Author Topic: Inguinal Hernia (Read 40374 times)

trumpet · « **Reply #100 on:** 23 February, 2016, 08:44:24 pm »

Sadly I've searched this thread as I am currently waiting for a hernia op ( should be within the next 15 weeks ! ) & was interested to see how my fellow cyclists have coped. I'm still managing to GENTLY commute 100 miles a week ( NOT ON THE FIXIE ) with no discomfort on the bike. However I think my chances of riding the Mille Pennines must be very slim as I don't think it will be wise to ride such an event before the op & not sure whether I will be sufficiently recovered & suitably trained up for the distance post op in time for the event.

I was told it will be open surgery rather than keyhole, which makes me think I'll need longer to recover)

aidan.f · « **Reply #101 on:** 23 February, 2016, 08:49:49 pm »

Mine was not too painful no painkillers reqd fine on the bike, after a couple of weeks uncomfortable when stretching, (bellringing) AOK in about 6 weeks iirc.
Wait and see...

trumpet · « **Reply #102 on:** 23 February, 2016, 09:32:12 pm »

Quote from: aidan.f on 23 February, 2016, 08:49:49 pm

Mine was not too painful no painkillers reqd fine on the bike, after a couple of weeks uncomfortable when stretching, (bellringing) AOK in about 6 weeks iirc.
Wait and see...

Thanks Aiden - I imagine the bell ringing would be very painful ( unless you're referring to one on the handlebars?

) Fingers crossed for quick op & recovery.

DrMekon · « **Reply #103 on:** 02 March, 2016, 11:12:55 pm »

I've paid for 3 sessions of physio, and I'm amazed how quickly things are now improving (albeit time would get me there in the end, I suspect) - I thought I'd need a new stem I was struggling to reach the bars so badly.

trumpet · « **Reply #104 on:** 03 March, 2016, 08:14:13 pm »

Quote from: DrMekon on 02 March, 2016, 11:12:55 pm

I've paid for 3 sessions of physio, and I'm amazed how quickly things are now improving (albeit time would get me there in the end, I suspect) - I thought I'd need a new stem I was struggling to reach the bars so badly.

Keyhole or Open Surgery?

DrMekon · « **Reply #105 on:** 04 March, 2016, 05:11:53 pm »

Keyhole.

I have to say, I was hyped by mates and nursing staff in to thinking I'd be back on the bike in a week. Only a mate (who'd seen a pal struggle) and the surgeon said don't count on being back before 6 weeks. As it was, I could gently go on the turbo after 3 weeks, and gentle on the road bike at 4. Am really tired all the time. Only did 4 days at work this week.

trumpet · « **Reply #106 on:** 04 March, 2016, 08:45:53 pm »

Quote from: DrMekon on 04 March, 2016, 05:11:53 pm

Keyhole.

I have to say, I was hyped by mates and nursing staff in to thinking I'd be back on the bike in a week. Only a mate (who'd seen a pal struggle) and the surgeon said don't count on being back before 6 weeks. As it was, I could gently go on the turbo after 3 weeks, and gentle on the road bike at 4. Am really tired all the time. Only did 4 days at work this week.

All the best for a speedy recovery, & thanks for sharing your experiences. My consultant mumbled 'Open surgery' to me, which I wasn't expecting... I was concerned he wouldn't find it during the examination as the hernia went into hiding ! ( standing for extended periods & bending/stretching seem to trigger it off - fortunately cycling sensibly with gears doesn't seem to aggravate it, though I am only riding 45 mins each way to work & have decided not to do anything more on the bike as a precaution.

trumpet · « **Reply #107 on:** 22 May, 2016, 08:36:04 pm »

Op due tomorrow - fingers crossed for speedy recovery. Any recommendations will be gratefully received & alleviate potential boredom.

DrMekon · « **Reply #108 on:** 22 May, 2016, 08:50:43 pm »

I watched Netflix a lot, took lots of painkillers, and listened to loads of music on Spotify and took Painkiller's. Went for lots of slow gentle walks in to town along the river for coffee and pain killers. When I got home, lots of lovely fresh fruit and painkillers helped.

hbunnet · « **Reply #109 on:** 22 May, 2016, 09:06:14 pm »

Age 70, open surgery; followed instructions given in leaflets. Stopped painkillers after 1 day and constipation eased off. Gentle walks around house first day and slowly increased distance. First short bike ride after 2 weeks and increased walking to ~5 miles.
After 6 weeks completely normal and climbed some mountains in NW Scotland.

