Hernia repair & mesh

Scrap girl,
I've had 5 repairs thus far...the first 3 were normal repairs, open surgery, without mesh...obviously they did not hold. The last 2 were done through laporoscopy with a mest repair (peristomal hernia, incisional hernia, old stoma site...you got the idea, practically the whole abdomen)...they have all held so far (knock wood)...the surgery was easier too, only 2 nights in the hospital, short run on anesthetic and a much easier recovery...but inspite of it all, I was still very careful for 12 months...I learned my lesson after the first 3 disasters.
Hope that this helps
Sharon

Im getting a lapro hernia repair with mesh done next Wednesday! another surgery oh boy I cant wait

Good Luck Jennifer,
Let us know how you do...
Sharon

thanks! Im just ready to get it over with at this point so I can try to move on with life.

My C/R surgeon did my hernia repair surgery too and used mesh. I had a large hernia. I still get some pain around my belly button and the last hernia surgery was 15 months ago. Sorry you have to have another surgery.

I had lapro incisional hernia repair with mesh about 2 1/2 years ago. About 15 months ago I developed Pyoderma Gangrenosum on my shins. Was this related to the mesh? I have no idea, but keep in mind, mesh is a foreign substance and can trigger autoimmune reactions. There have been many other problems related to surgical mesh. Just do a google search.
I would be interested to know if any other j-pouchers have developed PG after mesh implants.

gulp, that's scary!

My surgeon warned me that it could be rejected by my body and that the surgery to remove it was really 'hard'...but that it was very rare and he had never had to do it to a patient. It has been 2yrs so far and I am happy (he did quite a few sites in there)...a bit scary at first with all of the warning but it was worth it.
Sharon

If you can do it without the mesh please be careful and do not lift, pull, bend or anything to put pressure to the area. I couldn't even lift my cat as he was too fat.

Catinthehat,
I love your screen name.
You make a good point anything foreign in our bodies can be potential trouble. I'm so sorry you developed another problem. Do or did you have surgery to remove the mesh? Can they even do it?

My dad had hernia repair surgery and a year or so later needed open heart surgery. As a result of that surgery his mesh is busted up and it looks like he has an Alien ready to pop out of the right side of his abdomen

I had it done with mesh in an open surgery, it is usually done out patient. If laparoscopic they usually make you stay for a day or two. The repair seems really good but I will tell you that the surgical pain was really bad. Make sure they give you some powerful meds if you go home after surgery, I had Percocet. That said I recovered quickly the pain abated and I can do do anything.

Toughenough,
No, I still have the mesh and the PG. I don't know if the mesh and PG are connected, just a suspicion. I have read that about 5% of UC people get PG. I'm on Pred. and Azathioprine which have helped but not totally healed it. There are also a couple creams that I use when it gets worse.

Hi! Thought I'd post an update. I went in 4 days ago for lapro hernia surgery with mesh. The doc said he put in a 12 cm mesh patch with 4 cm extra all around. He said he screwed it through the muscle and tacked it in between. I was worried about getting up to go to the bathroom because of my j pouch however my bowels fell asleep. I threw up for the first two days. Was in the hospital wed, thurs, fri, and got out sat morning. I would say the pain was pretty bad but not as bad as my colectomy. I ended up with 12 incisions and 28 staples. My husband is calling me "frankin-tummy" just in time for Halloween! lol.

Wow! Did your surgeon but stock in the staple company? 28 staples????
I had 3 idy-bidy mini holes that he didn't even suture...just stuck a couple of steri strips onto them and sent me home. I think he hid one in my belly button too.
So how are you feeling today? Have you been able to evacuate the gas yet? That was the worst part...Trying to find a way to get the hot air out of me...I looked 18months pregnant with twins for a week. I swear that the gas was migrating into my shoulders and down my arms some days.
Heating pads, hot baths, very slow walking all helped...now it is time to be very kind and gentle with yourself...
Sar

My mum had a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm last December - and despite being 86 years old - survived the near 7 hour operation (with 17 units of blood) the repair was done with mesh - and the wound was vacuum dressed taking over 8 months to heal - just as it healed the edges of the scarred areas started to split, top and bottom - so at the age of 87 my mum has two exposed areas of mesh - the body is rejecting it. The surgeon isn't worried though (just keep it covered so it doesn't catch on clothing is the only instructions)he said that the operation to remove the mesh (the only alternative) would be too big a job - almost as big an op as the original.

yes, he was staple happy! I think it's because he knows all my other wounds opened wide up after surgery?? I had terrible gas pain after the colectomy but zero pain / bloating after this one? Go figure!

correction, zero shoulder pain. I had plenty of pain but I dont think it was gas pain.

You had a big hernia too. My surgeon opened up my surgical incision all the way to do the hernia mesh surgery and I woke up with around 14 staples and one incision. It sounds like he needed to cut you open more too. I had to stay over in the hospital 3 nights and was planning on less than 24.

Did they put an abdominal wrap on me and I wore it for a few months. I don't know why they didn't have me use one after the surgeries.