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Sorry for the long post; I know a few people here have had this op so I just want to pick a few brains and possibly get a bit of reassurance (and the therapy of getting it off my chest!!).
I had my Op 11th May; I was an NHS patient farmed out to private to catch up with the back log. My hernia was the size of a broad bean on the inner upper wall of my belly button. It wasn’t really causing massive issues but would give me a burning sensation now and again, which seemed to spread up my abdomen If my weight fluctuated.
At my consultation last February I was told i needed the op & it would be keyhole surgery. I didn’t see the surgeon again, and was only seen by one of his assistants on the morning of the op.
After the op I wasn’t told what had been done, and wasn’t visited by any Dr or surgeon, only a nurse who checked my vitals. Now according to the pulse oximetry my oxygen levels wouldn’t go above 92. The last time this happened was at a NHS hospital and I was told I wasn’t allowed to be discharged until it went up and ended up spending a night on oxygen. At this clinic the nurse said “you’d better take a few deep breaths because you’re out of here this afternoon”. I sort of got the feeling was a bit of an unwanted guest...
Anyway that afternoon I was discharged with a couple of surgical dressings and told if you have any issues go to your GP. I was quite out of it and it didn’t occur to me that they hadn’t told anything about the op or aftercare (can I shower, how often should I change the dressing, how long should I wear the surgical stockings, what can I do and what should I avoid doing, what was the method of repair, had there been any complications etc.)
A few days later I changed the dressing and was surprised to see an incision about 7cm long shaped like an inverted U above my belly button. If that’s keyhole then it must be the key to a Church..!
I rang the clinic & eventually found out it was a stitched repair without mesh and with regard to activity, I should just go with how I feel.
So two weeks later I was stinging, itching and the area all around my wound is rock hard under the skin. I decided to have a closer look in the mirror and had a little prod around and as I did this a load of sticky pus oozed out of my belly button. I didn’t even know they’d cut up inside my belly button. The more I pushed above the belly button, the more oozed out. Very sticky with flecks of blood in a milky coffee shaded pus. I was a little worried.
I got to see my GP who took a swab and said it’s clearly infected and prescribed some Co-Amoxiclav. It turns out I’m allergic to these, so after a very messy night (both ends brown jet wash 🤢) I was prescribed a couple of different antibiotics.
After a few days on these I’m feeling ok but the wound is still stinging and itchy and a bit more pus came out last night. I had a further prod around trying to work out why it felt hard, with a pea sized lump at one end. I pushed on this lump and was a little surprised that after a tiny bit of initial resistance the lump went in and stayed in.
I can’t help thinking something happened during the op; it’s definitely not keyhole and I seem to have two incisions - one inside my belly button (where the original hernia was) and a larger crescent shaped incision above the belly button. It still seems infected and I now appear to have a new hernia where I didn’t have one previously.
What should I do? Am I right to be a bit miffed or am I being a bit sensitive? I know there’s a couple of different issues; the care at the clinic, the infection & possible new hernia. But it all seemed a bit half arsed.
Can't you contact the hospital with a subject assess request (they might use a different name)? Basically ask for a copy of all the info they have on your time in their care.
I didn’t know you could to be honest; they said they’d send everything to my GP but as of Thursday nothing had arrived.
I’ve no expert advice for you, but as a medical layman to another layman,
No, you’re not being unreasonable. You have a valid concern about how you’re healing (or not!) and you would do well to have it investigated. The people that treated you originally would want to see that you’re healing well, and be concerned if you’re not. GP’s can seem a bit, erm, awkward, but I suspect they’re just having to deal with whoever shouts loudest at the moment. So be polite, but ask for help. there’s nothing wrong with with putting up a bit of a fuss about your concerns until your are properly treated.
I’ll just add that I can really empathise with your description; I had my appendix out a month ago. The only person I spoke to about how the Op went was the nurse that woke me from sedative telling me it went well, I was kind of out of it too and can barely remember what she said. Fortunately for me I just went home (as I hoped!) and no further complications for me. But I couldn’t help thinking, later, I wouldn’t know how to get in touch with the dr’s that operated on me if I did have a problem later. It’s a bit worrying and it’s ok to feel the way you do. Ask, and ask hard, for some help from your GP.
Others may have more expert advice.
👍🏻
I have had 2 Umbilical hernia repairs. The first was a small incision in the belly button, but that didn't work and it was only when seeing a surgeon for something else did he say "That's not right!" and arrange to sort it.
The second time was keyhole. No incision near the BB, but 4 or so holes around the periphery of my abdomen. Mesh was used for this repair and it has been fine.
My advice is get back to see the Dr asap.
Sounds as if you had the correct op - keyhole not a great option for umbilical hernia
The wounds always get infected as the belly button is dirty, but it will settle. No mesh is standard for first repair mainly due to the higher infection rates
Would have helped if you were given better info then I expect you would be happy
I had the same op 24 years ago and it went perfectly without any of the issues you've suffered with. No mesh. No infection. Sounds awful.
My recommendation would be to contact the PALS or equivalent service for the facility you attended and explain the situation. As part of that process they should ask you what outcome you want, and i'd be looking for a discussion with a medical professional and preferably some written information on post-operative care.
I work in the system and it drives me nuts how patients are sent home with NFI what happens next when 90% of the time a concise factsheet would do. A stitch in time saves nine if you like.
I had a mesh repair in Feb last year. It’s been transformative. I’ve now managed to strengthen my core muscles without risking it popping out and that in turn has helped me with my lower back where I’ve a congenitally fused vertebrae. What you’re going through sounds rough, but get it sorted, hang on in there and I’m sure in the long run it’ll be worth it.
Had mine done Oct 2018, straight cut right across the belly button. Worst bit was coming off the general anaesthetic felt awful and trying to go for a poop wasn’t great either. Got an infection in the wound that I cleaned out myself using cooled boiled water with lots of salt in it and the use of my wife’s makeup mirror to see what I was doing was fine after a few days. Had no problems since until last week what felt like a bee sting inside my belly button where the op was, things settled down after a couple of days and been ok since.
Left me wondering if I tore something inside again but I was only walking into the kitchen at the time, not lifting or twisting.
For the OP I would go back and see my GP.
Had first one in 2009 two inch incision and stitched inside.
2010 on a water slide in Rhodes I felt a sharp pain, looked down huge lump.
Went to the Gp when I got back, saw the consultant within two weeks then surgery as a NHS patient at Bmi Beaumont Bolton.
Incision was 6 inches this time mesh repair inside and staples on the outside. Kept in overnight due to low temp, respiration rate and Sats. Was pumped full of morphine in recovery apparently.
11 years later still holding together well.
Mr Hamish Michie did mine, general surgeon at Royal Bolton