answers4me2

Hey I've been thinking about you. Did you have your hernia repair done yet? How are things going?

Hello. How are you? I'm doing well.

I had my surgery August 9th by Dr Rosen at Cleveland clinic. I was in the hospital for 2 weeks due to some complications. The surgery went well and I had the Staples removed today. I'm still here in Cleveland.

Unbelievably, when Dr Rosen got inside and had a look, he was shocked. He said that when I had my last hernia repaired, that when the doctor pulled the Intestines across to the left side that he twisted the Intestines 180°. He said that he has no idea how I have lived like that and it must have been very painful. I.said, it was excruciating and I spent most of the summer in bed with repeated blockages.

He took down all the scar tissue and removed all the old mesh. I had a mess under my ribs with mesh and adhesions. I was glad he found that since I have been suffering with pain under my ribs for years.

He performed a flap surgery and also used mesh across my entire abdomen. The surgery was open and I have a cut from the sternum to pelvis. He stapled and glued the incision closed. He had to move the ileostomy from the left back to the right and he placed the new stoma really high. It actually seems like it is a good spot, away from the waist level of my jeans and shorts.

He left the hole open where my old stoma was. He put gauze in it and they pulled it out the 2nd or 3rd day. It's healing well, but looks a little gross because it's dented in. But that should fill in.

I had some issues with tachycardia in the hospital. They ran EKG's and an echo, which looked ok, but I still continued to suffer episodes of tachycardia. I wore the telemetry in the hospital the entire time and was released with a heart halter that I had to wear for 48 hours I'm at the cardiologist now and we will see what he thinks.

Cleveland clinic was awesome. The nursing staff was great and I always felt I was in good hands.

Any other questions, just ask. I know many suffer with reoccurring hernias like I do.. This was my 6th or 7th surgery for reoccurring hernias.

I pray that the good Lord will let this be my last surgery.

We could exchange phone numbers if you want to. This has been a long ordeal. Living with hernias is just awful and I've never had one that didn't cause misery and blockages.

This stoma is very high on my abdomen. Send me your email and I'll send you pics. It's actually nice.

OMG Tracy, I often think about you and pray for you. We talked a few times on the phone either before or right after my operation in 2010 and I remember you having issues way back then. I had no idea you were going through such an ordeal! I am glad you went to the Cleveland Clinic. I'm still having some issues because my surgeon left the anus and there is only about 2 cm left there but it is diseased with the UC. OY. My surgeon retired in 2013 and this didn't come about until the following year. Long story short, I am seeing the head of colorectal surgery at Cooper Medical Center in Camden, NJ. He also trained at the Cleveland Clinic. I have to have yearly biopsies but he is very hesitant to operate because apparently it is a big operation just to remove a little ole anus! I'm now 71 yrs old and in better health than I've been in years! Right now I soak my butt in Epsom salts and use Proctozone cream and it seems to be working. I will continue to keep you in my prayers. OH...one more thing, about the tachycardia. Are you perhaps going through the change? I don't know your age, I know you were considerably younger than me. It could be hormonal....check that out.

The reason I asked if you were going through the change is that I also suffered with tachycardia when I was going through it. I went through an early change, from age 39 through 44. When I was about 40, the heart palpitations began. I went through all kinds of tests, the monitor, like you had to wear, etc.. It wasn't until I was in my 50's that I read where it is normal for women to experience that during menopause...duh...well, how come my doctor didn't mention it? I've been on a beta blocker for years because of high blood pressure, which started after menopause but increased during my prednisone use. It's well controlled now, but back when I was taking prednisone..OMG...not unusual for me to have readings of 216/110 and that was while taking three different BP meds. I'm sure had I not had that operation I would be six foot under by today.

Best of luck to you. You can email me your phone number. I believe my email address is still on my profile. I'd like to call you to chat some time. Are you still working?