Heria

[Targa Me]

Hello Everyone,
What can you tell me about hernia repair?
Have any of you gone through this?
What's the recovery time?

Thanks.
L

LOL, misspell in the title, it's H-e-r-n-i-a.

[widebody911]

If you don't have the tools and know-how to do it yourself, your best bet is to find a good independent; the dealer will just rip you off and probably not fix it right in the first place.

Wait, what?

[Aragorn]

Let's not jump to conclusions here. With the right youtube video and pocketknife with some fishing line you can do just about anything now.

I think there are a few types of hernia based on where the tear is and the severity of the rupture.

http://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/tc/inguinal-hernia-surgery

[sammyg2]

Not the kinda thing you can fix with a sawz-all.

you're gonna need a box knife, boiling water, plenty of towels, and half a bottle of whisky.

[GWN7]

I think I read you can use window screen for the mesh......... On top of Sammyg2's list a bullet to bite down on.

6 weeks recovery time. No lifting of anything over the weight of 1 lbs. during that time.

[javadog]

There's a place up north that specializes in these repairs and claim to be better than what you'll get locally. Wisconsin, Michigan, can't remember exactly where. If it's the usual inguinal type, you'll probably have a doctor recommend a repair with mesh. Not a big procedure, you'll be kicked out the door before noon. You won't feel like getting into or out of a chair or bed for about a week, otherwise the discomfort isn't bad. I didn't even use the pain pills. Plan on not doing any heavy lifting for a month. Better yet, quit lifting heavy things at all.

I lived with mine for 7 years before I got it fixed. No issues in the 5 or so years since fixing it.

JR

[bell]

I hear Mexico had some guys that can do it for a quarter the cost.......but they will stuff it with horse manure

[VINMAN]

If it's only a one time repair, and not something you will do a lot, I'd pick something up at Harbor Freight

[Aragorn]

Originally Posted by sammyg2

Not the kinda thing you can fix with a sawz-all.

you're gonna need a box knife, boiling water, plenty of towels, and half a bottle of whisky.

Half a bottle of whiskey=lightweight

[JAR0023]

Never had this done but have had and currently have direct reports go through this. Both were inguinal and repaired laparoscopically.

First was 5-6 years ago. Guy was very healthy in his 40s. He was out on FMLA for 6 weeks. Current gentleman is older and a little heavy. They went in to repair a failed prior repair and found it worse than expected. He was over a week until he walked and a couple more weeks until he could really move about. Then his incision opened up. They glued him back together last week. He'll be out at least another month.

Good Luck.
-J

[sammyg2]

Originally Posted by bell

I hear Mexico had some guys that can do it for a quarter the cost.......but they will stuff it with horse manure

chuckle ....

[sammyg2]

BTW I've got one of them umbilical hernias, had it fer bout 10 years now.
My plan is to wait until it gets way worse, right near the emergency stage and then have it fixed.
A man has to have a plan ......

[hardflex]

I had my right side done about 20 years ago, before they did much of the micro surgeries. Mine was torn about the size of an egg, and they used the mesh for closure. It was pretty tough afterwards when any abdominal movement was required. Even laughing was pretty painful for a few days. Recovery discomfort I think would be based on the size of the incision.

For the first few weeks I thought the fix was worse than the discomfort of the hernia, but that eventually went away. Been good ever since.



Sammy, what's an umbilical hernia like? is that at the belly button?

[sammyg2]

Originally Posted by hardflex

I had my right side done about 20 years ago, before they did much of the micro surgeries. Mine was torn about the size of an egg, and they used the mesh for closure. It was pretty tough afterwards when any abdominal movement was required. Even laughing was pretty painful for a few days. Recovery discomfort I think would be based on the size of the incision.

For the first few weeks I thought the fix was worse than the discomfort of the hernia, but that eventually went away. Been good ever since.



Sammy, what's an umbilical hernia like? is that at the belly button?

Yup, that's zacky what it is. Went from an innie to an outie. Getting worse too. One of these years.

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by sammyg2

Yup, that's zacky what it is. Went from an innie to an outie. Getting worse too. One of these years.

[hardflex]

I think I have that too. torn about 1/2 way around.

[Targa Me]

One of my concerns is obamacare. I'd hate to wait for my hernia to really start acting up and have some dentist from Mexico do the repair.

Right now I'm not sure if I'll have health care in 2014, or at least health care that I can afford.
Maybe I can quit my job, go on welfare and then I can have all you guys pay for my hernia surgery.

[pavulon]

Consider getting it fixed before your innards get trapped in the hernia, start to swell and then, if let go, die. If stuff gets trapped, you'll have it addressed on its schedule not yours not to mention the associated potential complications best avoided (think bowel resection...).

[Bugsinrugs]

I have had two. Right one was done about ten years ago and had about a three inch scar. Took a couple of days before I could stand upright. The left side was a couple of years ago and done laproscopicaly. What a world of difference. No pain at all.

[gamin]

Worked with double hernia for 10 years without pain. Got kinda big. Had laparoscopic procedure. In and out of hospital same day. About a month recovery and back to work. This was about 10 years ago. Have not had any problems. I do not lift heavy objects, never.