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Has anyone had an inguinal hernia repaired after Pca?

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Posted 4/5/2009 8:07 AM (GMT 0)
 

My husband has an inguinal hernia which he has to have surgically repaired.  He had radiation treatments and a seed implant two years ago. 

Has anyone else with Pca had an inguinal hernia repair?

Just wondered.

Thank you,

Wiggyann

 

Post Edited (wiggyann) : 4/5/2009 2:12:08 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 4/5/2009 10:00 AM (GMT 0)
I have, but the other way round. My RP had to work round a hernia repair. I'm no expert but I don't think it should cause any problem.
Posted 4/5/2009 3:49 PM (GMT 0)
Well Wiggyann looks like your husbands not alone my husband just had this happen at work on Friday and now we are waiting to pick a sugeon whose within the comp plan. He was just seeded in July so I hope there will be no complications because of the seeding or to the seeding. I plan on checking with the radiologist that did the seeding as well.

Posted 4/6/2009 8:09 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you Number 13 for your response :-)

I was happy to hear that your hernia was repaired without
any problem. Do you remember how long the recovery
period was? My husband is retired and works part time
and I think he is hoping to be back to work after several
weeks.

Wiggyann

husband 68 at diagnosis
PSA 7.3
eight out of twelve cores positive
Gleason 7
stage t1c
25 IMRT (radiation treatments) and a seed impant
last psa at one year was 0.5
Posted 4/6/2009 8:26 AM (GMT 0)
Hello lvdgs,

I was really happy to find someone whose husband is going
through the same thing. Although, I am sorry that this happened
to him. Right now, my husband's primary care doctor is setting up
an appointment with a surgeon and we have to have one who is
on our insurance plan also. We have read that sometimes they
can do larascopic surgery to repair the hernia where they make
several incisions and work through them and the recovery is
faster and there is less discomfort. But we don't know if the
surgeons around perform that kind.

I will post to you on here after we see the surgeon and let you know
what he says. I hope everything goes good for both of our husbands
and they both have a speedy recovery.

Wiggyann

Husband diagnosed at 68
PSA 7.3, Gleason 7 Stage t1c
8 out of 12 cores positive
25 radiation treatments and a 90 seed mplant
psa at one year 0.5
Posted 4/9/2009 4:54 AM (GMT 0)
Dear lvdgs,

Just wondered if you and your husband had picked a surgeon yet for his hernia surgery? My husband phoned his regular doctor last Friday and told the receptionist or nurse that he wanted to have his hernia
repaired. She found his chart and the doctor had made a note
about it, but so far we haven't heard from the doctor's office. I
think I'm going to have my husband phone them back tomorrow.
I had hoped the doctor would have set up an appointment with a surgeon by now. Hope things are going well for your husband.

Wiggyann
Posted 4/9/2009 3:29 PM (GMT 0)
He should be back working in about a month so long as he does no heavy lifting. Gently does it for about 2 months after that. :-)
Posted 4/9/2009 6:19 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Wiggyann,

I was just reading your post when my husband called he was at the surgeons this afternoon and is now scheduled for laparoscopic surgery on April 21st. It's his choice, he could have open surgery or laparoscopic. The doctor said if he changes his mind and wants open surgery to just call him, he also said either way would work just fine for him. We trust this surgeon as we've used him before when my husband had appendicitis 14 yrs ago so we requested he do the surgery.  It will be done at Yale New Haven Hospital in CT. This being a workers comp case things moved right along for him. Do you need a referral from your primary doctor to see a surgeon? If so, stay on it and keep calling him.

Posted 4/9/2009 10:04 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Wiggyann, I actually had a inguinal hernia repaired while they had me opened up removing my prostate. about the 2nd day post operation I asked my wife why I was having sharp pain coming and going on my lower front right side. She inquired and found out about the repair that was done. We joked that the Dr. threw it in free of charge as an extra, as if I were a car or something. It healed quickly, the pain portion didnt last very long. Hold on to your faith and remember God is holding onto your family extra tight.
Posted 4/10/2009 2:03 AM (GMT 0)
Wiggy,
Sorry to hear your hubby is facing new surgery at the moment - hope you get the info you need to help him recover extra well. Wishing him a speedy recovery and hope you are well too, and taking good care of yourself. kind regards, Lana
Posted 4/10/2009 5:59 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Ms. Wiggy,
I remember my surgeon telling me that if he saw anything developing in the way of a hernie, he would add a fix to it as well as the RP. Kind of a two for one deal...lol. I have also heard many times of post RPP hernias. It's not too uncommon at all.

