My Post Op Complication After Robotic Inguinal Hernia Repair

I am three months post op after having robotic repair of my inguinal hernias. While the 3 month result is very good there were some challenges along the way. You may also view the video I made during my initial post op period: • Doctor's Own Inguinal ...
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[@terrenceb4817]

Too bad about the SBO you had, but you got past that. I really appreciate a doctor's personal surgical stories / videos as they can lend support, comfort and information to those awaiting surgery. Your good "bedside manner" is something I wish more doctors and especially surgeons had. Unfortunately in most teaching hospitals the emphasis is more "See one, Do one" that results in cold calculating doctors with less empathy. Thank you for your honesty. And as a surgeon friend who had his own "not impressed" hospital stay told me, "Be your own 'patient advocate' to ensure a good outcome."

[@frugalfoot4973]

I appreciate your comment. Yes, you have to be your own advocate. Especially today.

[@segovian]

Dang. That's terrible to hear. Anesthesiologist here. That's why I elected to have both of my inguinal hernias repaired via the open approach. Sure, it's more painful after the surgery, but also there is less abdominal instrumentation. With the laparoscopic/robotic approach, there is way more manipulation of the intestines which leads to adhesions and subsequent small bowel obstructions.

[@frugalfoot4973]

Smart decision.

[@janetleeharrison]

Glad to hear that you are satisfied with the results, even after another painful 4 days in the hospital. Be safe getting back up to speed on your bike this year and have fun. Wishing you and your family continued success! Appreciate the honest update as always.🙂

[@frugalfoot4973]

Many thanks. I appreciate your comment.

[@gregl2249]

Great to hear you are ok love your channel and how you really care about us

[@frugalfoot4973]

Thanks for your comment gregl2249

[@user-ju3vu9np8k]

So, I am two weeks post surgery for the exact same thing. The first two days were kind of brutal, pain wise but, it was easily managed with Norco. I stopped taking Norco after day two and managed pain for a few days after that. The biggest complication I had was an allergic reaction to the steri-strips. I had a huge, pus oozing hive from my navel to my chest. That still hasn’t resolved completely but, it isn’t awful now. I’ve been treating it with prescription strength hydrocortisone and Benadryl. Other than that, I hope to soon be a side sleeper or tummy sleeper without pain because sleeping on my back kinda sucks. I can’t wait to be done with the weight restrictions, too. I’m chomping at the bit to be active again!

[@im1who84u]

I had open surgery and six days into post op. I am starting to be able to sleep on my side and very grateful for that.

[@Passion5092]

Thank you for sharing. Glad that you are doing well. God bless!

[@frugalfoot4973]

Many thanks. God bless you too.

[@carolschedler3832]

Blessings! Thanks for sharing this detail!

[@im1who84u]

3:15 I was going to ask that question. Thanks for answering it.

[@donmulder8061]

60 year old male but very fit and for the last nine years I ride 10 miles daily on a gravel bike, walk two miles, 30 minutes on an elliptical and do about 30 sets of strength training at the gym -- every day. Once I realized I had an inguinal hernia I stopped riding my bike because my new bike has one of those reverse grip handle bars (Specialized) and hard seats. My scrotal area started hurting even after I changed to a gel seat. And my right hip began hurting like I had become severely arthritic overnight. Same side as the hernia. Now 10 days after having open mesh repair and feeling good but do feel the mesh and still feel a burning pain in the incision area which is normal. Not so sure I am going to go back to biking and may just keep my daily exercise at the strength training (medium weights) and walking on a treadmill. I dont want to go through this again. All the hernia docs mine included say there is a one to three percent chance of recurrence. Thanks for sharing your experience.

[@im1who84u]

I am in my seventies and for the last twenty years have switched over to _low impact_ exercise and water aerobics.

[@elia.8993]

This is quite common in surgeries not all but as you mentioned anything can happen during surgery that could affect the overcome. I remember going for biopsy in 2005 and ended up having a open chest surgery to remove a 10cm tumor which was cancerous. They thought it was a different kind of tumor and decided to remove it completely. I was in complete shock when I woke up I was all cut up with a long incision and a big tube inside my mouth. I spent 5 days in the hospital because the tube itself messed up one of my vocal cords and could not eat for 5 days. Years after I still have the vocal cord paralyzed because of the tube and now I have to have a surgery to repair the vocal cord. I mean sometimes we can't control what happens when we go to surgery and any surgery no matter how small it is could have consequences years to come. I wish you a full recovery and stay well!

