Hernia Repair Experiences

[insert_8]

The doctor says I have an "Inguinal Hernia" and surgery in the near future is the only effective way to go. I don't doubt that diagnosis - I can see what's happening down there, and it's rather painful.

For other guys who have had this procedure - I'd appreciate hearing your comments on the experience. Write anything you feel is worth mentioning. The preparation - surgery itself - recovery and recuperation. Was it effective? Unexpected side effects? How long until you were back to normal?

Thanks for your comments!

 

[avg1000]

No big deal at all your out a day

 

[Scarletbegonia]

My sweetie had this done in September. Internal mesh, dual hernias. One recent (july, iirc), one several years old.
outpatient.
I dropped him off at 9:30 am, got a few ingredients for dinner, had it made by the time I picked him up.
He was little out of it from narcotics, but never took the script he filled.
He may have been a bit groggy the next morning, as he fell and broke his leg in two places.
Obviously, this messed with his recovery, especially the lifting limits. So, unintentionally non compliant.
A recent check up says all is good. Extra swelling that won’t be checked until the six month mark, as swelling is expected.

OTOH, our friend was hiking day five post op, running day 10, and in Arches hiking day 15.
My sweetie is 68, our friend 72 or so.
Friend credits being in shape to start as his secret.

 

[socalfreak]

I had mesh implanted to deal with an umbilical hernia over a decade ago.
Post of was no big deal.
Didn't need pain meds for it.
Watched TV from the couch for a day.
Back at work & normal life in less than a week.
And, the mesh hasn't been an issue.

 

[insert_8]

No big deal at all your out a day

A recent check up says all is good.

our friend was hiking day five post op, running day 10, and in Arches hiking day 15.
My sweetie is 68, our friend 72 or so.

Back at work & normal life in less than a week.

Thanks for the encouraging responses!

I had surgery today (Saturday). My diagnosis was at 5:00 PM on Monday. At 10:00 AM on Tuesday, the hospital was on the phone asking if I could have surgery on Saturday, in a time slot that opened up. The rest of Tuesday was a whirl of appointments with the surgeon, anesthesiologist, cardiologist, labs, and covid tests. From Tuesday through Friday my condition varied, but trending toward increased pain and discomfort.

I was a few minutes early for my 8:00 AM appointment, got ready, then waited an hour and a half. Went to the operating room at 10:00 AM, and was discharged about 1:15 PM. (The surgeon told me on Tues there was a 50/50 chance I'd be home by noon.)

The surgery was a classic (not laprascopic) incision under general anesthesia and a mesh patch was placed.

Now I'm sitting here with a bag of frozen vegetables on my groin, serving as an ice pack. I'm waiting for some synthetic heroin to take full effect so I can get back to sleep.

I was in definite pain when I woke up this morning and I hurt a bit more now, but it's a different kind of pain and, of course, I expect things to improve over the next day or so.

Friend credits being in shape to start as his secret.

I am 69. While I am active and not obese, I'm not exactly "in shape". During one of the screening interviews the nurse asked about my exercise routine. I said that, weather permitting, I tried to walk 2 - 3 miles, two or three times a week . . . but most of my exercise came from beating around the bush, dodging questions, and jumping to conclusions. She broke out into laughter and said that very few people at the hospital had told any jokes for the last few months. I think the virus situation has all the medical folks in the region a little bit on-edge.

 

[Capitolhillguy]

I had two. The one 27 years ago was an ordeal. The one 10 years ago was a piece of cake. I avoid lifting things over 30 lbs. now as I think I am prone to them.

 

[Scarletbegonia]

Thanks for the encouraging responses!

I had surgery today (Saturday). My diagnosis was at 5:00 PM on Monday. At 10:00 AM on Tuesday, the hospital was on the phone asking if I could have surgery on Saturday, in a time slot that opened up. The rest of Tuesday was a whirl of appointments with the surgeon, anesthesiologist, cardiologist, labs, and covid tests. From Tuesday through Friday my condition varied, but trending toward increased pain and discomfort.

I was a few minutes early for my 8:00 AM appointment, got ready, then waited an hour and a half. Went to the operating room at 10:00 AM, and was discharged about 1:15 PM. (The surgeon told me on Tues there was a 50/50 chance I'd be home by noon.)

The surgery was a classic (not laprascopic) incision under general anesthesia and a mesh patch was placed.

Now I'm sitting here with a bag of frozen vegetables on my groin, serving as an ice pack. I'm waiting for some synthetic heroin to take full effect so I can get back to sleep.

I was in definite pain when I woke up this morning and I hurt a bit more now, but it's a different kind of pain and, of course, I expect things to improve over the next day or so.


