Great idea for a thread, Seeler!

Wishing you a speedy recovery, Stardust.

Stardust - I'm sorry you aren't feeling on top of the world right now.  I've had it - staples making tracks up my abdomen, pain, discomfort.  It ain't fun.

So I'm sending you positive vibes and prayers that you will make a good recovery and soon all this will be behind you.

Hint - hold a pillow tight against your incision if you cough or laugh.   Both are good for you at this time.  Coughing forces you to breath deeply and clear your lungs.  Laughter - well, it makes you feel better.

Hi Stardust, hope you're feeling better. These things take time to heal but it sounds like you have a positive attitude. I'm enjoying seeing your posts again. My prayers are with you.

Wishing you a speedy and smooth recovery.  Thoughts and prayers are with you.

Hi Stardust,

May the grace of God bless you and strengthen you in body, mind and spirit.  May the love of God surround you and fill you with peace and patience to endure your recovery.

Grace and peace to you.

John

Hi Stardust:

Wishing you a speedy recovery and a return to good health.  Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers.

I had hernia surgery last June - not fun and very painful.  I had a few stitches only, not the number of staples you have. 

Be careful, don't lift and take good care of yourself.

Gentle hugs and good wishes for my dear Stardust.....

May your recovery be comfortable and complete.

Hugs

Rita

Stardust - a challenging and difficult time.  May your recovery be speedy, may many surround you with loving care and helping hands at this time.  May an abundance of hope, peace, joy, and love surround you and fill you.

Stardust, get better and follow doctor's orders, unless they told you not to drink. You can ignore that one on me.

* raises a glass with chansen and stardust *

A little sprinkle of faery dust coming your way to lighten your spirits. Maybe you'll get caught up on some reading! I know you are someone who takes good care of yourself, and that's a strength, but let others take care of you too.

Read serious stuff for awhile that doesn't make you laught too hard. 

Stardust,
May gentle thoughts, well wishes, prayers, a drink and even faery dust bring you some comfort as you heal.

Stardust,  take care of yourself. May you heal well and may the cabin fever stay away. I hope the weather is nice enough for you to sit outside and breathe in some fresh air while you heal.

It is funny how our minds work, seeler. SomeGal and I chatted about our concern for Stardust last night. Thankyou for taking it a step further and starting this thread. Blessings  and Love Stardust.

Aw....you guys are making me cry .....I didn't want to bother you again because you helped me so much already in the past. I didn't want to be a nuisance, its  not my style.

If you remember I had a perforated ulcer and  I developed toxic shock from it, I was  over 3 weeks in hosp. in May 2011. By the fall of 2011 a massive abdominal  hernia began to develop.. I have allergies and there's problems with poly. or plastic mesh that they need to  use to fix it  which can  lead to infection.

I was so afraid. I went from 95 lbs. in May 2011 to 170 at present ...all out of balance afraid of falling..... and I also had  vertico and shingles along the way. I wasn't able to go out, I could hardly walk. My daughter helped me the best she could . She works here  and lives 60 miles away in Barrie.

There only is one surgeon I could safely use for my hernia  so my surgeon arranged for him. I had to wait over a year  to March 19th. now. He is Dr. Fred Brenneman from Sunnybrook hospital, Toronto. . He uses pigskin rather than poly. mesh. He is teaching this technique across Canada wherever surgeons want to learn it. OHIP refuses to fund it. It costs $6,000. to $8,000. patients have to pay. Surgeons are doing fund raising and lobbying the gov't.

My surgeon arranged to bring him to my hospital North York General ( they paid the fee) as a teacher. He needed a teaching video to use, somebody who didn't have cancer or missing organs. So I gave him permission to video tape my operation ....my surgery went beautifully with a room full of doctors and nurses looking on.  I was so embarrassed.....I'm kind of shy....not one for publicity.

I was in hosp. for 10 days, got out last Thurs. not too bad. They  turned off my own  air (oxygen) so my body would be still during surgery. I'm still getting a bit short of breath,doing lung exercises to catch up. My surgeon admitted the surgery was to be 4 hours but it went overtime re the teaching taking up time.

After my surgery they were late doing a second one the same day. It took more time than they had planned. I disappeared....lol...from my  surgery time 7:45 a.m. until after 8 p.m.on a Tuesday .....my poor daughter thought I was dead. Nobody would allow her to see me. She phoned her ex sis-in-law who was a nurse asking her if she could help....where was I?  She finally got to see me....alive...!!! All was well....Hallelujah!

I have to wear a horrendous abdominal binder by orders of Dr. Brenneman. I had an old one here...it kills....I have to order a larger one on the net. Its to help my stomach muscles heal. These big hernias can come back. The pigskin they inserted in my body to fix it is about 6 in. X 6 in. It has to mesh with my own skin and reconstruction was done. I wonder what happens when  lose weight.

Please God......may I have no infection!  I have to get my staples.....50....?.....I don't know....!!! out after Apr. 9  at my surgeon's and then see the top surgeon Brenneman. He was laughing at me. He said I would lose  my belly button. I said : "Its O.K......I'm not a porn. star...."

