come in somewhere.
The incision point for the majority of ventral procedures, like the procedure I underwent to resolve my twisted gut, is in the midline, through the fascia of the rectus abdominis which I think is the called the Linea Alba, a tough fibrous structure that runs north-south of the abdomen. It is the point where all three of the aponeurosis (similar to the tendons elsewhere in the body that join muscles to bones) of the underlying three abdominal muscle layers join. It is this that is gaping open.
Mr, Borley said he would recommend using a Component Release technique (referred to as CST in the states) which involves freeing one of the abdominal muscle layers from it’s anchor point in the flank. By releasing one of the muscle layers from it’s anchor point on the skeleton it relieves (hence component “release”) the stress on the hole in the Linea Alba and allows it to be drawn back together and sutured. No mesh would be used. This is a much more complex procedure and requires experienced surgeons. I realised afterwards that Mr. Borley was approaching this as abdominal reconstruction of my core muscles rather than merely a hernia repair.
I had the op on the 4th of May this year. I have had very little pain and I’m healing nicely. I’ve had a follow up consultation with Mr. Borley and he seems happy although there is a little weakness at the top of the wound which we are keeping an eye on. I think I may have overstressed the repair very early on by sneezing but there’s not much you can do about that!
Mr. B did suggest that I continued to wear my support belt if I’m intending to do anything heavy’ish and I thihk I’ll take it very easy for maybe 6 months. I am currently having physio including pilates to strengthen my core muscles.
So as far as I am concerned, at this stage, the procedure has been successful and I’m hoping for a full recovery …….. in time.
Hope that helps.
Phil.
sue38973 phil17356
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judith14588 sue38973
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I have reported a few times on this. My first incisional hernia surgery was without a mesh and it didn't work. 6 months later I went back for another 5 hour surgery where a mesh was inserted. It work too months of recovery. My Colorectal surgeon implored me not to work during this time. It takes time for the mesh to grow into your other tissue. A year and 2 months later the mesh is holding fine with no complications. 4 months after the mesh surgery I thought I should be completely better. I had mesh pain now and again that wasn't horrible. My Doc said that I had 3 surgeries in the same location and that it would take 6 months before I am completely healed. He was right. Here is the main thing; do exactly what your doctor says to do about rest and lifting. You need to heal properly.
sue38973 judith14588
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Hi Judith thank you very much I do not intend to work for two months , I do think I went vsck to soon after my first op and I know I did to much lifting. I'm so please you feel better now sue
raybar sue38973
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sue38973 raybar
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Thank you raybar I'm hoping things work out as well two days to go
sue1155 sue38973
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Hi Sue,
I don't know where to write this so I put incisional hernia in the search box and your comment came up.
I had half my stomach removed 12 months ago, several months ago I noticed a lump just above my belly button, it is an incisional hernia that has got bigger and at times is painful.
This morning I woke at 5am with a very painful stomach where the hernia is, the pain went through to my back, the pain didn't go away and around 9am I was vomiting, 6 times actually and twice there was no warning, it just seemed to fly out of my mouth. Not pleasant.
I don't know if it's symptoms of the hernia or if maybe it was food poisoning as I had a frozen pizza last night that had beef on it, something I don't normally eat as since the removal of half the stomach, I'm only suppose to eat very small meals and eat them slowly, I mean to the point they become cold.
I feel a lot better now, 3.5 hours after I vomited last. Still slightly painful.
Does anyone know if it was complications with the hernia, if the pain would go away? Or does the pain stay. My stomach is also very bloated and been that way for months, so bloated I no longer have a belly button, it looked very weird after the operation last year anyway and has now ended up flat.
I have an appointment with a specialist in 2 weeks time, but I have been told that the waiting list in Australia for hernia operations can be up to 2 years.
I can't help but think I did this to myself as after the stomach operation I went back to doing everything as I used to, housework, lifting heavy thing, even lifted my 38 kilo dog off the bed once, taking him for walks where he constantly pulled and lunged forward.