[@frugalfoot4973]

Thanks for your comment. I also wish you well.

[@briancloutier2781]

Thanks so much for the great info! I am getting my double hernias done today!

[@frugalfoot4973]

I wish you the very best and will keep you in prayer.

[@briancloutier2781]

Thanks! Just got home! Having my wife's chicken noodle soup

[@maxinemack9278]

Thank you for sharing.

[@robf2952]

I’m an Anesthesiologist and I have done many of these procedures and hate to say this but complications are relatively common with Robotic procedures. I hate doing anesthesia for them.

[@artkesh7452]

Why do specifically hate robotic, what’s the difference between the other procedures.

[@thepatternforms859]

What kind of complications are you talking about?

[@user-ju3vu9np8k]

Holy crap. That was not even cool to hear about the SBO but I really appreciate your forthcoming approach. I am scheduled for 26 April.

[@frugalfoot4973]

I am five months post op and have had no other issues. Have a good surgery. I'll keep you in prayer.

[@artkesh7452]

Could update us with your procedure ?

[@edddiscaya47]

Nothing to wori, You look great!!!!

[@im1who84u]

*Tips and information for recovering from Hernia Surgery if you live alone.* These are things you should do before you leave the house to go for surgery. This includes but is not limited to: Cook and prepare a week’s worth of meals and snacks before surgery. Meals that will be easy to pass through your digestive system. Things like vegetable soup with beans, carrots, celery…, oatmeal with prunes, egg salad, chicken salad, steamed carrots, broccoli, asparagus… low fat and low grease type foods. Snacks like apples, oranges, *ripe* bananas, all kinds of fruits and berries are good to keep things moving. Start taking a stool softener one or two days before surgery and then continue taking it when you get back home. Wear loose fitting clothes to the hospital and continue to do so when you get back home. Example: I took a shower that morning with an antibacterial soap, I wore clean socks, slippers, sweatpants with no underpants, a T-Shirt, and no jewelry of any kind. In a ziplock bag place your keys, ID card, a credit card, medical insurance cards, and give it to your driver to hold. Do not take your phone to surgery. Leave your phone at home, on your nightstand, and fully charged. Place something next to your toilet you can grab onto to help you get on and off the toilet. Do the same for your bed and other areas you may sit. Have toothpaste, toothbrush, and floss out and ready to use. A glass to use for water to rinse out your mouth. You’re not going to be able to bend over to _cup water_ into your hands. If you don’t already have a _grabber,_ get one. Place a thermometer on your nightstand and make sure it is in working order. Have on hand at least two ice packs that you can wrap a clean cloth around to put over the location of surgery and rotate them from the freezer as needed. This will keep the swelling down. Read your after surgery instructions and follow them. Listen to your doctor and follow his/her orders. Keep the wound area clean and GENTALY clean it with an antibacterial soap every morning and again before you go to bed at night. Have clean sheets on your bed. The next day get up and walk but be careful. I walked outside twice around the cul-de-sac four times a day starting the day right after surgery. Twice in the morning, once in the afternoon, and then again in the evening. Have plenty of water and Gatorade on hand, and before you leave for surgery place a few bottles on your nightstand, computer desk, kitchen table, kitchen counters, your television chair, and in your refrigerator. Drink plenty of liquids. At least four bottles per day. Take pain medication as needed but don’t overdo it. All pain medications can cause constipation and trust me, you don’t want that. A list of movies you may want to watch. I am not going to sugarcoat this for you. It’s going to be hard. The first three days are not going to be pretty, they are hard and tough, so be ready. It gets easier on your fourth day. Good luck and I hope this helps.

[@SuperLittleTyke]

Although I've had left and right inguinal hernias repaired, I suspect that the right one done 3 years ago has failed, as I am again getting pain and burning in the pubic region where the open surgery incision was made. The pain/burning completely goes away when I lie flat on my bed for 10 minutes. I can't feel a bulge that I can push back, but I reckon the right side is going to have to be done again. This is when your advice points above will be really useful. After my recent hernia repair 3 years ago, recovery was -very- painful. It took a week for the pain to subside noticeably. For the first two days I hardly moved from my bed it was that bad. So not looking forward to the repeat!

[@im1who84u]

@@SuperLittleTyke Thank you for sharing. I hope my tips help you. This is the first time I had any kind of surgery like this and I tried to think of all the prep work I needed to do for when I got home. I only thing on that list I missed for myself was I didn't think about a grabber. Fortunately one of my friends had one she wasn't using and let me use hers. I have since gotten my own and I am glad to have it. You also might want to think about getting an extra long shoehorn to help get your shoes on. I have one that's a combination shoehorn back scratcher about two feet long.