I miss your messages. But I'll see ya around...Peace and Love.

Tony
Posted 4/11/2009 6:09 AM (GMT 0)
I had conventional open surgery repair for 2 inguinial hernias (one on each side).  these were done over 15 and 17 years ago.  the conventional surgery to repair the hernias was much more painful than the robotic surgery I had for prostate removal.  I was back to work after 5 weeks each time for hernia surgery as opposed to 9 weeks recovery for prostate surgery. 


Posted 4/11/2009 9:14 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks to everyone who responded, sure appreciate all of you :-)

My husband has an appointment with the surgeon this coming
Tuesday. I don't know if this surgeon even does laparoscopic surgery,
but I have heard it is much easier and quicker healing than regular
surgery. Also, I read that you have to be a candidate for laparoscopic surgery, but I'm not sure what that means. I guess he will find out
when he goes on Tuesday.

I did get a referral from his regular doctor whose nurse faxed his
information to the surgeons' before I called to set up an appointment.

Wiggyann
Posted 4/12/2009 10:10 PM (GMT 0)
Hello Wiggyann,

I had an RRP a year ago and got an inguinal hernia a few weeks later, my fault for lifting when I should not have.

I had open surgery for the hernia about five weeks ago. I still have swelling there, and still don't want anything pressing against the area.

I may be going back, my right testicle hasn't been seen since, and I don't look upon that as good news.

The surgeon was unconcerned, telling me that in some cases of PCa, they take the testicles out anyway, so it really didn't matter. I might be looking for a new doctor soon.
Posted 4/13/2009 12:58 PM (GMT 0)
Hi mlbsm,

Thanks for your post. It's nice to hear from someone who just had the surgery and I do hope the swelling you are still having goes away soon.

My husband goes to the surgeon tomorrow, so we will know more then. I think he is hoping to be back to work in about a month. He is retired, but works as a security guard part time and the work is not hard.

Since your operation wasn't for Pca, if something is missing,
that's very strange and it sounds as though your surgeon
isn't too concerned about it. I better do some more research into this kind of surgery :-)
Posted 4/14/2009 4:39 PM (GMT 0)
Hello lvdgs,

My husband just came back from the surgeons and he is going to
have the regular surgery done. He did mention the laproscopic surgery to the surgeon, but he told my husband that these kind of hernias tend to come back with the laproscopic surgery.

Also, he is going to give him twilight and a local and the surgery will take about an hour and a half. I just assumed he would be under
general anesthesia. I don't feel good about him having twilight and a local for an hour and a half surgery. Of course, I didn't say anything to him about it. The nurse is going to set things up for him to have the surgery done.



Wiggyann

Husband diagnosed with Pca 12/2006
psa 7.3 biopsy 8 cores out of 12 positive
stage t1c treated with radiation and seed implant 2007
one year psa 0.5
Posted 4/14/2009 5:39 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Wiggyann,

I quess each surgeon has their own opinion on this. My husbands surgeon said it makes no difference which one he chooses that there are no pros or cons to either one. He was told that if he opted for regular surgery it would be twilight and a local which didn't sit well with my husband. He has talked to others that have had this done laproscopically so he is going with that. The surgeon said the healing time is longer with regular surgery and told him  if he wanted to be out of work longer than go that route since he is on workers comp but that's not an issue with him he just wants to get it fixed with the least amount of discomfort and move on. With the job he has the recovery time would be about the same either way.  We trust this surgeon, he took my husbands appendix out 14 yrs ago and we really liked him.  Surgery is scheduled for next Tuesday he has to have an EKG and blood work done beforehand.  I'm sure your husband will be fine under twilight and a local. I just had DeQuervains surgery done that way and I never felt a thing.  Good luck to you and your husband.  

Where is he having the surgery done? I think your in CT as well?  


Posted 4/14/2009 10:33 PM (GMT 0)
Hello lvdgs,

Thank you for responding :-) The nurse was trying to set up
the 24th or the 30th for his surgery. My husband was hoping
for the 24th, but I guess that date was filled, so his surgery
will be on Thursday, April 30th and his pre-op tests at the hospital
are set for next Thursday, April 23rd.

