Umbilical hernia repair - to mesh or not to mesh?
Discussion
I've been told I have an umbilical hernia and am waiting for the appointment for them to slice me open, pop it back in and stitch me up. The consultant said they may use mesh to reinforce the repair but I've heard there are now issues with this coming to light. While the odds of having post-op problems appear to be low, the consequences can be severe.
The material they use has already been banned for use is other surgical repairs like vaginal/incontinence surgery (get your jokes out of the way now
). While I recognise the press reports are, as ever, alarmist and most likely exaggerated, it is still a concern.
Anyone here had this surgery, and did you go for the mesh option? If so, any issues?
Background links:
NHS hernia mesh repairs 'leaving patients in chronic pain'
Hernia patients forced to prove debilitating pain before granted operations on the NHS
Vaginal mesh: Tests on plastic material 'way less' thorough than on washing machine
RCS statement on hernia mesh complications
The material they use has already been banned for use is other surgical repairs like vaginal/incontinence surgery (get your jokes out of the way now
). While I recognise the press reports are, as ever, alarmist and most likely exaggerated, it is still a concern.Anyone here had this surgery, and did you go for the mesh option? If so, any issues?
Background links:
NHS hernia mesh repairs 'leaving patients in chronic pain'
Hernia patients forced to prove debilitating pain before granted operations on the NHS
Vaginal mesh: Tests on plastic material 'way less' thorough than on washing machine
RCS statement on hernia mesh complications
I had an inguinal hernia repair about 10 years ago using mesh; had it done under a local anaesthetic and chatted to the surgeon throughout which was quite surreal!
Being the curious type I asked if I could have a look at the mesh he was using and he duly obliged. I was home within 3 hours and to this day have never had any problems with the repair. Good luck with your op.
Being the curious type I asked if I could have a look at the mesh he was using and he duly obliged. I was home within 3 hours and to this day have never had any problems with the repair. Good luck with your op.
I had an open inguinal hernia repair with mesh 3 years ago. Can always feel the mesh inside. Feels like an internal itch, or rubbing. Better than before, and I put up with it. The more exercise I do, the better it feels. You may not have a say on how it's going to be done.
Make sure you cut your toe nails before the op. Bending down hurts!! And hope you don't get a cold or sneeze!
Make sure you cut your toe nails before the op. Bending down hurts!! And hope you don't get a cold or sneeze!
Just like many things in life there are lots of varieties of Mesh -
ASK THE QUESTION!
Which Mesh being implanted in you?
(I did - inguinal hernia, my second, longish story, will relate later - and was told there are no problems with it (the mesh used on me) - I have it virtually in black and white and I also have a 'sample' of the mesh used because I asked for one - I was almost tempted to fill a hole in a body panel as it looks a tad like GRP mesh LOL. Then thought at some point I might need it as evidence, so refrained from doing so). I've lived long enough to now ask for a 'third opinion' and not just a 'second' - it's my body after all.
The devastating problems on the female side have mostly originated again with a certain type of mesh. ie read mesh on the cheap.
This is not to say you won't experience problems - surgery is a risk anyway.
ASK THE QUESTION!
Which Mesh being implanted in you?
(I did - inguinal hernia, my second, longish story, will relate later - and was told there are no problems with it (the mesh used on me) - I have it virtually in black and white and I also have a 'sample' of the mesh used because I asked for one - I was almost tempted to fill a hole in a body panel as it looks a tad like GRP mesh LOL. Then thought at some point I might need it as evidence, so refrained from doing so). I've lived long enough to now ask for a 'third opinion' and not just a 'second' - it's my body after all.
The devastating problems on the female side have mostly originated again with a certain type of mesh. ie read mesh on the cheap.
This is not to say you won't experience problems - surgery is a risk anyway.
Re meshes, ask and ask again which mesh it is to be.
I had a hernia and was offered the choice - keyhole, it would be a flexible membrane "non-metal mesh", though as it was a "pretty impressive hernia" I was told that metal (TiO2 polymer) meshes may be better but that would be general anaesthetic.
Went down that route, and despite three months later having to do the same again on the other side (surgeon reckons I must have lifted something wrong, I suspect excessive sexual activity) and there being at the time (early 2010s) a 50% failure rate in five years of hernia repairs (so 2x hernias x 50% = 100% in five years) all has been fine for a decaide.
So choice in mesh I was offered was more related to op technique than mesh availability.
Tis fun at the latest scanners in Mancs T3, the mesh seems to set them off. Belt off already. Yep, buttoned Levis undone, quick drop of the front of the boxer shorts to show the "spiders legs" over the scars and that gets a nod through.
