Hernia Repair

Repondering

Repondering

Well-known Member
Location
Nebraska, USA
I've just been diagnosed with an inguinal hernia. It's not painful but there's a noticeable bulge in my groin. My regular doctor tells me it's not uncommon, it's easily repaired and has referred me to a surgeon. My first consult with the surgeon is in six days. OK, I've been reading up on this....there's mesh repair, old fashioned sutured repair, there are ssues like recurrence, mesh induced chronic pain, one's immune system can go into mesh induced constant 'alert', there are cases of patients feeling a 'foreign body' sensation due to the mesh.....I'm a little worried. Anybody have any experience or advice they'd be willing to share?
 

I wonder if there is a support you could wear, to be not as uncomfortable, for the present...
and then, perhaps that would help you to give yourself more time , and not feel rushed into a quick decision,
in order to investigate/learn, and decide what seems best for you.
If unsure, you could meet with more than one surgeon, or a different non-surgeon.

I would go to the appointment, with it set in my mind, not to make any decision on the spot.
My main focus would be that I am there to gather info, and ask what the pro's and con's are to each option, and what this doctor's suggestions are.
 
Had the mesh repair about 15yrs ago...bit sore for a few days, then ok..was keyhole surgery..best get it done or can become larger over time..just remember in the future don`t go lifting anything heavy!!
 

Ron had hernia repair last year. He had both an hiatal hernia and an inguinal hernia. It was outpatient surgery, done laparoscopically, three very small incisions, one for the naval, one for the groin, and one for the camera and instruments.

He had mesh reinforcement because the hernia was large..there was a very noticeable bulge in his groin, with pain. It's been a year, and he's has some discomfort in the last few weeks which sent us back to the doctor who reassured us that it wasn't a failed surgery, that there is sometimes some nerve irritation from the mesh or the scarring or both, and that it can happen with or without the mesh being involved. My internet research confirmed everything he said.

It hasn't been painful, just uncomfortable. The doctor said if it gets really bad, he can be referred to a pain management clinic, which isn't a pill dispensing place, but rather various therapies to minimize or eliminate the pain....physical therapy, site injections etc. My research also indicated that sometimes an inversion table can help. So we went and bought one, and he gets on that twice a day for 10 minutes. That's eliminated his discomfort almost completely, as well as helping his back too...his construction business sends him to the chiropractor once a month for maintenance.. massage and adjustment. Plus he wears his hernia truss when he's working just for the extra support.

This combination has been very successful for him. He seldom experiences even a mild discomfort now.
 
kburra said:
Had the mesh repair about 15yrs ago...bit sore for a few days, then ok..was keyhole surgery..best get it done or can become larger over time..just remember in the future don`t go lifting anything heavy!!
Click to expand...

Same here. I have had one on each side repaired with mesh and have not had a problem. I believe they were 6 and 7 years ago. You will need to take it easy for a few days after the surgery.
 
I had my hemmroid surgery . no problem with that. I had to have a caethter in for almost three weeks. OUCH! Got it out today . Now I'm scheduled for a hernia surgery in two weeks. the surgery is robotic. I am mainly concerned that I will have the same thing happen. Cath. I have meetings with both these docs to see what they come up with. i don't think i can take another cathter again!!
 
The hernia repair won't be the issue it's your health. The older the patient the more risk with or without surgery. I've known people who had complications and others just as old sailed through with flying colors.

Everyone was told after a certain point as a senior it's best to wait until absolutely necessary. But that's not good either because fluids can back up and start to affect breathing among other things.

I'd say do what ever you can now to work on your health and fitness then consider getting it done.
 
Bumping an old thread rather than starting a new one. My double hernia has been giving me some serious grief of late. Abdominal swelling on both sides, then, painful and worrying, a large swelling in my scrotum.
My appointment with the surgeon is not until September 9th, so following my wife's advice I made an appoinment to see my doctor. (In the UK we call them GP's, General Practioner.) Being a female doctor she asked if I would prefer one of her male colleagues, or maybe, a chaperone. Not at all, I'm not embarrassed. She pushed the swelling in the scrotum and it went back in, abdominally. "It's definitely the hernia," she reassurred me, "your surgeon will repair that."
Knowing of my concern, she said that the lump wouldn't have moved when she pushed, had it been a tumour. Without me saying she instinctively knew that testicular cancer was my main concern.
So glad that I have found this old thread, the comments are all very helpful indeed. Nothing much that I can do now but wait until my appointed time.
 
I have a groin hernia that gives me big trouble during digestion or when I'm moving around. I use a hernia belt when it gets aggressive or painful or I have serious work to do.
Although hernias don't heal by themselves, but only worsen, I have no intention of such a drastic measure as surgery at this time.
:) We have to die of something. We can't just lie around dying of nothing
 
gruntlabor said:
Although hernias don't heal by themselves, but only worsen, I have no intention of such a drastic measure as surgery at this time.
:) We have to die of something. We can't just lie around dying of nothing
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This hernia is giving me enough grief that if my surgeon suggests a general anaesthetic, with all the risks associated with old age, I will still go for the surgery. Chances are though, it will be done keyhole and I will be home, same day.
 
This otherwise healthy, fit, 76 year old, on May 1, 2025, had successful Direct left inguinal hernia mesh surgery at the Kaiser Permanente Hospital in Santa Clara. Now 3.5 months later, am fully recovered. Three weeks ago, this 137 pound person returned from a 6 day backpacking trip carrying 59 pounds. Have also been dynamically dancing for hours weekly. I was quite afraid of undergoing general anesthesia given my neuroscience background, but my experience having the surgery was excellent. I had been using a hernia truss brace the last 3 years but the internal tear intestines gravity protruded through was becoming larger.
 
Repondering said:
I've just been diagnosed with an inguinal hernia. It's not painful but there's a noticeable bulge in my groin. My regular doctor tells me it's not uncommon, it's easily repaired and has referred me to a surgeon. My first consult with the surgeon is in six days. OK, I've been reading up on this....there's mesh repair, old fashioned sutured repair, there are ssues like recurrence, mesh induced chronic pain, one's immune system can go into mesh induced constant 'alert', there are cases of patients feeling a 'foreign body' sensation due to the mesh.....I'm a little worried. Anybody have any experience or advice they'd be willing to share?
Click to expand...
I had the mesh ... no problems ... may the same result for you
 
A week ago a good friend of mine died from a hernia he had ignored for years. He ended up calling 911 because he was so sick and unfortunately the hernia had gotten infected and he died of sepsis five days later.

I've had inguenal hernia repair on each side, most recent this past spring, both were mesh repair as well as suturing tissue back tight. Recovery was as expected, couple days of discomfort then everyday gets a bit better day by day.
 

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