I am 69. While I am active and not obese, I'm not exactly "in shape". During one of the screening interviews the nurse asked about my exercise routine. I said that, weather permitting, I tried to walk 2 - 3 miles, two or three times a week . . . but most of my exercise came from beating around the bush, dodging questions, and jumping to conclusions. She broke out into laughter and said that very few people at the hospital had told any jokes for the last few months. I think the virus situation has all the medical folks in the region a little bit on-edge.

My guy cracked jokes left and right. I warned them all he was a huge flirt.
We were lucky, and I was in the room up to 12 hours a day, and often they’d “forget” I was there til midnight. More compliant patient.
Once home, his leg PT interfered with his rules from the hernia surgeon. He’s had to use his abs to navigate the house.

 

[lv3500]

Had surgery 3 years ago (Shouldice technique) and been alright since I'm pretty active and waiting to get surgery was the biggest frustration. Remember being on vacation and not being able to walk long distances or stand without pain which ruined some parts of it.

The actual surgery was fine - done first thing in AM and was out in the afternoon (was done in Hospital under general anesthesia - not at Shouldice). The first couple days were the worst for pain (shuffling around the house lol) and got progressively better each day.

Will eventually need the other side repaired in the future (when things get worse)

 

[insert_8]

This is the first I have heard of the "Shouldice technique". The hospital that developed it seems to have an extraordinary reputation for its effectiveness!

My surgeon has not mentioned any future surgeries, at the same location or the other side, except to say that re-occurrence at the same location is less than 5% over 10 years.

Other than those two observations . . . . your experience was the same as mine! That includes not just frustration, but increasing pain and discomfort over the two weeks between my discovery of the hernia, and my surgery. My post-surgery pain and discomfort was not bad immediately after surgery, but became significant during the second 24 hours. Or perhaps 30 - 54 hours after surgery. By the sixth day after surgery I was essentially pain-free, and had no need for acetaminophen much less the oxycodone prescription they gave me. Nine days after, at the post-surgery checkup, the surgeon re-iterated "Nothing strenuous - no lifting - no carrying - for a month.", Otherwise I am free to do anything that doesn't hurt, though I still have sensations of tugging or stretching when I bend or twist at the hips..

 

[MarcoJock]

I’ve always found the hernia repair scar on a hot guy to be kind of sexy.

 

[deleted1025121]

I had an inguinal hernia repair done in 2004. I was only 33yo and it was miserable. I was literally off my feet for like 3 days. And the next two weeks I was in such pain it was terrible. I had the mesh put it and about 6 months later I developed gastro issues. They though maybe infection but wasn't sure. Since that time I have been diagnosed with Crohn's Disease that they believe might have been triggered by the surgery, introduction of bacteria or all the complications from the mesh that was used at that time. Still to this day it gets numb down in this area.

Fast forward to this past week. I lifted something too heavy and I felt a strain down there in the exact same place. Now I fear I have busted something. Its in that same area and I'm seeing the doctor tomorrow to see if I might have another rupture. So I'm scared to death.

Hopefully your procedure and aftermath went well and still no complications. My surgery changed my life forever with the development of Crohn's. I should have joined that class action lawsuit against the mesh, but I really had no idea about it back then. I certainly hope technology has improved since 15 years ago.

 

[snowman 1234]

Have had three inguinal hernia repairs . First one I was off work 6 weeks , five of them in a lot of pain . It broke open a year later, back to the local hospital to try again . More successful so far , but off work another six weeks . As luck would have it , the other side developed a hernia a few years later . I was talking to a sales rep , he told me he had other clients who had gone to Shouldice Hospital - good , fast recovery . I made my way to Toronto mid December , saw the doctors and was booked for early April the next year . I was instructed to be at a specific weight - meant I had 4 months to drop 20 pounds . When I went to my room , the guy across the hall said he had had a double hernia repair - 2 surgeries in 2 days . He was walking like nothing had happened . I could not believe it . My surgery was done with local freezing and some valium . Next day we were required to go to the cafeteria for breakfast , then show up for exercise class at 10:00 , and to keep mobile during the day . Two days later I was discharged , train back home . I was back at work full time 2 days later

 

[lv3500]

I had an inguinal hernia repair done in 2004. I was only 33yo and it was miserable. I was literally off my feet for like 3 days. And the next two weeks I was in such pain it was terrible. I had the mesh put it and about 6 months later I developed gastro issues. They though maybe infection but wasn't sure. Since that time I have been diagnosed with Crohn's Disease that they believe might have been triggered by the surgery, introduction of bacteria or all the complications from the mesh that was used at that time. Still to this day it gets numb down in this area.

Fast forward to this past week. I lifted something too heavy and I felt a strain down there in the exact same place. Now I fear I have busted something. Its in that same area and I'm seeing the doctor tomorrow to see if I might have another rupture. So I'm scared to death.

