Question:
Q. ABOUT HERNIA REPAIR / PANNICULECTOMY / VAGINAL MONS LIFT SUGERY UPCOMING.

~HELLO EVERYONE...THANKS FOR TAKING THE TIME TO READ MY POST & ANSWER IF YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE,SUGGESTIONS,OR WORDS OF WISDOM... I'LL TELL YOU A LITTLE ABOUT MY SITUATION, I AM 11 MONTHS POST-OP / STARTED @ 323 AND NOW AM @ 211; I AM 6'1" AND ABOUT 20-25 LBS. FROM GOAL WEIGHT. I WAS TOLD I HAD A ORANGE SIZED HERNIA RIGHT ABOVE MY BELLY BUTTON AT MY 1 YR. POST-OP APT.~THEY SAID IT IS AN INCISIONAL/VENTRAL HERNIA CAUSED BY MY OPEN RNY SURGERY. I AM SCHEDUALED FOR SURGERY 7/19/07 FOR HERNIA REPAIR & PANNICULECTOMY/VAGINAL MONS LIFT... (AT THIS TIME I HAVE NO ABDOMINAL PAIN ASSOCIATED W/ THE HERNIA ITSELF,NO PROBLEMS W/ BOWEL MOVEMENTS,ETC...) .SO HERE ARE A FEW OF MY QUESTIONS:I AM NOT LOOKING FOR MEDICAL ADVICE OF COURSE...JUST SOME OTHER MEMBERS PERSONAL EXPERIENCES W/ THIS SITUATION IF THEY ARE WILLING TO SHARE; SINCE MY PRE- OP APT. IS NOT UNTIL 7/9/07 I HAVE SOME TIME TO DO RESEARCH HERE BEFORE I SEE MY SURGEON AND UNLOAD 10 MILLION QUESTIONS UPON HIM...LOL 1. ANYONE W/ HERNIA EVER EXPERIENCED EXTREME BACK PAIN (USUALLY AROUND THE TIME OF MENSTRUATION)? IT SEEMS LIKE EVERYTHING IS PRESSING ON MY BACK...CURIOUS 2. HOW IS THE PAIN LEVEL W/ HERNIA & PANNI COMBO SURGERY? 3. WITH THE HERNIA REPAIR, IS THE INCISION THE SAME LENGTH AND DIRECTION AS THE OPEN RNY SCAR...OR DO I GET SEXY NEW SCARS? 4. DRAINS???? DOES THE HERNIA REPAIR HAVE DRAINS? HOW ABOUT PANNI? 5. & WHAT THE HECK IS A VAGINAL MONS LIFT???? I DON'T KNOW TOO MUCH ABOUT THIS, BUT DAMMIT I KNOW I NEED ONE...LOL ; ) ~PAIN W/ THIS SURGERY???? THANKS ALL & IF ANYONE WHO HAS HAD THIS COMBO OF SURGERIES IS WILLING TO EMAIL ME PERSONALLY AND TALK A LITTLE MORE IN DETAIL PLEASE LET ME KNOW~TIFFANY    — tiffany E. (posted on May 26, 2007)

May 26, 2007
I have had these surgeries, although not together. I had a ventral umbilical hernia repair before I had my RNY. I remember that it was more painful than I had anticipated, but I had never had abdominal surgery before. Then last year I had the panni and mons lift. I figured it would be incredibly painful, but it was nowhere near as bad as I expected. I went in the morning and by afternoon I was home walking around outside with my boyfriend. It was so worth it, and worth the little bit of discomfort I experienced. Now I just wish I could have had the butt lift and thighs done at the same time. Anyway, the surgery really wasn't as bad as I thought it would be and I was off of pain meds altogether in just a few days. By the way, the vaginal mons lift just means that they lift all of the skin on the outer labia. It has made a huge difference in my life when it comes to hygiene and I am more comfortable while riding my bike. When I had my RNY, he did it lap so it really wasn't that painful and I didn't have many scars. I'm thinking that if you had open RNY then this procedure shouldn't be any worse than that was. It really wasn't bad painwise, and it was so worth it. If you have any other questions I may be able to halp you with, please feel free to email me at [email protected]. Best wishes for health and happiness always!
   — djfoz

May 26, 2007
Hi Tiffany, Out of all of those I've only had the panni. It was pretty uneventful but looking back I wish that I had had the lift as well. I guess the best way to describe NOT having it is that it's like having a small pair of socks in the front of your pants. Mine isn't that bad but I've heard it described as such on some of the other boards I'm on. The pain wasn't that bad - I did it out patient and came home with two drains that were taken out in 7 days. My problem is that I went back and gained the weight. (in part why I'm looking into RNY now). Good luck and congrats on losing the weight! Lori
   — Lori A.