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Fri May 14, 2010 8:42 pm

Anyone ever have a hernia surgery? I had an operation on Monday. Was putting it off, but i'm changing insurance, so I finally had the surgery done since my deductible was met with my current insurance.

This was my first surgery. I was pretty dang nervous. Actually, it was my first time to get an IV too. I've never liked getting shots, so it was strange to have a needle semi-permanently attached to my hand. Getting anesthesia was interesting. I've heard how quickly it works from other people, but I didn't expect it to work so well. I wasn't tired at all, and I thought, for some reason, that it would take me longer to get knocked out. I remember the anethesia Dr. asking me a question, and then I was thinking of the answer, but couldn't say it out loud.

Then, the next thing I remember was waking up in the recovery area. The nurse asked if I wanted ice chips, and that sounded the the best thing I was ever offered. I was so fricken thirsty. The nurse also asked if I was in pain, and on a scale of 1-10 where I was at. I started out at about a 7, and she gave me something in my IV. I asked for that once again before leaving recovery. That stuff was awesome!

Funny, they were asking the lady next to me all kinds of questions. She didn't know where the hell she was, who she was or what was going on. I was trying not to laugh. My answers all made sense to me, but who knows.

Man, I underestimated how much pain I would have post surgery. Day 5, and I'm still slow to get up or sit down. And, how bored I would be sitting/laying down so long.

Fri May 14, 2010 9:33 pm

When you feel the little sting in the IV, it is "Good night Gracie".

Fri May 14, 2010 10:31 pm

Notched wrote: Anyone ever have a hernia surgery?

Yes, when I was 2 years old.

Sat May 15, 2010 2:36 am

I have had 10 surgeries and I can say that no two were alike. The better the anestheiologist the better you will feel in recovery. Every time they put me down I always wonder if I will come back. I'm thinking eventually the odds will be against me!

Sat May 15, 2010 4:59 am

Ive had 3 hernia surgeries- Do your self a favor and get up and start walking around. The more you move the faster the recovery. Did they do it through orthoscopy or did they slice you open like a tuna? Ortho is excellent- I was back to work in 4 days.

Sat May 15, 2010 6:24 am

Sliced me open like a tuna. :lol: My doctor, who was the surgeon, recommended this procedure over orthoscopic because I only had one hernia on my right side.

I'm kinda wondering if I've been walking enough. Seems that it would be best to walk a little more and more each day. I don't think I've pushed myself enough.

Sat May 15, 2010 7:14 am

I had two hernia operations, one on each side, '94 and '02. Both times I was awake for the surgery - just local anesthesia and I was cut wide open. I remember it hurt like hell to cough or sneeze. The first one I had done is fine but the second still bothers me a bit once in a while. Probably didn't take it easy enough during the recovery period.

Sat May 15, 2010 7:37 am

So, Canadian healthcare doesn't cover anesthesia? :lol:

Sat May 15, 2010 9:07 am

A little Versed, a little Fentanyl, and instantly the world is a rockin' place to be and the prospect of being gutted like a fish sounds like a wonderful idea.

If you ever get a chance to have a Morphine pump, embrace it with open arms. They have a lock-out so you can't hit the button too often and get too much, but if you hang in there you can get really, really loaded before the lights go out. The most I've had was 14mg, and I was on another plane of existence.

Sat May 15, 2010 9:17 am

Ya, my friend was on a morphine pump. Said it was the best thing. Amost as good as sliced bread hand fed to you by a team of naked cheerleaders. :D

Sat May 15, 2010 11:26 am

Notched wrote: Amost as good as sliced bread hand fed to you by a team of naked cheerleaders.

High school or college cheerleaders?

Sat May 15, 2010 11:49 am

Hernia surgery. WAH

Try bladder cancer, testicular cancer, kidney cancer.
Where they cut you open and remove about everything, and then sew you back up.

Sat May 15, 2010 4:36 pm

I know. I shouldn't complain. My nephew has had bone cancer and lung cancer. He's had more surgeries than anyone I know personally. Actually has a cadaver femur in one leg.

Sun May 16, 2010 9:54 pm

My 13 year old son is having a stent put in his kidney in 6 weeks. Robot assisted laparoscopic nephroplasty at Good Samaritan in Portland. He's had a non draining kidney since birth that we just found a few months ago. I'm scared as hell.

Sun May 16, 2010 10:50 pm

stealth67vw wrote: My 13 year old son is having a stent put in his kidney in 6 weeks. Robot assisted laparoscopic nephroplasty at Good Samaritan in Portland. He's had a non draining kidney since birth that we just found a few months ago. I'm scared as hell.

Only the best wishes for your young son. [-o<

Mon May 17, 2010 12:53 am

I had the surgery a couple years back. I couldn't do much during the recovery other than sit in bed.

Mon May 17, 2010 2:50 am

69 Jim wrote: stealth67vw wrote: My 13 year old son is having a stent put in his kidney in 6 weeks. Robot assisted laparoscopic nephroplasty at Good Samaritan in Portland. He's had a non draining kidney since birth that we just found a few months ago. I'm scared as hell.

Only the best wishes for your young son. [-o<

I'll second that. [-o<

Mon May 17, 2010 3:45 am

stealth67vw wrote: My 13 year old son is having a stent put in his kidney in 6 weeks. Robot assisted laparoscopic nephroplasty at Good Samaritan in Portland. He's had a non draining kidney since birth that we just found a few months ago. I'm scared as hell.

That sucks to hear John. I know exactly how you feel. When my daughter Megen was about 8 months old, she got sick, and we realized that it wasn't a typical cold. She had a crazy fever and was sweating. We took her to emergency at the hospital, and they admitted her right away. They gave her IV antibiotics. They discovered that her Escherichia coli (E. coli) count was through the roof!! I had no idea at the time, but E. coli is naturally in the body. But her count was off the chart.

The IV meds worked perfectly, and they got her stable. We eventually found out via ultrasound and other tests that she had kidney reflux in both kidneys. One kidney was down to about 25% capacity. Her Dr. suggested we wait until she hit 2 years old, and then she'd be old enough to have surgery. From 8 months to 2 years she was on antibiotics as a preventative. And these made her cranky!! (I think this is why her nick name is Brat-Brat) :lol:

Anyway, she had surgery, and it was successful. They repaired the ureters on both sides, and both are working properly. Basically, her ureters didn't go into her kidneys far enough, and the natural one-way check valve wasn't working. They cut them off and pushed them further into her kidneys. She's 100% better, and both kidneys are at 100% function. =D>

My daughter is about to turn 15, for those that don't know me.

Let me know if you need anything John.

Mon May 17, 2010 7:13 am

Good luck John. It is not that bad if they do a laproscopy.
If he/she is a good, he will be up and about in a few days.

I have to have one done every 3-6 months, due to scar tissue in my man made bladder. They have to clear the scar tissue that forms, from the 1 ureter that I have left.
They do mine on outpatient basis.

Tue Dec 27, 2011 10:32 am

Going in today at 1pm for a left side Hernia and umbilical Hernia, no insurance, the hospital here in MT Shasta has some type of a financial aid program......more worried about the final bill than the recovery right now
As of now the doc is talking about 2 separate incisions, hopefully recovery will be quick and I can get my trans and motor buttoned up for the MT Shasta Snow Trip VII(wishful thinking on my part :lol:)