Inguinal Hernia Mesh Repair Pain

Hello Ross and every guys who responded to his problem.
The Mayoclinic communication director Colleen Younge has advised me to contact this group in hope to get the answer for myself.
I am woman 83. Canadian.
Facing the inguinal hernia surgery.
The surgeon states -the laparoscopy with mesh under general anaesthesia.
In the 2 method of surgeries , I have read in the searches reports ,
each have some pros and cons.
I have feeling that the open surgery can give better result, though it might be more pain and longer recovery .
Two issues that concern me the most is general anaesthesia versus local in open surgery.
(After my breast cancer lumpectomy surgery a general anesthesia affected my heart arrhythmia and the heart rate, that
was difficult to stabilize.)
Now I am reading the mesh’s insertion has the draw back, though it’s promoting as a reliable repair with faster recovery and less re-operative cases.
My questions to you are: why didn’t you do open surgery without mesh ? Was it offered to you?
We have Shouldice hospital, that is doing open hernia surgery without mesh and under local anesthesia .
it’s longer recovery. and perhaps others draw back that isn’t widely pronounced . Hard to trust doctors these days !!
How are you all these days?
Best of all.
Thank you

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Hello monigue

I am a female and have an inguinal hernia. It is small right now. I was offered surgery to repair the hernia.
I have been reading on the long term chronic pain women experience after this hernia repair.

I am in Canada too and have this option for surgery, but am confused if I should go through with it… the long term problems with nerve issues from mesh are kind of scaring me.
I’m curious to hear from females who have had this surgery and their experiences. If you or any other women would like to share, I would appreciate it?
Thank you everyone.
🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽

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I am a 73 year old female in the same situation. My hernia doesn't usually cause me problems except when it "pops out" and then I ease it back into place (it's a bit smaller than a golf ball then). I wear a truss during the day. You don't mention your age, but at 73 I am doing watchful waiting because of fears of greater pain after surgery. I read an article from Dr Keith W. Roach who said the only reason to have the surgery was to prevent problems. Younger people have more time for the hernia to stretch out. He said "the liklihood of an emergency developing is small (less than 5% risk over the next 20 years) and it's entirely reasonable to watch if any symptoms develop and wait to do surgery then." Dr Roach writes a syndicated column answering health questions. You can find some of his writings, including this article, on-line and on his Facebook page.

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