I'm really not looking forward to this!

That's awful news. It's particularly nasty that the medics are making you wait till January - after the whole thing has preyed on your brain all through what's supposed to be a particularly pleasant time of the year.

As I understand it, though, the methods of dealing with hernias have improved a lot during the past few years. I'll bet the process has changed significantly even since 2008. And think how much better you'll feel when it's over.

Good luck and best wishes.

That stinks. I got one at work earlier this year and had another one about 20 years ago.  Both were fixed via laparoscopic surgery and the scars were tiny.  Pain management seemed to be the biggest advancement.  The mesh they used to patch this latest one was a different type as well. I do remember the second one going much smoother than the first.

As you know, you'll be pretty stove up for about a week afterwards so stock up on movies and ice cream.

Like CN Spots & JTilley say, the medical aspect of a hernia has improved greatly over the past few years. You'll be up-n-about in no time. Just seven years ago, I had three stents installed in various places around my heart. That was done through the femoral artery in my right leg, and I spent two weeks recovering from that. Now, it's done through an artery in the neck or arm, and you're back home the same day!! Hernias are pretty much the same - day surgery, and you're back home the same day. Prayers from the wife and I for a speedy recovery from all of this!

We'll keep you in our prayers for a speedy recovery.   On the bright side, it does mean you'll have a little more build time than usual.

Jim 

Man, getting old sucks. That's just what it is...it sucks.

I hope you get through it quickly and safely...

I had a similar condition after I got punched right center of my stomach. They had to put three holes at different angles then they stitched a mesh onto the back of my stomach wall. Buddy the discomfort only comes from the air they put in to open the space. 2 three days you'll feel better...... Good luck.

Very sorry to hear that. Hope everything goes well.

Ouch! Good luck and I wish you a speedy recovery.

Prayer lifted, Jim, for a steady hand for the surgeon, and a speedy recovery!

I think Fox has the right idea--more build time for you for a week or two!  Good luck and get well soon.

Chris

Hope all goes well.  Watch out for the pain meds.  They can screw with you good.  Best wishes for a speedy recovery and a flawless procedure.  

Hopefully you will find that waiting and worrying are worse than the procedure and recovery, Jim.

As folks mentioned above, try to focus on how much better you'll feel after it's over.

I like Greg's suggestion above.  Just focus on how much better you'll be feeling a few days after it's done.  Soon this will just be a distant memory and you'll be turning handsprings before you know it.

Please let us know how it all turns out!  Our thoughts, prayers and best wishes to you and your family.

Eric

Update: I was able to get an appointment with another surgeon for December 29, at which point, we'll set up the date for the surgery. I have my good days and bad days with the thing.

Thank you for all your concern.

the doog

Man, getting old sucks. That's just what it is...it sucks.

Yep, my back hears you out but anyone can get a hernia so it's not restricted due to age. My son is 25 now but  had a hernia operation last year or so. They have come a long way with medical procedurest. He was able to walk a little 2 to 3 days later and about 2 weeks before being able to get around reasonably well. Another 6 months or so for the mesh to be fully integrated with the muscle tissue before he was able to lift anything at work.

I wish you the best on your surgery and a very speedy recovery. 

Can't believe it's been this long since the last update: We were not able to set up the surgery date on the 29th as the doctor wanted to examine my surgery records. I had a 2nd consultation just yesterday and unfortunately because of scarring from the previous operation, they will not be able to do the laparoscope. Because of the hernias' locations, this means essentially, they'll operating on my "private area." (The doctor said, "No we're not operating on your [privates] but just above them," to which my response was "Yeah, just one inch! As far as I'm concerned, that is my [private area]!")

Still don't have a date for the surgery thanks to insurance politics; I might get news today. 

All this waiting and hemming and hawing is probably the worst part of the whole procedure. My guess is that the actual operation will go like clockwork, you won't feel a thing, and you'll feel like a new man afterwards.

Hang in there!

Man, waiting is the worst part.  

Oh I do have one suggestion.  Dont do what I did....  I looked up my operation (ACL Reconstruction) on youtube the night before.  When I saw the drill & screws, I was like "*#$@!".  I am serious though that kinda robbed me of my sleep that night.

Jim :

I walked out of the hospital in three days after a stent failure ( Placement , that is ) They put what I call a " Ticker Trainer ' in there instead  . Now I am looking at possibly what you are .Two days in and home to build .        You have My prayers for a speedy recovery . No beer for six months , Is that what the doctor said ? Oh My  LOL . LOL . That's what mine said ! You'll be fine .

Okay, I had my surgery yesterday (the 15th). It was scheduled for 7:30AM so my friend Arnold and I took a cab to the outpatient surgery department and got there a little before 6AM. A while later, went to the pre-operation area where I changed into one of those ever-so-stylish hospital gowns, then there was a short physical and a discussion with the surgeon and anesthesiologist. Finally I was wheeled to the OR. 

