for those who are still suffering from complications from synthetic hernia mesh. It is imperative that you file an adverse event report this link will take you right to the form www.fda.gov/medwatch stand up and be counted there are thousands of reports filed now. The FDA does know there might be a problem and they are investigating. Please do not be shy, file your report.

I think people should also try and send letters/e-mail to local and national news outlets/media/newspapers. Maybe it will bring more attention to the problems and put more pressure on surgeons/the mesh companies/FDA to take it more seriously, and maybe even find a newer way to repair hernias.

http://www.cnn.com/feedback/forms/form11b. html?2
That is a link to CNN to send a story idea, maybe it could help. Of course local media helps as well. Just a suggestion.

YES, it is URGENT that everyone out there let his/her doctors, and everyone else -- family, friends, workmates, etc -- know about this issue. Where I am (in the UK) nobody knows about this, it's never discussed, not even among people with hernias!

Here, hernia surgery is seen AND ADVERTISED as "a piece of cake". Literally! People do not know what I'm talking about, or why I'm making such a fuss about this mesh issue. It is receiving NO media coverage. So getting the word out on a personal level is absolutely CRUCIAL --- especially to anyone you know in the medical world.

There are new "bio" meshes already in use that are showing good results in not triggering the strong foreign-body reaction that the plastic jobs have done. These materials are also proving to be much more resistant to infection, one very big problem with the plastics. They are made of porcine (pig) collagen, denatured and sterilised, and they appear to harmonise much better with human body tissues than plastic.

In the UK, look into Permacol -- it's also received FDA approval in the USA, so it must have already gone through some pretty heavy-duty trials.

In the USA look into Surgisis, made of the same material.

I spoke to my surgeon about this. He pooh-poohed it (of course). "Must stick to what we know......" Surgeons are a notoriously conservative bunch. They don't like to change their methods, unless absolutely forced to do so. Which is why I hold out very little, if any, hope for a new hernia repair technique. For starters, it would take ages to train a whole new crop of surgeons in a new method.

The new "bio" meshes offer at least SOME hope .... if the med's will allow them into widespread use. Problem: they're probably a ton more expensive than plastic. Even the new lightweight meshes, supposedly safer than the standard heavyweight ones, cost 5 or 6 times more.

PLEASE, get the word out!

I've emailed the firm in the UK that makes Permacol (twice). No reply so far. I would be interested to know if they have a list of surgeons in my area (Brighton, UK) that use it. It is showing promise, although it's early days.

Of course, it's still mesh. It's presence still triggers the in-growth of scar tissue & resulting possible nerve entrapment -- which some surgeons are seeing as possibly a key cause of the crippling chronic pain syndromes linked to hernia repair. The advantage, as I understand it (I'm not a doctor--far from it!), is that it is eventually absorbed by the body. Thus at some point, no mesh material remains.

The concept of cutting the nerves has been mentioned very often. Not only does that sound barbaric, even worse, it is apparently NO GUARANTEE that the pain will end.

There needs to be a method that simply avoids all this. From what I've read, the CORRECT (as opposed to "modified") Shouldice method, as practised at the Shouldice Hernia Clinic in Toronto, has virtually NO incidence of this type of chronic pain syndrome. Correct me if I'm wrong, please.

This site is very interesting:
http://www.bmj.com/cgi/eletters/336/7638/2 69#190862

It's recent, from the UK, and it features a number of medical pieces on "watchful waiting" rather than immediate surgery. As one of the articles on this site shows, yes, the med's are indeed aware of the unacceptably high rate of chronic pain and other complications.

They need to come up with a much better, much safer method -- as well as researching possible viable alternatives to surgery. There is virtually NO research on this. It MAY be the case that, with proper care & appropriate medical supervision, not all hernias actually require surgery (??).

Sadly there is no real info on this, apart from a few non-medical sites discussing various "alternatives". Personally I do not dismiss this as silly quackery (but that's just my view). I do believe there MAY be successful long-term control (if not 100% healing) methods out there. However there is almost no documentation or info, because in recent times surgery became so routine.

The fact that some surgeons have denied that mesh could be rejected ("it's made from inert material....therefore it can't be rejected") is disproved by the existence of the phenomenon known as "meshoma". Dr Sedlack of the Capital Hernia Center in Washington DC has a website about "mesh removal", which has apparently become so prevalent that it is now a medical sub-specialty unto itself.

There is now more than enough evidence (tragically) that proves the URGENT need for new methods & alternatives. The more awareness out there, the quicker this MAY happen. I try to live in hope.......

http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/consumer/surgicalm esh-hernias.html

http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/consumer/surgicalm esh-popsui.html

http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/safety/102008-surg icalmesh.html

Hi.
has any one had a mesh removed or hernia repaired
at the toronto ont shouldice hospital.how was the
surgery and the recovery, is this a good place to go
thanks
lyndy,

has anyone heard of a mesh poking from inside out a few months after it is put in place?

...I finally came across this site after researching what I've been going through the last few weeks.

