HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Hernia repair

Support Forums
>
Crohn's Disease
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 1/14/2021 2:45 AM (GMT 0)
Has anyone here had hernia repair surgery? What kind? Did they use mesh? What should I ask/research/be aware of?

The long incision scar from 1st colostomy surgery has torn apart internally. There is now a large "ridge" all the way down the incision scar where one side of the abdomen is 1 to 2 inches "taller" than the other side with a sunken in 2 inch? mushy space and then it is firm again . You can see/feel my intestine contracting right under the skin. CT confirmed it today. They gave me pain pills, antibiotics, and told me to schedule an appointment with my CRS. I was so panicked at going to the ER I can't remember anything.

Suggestions appreciated.
C
Posted 1/14/2021 3:48 AM (GMT 0)
I had a double inguinal hernia, repaired with mesh. It had gotten really bad after surgery, to the point I couldn't walk without a tight hernia belt. I did do some research as some people have trouble.
I found there are some safe meshes (large pore) and because I sometimes teach yoga I asked if they could leave it a bit looser lol. Surprisingly the surgeon understood and did just that.
Took a day or so to feel a bit comfortable. No issues since. I did get constipated after surgery which was unpleasant.

Find a good surgeon who has done loads of them.

Take care.
Posted 1/14/2021 7:35 AM (GMT 0)
I am in the same position. Developed a hernia soon after ileostomy years ago. Kept getting blockages landing me in the hospital. Finally found it it and had repair done w mesh in 2016 which failed and now I have a quite large hernia (but only one blockage so far). Looking for another surgeon on the west coast and don’t know who to go to. I live in the Seattle area. Where do you live?
Posted 1/15/2021 1:34 AM (GMT 0)
I had inguinal hernia repair a little over a year ago. Make sure you get a surgeon that has done lot of them and understands complex cases with your other health issues. Mine was fantastic. He adjusted the procedure to fit my needs based on the crohns. Because I have the history of fistulizing crohns he put the mesh in above the muscle instead of under it so that it would not interact with anything near the intestines that might cause issues later on. Also had open repair instead of laparoscopic for this reason. Recovery was painful but it’s the only major surgery I’ve had so I’m sure it’s nothing compared to some of the things you’ve been through. I don’t remember the exact time line but 2 weeks I was through the worst of the recovery.
Posted 1/15/2021 3:07 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you all for replying. I appreciate your words of advice and hope you don't mind if I continue to pick your minds... I have gotta say...this pain is pretty awful. You all are warriors!

Ambling-first off I owe you an apology. I am sorry for being such a jerk earlier. I appreciate you responding to my call for help..do you recall the mesh types and names? How or where they inserted it? My CRS wants to repair mine with a new kind of mesh that is absorbed within a week? I don't have the name yet--he is researching.

MeByTheSea-Yikes!! I am sorry you are traveling down the hernia highway. I am in Texas. I don't know any doctors in your area.... If you find out any info please share. I will continue to update here as I get info.

Lab-When did this happen?? It must have been while I was not reading as much. (Darn Uevitis!) Will check on the placement for sure. Do you remember the mesh?

Clo
Posted 1/15/2021 5:15 AM (GMT 0)
I’m so sorry you are dealing with this on top of everything else!
I’m not sure if I was posting too much around that time (fall 2019). I had had it for over a decade but the stricture in 2016 caused extra internal pressure on it and made it so much worse. like Ambling, I had periods where I could not stand up with it and had to hold it in or manually reduce it with my hand because the belt did not work for me. Luckily I had times where it didn’t bother me as much. The surgeon wanted to wait until I was in better health so he kept an eye on it until the time was right.
I’m not sure of the type of mesh, other than it was synthetic and it was not one that dissolves.
Posted 1/15/2021 8:10 AM (GMT 0)
Very sweet of you to apologise clo, all good.

At the time, dissolvable meshes were not that successful. They usually take about 6 months to dissolve. That time is needed to build a solid wall of scar tissue to hold the intestines in.
But my surgeon said although it's a great idea, he found them insufficient.
The mesh he used has been around for twenty years. I don't recall the name, only that it was large pore polymer. And he had done thousands without incident.
When I have to cough hard, vomit, strain my abs strongly, I'm glad the mesh is there! I don't know about recent advances in dissolvable meshes... but I would be careful.

I hope you have an experienced hernia specialist. All the best.
Posted 1/18/2021 11:25 PM (GMT 0)
I think I got a hernia trying to shotput a patio stone block, I think it weighed abut 40 pounds I got a resection about a year later and when they retied the stomach muscles I was ok. I was back when I was selling my house trying to fix it up.
Posted 1/19/2021 6:52 AM (GMT 0)
Those of you who have had hernia repair, do you still experience occasional pain where it was? Every so often I lift something that seems to set off pain there. Yesterday I was working on moving some boxes and today I seem to be paying for it.
Posted 1/19/2021 10:30 PM (GMT 0)
That doesn't sound ideal Labaradorite...
You should not have any pain. Might be worth a scan, but I hope it settles.
Posted 1/19/2021 11:37 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks, it rarely happens but last night was not good, no buldge tho. Will probably call about it though just incase.
Posted 1/21/2021 2:15 AM (GMT 0)
Lab,
Yikes!!!! How are you doing? How long did it take for you and Ambling to have trouble walking with your original hernia?

Thanks for your help guys!

Lab, hope it turns out to be ok.

Clo
Posted 1/21/2021 6:26 AM (GMT 0)
I think it’s important to note that there are two different kinds of hernias being discussed on this thread. Mine is a para stomal hernia from my ileostomy. The surgeon that did mine, which failed, is a top hernia surgeon in Seattle. But he does the inguinal kind and doesn’t do very many ostomy types. He did my husbands inguinal hernia and it turned out fine. I’m looking at a surgeon in Portland that specializes in para stomal hernias. His name is Sean Orenstein. Someone recommended him. But I only have the experience of the one person and he only has one review.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply