Question:
Not happy with hernia repair

I am so bummed out with my hernia repair job! I had a way big one and ended up with about a square foot of mesh and it was put in lap with 19 holes. I feel as though I didn't even get it fixed because it still bothers me and buldges out quite a bit. Not as bad as it was but still I thought I would have better results. I just talked to my original surgeon who did my open RNY and he said it was ridiculous for the surgeon to have fixed it that way! Now I'm really upset! I didn't go to my RNY surgeon cuz he's 8 hrs. away and I figured a local surgeon could handle a hernia repair. RNY surgeon said if I would have gone to him he would have done it right and my tummy would be much flatter. Well...can't change it now. He also said if it's bothering me and buldging he can take the mesh out and fix it his way. Not an option since I run out of ins. in March. So... I guess my question is this: Anyone have this happen to them and does it ever get better? I'm hoping....    — Deb H. (posted on February 17, 2002)

February 18, 2002
when there is a hernia repair, the surgeon puts the intestine back behind the abdominal muscles and stitches it closed. I have about an 8 x10 inch mesh along my entire incision line. My abdominal muscles are very tight but I have a bowing out (rather than 6 pack abs) of the muscles since the PS could not tighten them at the time of my panni. He did not want to remove the mesh and chance that I would get another hernia. the ins co would not allow a new mesh to be put in if the old one is removed since it would become preventative rather than repair...sigh. Note: I had 2 hernia repairs prior to my panni so the PS figured since the mesh was working fine he didn't want to toy with it...
   — vt_rita