A complete success for me.

hellymedic · « **Reply #110 on:** 22 May, 2016, 09:37:09 pm »

Good luck, trumpet!
Hope all goes smoothly and you recover well!

trumpet · « **Reply #111 on:** 24 May, 2016, 02:32:06 pm »

Thanks for your support & shared experiences. Just got home after being kept in overnight due to delays in theatre - bit sore ( open surgery ) but I will be patient. No point rushing. Off to bed for some zzzZZ's now.

hellymedic · « **Reply #112 on:** 24 May, 2016, 02:41:42 pm »

Mend well and fast!
Be kind to your self - why not?

tonyh · « **Reply #113 on:** 24 May, 2016, 09:02:04 pm »

Seconded!

(I remember feeling quite battered for a couple of days, and fearing normality was very far off. Then improving quite quickly after a week or so.)

sg37409 · « **Reply #114 on:** 11 November, 2016, 04:55:19 pm »

FS, I think I've got one. Noticed it for ages, mentioned it to my wife today and she said that what it likely is.
No pain at all, but going to doc on Monday. I was just out on the bike pushing it for a wee lunchtime thrash today as well.

sg37409 · « **Reply #115 on:** 14 November, 2016, 11:27:48 am »

I was wrong. Ive got 2

Still in denial a bit despite confirmation from doc. Now begins the glacial process of treatment. Will look into my private healthcare options. If I'm to be off the bike* id rather it was in jan/feb time.

Doc reckons day surgery, but possibly a general rather than local. Seems they put some mesh or chicken wire or something in to stop things falling through in future.
*The 8 week layoff as advised to Skungo is very alarming.

chrisbainbridge · « **Reply #116 on:** 14 November, 2016, 06:52:50 pm »

inguinal hernia repair is one of the operations where numbers do seem to equate to better outcomes. So look for a surgeon doing a lot of them. That may mean a specialist clinic. Certainly use your private health care

trumpet · « **Reply #117 on:** 14 November, 2016, 07:23:18 pm »

Mine was repaired back in May with NHS - fully recovered now & no concerns with repair. Surprisingly common operation for many.

chrisbainbridge · « **Reply #118 on:** 14 November, 2016, 10:01:35 pm »

If you get somebody who has done 200 then you will be fine. Unfortunately these days many trainees may only have done 10-20 when they become consultants.

TimO · « **Reply #119 on:** 16 November, 2016, 01:13:27 pm »

If you look at my original post, the surgeon who did mine, had done over 13000 ! Over five years later, I've had zero problems, so it seems to be working so far.

rafletcher · « **Reply #120 on:** 16 November, 2016, 01:46:28 pm »

Quote from: chrisbainbridge on 14 November, 2016, 06:52:50 pm

Certainly use your private health care

We were fortunate enough to be able to go private with my wifes second hip replacement, and all the surgeon's stats were available to check. She asked me why I suggested the one I did. I was honest - he had the lowest mortality rate

. To be fair he was also a trauma surgeon with the NHS, and had done a lot of hip and knee replacements and remedials as well.

sg37409 · « **Reply #121 on:** 22 November, 2016, 09:15:53 am »

Went to see the consultant last night. I'd made a list of questions and top of that was, "Is doing nothing an option ?" (It was my preferred approach)
Turns out, it is, and it fitted with his advice. He quoted some study to back up "watchful waiting approach" and also said that I could expect these to get bigger over time. Its the getting bigger and being a nuisance/in the way that leads more to surgery rather than pain.

So for now, it back to normal. I'm happy with this outcome.

SteveC · « **Reply #122 on:** 20 August, 2018, 05:45:50 pm »

Thread necromancy

Add me to the list. Saw the practice nurse this lunchtime. Need to go for an ultrasound scan. Then see what happens but probably talk to a surgeon.
She didn't seem at all concerned, which is good. To be honest, the biggest problem I can see is the recovery from any operation. It's not the eight weeks off the bike which would be the trouble but things like lifting our PA, or getting the batteries into and out of the caravan (both rather heavy) which might be awkward.

LittleWheelsandBig · « **Reply #123 on:** 13 September, 2018, 06:41:10 pm »

From this afternoon's appointment, it seems I'm on this list but don't meet the NHS's newly revised criteria for an operation. I'll have to check work's medical policy tomorrow. If I need an op. (and I'd like to get rid of the discomfort) then it'll need to be this side of Christmas to get proper fit again for PBP.

SteveC · « **Reply #124 on:** 13 September, 2018, 06:48:58 pm »

I had my ultrasound scan on Tuesday. Definitely surgery, but the message needs to go back to my GP before anything else happens.