My hernia is now in the hands of the gastro gods in Cairns.

[Brett11]

I’m worried! What if they say yes? Will I die? Will I be in icu for a long time? Will I be in pain?

What if they say no? Will I be glad?

It’s a strange feeling to have.

Ta,

Brett

[Hidden]

Hi

Please had something called fundoplication for my hernia and acid reflux, it worked wonders

Take care Lynne

[Brett11 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for that Lynne,

Mine is an umbilical hernia fundoplication is for hiatus hernias.

Cheers,

Brett

[GrandmaDylan]

I'm sorry Brett but I can't advise you but hopefully someone with more knowledge will be along soon with more information. Good luck, and try not to worry. Deb

[Brett11 in reply to GrandmaDylan]

Cheers Deb. I was a born worrier lol

[Hidden in reply to Brett11]

Sorry, I didn't know which hernia you had. Take care Lynne

[GrandmaDylan in reply to Brett11]

Me too Brett. Hence being on this site at 5am 😵

[Brett11 in reply to GrandmaDylan]

It’s not 5am. It’s 2:38 pm silly 😂

[Adelou]

Morning Brett,

Hubby had an umbilical hernia repair last February after it was cancelled twice due to low platelet count. His had to be done as the skin around the protruding article ( his alien 👽 as he called it) kept tearing & bleeding & it was getting too heavy. The first time he went in & came home they had marked him up for the op (still had the arrows on him when he came home) & then the bloods came back & it was a no, the same the 2nd time. If things are not right on the day they won't do it. The 3rd time they had extra staff in from the liver & bloods team in case complications arose or his stories became infected.

His procedure went well & was sent home the same day.

Hope it goes the way you want

[Brett11 in reply to Adelou]

Thanks for that. Was there any after effects?

[Adelou in reply to Brett11]

Not from the hernia op, that went well, the Issie was a month later when fluid got into his lung from his ascities leading to pneumonia triggering ecoli attack & sepis spent 10 days in ICU nearly lost him twice

Bit no the hernia op was a breeze

[Porphyriamaniac]

That's a lot of what if's Brett, I'm exactly the same though 😉. Think about it like this, you'll be in the best of hands, your cirhossis is as controlled as it can be at the minute too, I don't think they'd attempt anything that wasn't necessary and that big bugger probably needs out before it becomes an emergency. Wishing you all the best whatever they decide. Xxx

[Brett11]

Thanks Stacie

[IAintNoMensaBut]

Brett,

Of course every situation is different especially when it comes to anything having to do with cirrhosis. I had 2 umbilical hernia repairs in the span of 3 years. Both times were medical emergencies as it had incarcerated so it was "Call doctor (the first time...second time I knew what was happening), go to the ER (I think u call them A&E in England),and boom...I was in the OR within 3 - 4 hours of getting there. I had asked numerous times if I could have it fixed w/o it being incarcerated and I was given the answers "Not in a million years.", "Wouldn't touch it with a 10' pole.", etc. I guess it becoming an emergency was the secret in my case :^)

Each time I spent 2 days in the ICU and 2 - 3 more days in a step down unit. I saw labs during the days I was there for one of the procedures and they definitely took a hit (as hepatologist said 'Your livers not going to like this). Apparently any surgical procedures are dangerous with end stage liver disease. Increased chance of infection and difficulty treating that infection was one biggie they mentioned. But basically you're just at an increased chance of "something" happening, especially something related to the symptoms ur currently exhibiting from liver disease.

I'm going in Friday to finally meet with transplant surgeon now that all my testing is finished to see about getting on transplant list. No need to get nervous about that as I certainly won't be getting a transplant any time soon after being added to the list...my meld just isn't that high. Especially since I've quit drinking and have gone on a really low sodium diet to try and shed some ascites and shrink my hernia.

