Where to get a swift inguinal hermia repair.

Where to get a swift inguinal hermia repair.

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13m

Original Poster:

26,271 posts

221 months

Monday 2nd November 2015
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Subject to a formal diagnosis tomorrow I think I am going to need one.

Our local private hospital near Nottingham seemed to be talking in terms of weeks rather than days. However it hurts a lot and has made me pretty much immobile, so I am keen to get it done as quickly as possible.

Does anyone have any idea where to go please? I can travel and be driven back so within reason can go anywhere.



LordGrover

33,531 posts

211 months

Tuesday 3rd November 2015
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When I researched this a couple of years ago I found several in London via google, though I ended up going NHS as the wait was nothing like as bad as I feared.

13m

Original Poster:

26,271 posts

221 months

Tuesday 3rd November 2015
quotequote all
LordGrover said:
When I researched this a couple of years ago I found several in London via google, though I ended up going NHS as the wait was nothing like as bad as I feared.
The best offer I've had is 10 days. 100 miles or so each way though.

How was the procedure? I am dreading it.

LordGrover

33,531 posts

211 months

Tuesday 3rd November 2015
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You'll be fine, mine was; I posted about it here: click.

13m

Original Poster:

26,271 posts

221 months

Tuesday 3rd November 2015
quotequote all
LordGrover said:
You'll be fine, mine was; I posted about it here: click.
If I am like you, yes. Others sound like they were in all sorts of discomfort.

That said, I have been shopping today with one hand pressed against my groin to stop my intestines spilling out. Anything has to be better than that.


LordGrover

33,531 posts

211 months

Tuesday 3rd November 2015
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It's not what I had done and it's just marketing, but this sounds simple enough: click.

Digger

14,591 posts

190 months

Tuesday 3rd November 2015
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When I was nhs-referred a few months back, my surgeon, without prompting offered me a Saturday cancellation for the same week (on 2 separate occasions), neither of which I could make unfortunately. This was at St Mary's Paddington.

If I were you I'd get it checked (immediately) that it's not becoming a strangulated hernia. Not good.

13m

Original Poster:

26,271 posts

221 months

Wednesday 4th November 2015
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The best I managed to achieve was 10 days, but at a local private hospital. That's 10 days that will drag like hell though, because I am pretty much immobile at the moment.

The surgeon has recommended a laparoscopic technique. In part because I said I want as swift a recovery as possible but also he specialises in laparoscopic procedures. General anaesthetic though.



craig1912

3,273 posts

111 months

Thursday 5th November 2015
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the
13m said:
The best I managed to achieve was 10 days, but at a local private hospital. That's 10 days that will drag like hell though, because I am pretty much immobile at the moment.

The surgeon has recommended a laparoscopic technique. In part because I said I want as swift a recovery as possible but also he specialises in laparoscopic procedures. General anaesthetic though.
I had laparoscopic and general anaesthetic- went in at 7am and home by 5pm. Within a few days had no pain and back to normal within a couple of weeks and gym etc. by 4 weeks.

13m

Original Poster:

26,271 posts

221 months

Thursday 5th November 2015
quotequote all
craig1912 said:
the
13m said:
The best I managed to achieve was 10 days, but at a local private hospital. That's 10 days that will drag like hell though, because I am pretty much immobile at the moment.

The surgeon has recommended a laparoscopic technique. In part because I said I want as swift a recovery as possible but also he specialises in laparoscopic procedures. General anaesthetic though.
I had laparoscopic and general anaesthetic- went in at 7am and home by 5pm. Within a few days had no pain and back to normal within a couple of weeks and gym etc. by 4 weeks.
That's good to hear.

I am in at 5pm and they say I will be out the same day!

LordGrover

33,531 posts

211 months

Friday 6th November 2015
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As above, I had the 'traditional' general anaesthetic mesh repair and was in and out the same day and back in the gym within weeks. If all goes well there's little to choose between them.
Comparison here: probably biased to their preferred method though.

13m

Original Poster:

26,271 posts

221 months

Friday 6th November 2015
quotequote all
LordGrover said:
As above, I had the 'traditional' general anaesthetic mesh repair and was in and out the same day and back in the gym within weeks. If all goes well there's little to choose between them.
Comparison here: probably biased to their preferred method though.
I am aware that there is little to choose between the techniques. The main upside with laparoscopic is less scarring and less discomfort, but I believe reoccurrence of the hernia is a slightly greater risk. Not sure why.

The main problem is that it's taken about 6 weeks to diagnose the problem, 10 days until the procedure, and then recovery time. It will have meant about 3 months off training. So not only will I atrophy, I fear that I will put on fat. I seem hungrier than when I am training and of course I am burning far fewer calories.





13m

Original Poster:

26,271 posts

221 months

Saturday 14th November 2015
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I thought I'd update this thread because I have just had a unilateral inguinal hernia repair using a laparoscopic (keyhole) technique. Given that hernias are pretty common in blokes, this may be helpful to others who are choosing between open and laparoscopic procedures.

Firstly I should say I didn't seek out a laparoscopic consultant. I was in pain and debilitated, so I went to the one that could do it quickest (10 days), but he happened to be one that prefers to us laparoscopy for pretty much everything.

I went in at 5pm yesterday.

