hernia repair

Fennel I have no experience of any hernia but I can see how worrying it must be for you. When my DH had a keyhole repair it was done in a ‘short’ day so if it was the same for you there may well not be the recovery period you are worried about - well at least to the same degree - although you would still need to be careful till it healed. Your DH looks to be very happy to look after you so it could be the best course of action.

I think it is probably better to go ahead and have the surgery while you are relatively fit, if you present as an emergency it will be a whole different kettle of fish.
I had a parastomal and an incisional hernia repair three months ago as planned surgery, extremely debilitating but not as bad as it would have been if it had strangulated.

Thanks both - I think you're right and I should go ahead with it.

I had keyhole surgery for the removal of gall bladder. He advised me afterwards that he had also repaired an umbilical hernia which I had not been aware of!. I had the op one day and was home next morning and the recovery was very quick. In comparison I remember my mother having the same operation but long before keyhole surgery and she took ages to recuperate.

Not sure of details but a friend who needed a hernia operation fought tooth and nail not to have mesh.
Might be worth checking this out if it applies to you.

I had an umbilical hernia repaired with mesh in 2001, but there wasn’t the debate around mesh then. I have had no difficulties with it. My DH had an inguinal hernia repaired around four years ago and he had keyhole surgery with a mesh repair and, touch wood, has had no side effects. He was released the same day and although he is a fit man, I think he would have benefitted from being kept in for twenty four hours. Ask your surgeon what the alternatives are so that you can make an informed decision.

I would just add that my sister had a strangulated inguinal hernia. You really do not want that to happen to you!

I had the discussion, with my surgeon, about using mesh. He reassured me that it did not present the problems that gynae operations did. He told me the name of the product and the company in Germany that manufactured it. Half of my stomach is supported by mesh, yes it was excrutiatingly painful until it bedded in but it is fine now. On the plus side my stomach is a normal shape again.

Hmm... the surgeon did say he would use mesh. I've heard stories that it could give problems too. And good reports from others.

Fennel my dh had mesh with his hernia op, he hasnt had a problem but i just wanted to mention it as my friend was so determined to avoid it.