The hernia is what ultimately what drove me finally to pursue the transplant list. I just can't take it much longer. Its inguinal and my scrotum is the size of japan. So I'm basically recliner/bed bound. I don't go anywhere. I can't exercise. And it's painful between the sheer weight of it and any sort of chafing that might occur.I've lost 30 lbs and only have another 10 before I should be totally ascites free...except for my scrotum. As hepatologist explained since thats the low center of gravity it's almost impossible to empty it.

So I'm worrying much like u. Regardless of where I get on tx list I plan to ask/beg if they will fix my hernia as it is the one esld side effect that limits my life. Based on the series of 'no' answers to the surgery requests I've made I'm scared to death that they will just give me a knee jerk reaction That they won't do it. But hopefully 1. showing them how serious I am about this having lost 30 lbs ascites and 2. putting myself in much better shape by losing the ascites weight and stopping drinking they'll be more willing to do the surgery. I say all that to say that I'm not worried if they agree to the surgery...I've marked that off my list. I understand that I'm at increased chances of complications but willing to accept that. And I feel that the surgeon feels the same way...he understands the relative risks given my condition and won't agree to surgery if he thinks the risks outweigh the (grantedly increased by my liver disease) rewards.

So now I sit and worry that they will say no to the surgery.

As far as any after effects, other than the hit my liver took (as I understand it a lot of that is because the anesthesia is very hard on the liver) and seems to have rebounded from, I didn't have any after effects. One thing that I'm assuming will be the case as it was for me is that they will not do a proper fix (using a mesh). Too much chance of infection and with the ascites keeping everything wet in there the mesh just fails apart (which surgeon seemed to imply was a big problem with all that junk floating around in there.) So GI who did my first hernia repair said he would only put in a single stitch and that sticth WOULD eventually fail (as mine did but I didn't take care of my ascites). But if surgeon gives you the thumbs up then you can ask him/her how exactly it will be fixed.

Anyway, I'm rambling. I've had 2 umbilical hernias done and will not hesitate getting this inguinal hernia fixed if given the opportunity. But again, the state of your health and effects of esld are going to be different than mine. So I can't in good conscience say "Go for it!!" For that u'll have to depend on ur hepatologist and surgeon. Maybe that will take some worry away because it's not in ur hands right now. Once the doctor's answer and if they say yes, then you can constructively worry and ask questions pertinent to having the repair done.

This disease sucks. I wish u all the luck with whichever way it goes.

[Brett11]

Thanks Mr Mensa lol (nice name)

Yes! I will take that on board when the time comes. It’s also the fact that my hubby doesn’t want me to have it done as he’s afraid of losing me. I’m in Cairns, Australia but we follow closely to the UK/US way of doing things.

Cheers,

Brett

[kyia]

You may remember me posting about my other half's emergency umbilical hernia repair. He had been diagnosed with decompensated cirrhosis in October and his liver had become compensated in February. The consultant did not want to consider a planned repair at that point, due to the potential complications. One evening in March, the hernia became extremely painful and the A&E diagnosis was that it was strangulated. They repaired the hernia (not sure of the actual method, except that it involved a lateral incision, much like that done for a Caesarian) the next day and didn't spend any time in ICU. Once on the ward, however, he felt very ill, with projectile vomiting and was in hospital for several days. When he got home, he didn't feel too bad, soreness more than real pain, but within two weeks, he started to feel very "blah". His ascites returned and he had developed an infection. After a course of antibiotics and a drain, he felt much better. Since the end of April, there has been no recurrence of the ascites and no problems with the hernia repair. I hope this helps.

[Brett11]

Thanks Kaya.

I was thinking about that post earlier.

[Hidden]

Hi Brett I can't add anything as I know nothing but sending love and hugs and hope you get it sorted.

Laura xxx

[mncold]

Hi Brett11,

Hubby had a hernia repaired. The reasoning was that better to get if fixed before it became an emergency, especially with his liver disease.

Everything went well.

Wishing you the best,

Mary

[Brett11]

Cheers Mary