Experiences with hernia

@topf
Not so far, but wonder why the swollen area that is in same area as mesh. It is sore sometimes, but not bad real bad. Some weight lifting does seem to pull on that area and it's a bit painful so I stop and go to another machine. Never had this issue prior to surgery. The thing is, is this swollen area from the hernia repair they did (that wasn't needed) or from the RP??? Hopefully next months I will get some answers, so far nobody is commenting on MRI results from swollen area, basically say just watch it.
This is what they said in MRI about swollen area:
NODES: No adenopathy is present. A well-circumscribed T2 hyperintense 5.6 x 2.7 x 4.5 cm mass is present in the right external iliac region, most likely a lymphocele or seroma. No nodular or solid enhancement present in this mass.
I am not sure how bad hernia needs to get before surgery, but you sure don't want it to get too bad. The thing is we knew about mine and it never got worse or wouldn't even know I had one if not for cough test and you could just barely feel it for all those years.

@diverjer Thanks! I started to notice a discomfort when running. PCP believes it’s a hernia, but still needs to be confirmed by ultrasound

@diverjer
Clearly I would imagine the size mass whether a lymphocele or seroma that is clearly seen on your MRI is causing your swelling which can be common as a complication after surgery. Clearly they do definitely see a mass. That is good for you to get an answer that this is not just something your imagining of your swelling. However, at this point it may need to be surgically drained and that is why they want to just watch it. But if it has been past several months it is not likely to resolve on it’s own.

Hello Topf, my husband got diagnosed with a (new) hernia a few months after His RARP. The experts say that He can leave it untreated for the time being. They saw a tiny hole on the other Side as well but said, nothing to worry about. After Lifting kind of heavy bags he got an ache on THIS side and it turned out that he had an acute hernia which needed immediate repair.

We were told before that for him open surgery without mesh would be preferable after RARP and before potential radiation. In the hospital where he had had the actual surgery at the other side, they also voted for an open approach. It was no problem, my husband had a fast recovery. As far as I understood, the advantage of open surgery is that they don't have to go so deeply into the tissue. We live in Germany. Unfortunately every hernia is different and with herniae you never know.

The surgery had not be performed by our chosen Team but this Type of surgery is the number one thing a General surgeon has to perform. And I don't think it is overly complicated.

@cath57 Thank you! That mirrors in part what I had read. That surgery should be open because of scar tissue deeper down.

I had a inguinal hernia repair last January, 18 months after my RALP. I had a noticeable bulge, and could feel a "pop" whenever I coughed or sneezed. Surgery was robotic, with a mesh. The surgeon said that it took longer than normal because of the extensive scarring from the prostatectomy. I went home the same day, and recovery was less painful than the RALP. Two weeks no lifting & minimal activity, then four more of limited lifting. I felt discomfort in my scrotum for a few weeks. I am still careful when I sneeze or cough.

My PCP made the surgical referral, and of course, my insurance had a say. My surgeon said he was comfortable doing it robotically, but I think that was because that was all he does.

@wheel1
They did it on April 30, 2026 and don't seem to like for me to even mention it, but that was a month ago. Another appt middle next month and I will bring it up as well as ED and stress incontinence which is much better, but I want zero. Now getting 7 - 11 ML in a 24 hour period. Also, middle of next month another PSA test. Want to know what the PSA is, but then also worry it will be bad. Sometimes I think I wish they had a home PSA test, but then I say no that would be bad, I be testing every day.

@marlon
Somewhere I think I read where after RALP you are more likely to get inguinal hernia, maybe that was his reason to take and fix mine that I had for decades with no problems?

@diverjer
That would be understandable, although it seems clear that you did not want that done, and he never discussed that with you prior.

Yup, been there, done that. This is actually quite common and I found “the guy” who does this surgery in our area. The surgery was uneventful though he did use the mesh solution due to my prostrate cancer. Modest recovery of 1 week light lifting and no golf. Then onward. Another reminder to get to the gym every day and build or retain muscle in stomach and back.