I had an open mesh (no plug as far as I know) inguinal (sp) hernia repair back in the winter of 1999. It was a very long and rough recovery. Almost four months to be exact. I was told the hole was much larger than anticipated. In a while things seemed to be okay, no major complaints with discomfort or pain. Then about six weeks ago I began to feel a strain type feeling around the hernia site. At first I blew it off and just took it easy with physical activity. As the weeks progressed things seemed to get a little worse.

I woke one morning about four weeks ago and was stretching out. As I turned my leg I felt this "snap" like sensation in the hernia site. I didn't feel any real pain but the straining sensation increased. From that point on things have gotten worse. The straining is almost painful and it's not more below my navel and to the right. I was checked out by a doctor and he can't find any signs of a hernia (new) or recurring one. But he did find a bladder infection. I'm constantly bloated these days and the pain and discomfort seem to wax and wane but they're always present. My digestive system is out of whack too but so far nothing horrible (blood in stool or passing more than once or twice daily).

The only thing I can say is that it feels like something is poking or tearing down there but so far everyone except a surgeon in vegas seems to think I'm crazy. The consensus is mesh migration or one of the sutures ripped out inside me and I was told would heal but could take months.

I've recently been laid off, could not afford the cobra and being single and without dependents I thought I could manage till I found a job. Bad move on my part but that's neither here nor there.

My gut tells something is up with that mesh and I don't know what to do. I think I need an ultrasound but not sure if the doctor I'm seeing will give me the referral (already found a place that will give me a very nice discount to pay out of pocket).

To anyone else who is going through this I feel your pain (literally!) and really think it's sad that because I don't have insurance I have to be careful of getting any tests as to not get labeled with a pre existing condition.

If anyone has any thoughts on this situation I'd appreciate the feedback.

I think my first step would be the ultrasound to see if anything shows up then attempt to gather my surgical records from the surgery center the operation was performed at.

Thanks, and I hope the best for anyone suffering from this because it truly is becoming a nightmare.

-J

I am a female that had hernia repair back in 2003 and here recently have had a "poking" sensation to the left side of my lower belly above my abdomen. I am scared to death! I don't know what to do!

Hi longtimerecovery,

What you've just described is a lot like what I've been feeling. If the problem doesn't get any better and you can, I would try for either an ultrasound or CT scan to see if something is wrong with the mesh.

-Jason

Thank you very much for all these postings....I am scheduled to have an umbilical hernia repaired on the 25th of this month, and while the surgeon is hoping to make the repair WITHOUT MESH (the hernia hole is only 1.5 cm) she said she may have to use mesh if she can't do it just with stitches. I have a very strong intuitive aversion to having mesh patch, and I was thankful I found this forum. I am going to postpone the surgery until I learn more. I tend to have allergic reactions to polyester clothing, so I think a poly propolene mesh patch inside sounds like a bad idea. I may consider having the procedure done in India someday, at the clinic mentioned in one of these posts. Thank you all for posting this information.

My wife had a mesh installed four and a half years ago due to a bowell operation going wrong, for the last three months it has been oozing liquid from a breakthrough in the skin from one of the scars. The doctor has told us the infection can not be repaired unless the mesh is removed which is a risk operation. Apparantly while it is oozing it is safe, can anyone advise on what can help with dealing with the itching and any other advice. Thankyou

I don't want to be accused of being libalouszl, so I will leave the name out. I just had my surgical repair at an HMO in which I've been a member for 36 years, and I've only heard about this kind of excrement, I NEVER in all my life thought anything like this could happen, I gotta be honest here, the things I'm feeling inside my body right now are ruinous to any hope of a satisying sex life, dreams of sking the french alps, or snorkelling in the Medateranian like I did when was 15 ~ in fact, the way things are currently, I wouldn't ever be able to travel again because sitting, standing and walking causes me me pass out. I'm really in shock. The HMO that aowed the surgeon to use and continue to use this product may as well have just chopped off all my limbs, I know that's pathetic sounding, but I'm still young and now I wont be able to enjoy any the things in life that brought to me the greatest plasure. Eating even hurts.

Im realy enraged that the HMO or surgeon wouldn't have at least informed me about the contraversy surrounding these materials, or at the very least told of the FDAs investigation, or offered the tension method of repair. Has there bee any class actions, discussed? Any hospitals managing physicians, chiefs held resposible for creating the lies of virtually painfree, and lightspeed quick recovery, with almost non existant chance of complications? I didnt even start researching on the net about this until a few days ago and I almost vomitted in horror at the number of people suffering from irresposible unethical omitions of fact as a means of truth distortion. to think that hospitals are still allowed to put these materials inside their patients? Well I tell you what, someone had better loose their job and medical practice l, but I had better compensated for potentialy losing my ability to make love to a woman, or have the awesome feeling of an orgasm without shooting shock like stabbing pains to accompany the euphoria. In fact any women out there want to help me out before that of my life is prematurely ended?

Am I the only one who feels violated and angered about this? I appologize if I've offended, but I am freightened about living with a chronic pain syndrone that I seemingly was purposefully misguided: Isn't this form of at the very least professional misconduct, or dare I say GROSS NEGLIGENCE?