O.K. folks....thanks so so much....I hope to get my life back....the things your mother never tells you.....??...I had never heard of such a humpy lumpy affair before in my lee lo life.  There was a poor lady in her 90's getting a poo bowel   bag....big surprise she said..in the 90's....?....I guess so.

Dr. Brenneman has advertised a lot on the net. Here's one of his  operation videos about hernias. I don't know when mine might be on...if at all...but it will only be the operation I'm quite sure, not my face etc.

I will put the videos in the next post.

The Star

http://www.thestar.com/life/health_wellness/news_research/2011/10/05/pig...

Wow...that is amazing.  I'm a bit squeamish but watched the video.

Hopefully OHIP costs will be covered in future for people who require this type of surgery.

You have had quite an ordeal - godspeed for your healing.

gecko46

My daughter and I got freaked out with the anaestiologist - sp- this month.  During my  2011 surgery my heart had stopped for 1 1/2 min. due to  toxic shock. So I asked: "What if it stops again during surgery?" He said : "Well, your chest  is nice and close ( or he meant  the open hernia surgery?)  so I can just reach in with my hand to start it again....." ...we felt kind of spooked......:)

Sounds like quite the experience, Stardust.

Sending you gentle thoughts . . . P3

I"m glad you were able to have the surgery Stardust - in time I think you will feel whole again.  Do make sure to wear that binder - so important!   Following doc's orders in great detail is really, really important for your healing.  Patience, girl!  And don't worry - staple removal is usually pretty painless!  Sometimes they just remove every-other one, make sure everything is stable, and remove the others a bit later. 

My thoughts are with you in your recovery - be gentle.

Stardust, it sounds like quite the invasive surgery!  Rest up!!!  Hopefully your recovery will be quick and uncomplicated!

Listen to some music, books on tape, or podcasts, lay back (or whatever position you should be in!), shut your eyes and just breathe deep and listen for while. 

Very gentle virtual hugs to you!

Stardust - I've been thinking about you and praying for a speedy recovery. 

I've brought some balloons to decorate this "room" a bit for you:

Be well Stardust.  If loving words shared online actually help you should be out on a skateboard in a few days (just kidding!). 

Hi Stardust: blessings and best wishes… I hope spring unfolds new joys for you!

Take care and best wishes, stardust.

Mendalla

AW....thanks guys.....I'm so touched...in my body ...and a bit in the head!

Carolla I can't get the abdominal wrap on by myself. I'm going to order one on the net that should fit better. I'm allergic to metals so I hope these staples are titanium.

When I was in in 2011 with the ulcer operation a nurse left a bit of a drainage tube inside me...the thread she called it ?  She called the resident dr. who came with a knife and novacaine and tried to  pull it out. Too much pain......it never came out...weird, huh?

Somegal....I'm going to grab those balloons and go sailing up up and away  ......watch for me! By the way I have a sister in Van. She teaches computer at the Seniors place in Burnaby. She's 78...doing well. She sent me a diet for after surgery. The hosp. never said anything about it. The net sure comes in handy.

Kay.....a skateboard....?..why of course...why not.....I dream big!  I'll practice on my balcony.....oops.....wrong idea.....I'll buy hanging pots of flowers and plant some window boxes as soon as its warm enough.  Its a cold April.................brrrrrrrrrr.................

My worst problem is my internet addiction. I can't see 100% well so my stomach is all scrunched up and cramped  as I lean forward to read. I have giant print. I love...adore...worship...the net....what a miracle.....the best ever.....!!!!! And all these marvellous people on the WC  ...joy to the world...is it Christmas yet.....:)

seeler

Thanks for the tips. I have a little plastic machine with 3 blue balls in it that I have to blow into and lift high up  as a breathing  exercise to keep my oxygen level up....I can blow two balls high so far.  I also do deep breathing.

Oxygen doesn't have to be 100% but if it goes too low one can get a bit mentally confused. It happened to me one night in hosp. The nurses were putting a silicone oxygen mask on me and I freaked out. It felt like I was suffocating.

I called my daughter to come at 2 a.m. I decided it must be the End of the world...this is the way people will die....nobody told me....it seems I had an allergy to a sleeping pill.

I had 3 student nurses come one day . I told them  all about my crazy halluncinations from 2011 when I was beaten, burnt, acid in my eyes, and shot and killed. I think I really scared one poor girl. I hope she doesn't drop out of med. school. They were really cute girls .....very nervous.

You've been through a lot stardust. Get well soon!!! Glad you're here sharing your story with us- but don't strain youeself hunched ocer thw computer. If you come to BC to visit your sister after you recover a bit more, let me know. We could meet up.

you totally rock, stardust, and you are fortunate to have the skin from such a noble and intelligent beast as the pig helping you

Wishing you a speedy recovery, possum!

