Jackie, I meant to ask you about your upcoming incisional hernia repair and got sidetracked with mouth ulcers and forgot. I also have hernia (s) that need to be repaired. They wait at least 6 months post transplant for any nonemergency major surgeries and it was 6 months on April 15th that I was blessed with the gift of life!

I recently had an ultrasound done and it shows an epigastric hernia, as well as an umbilical one, and possibly one on the right side of my abdomen near the incision line. The abdominal hernia diagnosis was not conclusive with the ultrasound imaging, but there is a lot of bulging on that side so it's likely. I have been referred to a general surgeon and he ordered a CT scan (April 30th) and I'll see him on May 13th. I haven't actually seen the surgeon to have the opportunity to ask questions. My transplant team doctors refer me back to him because it's not their specialty, which is fair.

Do you know which type of surgery you'll be having? I researched and it said there are three types: open hernia repair, laparoscopic hernia repair and robotic hernia repair. Also, will you have to be hospitalized, or will it be a day surgery? I dread the thought of being hospitalized again, but if it requires admission to the hospital I hope I will be in and out ASAP. At any rate, I assume it will be a lot easier than transplant surgery!

Also, curious about your immunosuppressant meds with your upcoming surgery. Do you know if they'll change your medications before surgery? I'm on MMF (1000 mg twice a day) and Sirolimus (2 mg once a day). No longer on Prednisone. Apparently Sirolimus can cause problems with wound healing which may have contributed to the hernias (Tacrolimos caused severe neurotoxicity) so I'm wondering if they'll change anything. I'm sure it's all individually based at the discretion of our expert teams, but I'm still curious about others experiences. Thanks, Jackie or anyone else who has had a hernia repair post transplant and would like to answer my questions or offer advice! Sorry for writing a book, I tried to condense it but I can see t's still really long 🙂