I had a small hernia where they closed my ileostomy, it was repaired with an open procedure with mesh 5 weeks ago. Doctor used a porous polypropylene mesh. The incision healed nicely and saw him this morning for followup. He wants me back in 6 months. I still get some pulling pain throughout the day and sometimes it stabs with a sharp pain, but then I could go hours with no pain at all. Most of it is a few inches above and over from the incision site. Doc didn't seem to concerned about it. Said there is still tissue and muscle growing into the mesh to strengthen that area and then collagen as well. Said I will feel some discomfort from time to time for months and could be up to a year total. For you guys that have had this type of repair can I hear your recovery stories.. thanks
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Hi Poucho,
Well, it sounds pretty normal to me. I've had a few done and they all take time to settle in and get comfortable.
I remember the pulling and the feeling like there were staples digging into me. Occasional stabs that took my breath away.
A little stabbing pain around 1 site that still bugs me from time to time even now (3 yrs later)...but that could also be adhesions growing.
My personal rule is most pain within 6 months is normal (it was a hole in the muscle so it will take time to heal), fever & or nausea are not.
Any pain that prevents you from functioning normally is not. Occasional stabs are uncomfortable but par for the course.
I use heating pads, hot baths and massage with oil to help ease the swelling and stress in the areas as of 3 months post op...until then I grin and bear (bare?) it.
Sharon
thanks Sharon, the pain area is not at the hernia site though, its a few inches above and over. doc said that's the edge of the mesh, and I can feel it through my skin some nodules type bumps. Doc said I can feel that cuz I am thin and the mesh was an overlay repair so its just below the skin. I know I'm only 5 weeks out but always worried something is wrong. I notice the sharp pain the most after standing up from sitting at my desk or the toilet. besides that its barely noticeable. really hoping it subsides a little every day. I worry about infection or foreign body rejection. my doc said as long as no fevers shouldn't be concerned about infection. He said also that because its just under the skin, if infection was there it would be noticeable by sight? What about inflammation though?
Believe me, if you were rejecting the mesh, you'd know it. The pain would be constant, there would be redness and swelling, and you'd be physically ill.
It takes months for the scar tissue to settle in. I think you probably are nervous because Dr. Shen said he preferred IBD patients not have mesh repairs. He also prefers his patients not lift more than 25 pounds. These are perfect world wishes and all he wants is to erase any potential risk that he can. But, just because a potential risk is possible, it does not mean it is likely.
I seem to remember little stabs of pain here and there for up to a year. Plus, the incision itself was numb for longer than that.
Jan 
Poucho,
You are in a hypervigilant state right now, very conscious of what is going on in your body and everything that you feel.
You are still swollen, unhealed, settling in...nothing is healed int here and it is going to pull and sting with every effort.
That mesh is cultivating tissue and having things grow over it and into it...that hurts too...so don't worry too much...just give it time...
Like Jan said, you have been given warnings from the big boss and it has scared you...but don't worry, if something were truly wrong you would not need to ask the question, you would know!
Fever, vomitting, twisting knife in the gut pain, aching all over...all signs of a 'bad' problem...The rest is just discomfort until proven otherwise.
Sharon
thank you ladies.. everything you say makes sense. appreciate it always