Inguinal hernia surgery

Need to schedule inguinal hernia surgery, who's had it?

-how long was the procedure?

-pain

-recovery

Tips & tricks to lessen pain and shorten recover time?

Had the surgery several years ago. Don't remember any problems.

I had robot assisted bilateral hernia repair 2-3 years ago, and you're not going to like what I have to say about it. One thing to keep in mind though, I have had a few different abdominal surgeries before my hernia repair. There was a lot of scar tissue that needed to be cut through and cleared just to reach my hernia to repair it. On both sides. So I'm sure that was a significant contributing factor to my ordeal.

The procedure didn't take terribly long, but I don't remember a lot of the details about the actual procedure, it was mostly unremarkable. The recovery however was a lot more painful and took a LOT longer than what I had read about from others. I was in pain, feverish, and just felt sick for weeks. Eventually they sent me for imaging and they discovered I had internal bleeding with a pocket of blood about the size of a baseball near one of the surgical sites. They suspected it might have been infected and that's why I had a fever and felt ill. They weren't too concerned with any of this, gave me some antibiotics, and didn't say anything else about it. Eventually I felt better and the pain began to lessen, but it took months. To this day, I still have a certain pain/ pulling feeling occasionally that I associate with that surgery.

I had robotic hernia surgery 3 years ago surgery was fine recovery I was a lot more sore than I thought real discomfort/ pain first couple of days but only when getting up from seated position that was really uncomfortable

Otherwise it was not terrible

Was out a month, pain the first week or so, mainly sore. Need to be on a recliner, from what I was told, couldn't sleep on the regular bed for the first few weeks. No issues with mine.

Do NOT allow them to put mesh inside you unless absolutely necessary!!! It has caused me chronic pain for the past 7+ years and removal will be worse. If the surgeon only will do mesh find one that doesn't they are out there.

I had 3 hernias; the first was age 14. Lasted 15 years. I had mesh for the re-do and for the other side. These were open, not robotic. For the best experience, ask for a local anesthetic with marcaine. One gets to be awake for the prep--nurse shaving. Also ask the anesthesia or circulating nurse to take a couple pictures.

I took the Vicodin for pain, then had the worst constipation. I couldn't get it out even though I could feel the poo pushing down on the pelvic floor an partially dilating the anus (I used nitrile gloves). I tried enema. I knew a nurse's aide who was used to digging poo out of clients (she told me the gory stories) I never dreamed I'd need it myself. I called her and she was all professional. I had to take off my pajama bottoms. I bent over the toilet bowl while she slowly dug out the hard poo, piece by piece over ten minutes. She ran water in with my enema set. Dug out more.

Next time around I used a lot of Tylenol, not vicodin. I ate stool softener ahead of time, took miralax before surgery and every day, making sure I had soft poo without straining.

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My son had double inquinal surgery doe to exceive weirght lifting. Four days of ice packs, and few use of pain killers. Took a while to fully recover. But no lingering effects from the pain meds, which he minimized.

Had routine repair - keyhole. Mesh was used. Recovery was swift, pain was nothing (not trying to brag, just used prescribed painkillers and took it easy). Touch wood have had no problem at all since having it done.

I had right side inguinal hernia repair about 20 years ago. It was done as an outpatient procedure, and I was at the facility for about 5 hours. I had spinal anesthesia, which left me with vague awareness of what was going on in the OR. That was in the days before I trimmed my pubic hair, and they shaved off half of my pubic hair, which looked pretty weird. They fixed the hernia with a mesh, which worked well. After the surgery, they wouldn't let me go home until I could pee on my own. Also, they injected local anesthesia in the surgery site, so I had no pain until the local anesthesia faded about 10 hours later. At that point, the pain was intense for about a day. Then the pain completely disappeared. I was told not to do anything strenuous for 8 weeks after surgery. I've not had any problems in the 20 years since.

Good luck with the surgery!