The surgery went well; it even took less time to repair the double hernia than it did to repair the single hernia I had in 2008 and I was in the recovery room before 10AM. Now the big question was could I urinate on my own after the operation? (My bladder went "on strike" for about a day and a half following the 2008 operation and I had to use a catheter until it worked again.) If the answer is "yes," then I would be sent home afterward, if "no," I would have to be admitted overnight with a catheter like in 2008.

Well, for once in this ordeal, something went right and I was able to urinate. Once that was determined, boy those nurses couldn't get Arnold and I out of the hospital fast enough! They're like, "gottagonowgottagonowgottagonowotherpeopleneedtherecoveryroomgohomenowgohomenow" and I'm going "ulllllhhhhhh" because I'm barely awake from the anesthesia and want just to lie back down and rest for a while, and the nurses are "gottagohomenowgottagonowgottagonowgottago..." When I told my mother about this she said, "I'm surprised they didn't make you mop the floor on the way out!"

The surgery went well like I said, but of course the body reacts to such intrusion by bruising, swelling and discoloration. Because of where the surgery was done, right now, basically my entire "private area" is swollen, bruised and discolored, which I'm not happy about. The doctor says it's normal, but that doesn't make it any less distressing. I sometimes think these doctors need to be a little more cognizant of the fact that what is "normal" is not normal for the patient! After all, I'm not on the operating table getting a hernia repaired every day of the week!

Congratulations! It sounds like everything went well. I hope you're feeling like yourself by now.

Quite a few years ago I had outpatient surgery to remove a bladder stone on a Friday. On Monday one of my students - a pleasant, courteous girl of eighteen or nineteen - came to see me in my office. She had some perfectly simple, minor question, which I answered in a few seconds. She said "Thank you," and got up to leave. Then, when she was halfway out the door, she stopped and said, "Dr. Tilley, did you by any chance have an operation at the hospital last Friday?" I said, "Why, yes, as a matter of fact I did." She said "Oh, thank goodness!" I said, "Ok, Ms. so-and-so, I give up. What in the world are you talking about?" She said, "Well, I had an operation too. And when I was waking up in the recovery room the first thing I heard was the sound of your voice. And I thought I must have died and gone to hl." 

At moments like that you really know you picked the right profession.

Fifth day after surgery: The swelling and everything "down there" is improving, but of course I still have a long ways to go as the entire healing process takes about six weeks. I'm still spending a lot of time with the ice bag over my lap.

Glad to hear things went well Jim.

"I thought I must have died and gone to h***."  Too funny, jtilley.

Slowly, slowly I'm feeling better; much of the swelling has gone down. I saw the surgeon for my follow-up appointment on the 29th and he was quite pleased with my progress even if I'm not as happy. I guess I just want things to be like they were before the surgery and frustrated with the glacial (to me) pace of recovery.

Jim,  I feel for you in this.  On Jan 18th, I had emergency surgery to remove 6" of my colon and my appendix, just for god measure and am now home recovering with a 6+ inch gash in my stomach south of the belt line.  About 3 inches of the gash is still open and needs to be packed every day.  Doc says I'm recovering nicely and should be able to go back to work by the end of this month.  Then in the middle of April sometime I'll have another surgery to put my intestines back together.  Keep the faith my friend, and know you will be getting better soon.

John

Good luck to you, John. What happened that you needed a piece of your colon removed?

Sunday was the one-month anniversary of my surgery, and I'm feeling better, although there is still persistent numbness in the area of my incisions. Hopefully that will go away.

Jim, I discovered that I had diverticulitus by the simple fact that they ruptured.  One Friday, I came home from work not feeling 100%, and woke up in excrutiating pain south of my belt line.  Toughed it out Saturday, thinking it might be some extreme intestinal bug, and when it wasn't better Sunday went to see the doctors and had emergency surgery.  I'm still home recovering, but I expect to go back to work in a couple of weeks.  The wounds are closing nicely, but I still have a couple of holes in me that probably will not be closed for a few weeks yet, and I am looking forward to another surgery in April to put my intestines back together so I go to the bathroom as Mother Nature intended, and not in a bag.  One day at a time.  Keep the faith, and I am glad things are working out for you.  If you still have some swelling issues, I understand that ginger is a natural remedy that helps with swelling.  Hope you feel 100% soon!

John

Hope you feel better, John!

Well guys I went back to work yesterday and have not passed out from exhaustion yet.  Actually, I'm doing pretty well and getting back into the swing of things.  Reconstruction is scheduled April 21, so I am looking at about another 6 weeks with a colostomy bag before things get fixed.  Wounds are healing nicely, but not done yet.  One day at a time.  Jim, thanks for the well wishes and glad you are feeling better as well.  

John