I have heard a lot of good things about laproscopy, a friend of mine had
her gallbladder removed that way. I'm glad your husband is having
his sugery done that way. I know there are benefits to it. And I'm
glad you have a surgeon you have confidence in and someone you know.

Will your husband have the laproscopic surgery done under a general anesthetic? Since our husband's are having different kinds of surgery, we will be able to tell the difference in recovery time and I have heard there is less pain with the laproscopic too.

We live in Granite City, Illinois (southern Illinois) and he will have his surgery at Anderson hospital in Maryville, IL

Wiggyann
Posted 4/14/2009 11:05 PM (GMT 0)

Hello Wiggyann,

Yes, it will be under general anesthetic. Our DIL had her gallbladder out this way as well and her recovery time was fairly fast. I just hope all goes well for him as he was only just seeded in July but he was told it's not an issue.  Before we know it they'll be on their way to recovery. I'll let you know how goes.   

Posted 4/16/2009 1:06 PM (GMT 0)
Hi mlbsm,

I hope your feeling okay today and I hope the swelling
is down from what it was four days ago. May I ask if you had
your surgery done under general anesthesia and if you had
to take pain meds a lot after you came home.

My husband is having his surgery done with twilight and
a local anesthesia so he will not be unconscious.
This is the first time I have of those two combinations.
But I have read that men who had their hernia repaired with
just local anesthesia would not recommend it to others. So, I
hope the twilight makes the difference.

Wiggyann
Posted 4/16/2009 1:22 PM (GMT 0)
creed_three,

Hi Lana, I wanted to let you know how good it was to hear from you
and to thank you for your recovery wishes for my husband.

I read your husbands latest psa which looks very good :-)
My husband's radiation oncologist just dig a digital rectal
exam at 18 months, so he has no 18 month psa, his 24 month
check up should be coming up, so we will know what his psa
is then. Hopefully, it has come down more. I know that is
what we are hoping for.

Hope things are going well with your son too.

Bless you,
Wiggyann
Posted 4/16/2009 3:13 PM (GMT 0)
Wiggyann,

I went under General, but I would probably do that for a stubbed toe. I simply don't want to be involved.

Other than the swelling, which was the size of a neff football, I had no problems, the Dr. even used glue instead of stiches, so once the bandage came off in a week, the only problem was the missing twin
who still hasn't really shown up where he belongs.

My Oncologist said to forget the twin, he will go back home when the swelling goes down.

:)) BILLY
Posted 4/17/2009 4:59 AM (GMT 0)
Hi mlbsm,

Thanks, Billy

I never heard of a surgeon using glue before on surgery

It seems like a tacky job to me :-)

only kidding... I think I would prefer glue to staples.

I was appalled when they began stapling people together and it
made me cringe just to see someone who had surgery and
their incision had been stapled together. Staples look like they
would really hurt, but I have ask people if they do and they
have told me they can't even feel them in there.
I read where one man had hernia surgery and they used strips of
tape to hold the incision together.

Maybe, I should ask the surgeon what he will use to close
my husband's incision. I'd reather know now than be
surprised.

We received the instructions for his pre-op at he hospital and
his instructions for the surgery today. They suggested an ice
back or a package of frozen peas to help with the swelling.

So, Go out and get you some frozen peas and maybe it will
help take the swelling down. I guess they would make a neat
ice pack and you can refreeze them and use them over and over.

So glad your missing twin is in there somewhere... that's sure
good news :-)

Keep in touch and let me know how your healing progresses.

My husband's instructions say for him to wear an athletic
supporter for seven days. That really sounds binding right
after having surgery.

I will let you know how things go for him.

Wiggyann
Posted 4/17/2009 10:43 AM (GMT 0)
Beware the frozen vegetable ice pack to ease pain

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2000-10/BSJ-Btfv-0210100.php

Reaching for that bag of frozen vegetables to ease bruising and inflammation could end up giving you frostbite, if left on for longer than 30 minutes. A case study reported in the British Journal of Sports Medicine suggests that this type of home remedy should be applied with caution.

You can also get frozen "gel packs" almost anywhere.

http://www.icewraps.net/

The same caution as the article above mentioned would apply..

Posted 4/17/2009 1:21 PM (GMT 0)
The use of glue in surgery has been around for a while now. The surgeon that will do my husbands hernia operation also took out his appendix 14 yrs ago and used glue to hold the incision together. He said it prevents less scarring to which my husband replied he had no intention of wearing a bikini anytime soon :-)
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