When you have the first few Poo's after the op, wrap a towel into a sausage roll and jam it in between your legs and your torso. As you feel the bowel movement progressing, keep pushing the towel into your body. Helps put pressure inwards on the Hernia rather than the bowel movement pushing outwards on the hernia. Take all the drugs you're given and keep taking them, once you back off the pain kicks in.
I had a hernia and was offered the choice - keyhole, it would be a flexible membrane "non-metal mesh", though as it was a "pretty impressive hernia" I was told that metal (TiO2 polymer) meshes may be better but that would be general anaesthetic.
Went down that route, and despite three months later having to do the same again on the other side (surgeon reckons I must have lifted something wrong, I suspect excessive sexual activity) and there being at the time (early 2010s) a 50% failure rate in five years of hernia repairs (so 2x hernias x 50% = 100% in five years) all has been fine for a decaide.
So choice in mesh I was offered was more related to op technique than mesh availability.
Tis fun at the latest scanners in Mancs T3, the mesh seems to set them off. Belt off already. Yep, buttoned Levis undone, quick drop of the front of the boxer shorts to show the "spiders legs" over the scars and that gets a nod through.
When you have the first few Poo's after the op, wrap a towel into a sausage roll and jam it in between your legs and your torso. As you feel the bowel movement progressing, keep pushing the towel into your body. Helps put pressure inwards on the Hernia rather than the bowel movement pushing outwards on the hernia. Take all the drugs you're given and keep taking them, once you back off the pain kicks in.
I had it done May this year, went private with the Oxford Hernia Clinic, couldn't have been happier with the level of service, the surgeon explained the whole procedure in very easy to understand language
In and out in a couple of hours, local anesthetic, the op was run like clockwork, almost like an F1 pitstop as the team worked very well together
Had mesh fitted, the surgeon does 100's of ops a year and all the big number docs use it as recovery is much quicker with less chance of complications
Op on a Fri. lunchtime, easy weekend chilling back at work on Mon. back to normal building duties in about 6 weeks
In and out in a couple of hours, local anesthetic, the op was run like clockwork, almost like an F1 pitstop as the team worked very well together
Had mesh fitted, the surgeon does 100's of ops a year and all the big number docs use it as recovery is much quicker with less chance of complications
Op on a Fri. lunchtime, easy weekend chilling back at work on Mon. back to normal building duties in about 6 weeks
Thanks again chaps - much appreciated! I will take on board your pre- and post-op advice.
Certainly I will make sure I shave the relevant bits myself before I go in!
Consultant said the op would be under general anaesthetic but in and out in a day nonetheless.
Plenty of fibre in the days before and after seems advisable to avoid straining.
Certainly I will make sure I shave the relevant bits myself before I go in!
Consultant said the op would be under general anaesthetic but in and out in a day nonetheless.
Plenty of fibre in the days before and after seems advisable to avoid straining.
I had a mesh repair for an umbilical hernia in Nov 2017. Surgery went completely to plan, apart from my surgeon having to put in a much larger piece of mesh than he originally intended! It was done as keyhole so I've only got 3 fading scars on the LHS of my stomach, but instead of the mesh being approx 3" x 3" it's more like 9"x 9".
Once he'd gone in he discovered further weakness in the muscles above the belly button so decided to reinforce it while he was there. Obviously this required a longer time in surgery which meant a greater area of disturbed tissue; I'll be honest and say the first time the meds wore off and I needed to go pee it was painful to get out of the hospital bed, I certainly didn't appreciate just how much of your stomach muscles etc you use just to do very simple things.
If it had only been the original small size of mesh it would've been a day case, in first thing and home early afternoon. I ended up staying overnight and released the next lunchtime instead. I had the usual follow up appointments with my consultant and was off work for 6 weeks in the end, and about a month after that I had the joys of packing up a house and moving! I took it easy with what I was carrying etc but a bit of common sense and you'll be fine.
A few things I discovered -
1) you'll possibly develop a haematoma where the hernia used to poke through, it's just blood filling the space where it was. Mine faded over a week iirc and was right above the belly button exactly where my hernia had shown.
2) Liquid Morphine is your friend for making sure you get a restful sleep the first few nights home. I used to take it approx 20 mins before bedtime and found I would sleep perfectly soundly and also without any movement during the night, I'd wake up in the exact same position. You'll be able to alternate paracetamol and ibuprofen during the day for pain relief as required.
