Getting old sucks

[L92 OLDS]

I have known about this for 8 years and did nothing about it. It never really hurt so I figured why bother with an operation I might be able to do without. Bad idea. Now I have to drop everything and arrange an operation as fast as I can. Then I'll be flat on my *ss recovering as Summer slides by.

I hope all goes well! Unfortunately my family is prone to hernias and I have had 3. The first time I tore the left side while lifting a boat cradle. This was 23 years ago and at the time they didn't use the mesh method so the doc stretched the muscle across and stitched me up. That operation gave a whole new meaning to the phrase "blue balls" and I had massive swelling. Recovery for that event was 3 months and it left a 4" scar. After that miserable experience you can imagine that I was very upset when it tore again in the same spot 2 years later. That time I had it fixed correctly with a mesh. It's been good since but 2 years ago the other side blew out and I have another mesh there. Here's a tip for you.... If the nimrod anesthesiologist insists that he gives you a $900 nerve block injection into the bundle of nerves in your torso punch him in the dick. 30 minutes after the surgery I was in severe pain and 2 months after the operation I still had pain from the nerve block injection not to mention my insurance didn't cover it. I hope you have a better experience than I did.

 

[Bonnewagon]

Anubis- 3 hernias? I feel like a rookie! I am going with the mesh as it will prevent re-occurrences. I talked with my surgeon today and all is a go. And he found that there is a second small hernia on the other side. (See guys? Who knew? Get it done!) We feel it is best to get them both done rather than take a chance on the small one acting up later on. After all, he's going to be working right there anyway, right? So now I get to schedule a physical to see if I am healthy enough for surgery and then there is pre-op testing. All for an hour of surgery. I will be glad when it is all over.

 

[pontiacgp]

Good luck Mark, I'm betting you're fit enough to get the operation......

 

[Doug Chahoy]

Good luck

 

[Longroof79]

Good luck, Mark.
We'll keep you in our thoughts for a smooth procedure and quick recovery.
The mesh is absolutely the way to go. When I had my hernia operation almost 50 yrs ago I don't even recall what the surgeon used. I suspect he did use mesh. The same surgeon operated on my girlfriend's nephew at the time, and that's what he used on him. He actually operated on him three times.

 

[ssn696]

Best wishes on a speedy recovery.

 

[SSpev]

all i can say is wow... i'm 51, had a hernia for about 15 years before having it fixed. It would pop out i'd shove it back in. just got tired of it. My bad one was when I broke my leg at an elementary skating party 20 year ago. Both my kids saw it and all the other students. Shattered tibia and fibula. Looked like I had 2 ankles. A persons foot should never point backwards upside down. Pin inside the bone with 3 screws. a ok so far. Everyone be safe.

 

[Bonnewagon]

SSpev- how exactly does it get pushed back in?!? The ER Doc said the same thing, just push it in. When he did me he folded the cart so my head was down low and my feet up high. Then he felt around and when he pushed it in it hurt like hell but then when it was back in the pain was gone. Do you just push in the general direction of the gut or can you feel the opening?

 

[azmusclecar]

I just turned 67, and I asked my son to STOP calling me "old man". The many years I spent playing sports, bowling like there was no tomorrow, working for a package company lifting boxes incorrectly and overtaxing my limits has caught up to me. One hip gave me trouble, now the other. I tried to resume bowling, I left the bowling lane a cripple. My right shoulder grinds like an old transmission without syncros. I had a hernia and the mesh implant and now it may be causing issues which need addressed. Mentally I don't feel old but my body won't join me in the deception.

My hair is thinning, my eyes are weak, and yet everyday I go out to my garage and try to reprove myself over and over that I can do it. I never found myself to be a stubborn man but I am not going down without a fight. AGE will finally win, but today, I'm back in the ring for yet one more fight

 

[vanrah]

Greetings Guys; How did I miss this post? Then I noticed that it is only 5 days old! And all us Ole' Farts talking about all the mesh in us. I can feel mine pull on the edges, Uncomfortable for sure, been their 20 years, scar tissue for sure. I might add that that's part of the reason the Bronze Brick is for sale. I'm facing the fact (I Don't want too) that I just don't have the strength too keep up with what my brain & pocket book want me to do. Flip to other side of coin. Here we are still breathing & wrenching when we can. Just moving around cleaning the car & using the brain to think "what improvement" what will fit the budget next?? It's keeping us YOUNG. Hell their's a bunch of guys our age that can'nt even get out of the chair let alone change the oil. Not to mention the friends that are on the other side of the grass. And speaking of the grass, take a moment this week end, Breath deep & thank the guys & gals that gave all so we could have this wonderful life, Wrenchin' automobiles & Lovin' woman. Take care guys, Ole' Bob.