Good luck with your operation Sue, do you know how long you'll be in hospital for?
Sue.
sue38973 sue1155
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go back to your doctor if you are in pain i hope this gets resolved for you
sue1155 sue38973
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Thanks Sue,
Wow, 2 days? That's great, I was getting worried as I had read some people stay in for weeks.
The pain is hardly there now, maybe it WAS food poisoning, I haven't eaten anything all day though but if it starts I will go to the doctor and will also start my own discussion.
Thanks for your quick reply Sue and I hope everything goes really well, looking forward to you telling everyone how you got on.
Take care.
Sue
sue38973
Posted
Well it's 9.30 pm op done by 5.30 the surgeon said I will need to stay 4 days the night nurse just said no way you will go home with drains in 70 miles as they have othapedics who need the bed and who is this sugeon any way she doesn't know him I am very worried now
TheToad sue38973
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Glad it's all over, but you don't need the stress as well! I'm sure the confusion will be sorted quite soon. Try not to worry, (easily said, I know.)
sue38973 TheToad
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Well feeling better this morning the nurses in charge of the ward still came and said I'm going home so I told them that I live 70 miles away and can't pop back to have my drains removed in a few day. And the surgeon who did this op insisted that it was a complicated and large hernia and I needed to stay here for a least 4 days ( not the two as mention with my first visit). I think the nurses are you to normal hernias. Any way they found my a room but they are not happy , but I don't want a reacurance and I pleased I spoke up
TheToad sue38973
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judith14588 sue38973
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In the U.S. the nurse doesn't get to say if you stay or go. The surgeon has the full authority on this. She is just being a bit bitchy. They should also have you up and walking around before you leave.
My hernia surgery was a difficult 5 hour surgery. I was supposed to go home in 2 days but I couldn't get up and walk. I was able to go home in 3 days. No one hassled me.
It is great you can stay. You need the extra care.
sue38973 judith14588
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Well it's now Sunday I still have the drain but not much pain did anyone on here have a drain and for how long thanks
phil17356 sue38973
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After my recent hernia repair Ihad two drains. These stayed in for 5 days but they taught me how to correctly measure the amount of fluid drained drained per day and let me go home after two days as long as ikept a record.
The criteria for taking the drains out was when the amoun t drained stabilized at, irthink it was 80ml. and for me that was after 5 days.
hope that helps.
Regards
Phil
phil17356
Posted
oops ... sorry about the typing ....I'm feeling sifficiently recovered to do more exercise so went for a cycle ride yesterday .... fell off the bike almost straighaway and sprained my right wrist (or maybe chipped a bone ... but don't let my partner know i think that!!) boy, does it hurt, and possibly cracked a rib ..... hey, ho, you justy have to keep pushing the envelope but not put strain on the repair
sue38973 phil17356
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Thanks phil well the consultant hasn't been in touch yet so I'm waiting to hear , but I am glad you are feeling up to a bit of exercise but cracking a rib on a Bike ? Was that a tad too much I hope your ok, you Did tell yourself to take it easy so take it easy
I'm having a few weeks if work I'm not going back till it feels right. Take care
judith14588 sue38973
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I had a drain int he Azores after my appendix rupture surgery for quite a few days.
TheToad sue38973
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Yes, I had two drains at home. I had to carry things around when I walked. Of course, I forgot one day and wondered what was dragging behind me on the carpet. The tubes disconnected and there was some cleaning up to do, but the District Nurse came when I rang and put everything back together. I don't remember how long I had them.
sue38973 TheToad
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phil17356 sue38973
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Hi Sue,
I fashioned a sort of papoose out of a pillow case into which the drains went and a piece of string which acted like a sling which I wore over my shoulder.
re my "fall": the pain in the ribs and elsewhere subsided pretty quickly with the exception of my right wrist which got so painful my partner took me to A&E at 11 last night ...... turns out I have a fracture of the scaphoid bone in my hand .... now have my right arm n plaster for I dunno how long .... so ecercise is out for a while!