3) (This is only really useful if you'll sleep on your back during recovery, I did as it was the most comfortable) Put a pillow or two under your feet in bed, it'll help to reduce the strain on your stomach while it all begins to knit and heal. Over a few nights you can drop to one pillow and eventually get rid altogether.
4) For me, and I'm sure this is down to the size of my mesh, but if I overeat I can tell as my stomach feels tight, obviously just the mesh stopping the guts from expanding and expanding! Bit of built in food control now
Reading back the above it sounds like it was really bad - it wasn't, but this is only my experience of an umbilical hernia repair which ended up being a bit more involved than first planned.
OP, when are you booked in?
Once he'd gone in he discovered further weakness in the muscles above the belly button so decided to reinforce it while he was there. Obviously this required a longer time in surgery which meant a greater area of disturbed tissue; I'll be honest and say the first time the meds wore off and I needed to go pee it was painful to get out of the hospital bed, I certainly didn't appreciate just how much of your stomach muscles etc you use just to do very simple things.
If it had only been the original small size of mesh it would've been a day case, in first thing and home early afternoon. I ended up staying overnight and released the next lunchtime instead. I had the usual follow up appointments with my consultant and was off work for 6 weeks in the end, and about a month after that I had the joys of packing up a house and moving! I took it easy with what I was carrying etc but a bit of common sense and you'll be fine.
A few things I discovered -
1) you'll possibly develop a haematoma where the hernia used to poke through, it's just blood filling the space where it was. Mine faded over a week iirc and was right above the belly button exactly where my hernia had shown.
2) Liquid Morphine is your friend for making sure you get a restful sleep the first few nights home. I used to take it approx 20 mins before bedtime and found I would sleep perfectly soundly and also without any movement during the night, I'd wake up in the exact same position. You'll be able to alternate paracetamol and ibuprofen during the day for pain relief as required.
3) (This is only really useful if you'll sleep on your back during recovery, I did as it was the most comfortable) Put a pillow or two under your feet in bed, it'll help to reduce the strain on your stomach while it all begins to knit and heal. Over a few nights you can drop to one pillow and eventually get rid altogether.
4) For me, and I'm sure this is down to the size of my mesh, but if I overeat I can tell as my stomach feels tight, obviously just the mesh stopping the guts from expanding and expanding! Bit of built in food control now
Reading back the above it sounds like it was really bad - it wasn't, but this is only my experience of an umbilical hernia repair which ended up being a bit more involved than first planned.
OP, when are you booked in?
Thanks for the comprehensive reply 
I'm not booked in yet - still waiting for the letter to land on the doorstep.
I'm concerned about needing six weeks off work! I'm hoping that's not the case - I sit in front of a computer all day, no physical aspect to my job bar getting up to put the kettle on once in a while, so maybe it won't be for that long. I can also work from home.
I will make sure I get plenty of pain relief while it's on offer I've had kidney stones four times so I don't want to go through that kind of s
t again.
If I ask nicely, do you think they'll suck out some of my blubber while they have me open?
I'm not booked in yet - still waiting for the letter to land on the doorstep.
I'm concerned about needing six weeks off work! I'm hoping that's not the case - I sit in front of a computer all day, no physical aspect to my job bar getting up to put the kettle on once in a while, so maybe it won't be for that long. I can also work from home.
I will make sure I get plenty of pain relief while it's on offer
I've had kidney stones four times so I don't want to go through that kind of st again.If I ask nicely, do you think they'll suck out some of my blubber while they have me open?
No problem
My 6 weeks off was to do with the size of the mesh I ended up with as the layers of skin, fat, muscle had to be parted for the mesh to be inserted - as you can imagine it was a larger area than anticipated. At the time I was also mostly driving a desk 9-5 and maybe my consultant erred on the side of caution a bit with keeping me off, but since then I've had no issues with it at all so I guess it was the correct decision. Daytime TV sucks ass though, make sure you've got a decent box set on Sky on Netflix to keep you occupied...
