Question:
What can I expect from my hernia repair surgery?

I had an open RNY on 11/19/03 and have lost 102 pounds. I posted in January wondering when the swelling in my abdomen was going to go down. Well it turns out it wasn't swollen, I have a massive incisional hernia which is going to be repaired by reopening my incision and inserting mesh on April 1st. It is so sore and has grown so big (If I stand sideways I look about seven months pregnant!) that the surgeon doesn't want to wait any longer. I'm worried about having another surgery so soon. After all my RNY was only a little more then three months ago. I'm also more concerned with having this surgery then I was with my RNY and IT was in Mexico! I think it's because I don't really know what to expect with this one. So if anyone has had this surgery can you tell me how it was? How long were you in the hospital? How long until you went back to work? Felt like normal? Were there drains? Thanks, I appreciate any and all information I can get. 345/243/???    — y0maria (posted on March 8, 2004)

March 8, 2004
Hi, I think your surgeon knows what is best and if he/she thinks you need this right away, you should follow his instructions. I had a massive incisional hernia repair on 1/26 along with panniculectomy. I have to be honest, the hernia repair (which was laproscopic not open) was pretty painful. The pain is not like the rny though and not as "hit in the stomach by a mack truck" but more like "I feel like my ribs are broken when I move". It is bearable and even though as I type this I feel a pressure in my upper ribs, it isn't painful. Just uncomfortable. I had percocet and that helped a lot. At about 2 wks post op I felt pretty good but I am taking off 8 wks to recover. I think with open it will be a harder recovery.
   — Mylou52

March 8, 2004
Hi, My hernia was a bit bigger than a football. I spent two and a half days in the hospital (suregery was 2/12). They used a 5 by 8 inch piece of mesh to repair it and took some redundant skin off. I left the hospital with two drains, one was removed in four days and the other in 10 days. Staples came out on the tenth day. I've been off work about three weeks. I get to go back half days next week. First two weeks were hazy and painful. Some energy started coming back last week. Still get tired, but am able to walk about two miles pushing myself a bit. My surgeon is very strict about lifting now; nothing over five pounds for two months, then nothing over ten pounds for another two months, then nothing over fifteen pounds for the next two. Basically, very, very cautious for six months. Repair after gortex is not pretty he said. He said I did nothing to cause this, but that with an open, about 30-40% of the people get them. Good luck.
   — Mary Ann B.

March 8, 2004
Three days before I was due for gallbladder surgery, I felt a lump. While I was waiting for surgery, I told my doctor about it. It was an incisional hernia. So I had my gallbladder out and a hernia repair at the same time. The doctor did not use mesh because of bacteria from the gallbladder. I had 24 staples. My surgery was at 10 am and I was out of the hospital at 3 pm. No problems what so ever.
   — Jazzy