[@SuperLittleTyke]

@@im1who84u Got one of those already! Also have had two grabbers for years because of stiff knees (osteoarthritis). One is kept handy on a hook upstairs. They are so cheap and plasticky, yet they seem to last for years. I've also got a sock puller.

[@im1who84u]

@@SuperLittleTyke The grabber I bought is probably a little _overkill,_ but I plan on continuing to use it beyond my recovery for hard to reach items that are in high places in my home. Mostly jars, cans, and bags of food on high storage shelves in my pantry. It's an _Unger Professional 36” Nifty Nabber_ I got it off Amazon for $20.00 and it's rated for lifting medium to heavy objects.

[@donnalthood3102]

Just had open Inguinal repair with mesh 2 days ago...surgery and after effects seem textbook...however in PACU my SpO2 was 78....woke up with an Oxygen mask quickly weaned to a cannula...then promptly had an asthma attack while my primary Nurse moved a patient out...I was absolutely taken care of by other Nurses nearby..still

[@FatLittleOldLady]

My boyfriend got the double inguinal and I didn't let him do anything for well over a month. I still fuss at him if he tries to carry anything heavy because he had his hernia ever since even before I moved in with him 9 years ago, so he needs to go back to doing things slowly. $ days in hospital after surgery. I will tell him of your tale so maybe he will listen. Thanks.

[@davidbutler8096]

3 hours? Damn...good thing you were asleep the whole time, lol. Seeing a specialist on Monday...lots of different opinions here, but most agree the pain in the first few days after is intense. Of course, the pain meds constipate you, another lol. Thanks for your invaluable insight.

[@3cardmonty602]

Were you having any type of bowel troubles beforehand? I’ve been told that I have a very small inguinal hernia on my right lower abdomen that a surgeon believes is a “fatty hernia” and “if it doesn’t bother me, don’t bother with it” he told me. I do occasionally get gas or bowel Matter stuck in that area and I move it along manually with my hands. I take magnesium citrate and stool softeners everyday to make sure everything moves. I can’t eat any cheese, because that causes problems.

[@frugalfoot4973]

I was having no bowel troubles beforehand.

[@elia.8993]

@@frugalfoot4973 Did you take stool softeners? When I had my big surgery I was told to take stool softeners to prevent bowel movement problems. It took me like 3 weeks to have my bowel movement back to normal after lots of water and stool softeners thanks to the anesthesia.

[@jortega1950]

Why the cheese

[@jameshillock4299]

Thanks for your videos. I just had the bilateral inguinal hernia repair just over a week ago. Still have a small bulge on the right side. I assume it is just swelling, but would like to know if you still had a bulge after surgery. Just to ease my mind. Thanks. 👍

[@frugalfoot4973]

I did too. In my situation it was just swelling.

[@jameshillock4299]

@@frugalfoot4973 thank you for the reply. 👍

[@sahwillnabilanwar]

Does SBO happen with all cases ?

[@frugalfoot4973]

No. It is uncommon - especially so soon after surgery.

[@veerabhadraiahthippeswamy5812]

I have swelling in groin area after inguinal hernia surgery almost 3 weeks still not reduced please advice

[@felixalfonso5703]

I had this procedure done last year in June and my testicle was swollen for like a good month and a half but it will go back to normal don't worry about it it's just fluid that retains and there were the hernia used to reside at. Take care you will be fine..

[@TheGravygun]

@@felixalfonso5703was your scrotum the size of a grapefruit cuz that's where I'm at one week after surgery. I cannot get comfortable and I cannot sleep well I am in a lot of pain any info would be appreciated. It's really affecting me

[@drhakangok]

Did they obtain a CT scan when you hospitalized for bowel obstruction?

[@frugalfoot4973]

Yes, they did.

[@drhakangok]

@@frugalfoot4973 What did they see in the scan? Any report?

[@daktarioskarvannederhosen2568]

why are you so concerned about having been anaesthetised for 3hrs as opposed to the 1.5hrs?

[@patriciavarela7487]

Is terrible 😕...A bowel obstruction is terrible 😕...It happens to me after my surgery...I got scared 😱....THANKS GOD...I'M BETTER😂❤

[@gotmilk1331]

Does the mesh hurt at all I’ve seen other complain about pain

[@frugalfoot4973]

I have had no issues with the mesh so far. I am almost five months post op.

[@thepatternforms859]

How was your mesh fixated?