Hernia surgery and CLL.

[Claybuster]

I am scheduled for laproscopic inguinal hernia repair next week. Has anybody had it? How was the recovery? Anything to be aware of with my CLL?

[Panz]

Yes, I had the procedure and a mesh was put in and all went smoothly and it was the best…..all was as put to me. Recovery was easy! You won’t regret it!

Panz 🙏☘️💕🙂

[Claybuster]

Jammin_me, will do! I will keep you posted on the process. I am also on blood thinners and just tested negative for covid after a bout with THAT disease. This should be interesting!

[PJ60]

I had a large right sided inguinal hernia when I was about 39 years old. I had a laparoscopic mesh repair which was entirely uneventful.I felt so good the next day I went for a 2 km walk. I must say that was a mistake because I overdid it but overall I can’t believe how well it went and then I felt so strong afterwards.This was before my CLL diagnosis. But if you are healthy there should be no problems.

[teakbank12]

I've had an incisional hernia since my last bowel operation in 2013.Surgeon has been unwilling to do it especially during my FCR in 2016 then with covid and all my other comorbidities it's still awaiting.

Same with two totally ruptured rotator cuffs.

Same with gallstones.

I had work colleagues who had mesh repairs and often they don't work for long.

I just hold my stomach when getting up etc.

Dave

[Harvist]

I had a mesh inserted about 25 years ago without problem and 4 years ago needed a repair operation. I was and still am on W&W so no adjustments necessary. I am also Type 1 diabetic so my blood sugar levels had to be monitored but again no problems.

I was back to "normal" within 2 weeks. A great relief.

Good luck!

[paulgf54]

HI i have high count mbl so this didn't affect my surgery. Last year i had an inguinal hernia repair and umbilical hernia repair both with mesh. at the same time. At the time of surgery they changed it to open surgery as it couldn't be done laparoscopically. i had a lot of swelling and extensive bruising. I found the anesthetic knocked me a bit, and as i have peripheral neuropathy my saliva dried up completely for a few hours post surgery so i couldn't eat food.I took it easy for a week , and couldn't walk far. Initially it was a little painful perhaps more than i expected but it wasn't really explained to me what to expect. Then there was the mandatory no lifting period afterwards. I also got a temporary ridge along the wound which i was told is quite normal, and permanent numbness below the incision site.

However if the other side needed doing i wouldn't hesitate to get it done.

I have heard laparoscopic surgery is a better way to go.

[SlowCLL]

Yes, I had been catching-up on a lot of deferred medical issues between Covid waves and had an Umbilical Hernia repaired at the end of March, the day after an Evusheld injection. The extra antibodies seemed like a good idea.

Post-surgery issues included needing to use a laxative to restart the bowels, no pain meds needed. Spent the next two weeks sleeping in a reclining chair instead of a bed, this made sitting up much less stressful. No lifting anything heavier than a half-gallon of milk for six weeks.

Ten weeks later I feel fine.

Good luck,

Owen

[Bijon3]

I had regular inguinal hernia surgery eight weeks ago. I am in treatment for CLL (on LOXO trial). I was off the drug for three days before and three days after. Surgery took less that 40 minutes and I healed very well, no complications! There was some pain for the first week, handled with regular tylenol. I did the regular surgery rather that laproscopic because of less time under anesthesia. I am in my early 80's, you should do fine.

[OSUfan]

Had inguinal hernia repair with mesh just before starting Calquence the very next month last sept.No problem with surgery except for reluctance of surgeon to give me strong enough opiod pain killers. Said he did not want to addict me, an 84 year old man. Way too much pain in recovery, but surgery itself went very well.

Understand that many doctors in USA do not want to do proper pain management that they used to because they are afraid of the federal government arresting them for over dossing. So, many patients suffer needlessy.

[Teddo]

76 yo male on w+w. Had it done Sep 2021. Experience similar to Panz. Post op pain was quite manageable. Did not req heavy duty painkillers. Be prepared for some lingering minor pain/ sensitivity for several mos due to nerves being implicated. It was my oncologist who explained to me about minor nerve damage, if that's the right term. May not happen to you.

BTW, I had surgical repair on the same side for hernia 20 years earlier which did not hold up. Lap. surgery and a better mesh is now state of the art. Post op pain was much worse 20 yrs ago.

Good luck.

[ddb25]

Hi Clay, during my inguinal hernia surgery, my CLL was actually diagnosed. The surgeon saw a suspicious lymphnode and it was extracted and pathology showed CLL/SLL. No symptoms and all other bloodwork normal. Obviously I had CLL before the surgery but just didn't know it. The day after surgery, I had excessive bruising, "down there" which cleared quickly and I also had a side effect called seroma. It's where the body replaces moved or removed tissue with fluid. Very painful. and it started about a week after. Neither one is being attributed to CLL as bruising is very common. Seromas are less common, but not uncommon, and not connected to CLL to my knowledge. I would ask about ways to ensure prevention of those since they were excruciating at times.Good Luck Pal

[Claybuster]

Hi Jammin_Me Well,I completed the laproscopic inguinal hernia surgery on May 24. I am doing well, with almost no pain 2 weeks out. The first 3 days I took it easy but was able to walk around the house and yard. No heavy lifting for 4 to 6 weeks. It does feel a little odd down there, but some tell me that is normal. I see my surgeon tomorrow. I have some bruising, still, around my belly button and in the private areas. The bruising may be caused by my ingestion of Xaralto, due to prior blood clots. They did intubate me and I had a sore throat and developed an odd cough. I had COVID in Mid April so I am not sure if this cough is a remnant of COVID, from the intubation tube, or just a run of the mill infection. Not a bad surgery, but I am very active and having to curtail my activities is driving me crazy.

I asked the surgeon about any enlarged lymph nodes, she said she saw none. She has done other CLL patients and did notice lymph nodes........she just goes around them!

Good luck.