HERNIA

abrub said:

Unfortunately, hernia surgery is surprisingly painful

I have several friends who had it (as well as having it myself).  I was duly warned - my pcp had had the surgery and warned me.  My best friend was not warned, and went home the next day, not understanding why she was in severe pain.

Get the epidural.  It's a walking epidural, and gives you good pain control for a few days.  I was in the hospital 5 nights, but at MSK, they are very conservative, and my dr agreed to keep me in an extra night so I wouldn't have to go home (i.e. leave NYC) on a Friday, which would have added 2 hours to my 3 1/2 hour drive.  I loved my epidural, hated when they had to take it out.  (My hernia was midline, just below my navel.)

I also had an exploratory surgery at the same time.  My hernia repair was an open repair, which surprisingly enough is supposedly less painful than a laparascopic repair.  However, if you have a large hernia (mine was about golf ball sized) the repair will be larger.

It will hurt.  Find what works for pain meds, and don't try to tough it out too soon.  No lifting of more than 5 pounds for 8-12 weeks, and you'll wear a binder for the first couple of months as well.  Make them give you an extra binder at the hospital, so you can wash one and wear the other.

I'm not trying to be discouraging.  The pain will end.  However, please don't be surprised if the pain is much more than you expect.  Some people don't suffer as much as others, but over all, I've heard that most find this quite painful.

Let me know if there is anything I can help you with.

Alice

I did speak to my Dr. - he told me there were other anethe tics he could use -

and that he doesn't foresee my stay longer than 2nights in the hosp.

my hernia is 2" above my naval - he will follow along the same scarline

from my previous resection - should I request the epidural anyway? Thanks

for all the help - I'm having done this Thurs and even though 

I had open surgery with a colon resection I'm still so

nervous!  Thanks so much for all your advise !

abrub said:

Unfortunately, hernia surgery is surprisingly painful

I have several friends who had it (as well as having it myself).  I was duly warned - my pcp had had the surgery and warned me.  My best friend was not warned, and went home the next day, not understanding why she was in severe pain.

Get the epidural.  It's a walking epidural, and gives you good pain control for a few days.  I was in the hospital 5 nights, but at MSK, they are very conservative, and my dr agreed to keep me in an extra night so I wouldn't have to go home (i.e. leave NYC) on a Friday, which would have added 2 hours to my 3 1/2 hour drive.  I loved my epidural, hated when they had to take it out.  (My hernia was midline, just below my navel.)

I also had an exploratory surgery at the same time.  My hernia repair was an open repair, which surprisingly enough is supposedly less painful than a laparascopic repair.  However, if you have a large hernia (mine was about golf ball sized) the repair will be larger.

It will hurt.  Find what works for pain meds, and don't try to tough it out too soon.  No lifting of more than 5 pounds for 8-12 weeks, and you'll wear a binder for the first couple of months as well.  Make them give you an extra binder at the hospital, so you can wash one and wear the other.

I'm not trying to be discouraging.  The pain will end.  However, please don't be surprised if the pain is much more than you expect.  Some people don't suffer as much as others, but over all, I've heard that most find this quite painful.

Let me know if there is anything I can help you with.

Alice

ALICE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR ADVISE INWOULDNT HAVE GOTTEN THE EPIDURAL GETTING IT SAVED 

ME FROM ALOT IF PAIN I WAS KEPT FOR THREENIGHTS AND COULDNT MIVE MUCH EVEN WITH THE DRUGS IT WAS HORRIFIC

I WOULD HAVE GONE COMPLETED OUT OF MY MIND WITHOUT THAT RELIEF! GOD BLESS YOU

abrub said:

So glad my advice was helpful.

So glad my advice was helpful.  I fortunately am not yet facing my next hernia surgery.  My surgeon was really upset that I have a new hernia - he didn't want to believe me, but then he saw it.  At this point, it is small enough to watch (protrudes like the edge of a golf ball.)  In a few years, however, I expect to be back in the OR, and I will request my epidural.  Most important to me, tho, was that I'm still NED.

Take whatever pain meds they gave you - keep ahead of the pain as best you can.  And of course wear your binder; it will help you feel better.  It does get better, but I know it isn't easy.  (Side note:  if your pain meds are opioids, please remember to keep up on your colace and senna, to avoid constipation.  You don't want to be straining during your recovery!)  For me, every time I take an opioid, I take 2 colace with it.

Something to be aware of:  at around 4 weeks post-op, I suddenly developed severe pain at the site of the surgery.  My surgeon assumed that the stitches holding the mesh were pulling as I became more active, and told me to call him if there was bruising or vomiting/cramps/nausea.  Ask your surgeon whenever in doubt.  As for me, the pain resolved within a few more days, but I did have to step back my activity level again  (2 steps forward, one step back).  This may not happen to you, but I wanted you aware of the possiblity.

Sending gentle hugs your way,

Alice

Hi!  Thanks for the advice once again! I'm resting up pretty good - pain has subsided- but with deep breaths diaphragm is slill pulling and stretching! hey will this lump go down that is sticking way out where the patch is?  Man I feel like I have a football jammed in there from a nine yard touchdown!  Well hapy your NED they had to ablate some spots on my liver during the exploratory so I have to wait for the results!!  It's good you went and had it checked out - glad your ok - thanks for letting me know about opiates I do need to start popping the colace - been poopin many of them lately!  Smile!  Three cheers for the freedom to wear a girdle!  Not! Ok I talk to you  soon have a good day hugs