I just had hernia surgery 4 weeks ago... an inguinal one and one in belly button too. I had laproscopic with the "mesh" I asked the Doc if the mesh was gortex and he said it wasn't. It was a polyproplene (sp?) mesh. Serving basically a purpose of holding the musles together with the least amount of tension.

I had my surgery on Friday and did not make it back to work on Monday. The surgery put me on my butt for a week. My doctor in Newport Beach is top in laproscopy in the area. Surgery went fine but everyone heals at a different rate so I'd take that into consideration (or grain of salt). Laproscopic is the way to go IMHO.

PS... they saved too... but they had the decency to do it after I was already put under... Have had a few surgeries before and always wonder what those guys and gals in the operating room do to me... <sigh>>

Hey Brian
I sent you an email with the info.

Man, this almost seems seasonal, so many people are having them done. One of my employees had hernia surgery just yesterday, but I don't know much about the procedure done...

Next time you start working out, stick with compound movements (squats, benchpresses, deadlifts, lunges) for at least a year before targeting a specific muscle group on it's own. Those are mass-builders, but they also recruit the supplementary muscles and toughen them up first.

Emanuel

Fantastic! Sounds like you made a good choice. A friend of mine had bilateral hernias done last week. Two days later we were sharing drinks at a Christmas party. Laparoscopic surgery is wonderful.

Glad it went well. I bet with a little more web searching and a few six packs this group could have figured out how to do the repair in your garage with your existing tools! Maybe next time.

Right on! I'm next and I have some hog rings and hog ring pliers. Think that'll do it?

Brian, sounds like you're doing great (if not overdoing it). I see my doc on Monday for the preop consultation. After your email, I called him and told him how great you felt. And I asked about the laproscopic technique. He wants to do open surgery.

Your link to the article is very convincing, but there seemed to be some drawbacks to both methods. I don't know what to do.

I just don't get it. At my local hospital, over 90% of these cases are done laparoscopically. Same quality results with a fraction of the recovery time.

Open cases are generally done after a recurrent hernia (second operation-same site), or for patients with extensive adhesions from prior abdominal surgeries, obesity, or a doc not comfortable with the technique. (I don't know any.)

Shop around. It's your pain.

That's really funny. I will see my urologist tomorrow (he is the one who does 'open') and again ask about the availabibltiy of laproscopic surgery by him or a colleague. If I am not satisfied, I will call Dr. Wang. If I had another week, it wouldn't hurt (no pun intended) as I am behind in my work. Once I finish with this run of installations, I am going to reasscess the way I approach my business.

I would *always* get a second opinion before going under the knife. The only exception I would make is if one of the docs I know personally/professionally said "see dr. x and do what he says."

You guys crack me up! You all can get an OT thread to turn south faster than a hoochie can drop her panties :)

I love this board ! Glad I could play an active role in this thread (since I can't turn a wrench to save my life).

Brian, Thanks for the notes. I'm glad I could be of assistance to you, and to others on this board as well. There is one thing that I know my way around... and that's Dr's.... I've got one for every known body part... so... if any one needs referrals... give me a shout ! he he he... :)

lee, i had an ultrasound on my bean bag too.. dont know why it mattered, it could have been that D-sucker paris hilton and the cold temp of the gel and the ultra sound tool made it impossible to become turget. to clinical for arousal.

Saw the doc for a preop cosultation this morning. I had done a little Internet reading and took the following along with me:

" 'TENSION FREE' MESH TECHNIQUE We are now convinced that this technique is truly the 'STATE OF THE ART' in hernia surgery, providing the safest, most effective repair with the least post-operative pain. This technique is done under safe, local anesthesia via a small incision ( about 2 inches in most average patients). Once the hernia (bulge) is freed up by gentle dissection, it is returned through the hole or weakness into its proper position. Rather than just covering the weakness at this point, a specially designed mesh system is gently placed through the defect. It opens to cover and effectively repair the defect from the inside, the best place for mesh to be positioned. After this, an additional sheet of mesh is included over the defect as an insurance reinforement. This is placed in a completely tension free fashion, being held in place by a 'VELCRO-Like' effect of the mesh itself. Since there is no tension and only a minimal amount of surgical dissection, there is little post operative pain, and patients return to NORMAL ACTIVITY in DAYS. This technique has been essentially utilized for over 10 years, with recurrence rates of Less than 1/2 %, lower than any other technique including the conventional suture repairs, (TENSION REPAIR), or the Laparoscopic 'Keyhole'Approach." --Dr. Goodyear of the North Penn Hernia Institute.

So, I asked about the open surgery he prefers and asked if the above technique was his technique. Yes, that is his preferrence. With one exception, he does not favor a local unless he can't see evidence of the hernia in a physical exam and has to have the patient 'cough' while on the table. That is certainly not the case with me.

It's settled, I'm doing this method on the 9th of Jan. In a couple of weeks, we will have a comparison for future readers of the thread.

I had an "imbillical hernia" a couple years ago. I counted backwards from 10. I think I got to 7... They did the repair by orthoscopy. Went in Fri. morning, came out Fri. afternoon. I wasn't sore until the next day. Went to work the following Monday. Walking up steps was tough for about a week. All in all, I felt much better after the surgery than I did before...
Good Luck

Had my surgery yesterday about noon. Turns out it was quite a "hole" according to the surgeon. All i can say right now is that I'm miserable. Take care of yourself, it doesn't matter what method you/your doctor chooses, it's no cakewalk.

More later.

bummer Milt...heal fast. Maybe take an anti-oxidant supplement.

spending some time in the men's session at the swimming pool may be a consideration.. and if your up for it, I could teach you to do laps over the phone.. no problem

Well, as promised, the incision is small, about 2 inches, but I don't think water will do it any good. Maybe you were kidding, I'm a little slow on the uptake right now.

Thanks Todd. The massive antibiotic I have to take is raising he!! with my nutrition. I'll get some vits in today with my snacks.

This is a b!tch. I can barely walk. I had a dream about our Porsches last night. Something about a termite that eats paint. Must be the Vicodin. :eek:

Glad to hear the deed is done. Get well, I hope yours is better than mine was.

Well, doing anything for very long, standing, walking or sitting, causes pain and some swelling. Best to lie down several times a day. BUT, each day is much better. Obviously, if you can get by with laproscopic, that is the easiest.

Progess report: I went back thru this thread and read all the comments. I had the 'open' surgery, by choice and it turned out to be a good choice because of the extent of the problem.

My surgery was a week ago tomorrow and I'm much better.

Brian's original doctor was right. About a week and you will be OK for driving to work as long as you have light work and a comfortable car. Afterall, this is an incision.

This is nothing like the old hernia open procedures. Those were done in 'tension' where they disected some of the muscle tissue and overlapped it and sewed it together to hold the hernia. I had that in '84 on the other side and, IIRC, it was a much tougher deal on the mend. I was out of work as a carpenter for 6 weeks and slow to get back to normal.

I think Brian made a good choice for laproscopic surgery in his case. Sounds like it was a recent injury and a good lapro surgeon got it taken care of. On the other hand, there is some wisdom in the previous comments about the advantage of the surgeon to see first hand what is in there and work accordingly. Either way, you want the best you can find.

Anyone who reads all of this in the future can feel free to contact me about this. But, suffice to say that the procedures used today are far superior to that of even 10 years ago.

I hope I can get in the 911 soon and I have scheduled at late Feb. track day.