I have had it done on both sides 4 years apart, first was done robotically, a little discomfort due to the gas to blow up the stomach for surgery, back to work in a week. The second one was done with an incision and mesh repair, I was home by lunch, no pain meds needed and no inflammation.

I've had it under general anesthesia by laparoscopy (one incision near the belly button, another lateral). I spent a few days tired after this (off work), then there was a period in which I was not to carry any weight or do any exercise (walk on flat land only), then I had to be careful.

I had been told recovery is longer if bigger incisions are used, but then it's possible to use other forms of anesthesia.

I had an annoying side issue: anesthesia locked my bladder up and I had to be sounded to pee (the sound was removed once my bladder was emptied).

@Badgy1 Did you experience pain with the mess straight after surgery, or did it come later?

@Jacana Yes, I had severe pain from the moment I woke up after surgery for quite some time after, and I had testicular swelling for several weeks as well as pain there too and the pain is now going for over a decade in my groin despite numerous outpatient treatments and trials of medications.

@Badgy1 Oh dear I'm so sorry for you. I've had the same surgery and no issues..

I have not had the surgery myself. I have taken a friend in for it. It was done in an outpatient clinic at the hospital.

It was done with probes. They walked in and walked out with the addition of a surgical mesh.

Being careful for a couple of months or so was necessary. No vacuuming or laundry. I did this for them.

Yard work was right out.

Expect follow-up ultrasounds.

So, have arrangements for some help after the surgery.

I have not had the surgery myself. I have taken a friend in for it. It was done in an outpatient clinic at the hospital.

It was done with probes. They walked in and walked out with the addition of a surgical mesh.

Being careful for a couple of months or so was necessary. No vacuuming or laundry. I did this for them.

Yard work was right out.

Expect follow-up ultrasounds.

So, have arrangements for some help after the surgery.

Thats,true for most surgeries . Don’t engage the effective muscles

,give it time.

.

I had an inguinal hernia repair in 1980. That was back when they made a five-inch cut. I was in the hospital for four days and a week later I had a staff infection. A six-week recovery followed

The new way with minimally invasive surgery is out-patient and the recovery is much easier, similar to my gallbladder surgery that was outpatient. I took it easy for three days and pretty much returned to everything after a week.

In two weeks, I have an abdominal hernia repair surgery. It will be outpatient, three days of lifting nothing, six weeks of lifting no more than a gallon of milk or about eight pounds. Then normal lifting.

I haven't had this type of surgery in my life. So, my opinion is only based on professional experience.

Nowadays, there are a lot of methods in order to do this type of surgery. And so, the timing could be quite variable.

The same is for the possibility of complications.

-how long was the procedure?

from 30 minutes to 5/6 hour (in severe cases)

it depends also by the position of hernia and the seriousness of the case.

generally robotic surgery need more time of intervention but a better healing (quick and generally with less problems)

-pain

it depends by the person. I think no one could say if a surgery is painful or not.

Obiouvsly, it is not a walk through the national park. But generally is not a very difficult surgery,

and with drugs the pain can be restrained with ease.

I read some post of someone in which they talk about some situation in the past.

At first, I have to say that nowadays are used NSAIDs and paracetamol in most cases, and so they have less side effects than opioids

And also, when opioids are needed (NSAIDs allergy, gastric problems, NSAIDs doesn't work, etc.) there are some possibility to reduce the amount and the grade of drugs.

For example, there are some opioids quite weaker than others, with few less side effect. Or, for example, it exist a combination opiod drug/antagonist (like Targin)

So, the better thing is to talk with the surgeon and also with anesthesiologist and they will recommend you the better way to do.

-recovery

Generally not too long. In hospital, a stay of maximum 2/3 days unless complications arise

After, I think a rest of about 15/30 days (at maximum 60, by the case) can be more than enough.

I had a hernia surgery in September. Now I know what woman goes through with C section. I hate to tell you this the pain was crazy . A bad burning that is it . I was yelling every time I moved . I wish you GOOD LUCK !!