It certainly didn't stop me during the house move, the subsequent renovations on the new place, or when I pulled the front end of the Mini apart for a suspension rebuild
Ha I mentioned about taking some of my insulation out when they were in but noooooooo
My 6 weeks off was to do with the size of the mesh I ended up with as the layers of skin, fat, muscle had to be parted for the mesh to be inserted - as you can imagine it was a larger area than anticipated. At the time I was also mostly driving a desk 9-5
and maybe my consultant erred on the side of caution a bit with keeping me off, but since then I've had no issues with it at all so I guess it was the correct decision. Daytime TV sucks ass though, make sure you've got a decent box set on Sky on Netflix to keep you occupied...It certainly didn't stop me during the house move, the subsequent renovations on the new place, or when I pulled the front end of the Mini apart for a suspension rebuild
Ha I mentioned about taking some of my insulation out when they were in but noooooooo
marine boy said:
I had it done May this year, went private with the Oxford Hernia Clinic, couldn't have been happier with the level of service, the surgeon explained the whole procedure in very easy to understand language
In and out in a couple of hours, local anesthetic, the op was run like clockwork, almost like an F1 pitstop as the team worked very well together
Had mesh fitted, the surgeon does 100's of ops a year and all the big number docs use it as recovery is much quicker with less chance of complications
Op on a Fri. lunchtime, easy weekend chilling back at work on Mon. back to normal building duties in about 6 weeks
Thats good to read.In and out in a couple of hours, local anesthetic, the op was run like clockwork, almost like an F1 pitstop as the team worked very well together
Had mesh fitted, the surgeon does 100's of ops a year and all the big number docs use it as recovery is much quicker with less chance of complications
Op on a Fri. lunchtime, easy weekend chilling back at work on Mon. back to normal building duties in about 6 weeks
I’ve just been diagnosed with a hernia after a painful visit to a&e last week.
Unfortunately (but for obvious reasons) no “routine “ operations currently being done, so I have to wait. Originally they were going to operate straight away, but as they managed to “pop it back in” the urgency was reduced and so the procedure was cancelled.
I found the Oxford clinic which looks like a promising alternative, and had a long chat with them earlier today. They aren’t open for business either right now, but I feel paying may get it sorted earlier once things start up again.
Such poor timing to get ill!
Henia op under a local in early 2010. No problem since and the scar gone.
I was asked to take a CD to be played during the op. I compiled a CD with the 1st track being "The First Cut Is The Deepest". The surgeon suggested that making him laugh was not a good idea when he had a scarpel poised rather close to my private bits.
I was asked to take a CD to be played during the op. I compiled a CD with the 1st track being "The First Cut Is The Deepest". The surgeon suggested that making him laugh was not a good idea when he had a scarpel poised rather close to my private bits.
Just to update this, I had mine done at the end of January. Very straightforward operation with no mesh. However, rather than being in and out the same day I ended up being stuck in for four days due to a bad reaction to the general anaesthetic.
So far no complications or problems with healing post-op - just a nice 7cm scar under by belly button!
So far no complications or problems with healing post-op - just a nice 7cm scar under by belly button!
Just an update to say I finally managed to have mine done yesterday, self-pay private.
I’ve hardly been able to walk for 16 weeks, the NHS “urgent” appointment still hadn’t come through. Had to wait 6 weeks even for private.
Done under local with mesh. Felt fine last night but pretty painful at times today, although I’m able to walk further than I could before. Already a bit stir crazy as I’ve not left the house for 16 weeks excepting hospital appointments. COVID delays have hugely affected my mental health, just hope I can finally get better now.
I’ve hardly been able to walk for 16 weeks, the NHS “urgent” appointment still hadn’t come through. Had to wait 6 weeks even for private.
Done under local with mesh. Felt fine last night but pretty painful at times today, although I’m able to walk further than I could before. Already a bit stir crazy as I’ve not left the house for 16 weeks excepting hospital appointments. COVID delays have hugely affected my mental health, just hope I can finally get better now.
Edited by page3 on Saturday 1st August 14:47
page3 said:
Just an update to say I finally managed to have mine done yesterday, self-pay private.
I’ve hardly been able to walk for 16 weeks, the NHS “urgent” appointment still hadn’t come through. Had to wait 6 weeks even for private.
Done under local with mesh. Felt fine last night but pretty painful at times today, although I’m able to walk further than I could before. Already a bit stir crazy as I’ve not left the house for 16 weeks excepting hospital appointments. COVID delays have hugely affected my mental health, just hope I can finally get better now.
I'm sure you'll be fine. I had mine done with mesh in 2017 and the first day after I had quite a bit of pain. By the second day it had pretty much gone.I’ve hardly been able to walk for 16 weeks, the NHS “urgent” appointment still hadn’t come through. Had to wait 6 weeks even for private.
Done under local with mesh. Felt fine last night but pretty painful at times today, although I’m able to walk further than I could before. Already a bit stir crazy as I’ve not left the house for 16 weeks excepting hospital appointments. COVID delays have hugely affected my mental health, just hope I can finally get better now.
Edited by page3 on Saturday 1st August 14:47
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