Hopefully your procedure and aftermath went well and still no complications. My surgery changed my life forever with the development of Crohn's. I should have joined that class action lawsuit against the mesh, but I really had no idea about it back then. I certainly hope technology has improved since 15 years ago.

Woah, hope everything is OK. I’m sure mesh has improved over the years but if you do have to go for another repair look into Shouldice hospital in Toronto - patients fly in from all over the world to come to the hospital (they are the specialists in hernia repair) and I’ve met people from Europe, USA, that have come.

Have had three inguinal hernia repairs . First one I was off work 6 weeks , five of them in a lot of pain . It broke open a year later, back to the local hospital to try again . More successful so far , but off work another six weeks . As luck would have it , the other side developed a hernia a few years later . I was talking to a sales rep , he told me he had other clients who had gone to Shouldice Hospital - good , fast recovery . I made my way to Toronto mid December , saw the doctors and was booked for early April the next year . I was instructed to be at a specific weight - meant I had 4 months to drop 20 pounds . When I went to my room , the guy across the hall said he had had a double hernia repair - 2 surgeries in 2 days . He was walking like nothing had happened . I could not believe it . My surgery was done with local freezing and some valium . Next day we were required to go to the cafeteria for breakfast , then show up for exercise class at 10:00 , and to keep mobile during the day . Two days later I was discharged , train back home . I was back at work full time 2 days later

Sort of feels like an intense ab workout (my experience) I was still super slow the first couple days and got better slowly each day

 

[davis0444]

I've had inguinal hernias repaired on both sides, several years apart. The surgery was outpatient both times. Woke up from surgery groggy and grouchy--my body doesn't like anesthesia. Pain was pretty minimal and easily controlled with meds. Was in bed the rest of the day of surgery, more because of the anesthesia hangover than the surgery. Was up and about the next day with little discomfort, but took it easy. Was back at work the second day with no issues.
Hope it all goes well for you.

 

[Stanmeister]

I had a hernia repair. For three days I was really sore and then things improved. Once in a while today (many years later) I can sense where the surgery was--some light pain. I do remember that one of the most difficult parts was when the bandage was removed. They didn't do the greatest job with the shaving. Taking off the bandage was not so much fun.

 

[deleted1025121]

Went in for my ultrasound and CT scan of my pelvis to see if I have a hernia again. Fingers crossed I don't. The ultrasound girl really inspected it very good. Its funny, I dont remember laying there with my cock out in the open as she smooshed that gel and wand everywhere. Usually I'm very shy and insecure about my smaller cock size, especially when its all shrunken up like a turtle. But when you're in pain and want it fixed...you dont even care what others think. I'm sure ultrasound techs have seen big ones and small ones of all ages.

 

[yurayay]

There is a way to get rid of inguinal hernia naturally - without surgery.

For inguinal hernia, four cups of Lady's mantle(Alchemilla vulgaris) tea, preferably prepared from freshly picked herbs, are drunk in sips daily. In addition, we massage the affected areas with a tincture of Shepherd's purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris).
I applied it and in less than 4 weeks it receded, with me carrying a hernia belt.
Occasionally, I lubricate this place with lemongrass essential oil - diluted 15 drops in 10 ml of hazelnut or sunflower oil ( best natural sources of E vitamin)

Yarrow tea would probably help as well - I haven't tried it, but as far as I know it has a similar effect as Lady's mantle.

If you are taking any medication, consult your doctor (especially if you are taking blood thinners or have been vaccinated against covid-19).

 

[LowerCapeCod]

I've had inguinal hernias repaired on both sides, several years apart. The surgery was outpatient both times. Woke up from surgery groggy and grouchy--my body doesn't like anesthesia. Pain was pretty minimal and easily controlled with meds. Was in bed the rest of the day of surgery, more because of the anesthesia hangover than the surgery. Was up and about the next day with little discomfort, but took it easy. Was back at work the second day with no issues.
Hope it all goes well for you.

Any scarring from the surgery? How much do they shave for the surgery?

 

[davis0444]

Any scarring from the surgery? How much do they shave for the surgery?

It's been a few years, but I think they shaved my pubes completely on the side that was being repaired each time. Minimal scarring. The first surgery left me with maybe a 3/4"-1" long scar that has healed completely. The second one was a few years later and I think laparoscopic surgery was more advanced. That one left two small puncture type scars, which have also faded completely.

 

[PorknBeans19]

My dad had a hernia repair a few years back. It was successful and he didn't suffer much pain. In fact it was hard to keep him from lifting stuff he shouldn't have been.

Needless to say he had a face on his toreso for a few months. 2 nipple eyes, a bellybutton nose and a scar across his belly like a smile