To ask if anyone here has had hernia surgery?

[TatianaLarina]

If so - what type of hernia?
What type of surgery - mesh, non mesh?
What type of anaesthetic? Local/general?

Any problems etc?

Tia.

Twice. Descending Inguinal hernias - first one on the right 20 odd years ago, the second left 3 or so. General anaesthetic both times. No idea about the mesh.

I'm summoning up the courage to go back the doc's and tell her I buggered up the most recent one a few weeks after the op by lifting the innards of a washing machine I was fixing - but I've been too busy/tired/scared/guilty to admit it to anyone and get it sorted again.

That and my doctor will kick me up the bum for being stupid (and she will; she's a family friend as well as my GP).

Not be but my husband did. It was a hernia just above his belly button (sorry no idea what type!).

He had mesh, done by key hole surgery under general anaethestic.

He was in and out in an afternoon I dropped him off at 12pm and got a call to go for him at 4.30pm.

Recovery was fine - he had to take it easy for 2 weeks but was up and about the day after.

DM had keyhole surgery and mesh aged 82. Can't remember about the anaesthetic - I thought it might be local but overnight stay suggests otherwise.. Overnight stay then resting for a couple of days then we all forgot about it and she's been fine since!

I had surgery that left a gap in my abdominal wall. My repair was done using mesh across a large area and since recovery I’ve been physically strong enough to carry on as normal - lifting, carrying and doing yoga etc.
Initially the wound took a little while to completely heal and I had swelling due to extra fluid but that settled and it was well worth my having it done. There’s a risk with all surgery - the mesh doesn’t feel very deep but it would be difficult to remove; I’d be more circumspect about having it for vaginal repair etc. where it’s more embedded.

Ventral (incisional) hernia repair with mesh

Thanks everyone!

No-one seems to have had problems with the mesh.

I had an umbilical and an epic Astrid both fixed in one op with mesh. No problems so far and that was nearly four years ago now.

Surgeons highly recommend mesh, but some people do seem to have problems with it.

@LoudBatPerson can I ask about your epigastric hernia? I have discovered a lump in my abdomen high up left/middle in position. I'm waiting for an ultrasound and I'm scared it could be something sinister. How did your epigastric one present? Any symptoms? Where was your 'lump' ? I'd be grateful for any advice

@readyforchangenow I don't think I can really help. They discovered the epigastric one while doing the surgery for the umbilical one so fixed that one at the same time. I didn't know I had it until I came round.

I had an incisional hernia repaired last year, under GA, with a mesh and I was out of hospital the day after the surgery. I had 14 wounds and it was very painful for a good few weeks and I wasn't completely recovered for about 6 months but then I have had A LOT of abdominal surgery so its all a bit of a mess in there anyway! I didn't experience any problems with healing or with the mesh.

Surgeons highly recommend mesh, but some people do seem to have problems with it.

I believe it's one of those things that can depend on the skill of the surgeon. Also, I think there's more than one type of mesh?

I've had 3. Two femoral, one inguinal, mesh for one of them, ga for all of them. No problems at all.

Femoral and inguinal hernia repair done in 2014 under GA with an open incision and mesh.
Problems started almost immediately. Initially bloating and IBS type symptoms. Since then I have started getting migraines, floaters in my vision, leg pain and a host of other problems.
I suggest you look at the Facebook group Sling the Mesh or see if you can find the episodes of the Victoria Derbyshire programme about it.

I had surgery for an incarcerated umbilical hernia,7 years ago. It was done as an emergency. I had been in severe pain for 12 hours and kept vomiting,so I was taken to A and E. I had a CT scan which showed up the hernia. I was told that I may have to have the small section of bowel removed that had been 'strangulated',if it had become gangrenous due to the blood supply being cut off. If that was the case,they would have rejoined the section of bowel,which would have meant a longer recovery period. Thankfully,this wasn't the case.
It was done under a general anaesthetic,with mesh,and dissolvable stitches were used. When I came round,I was in quite a bit of discomfort in my abdominal area. I had 2 inscision wounds,next to my navel as it was performed by laparoscopy. I was in hospital for 2 days afterwards,and was able to have a shower the day I was discharged. I was discharged with a supply of dihydracodeine tablets for pain relief. I rested at home for 2 days,but by the third day was able to go out. I felt completely back to normal about 10 days after the operation,although I was advised to avoid any heavy lifting for 6 weeks.

I have! Incisional hernia on my abdomen (resulting from a prior keyhole surgery to remove an ovarian cyst)

It was a mesh, about 4inches Square

I had a week off work but it wasn't that painful - I just don't recover fast from GA. there was quite a bit of fluid build up afterwards but it dissipated within a month

I have a faint scar now, just above my knicker line. No twinges or anything.

Mesh has been used for hernia repairs for decades without any problems.

More recently mesh has been used in prolapse repairs and in this situation there have definitely been concerns. I wouldn’t have any hesitation at all about a mesh repair of a hernia, and I would refuse to have it with any gynae repairs.

I had an inguinal hernia. I also had mesh. Absolutely no issues whatsoever

I had mesh fitted in 1995 GA. absolutely fine

Ok thanks @LoudBatPerson

Anyone had an epigastric one they can offer an insight to?

Not me, but my husband is a veteran of multiple hernia repairs! He had a left inguinal hernia repair as a baby apparently (obviously I didn't know him then!). That recurred when he was in his teens and was repaired without mesh. Then he had a right sided inguinal hernia repaired without mesh that then recurred a decade later and was repaired with mesh. No problems with that one since. Then the left one recurred again about 6 years ago and was repaired laparoscopically with mesh. That has been ok since. Last year he had a paraumblical hernia that he was waiting for surgery for but it unfortunately strangulated in the interim and had to be repaired as an emergency. It was infected at the time so not suitable for a mesh repair but he was warned that he may well get a recurrence and need mesh putting in at a later date. I reckon they should just put one massive piece of mesh under his entire abdominal wall to save future bother actually.

Umbilical hernia, they fixed it at the same time as removing my gallbladder, a two for one offer - lol. They never told me whether it was mesh or other, but I assume from conversations that it wasnt mesh. Mines still ok 4 years later. Did have a bit of trouble with my bellybutton healing immediately afterwards but it healed ok after some TLC by the nurses at my local Dr's.

Because my hernia wasnt a concern as it was very mobile, they werent insisting I had it fixed, but when they found my gallstone a few months latter, I was in too much repeated pain to not get my gallbladder fixed and the Drs were keen to sort out the hernia as they had to operate in the general area using keyhole, so said they would fix that at the same time.

DH had a hernia repair. Mesh under GA, day surgery and no problems at all. He was off work for 2 weeks, but no complications. All has healed well.

Yep someone I know had mesh under general. They were incredibly sick shortly after and went to a&e after vomiting in excess of 20 times in 24 hours. Initially diagnosed as ileus by resus consultant (!), turned out the mesh had come away and part of the bowel had come through. As PP said bowel was strangulated and had emergency surgery to put back/cut off it it was dead. Very stressful and took a few weeks to recover. Sure you'll be fine but if you're sick at all get back to hospital and demand a scan.