Hernia surgery post prostatectomy

Inguinal is in the lower belly right next to where your abdomen meets your hip joint.
Umbilical is near the navel - and that’s the one that seems to be most common. I was pissed off when I read that my umbilical incision (pretty sure that’s where the camera goes in and the prostate comes out) was not closed with sutures, but just the medical equivalent of Krazy Glue.
It might have held had I not had a few high pressure events on the toilet; all that straining can really mess things up!

I had two hernias removed. My surgeon did this the old fashion way. He wanted to avoid scare tissue from my surgery. My Dr. removed both hernias at the same time. It’s been three years now and there are no side effects! However, my bladder control was affected for about two months. Since then, it been fine, which I’m grateful.

YES , hernia is common at Belly Button ( and other areas ) with surgery . They dont usually tell you about this . I have one that needs attending to ! God Bless Sir .

It should be hernia.

Wondering about the correctness of calling an umbilical hernia "inguinal", as it doesn't pass through the inguinal canal. Could a physician comment on this?

Thanks for the advice and support. It's comforting just knowing I'm not an anomaly.

All I can offer is to say that hernia repair is one of the most unsuccessful surgeries around; I’ve heard way too many stories of relapse after relapse.
I have an incisional hernia near my navel from prostatectomy and so far have not had to do anything about it - luckily!
I keep looking online for a surgeon who fixes them the old fashioned way - with sutures only - but good luck with that.
This mesh nonsense keeps getting pushed as the “Canadian method” but that’s BS. The Shouldice Clinic in Canada uses many, many sutures for hernia repair - not mesh.
In fact, Sen Rand Paul had his own hernia done there at a cost of $14K and he’s a surgeon himself.
But your case sounds more extensive with multiple sites so mot sure what can be done…keep looking!

I had a prostatectomy on March 22 of 20222 by Dr Steven Sukin (who never mentioned anything about possible post surgery hernia risk) and developed an inguinal hernia on the left side a year later. I put off surgery for a year with the hope I could somehow "heal" it myself but it just got worse. By the time I had the surgery at Methodist Hospital (Houston, TX) by Dr Drew Howard of Woodlands Surgical Group on August 5, 2024, it had developed into two (or three) hernias with a small one on the right, and the left side extending down into my scrotum area. After surgery the Dr told my wife that there was extensive scar tissue, which, I assume made the operation more complicated, but I remember telling Dr Howard prior to surgery that I had a prostatectomy just a year prior, so he should have been expecting some scar tissue. I felt ok for the first 4 weeks or so after surgery, but began to feel a small inguinal hernia protruding on the right side and went in for an office visit on September 16, during which he briefly examined me and said it was probably just fluid, and that "solid tissue could not pass through the mesh". I wanted to believe him, so I thanked him and left, only to suffer an ongoing and increasing hernia on the right side, with occasional pain on the left. I am wondering what the best way to proceed might be? I purchased a couple hernia supports on Amazon that help some, but I am an active 70 year old and need to get this fixed properly.

I agree completely with you, I prefer to push things out to see what happens and if it does not bother me to leave it alone. Two weeks ago I had a CT scan and they found a large minimally complex hepatic cyst ((13cmx12cmc12cm). While I was told it was not likely to be cancerous and nothing worrisome I questioned whether it should be removed because my daughter felt I should question it. I am now being sent to a surgeon at the beginning of April to discuss it and my daughter talked to her gastroenterologist and she said anything larger than 5 cm should be removed.
My highest priority on my list is to get sleep, the urinary frequency gets me up every 45 to 60 minutes. I feel so much better when I get sleep. As you say the best thing is to discuss this with my PCP which I intend to do, he is very good. The surgeon will probably say I have to have the cyst removed, my urologist will probably say I should have an AUS put in (because of my ongoing nerve issues in the pelvic area and the intense pain it can cause I will not go for it, I will endure the incontinence) and the oncologist will monitor my PSA. All I want to do is get clear of doctors and enjoy my grandchildren. Wishing everyone happiness always.

Good question. I have a bulge where the camera port was for my laproscopic surgery. Doesn’t bother but wasn’t there prior to surgery.