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Hernia Surgery scheduled

Posted by hogan_g1937 @hogan_g1937, Jul 19, 2018

Hi all, quick question my husband is scheduled to have his hernia removed on 7/31/2018. I am concern because we were told early on that they would remove the hernia during the transplant because it is to dangerous to remove now. He is in constant pain all day every day. Has anyone had a hernia removed before there transplant and if so how did it go?

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Jeanene Headlee | @jeanene | Jul 19, 2018

What transplant organ is he waiting on?

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Mentor
Rosemary, Volunteer Mentor | @rosemarya | Jul 20, 2018

@hogan_g1937, I am sorry to hear that your husband is in such pain.
Every surgery comes with risks and benefits. My feeling is that relief from the intense pain could be worth the risk if this is something that his transplant doctors agree with.
Is the transplant team going to be involved in the procedure ?
Rosemary

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1 reply
hogan_g1937 | @hogan_g1937 | Jul 23, 2018

Good morning, he is waiting on a liver

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1 reply
hogan_g1937 | @hogan_g1937 | Jul 23, 2018
In reply to @rosemarya "@hogan_g1937, I am sorry to hear that your husband is in such pain. Every surgery comes..." + (show)
@rosemarya

@hogan_g1937, I am sorry to hear that your husband is in such pain.
Every surgery comes with risks and benefits. My feeling is that relief from the intense pain could be worth the risk if this is something that his transplant doctors agree with.
Is the transplant team going to be involved in the procedure ?
Rosemary

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yes they are. I guess my main concern is early on his transplant doctors said no to the idea and that they would remove hernia during the transplant.

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jolinda | @jolinda | Jul 23, 2018

It is a scary process when plans change especially when preparing for something as important as an organ transplant. Although I am not a doctor it make sense to me that your husbands medical team would like to see him pain free and as healthy as possible as he waits for a new liver. Constant pain is incredibly fatiguing on every level: mentally, spiritually and physically. Have a candid conversation with your Mayo team so you can better understand the change of plan. Hopefully hernia surgery improves his quality of life and frees him from the constant pain he has been experiencing.

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5 replies
hogan_g1937 | @hogan_g1937 | Jul 23, 2018
In reply to @jolinda "It is a scary process when plans change especially when preparing for something as important as..." + (show)
@jolinda

It is a scary process when plans change especially when preparing for something as important as an organ transplant. Although I am not a doctor it make sense to me that your husbands medical team would like to see him pain free and as healthy as possible as he waits for a new liver. Constant pain is incredibly fatiguing on every level: mentally, spiritually and physically. Have a candid conversation with your Mayo team so you can better understand the change of plan. Hopefully hernia surgery improves his quality of life and frees him from the constant pain he has been experiencing.

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@jolinda Yes I am definitely praying for some pain relief and that the surgery goes well. Just nervous cause in the beginning he was told several times no to the hernia surgery. I guess I am wondering what changed their minds. I guess it really doesn't matter as long as he is relived of the pain that the hernia is causing.

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hogan_g1937 | @hogan_g1937 | Jul 23, 2018
In reply to @hogan_g1937 "Good morning, he is waiting on a liver" + (show)
@hogan_g1937

Good morning, he is waiting on a liver

Jump to this post

Yes he is

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Mentor
Rosemary, Volunteer Mentor | @rosemarya | Jul 23, 2018
In reply to @jolinda "It is a scary process when plans change especially when preparing for something as important as..." + (show)
@jolinda

It is a scary process when plans change especially when preparing for something as important as an organ transplant. Although I am not a doctor it make sense to me that your husbands medical team would like to see him pain free and as healthy as possible as he waits for a new liver. Constant pain is incredibly fatiguing on every level: mentally, spiritually and physically. Have a candid conversation with your Mayo team so you can better understand the change of plan. Hopefully hernia surgery improves his quality of life and frees him from the constant pain he has been experiencing.

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@hogan, I understand your concern and confusion. It is okay to talk to the transplant team about the reasons for the change. As the spouse/caregiver you naturally want to understand what is going to happen to your husband. Do you have a nurse coordinator that you can talk to?

From my experience, sometimes changes can happen quickly during the waiting time, and my transplant team was always alert and ready to respond appropriately. My husband was equally nervous and concerned while he stood by my side throughout my entire pre- transplant time.
Hugs and prayers,
Rosemary

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hogan_g1937 | @hogan_g1937 | Jul 23, 2018
In reply to @jolinda "It is a scary process when plans change especially when preparing for something as important as..." + (show)
@jolinda

It is a scary process when plans change especially when preparing for something as important as an organ transplant. Although I am not a doctor it make sense to me that your husbands medical team would like to see him pain free and as healthy as possible as he waits for a new liver. Constant pain is incredibly fatiguing on every level: mentally, spiritually and physically. Have a candid conversation with your Mayo team so you can better understand the change of plan. Hopefully hernia surgery improves his quality of life and frees him from the constant pain he has been experiencing.

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@rosemarya, My husband had a MRI, C-scan, and blood work done today. Just spoke with him and he informed me that his liver dr. has said no to the removal of the hernia. I hate when I am not able to attend his dr. appointments. I don't think he gets the information right or able to relate it back to me. So now he is depressed and upset cause he really want it removed he feels once they remove the hernia most of the pain that he is experiencing will be gone. confused

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Mentor
Rosemary, Volunteer Mentor | @rosemarya | Jul 23, 2018
In reply to @jolinda "It is a scary process when plans change especially when preparing for something as important as..." + (show)
@jolinda

It is a scary process when plans change especially when preparing for something as important as an organ transplant. Although I am not a doctor it make sense to me that your husbands medical team would like to see him pain free and as healthy as possible as he waits for a new liver. Constant pain is incredibly fatiguing on every level: mentally, spiritually and physically. Have a candid conversation with your Mayo team so you can better understand the change of plan. Hopefully hernia surgery improves his quality of life and frees him from the constant pain he has been experiencing.

Jump to this post

@hogan_g1937, I am so sorry to learn of this disappointment for your husband. I can understand how upset he must feel right now. In hindsight I can see where disappointments in my transplant time turned out to be blessings. I do hope that this is the case for the both of you.
I want to share with you that there many times when my husband and I (40 yrs married) sat in each others arms and cried like babies, because we were so confused and frightened. Our friends thought we were brave. Ha! There is no such thing when waiting and being so sick.
Did he travel a distance to his appointments? Will he be home tonight or tomorrow? Maybe he will have had time to process his thoughts and will be more ready to share the difficult conversation with you.
Hugs

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