Having my first surgery in 6-8 weeks

Scottwax · 10-03-08, 09:52

Just got back from talking to the surgeon. My umbilical hernia has progressed in the 10 years I've had it to an open ventral hernia. He is going to have to make an incision (instead of doing laparoscopic surgery) in what used to be my belly button to sew in some mesh since I have about a half dollar sized hole in my abdominal wall.

Why have I waited so long? Other than having a golf ball sized belly button, physically it very rarely causes me any discomfort. Why get it fixed then? When I got in a car wreck last fall (my 626 got rear ended), the doctor I saw submitted claims to my health insurance even though I was suing the insurance company of the person who hit me. Anyway, it reduced my deductable for this year from $2,250 to $890. Minus whale get it done while I can save $1300 out of pocket, amirite?

Never had surgery, hell, other than seeing a chiropractor after being hit from behind in car accidents and physicals, I haven't been to a doctor in 25 years.

bigfoot · 10-03-08, 10:02

Hope you recover well and fast!

Sludge · 10-03-08, 10:26

Scott,

My 77 year old father had two separate hernias repaired this year (both requiring mesh). His hernias were 40+ years old. He was home same day on both and was out walking in street clothes the day after the second surgery. He recently told me the surgeries were the best thing he had done in a while.

You will do great and be back to work in no time. Best of luck to you.

Sludge

lawrencea · 10-03-08, 02:35

In 4 weeks Im going for new knees . 3 days in the hospital and 5 days in a nurseing home and 6 weeks later the other knee. Theres a lot of crap going on in the next few months.

BigAl3 · 10-03-08, 02:42

scott, hope you have a safe and speedy recovery!

NCZ13 · 10-03-08, 02:54

im still waiting to hear back for my shoulder, i might need surgery because its popped out so many times now.

good luck and i hope you have a fast recovery!

TSIBrian · 10-03-08, 03:40

Hope its a quick recovery.

Im recovering from some surgery myself. Going on hip surgery #5 and while I should have been back to work in mid august its going on october and Im still not working yet. Had the surgery back in may, missed pretty much the whole summer for detailing and since I live in michigan its starting to get cold now. On the other hand its given me plenty of time to spend on autopia

Monte78Carlo2k1 · 10-03-08, 04:31

I've had six surgeries in my short life time and the second time when I was 5 or 6 I decided that I didn't want to go under so I tried to hold my breathe. Don't try that they will win! I learned that hard way.

Then the last time as I was coming out of the anaesthesia I was in the recovery room and apparently I was flirting with all the nurses and very talkitive and funny. Then my parents and gf came in to see me and I was still flirting with the nurses opps. I heard about that for the next month from my gf. I got special attention everything I wanted and more from the nurses they enjoyed me.

OH and ask about warm blankets thee best thing ever! Better than electric blankets. The feeling of those things are amazing. I ask for them every time I have to goto to hospital for my monthly test/check up.

rwisejr · 10-03-08, 07:43

Hope all goes well and a speedy recovery !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

suki22 · 10-03-08, 08:22

Sure you will do fine...have a speedy recovery............

Accumulator · 10-04-08, 11:58

ScottWax- Hope everything goes well, pretty sure it will.

I had two inguinal hernias done in the '90s, one conventionally, the other laparoscopically. You'll probably feel that incision for a while and you just might "feel the mesh" (as I still say during some ab workouts) forever, at least to some extent. It's not really discomfort once things heal up, but it can feel a little weird (hey, it that stuff staying fixed

sort of feeling).

I bet you'll end up being glad you had it done and I'll be looking forward to hearing how it goes.

Sullybob · 10-04-08, 12:08

Good luck Scott. I wish you a speedy recovery.