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Inguinal hernia repair question

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Posted 10/12/2017 11:36 PM (GMT 0)
Well, it's near the prostate so I figured I'd ask.

I have a left inguinal hernia, lump but with no symptoms. This would be a redo from a repair over 30 years ago.

Wait until symptoms present? My understanding is it will just get bigger over time, making it more difficult to repair, I'm healthy now, have health insurance, and my deductible is met for the year( sucks having to factor that in)

Also the surgeon has scheduled for robotic, the newest, not the current laparoscopic, hospital has a new machine. I asked, and he has only done 16 of these to date on the new machine

Any advice would be helpful
Posted 10/13/2017 12:35 AM (GMT 0)
During my MRIs for PCa, I was diagnosed with a bilateral hernia as well. One surgeon who I consulted said he didn't want to do laparoscopic because of prior radiation to the prostate and a 40 year old appendectomy scar. Since this gentleman underplayed the risk for chronic pain with mesh repair and possible damage to the nerves in the area, I consulted another (better) surgeon. He doesn't have an issue with doing the surgery laparoscopic.

I waited 10 months, but I'm starting to get symptoms now, so my surgery is scheduled for December.

My advise: know the risks and talk with your surgeon about the plan when you're in the estimated 13-30% of patients who end up with chronic pain. BTW this range is so big because the various studies define chronic pain in a different way. I handled the hernia in a similar way as the PCa; research (although to a lesser degree since the stakes are not as high). My surgeon is top notch and handles botched repairs from all over the world.

Good luck!
Posted 10/13/2017 1:11 AM (GMT 0)
I had an inguinal hernia repaired two years before my RALP. The surgeon gave me the choice of laparoscopic or open but recommended opened as he felt he can do a stronger repair with the incision being only slightly longer. Two weeks after the outpatient open surgery there were no restrictions on activity including lifting weights.
Posted 10/13/2017 1:45 AM (GMT 0)
I had one repaired post RT. My surgeon did an open procedure because he wanted to "as far away from the prostate as possible." He was concerned about cutting to close to areas hit by radiation and felt he had more control with an open procedure.

Andrew
Posted 10/13/2017 11:19 AM (GMT 0)
I had a incarcerated umbilical hernia repaired 6 wks after RP it was open surgery that was done by a surgeon who said he also did open RP and said that he would not have repaired my hernia at the same time as my RP as there is too much going on at RP especially with a pathological report as mine. I know my RP surgeon had mention that he might possibly fix it at the same time but after wards when I asked him he said the surgery already had lasted about 4 hrs with the lymph node dissection and he didn't want to add to that and more risk of infection. Was glad he didn't after the hernia surgeon echoed the same thoughts

Larry
Posted 10/13/2017 12:19 PM (GMT 0)
I have had three inguinal hernia repairs and one umbilical hernia repair. One inguinal repair was a redo of an old repair ... they placed mesh behind the new repair to help hold the muscles together.

I favored getting the repairs done as soon as possible and not waiting for the symptoms to get worse. My thinking was that a large hernia would be harder to repair than a smaller one and that a smaller repair would be easier to recover from. It is my understanding that the hernias do not get better with time ...... only worse.

Since experience seems to count when we are talking about surgery, I would tend to chose a surgeon who has done more than 16 procedures.

I learned that I can no longer lift heavy objects ..... railroad ties, rocks, etc. ..... but it took four repairs before I got that through my thick skull.

All the best as you move forward.

Post Edited (RCS) : 10/13/2017 6:22:54 AM (GMT-6)

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