The procedure requires a general anaesthetic. The anaesthetist froze the back of my hand, inserted a drip line and then a sedative. I was also given oxygen. Then the general anaesthetic was put in, which made my neck and face tingle. Then I woke up in recovery with the procedure finished.

I came round fast and was given liquid morphine, which didn't work that fast and I was quite sore. But within an hour I was eating and drinking.

TOP TIP - drink shed loads of water right up until the cut-off time and then again as soon as possible after the op. It lessens the after effects of the anaesthetic and contributed, I think, to my fast recovery. It also gets you peeing quickly, which lessens the need for a catheter I gather.

I was given a bag full of analgesics to take home - which I haven't used.

I was discharged at 9.15pm.

I slept badly last night, which I think may be because I was sobering up from the anaesthetic. But also because I'd been asleep during the op. Oh and because all the water I'd drunk wanted to make an exit. 15, yes 15, times I was up peeing during the night.

This morning I have little to no pain, aside from minor wound soreness. But I look and feel like Humpty Dumpty from the gas they used to inflate my abdomen during the procedure.

I felt so good this morning that I drove to the nearby village. I did a dummy emergency stop first to check I was safe, which I was, no pain at all. So that was about 19 after the op. I was expecting it to be a week.

So far, so good then. My digestive system doesn't seem fully recovered though and I've done a lot more peeing than pooing. But hopefully that will resolve when my belly returns to something like normal size.

I'll update further as things progress.

Thanks to those of you who gave advice on the other thread.









13m

Original Poster:

26,271 posts

221 months

Sunday 15th November 2015
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Day 2.

I had a bit of pain overnight, which I managed with ibuprofen and paracetamol. I didn't use the codeine they gave me because it is constipating and with a raw lower abdomen constipation doesn't seem like a good plan.

During the day today I have had more discomfort than yesterday. The wounds are sore and my skin feels tight. I am getting quite a lot of bruising under my belly button. I have been walking about and driving without problem, because the soreness is in the superficial layers, not my muscles.

I am contemplating going to the gym tomorrow for a bit of light cardio. Maybe bike.



Biglips

1,337 posts

154 months

Sunday 15th November 2015
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Take it easy for a few days. When they fail they never repair as well. Simply not worth it.

13m

Original Poster:

26,271 posts

221 months

Sunday 15th November 2015
quotequote all
Biglips said:
Take it easy for a few days. When they fail they never repair as well. Simply not worth it.
How easy do you think I need to take it?

I was reading the blurb from one hernia clinic that recommended an exercise bike session the day after surgery. I would not have fancied that to be honest, but 1/2 hr gentle exercise bike on day 3? Does that seem dangerous?

I am lifting nothing heavier than a beer glass by the way.

craig1912

3,273 posts

111 months

Sunday 15th November 2015
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Biglips said:
Take it easy for a few days. When they fail they never repair as well. Simply not worth it.
Agree- take it easy for the first week- the bruising and some pain is normal but the worst thing you can do is too much exercise.

Biglips

1,337 posts

154 months

Sunday 15th November 2015
quotequote all
Take it easy for a few days. When they fail they never repair as well. Simply not worth it.

Digger

14,591 posts

190 months

Sunday 15th November 2015
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Did you ask your surgeon for any post-op advice? I imagine their team gave you an info pack which should contain pertinent info regarding post-op recovery and exercise info!

All advice I listened to or read regarding my bilateral inguinal laparascopic repair suggested normal day to day exercise, but NO lifting whatsoever for first week, then a maximum after that of iirc 10KG up to c.8 weeks.

For the first 4 weeks I just went for walks increasing the length little by little. This included walking on one of the gym's treadmills slowly increasing incline.

No bike for at a minimum of 2 weeks, as that is how long (age-dependent) it takes for scar tissue and initial healing of the mesh repair site to start healing effectively. In my opinion there is far too much movement in that area from hip and groin movement from cycling. Even then I did no cycling for about 6 weeks as the amount of movement just didn't seem right at the time.

You'll be amazed how quickly time goes. smile. As above you certainly seem to be rushing it, take your time, as frustrating as it is. smile

I have a thread around here around end of February.

Edited by Digger on Friday 20th November 03:46

13m

Original Poster:

26,271 posts

221 months

Sunday 15th November 2015
quotequote all
Digger said:
Did you ask your surgeon for any post-op advice? I imagine their team gave you an info pack which should contain pertinent info regarding post-op recovery and exercise info!

All advice I listened to or read regarding my bilateral inguinal laparascopic repair suggested normal day to day exercise, but NO lifting whatsoever for first week, then a minimum after that of iirc 10KG up to c.8 weeks.

For the first 4 weeks I just went for walks increasing the length little by little. This included walking on one of the gym's treadmills slowly increasing incline.

No bike for at a minimum of 2 weeks, as that is how long (age-dependent) it takes for scar tissue and initial healing of the mesh repair site to start healing effectively. In my opinion there is far too much movement in that area from hip and groin movement from cycling. Even then I did no cycling for about 6 weeks as the amount of movement just didn't seem right at the time.

You'll be amazed how quickly time goes. smile. As above you certainly seem to be rushing it, take your time, as frustrating as it is. smile

I have a thread around here around end of February.
I note your comments. But I was given no printed instructions reference recovery.

I think in part I am impatient because it took 6 weeks to diagnose the problem. I am also sometimes sceptical about stated recovery times.

But above all else I want to recover and not hurt myself.