Inanna

Long live the humble pig.....!!!!!!...can you write a children's  story about the pig who would be more....?...more than bacon, ham, and pork  chops?  He was no rootin' in the mud pig. He had gone to the school of higher learning where he sought to better himself and his siblings. He had been too many years in the rain....looked down upon....he had become a bristling shiny star at last saving the life of many of  humanity. He gave himself  in a new way that others might live....that's high ground, huh?

Kimmio

I love Van. I lived there in 1960, so long ago, Kitsolano - sp- beach. I remember sitting by the ocean at night, it was so divine. My sis. keeps me updated and makes me jealous working in her garden while I'm shovelling snow...pun..she sends lots of videos.  She never stays home.

Sure if I get there on the back of a carrier pigeon  we could meet up....cheap ?  I love the ocean. I come from N.S. originally so I grew up with it. My mother went by train in Can.  from N.S. to Van. in the 70's.  She was very afraid going over the Rockies.....me too...I'd have to fly.

At age 19 I went by Greyhound bus from Toronto  2 times to Van. and back  via  U.S. routes. Great scenery. My sis. was coming here often to see her son and 2 grandkids  but tragedy struck in 2006 when he took his own life at age 42. He was a health minister, clean living, no problems we knew of . Life  throws us curves sometimes doesn't  it....no rhyme or reason.

Hey Stardust,

Hoping today was a good day for you.

Sending positive vibes your way . . . p3

I have to get my grandson to strap this big abdominal (horse)  harness thing on me....:). He hates doing it , the incision looks rather yukky.

I 've been watching some of the Jody Arias trial to pass the time. I can't do much around the house. When it warms up more I can sit on the balcony for a change.

  I'm so happy my belly looks like a belly again. It looked so deformed like shreck or some cartoon character. I had no clothes to wear all year long, just pieces that didn't fit. I think I've a lot of swelling still. I get my staples out next week on Thurs.

Stardust - I'm glad that your grandson is willing and able to help you (even if he hates it)! Relax, rent a good movie, read some good books, take this time to recover!

I'm with somegirl, this is really selfish time to read everything you want, drink the tea you never have time for, meditate for hours without interuption, go an a movie binge,  and suffix everything with a long nap.

I'm nervous about my wound healing because after my 2011 ulcer operation  in May (with staples)  one wound healed by  mid Aug, 2011 ...that's about 3 mos. later. It was dressed daily by a nurse. I took antibiotics, I survived a serious infection.Another wound didn't totally heal until March  of the next year 2012  (scabs) and then the hernia was developing.

These hernias are caused by infection the surgeon said. I'm speaking about two wounds the size of a looney each that were made on top of my stitches to drain infection in 2011. Nobody ever heard of such a thing. They heal from the bottom up - developed into hernias.

I swear and I know I have an  allergy to metals but its as if nobody believes me?....I have these 50 staples that are a grey colour, they  look like  wire....(ear-ring posts ?). Drs. say they are titanium...?...I'm not healing very well. I had understood they would use sutures. They are to come out next week on Thurs....but what if the wound is sort of open still?  No bandages on it , I keep myself very clean to avoid infection.

My cat sleeps close to me on the bed , a habit, and she checks on me as if she's my sitter.....funny. My daughter comes to keep her litter clean.

So....now its about 3 weeks since I had this hernia operation. I'm trying to wear the abdomen girdle thing as the surgeon advised me to. When I took it off last night I noticed my stapled wound was very red and inflamed....some dark blood in patches, not running blood. No pus.  Its painful. I take tylenol often.

I'm taking gravol for nausea, I can't eat a lot.....I can drink  boost , eat a bit of egg, orange, bread, ch. soup, 2% milk...not too much. I take vitamins. I feel O.K. not too bad.

I'm hoping I'll start to heal without complications. Its eerie because we have a lot of family deaths in April past altho' I'm not very superstitious.. We joke about it. My mother died during ulcer surgery in  April 24,1974. My uncle ( father figure) died Apr. 26 1976.  My grandmother died Apr. 9, 1968. My  aunt died Apr. 4/89. My husband died Apr. 25, 2009 . You may understand that I don't feel very well about being ill in April.

In N.S. we always  honoured  the dead and cared  for their graves. I made a memorial site on the net  for my husband and some of my family altho'  Piczo.com ( my free website) is now closed and busy erasing the sites we all made. It was actually a teenage place. I hope some of it is still on. I have the pics. in photobucket etc. It takes a lot of time and patience to make your own website.

The first page is dedicated to my nephew in 2006...then my husband, mom, other aunt, step father ,friend etc. The website no longer works properly so I'll just  paste two memorials. Anyone can do this. Its drag and drop and paste text....there's music and videos also if one wishes. I'm working on a new one at tripod, having problems with it.

See next post for my memorial  website if its still available

  My Memorial : post removed by Stardust for security reasons, too much info. contained therein.

stardust - do you have anybody coming in to look at your wound since discharge from hospital?  If not, you might want to go see your doc, just for reassurance.  Or CCAC now often has community clinics where you can have wounds/dressings checked.   With your history, I can certainly see why you would be concerned.  You may also want to inquire about the proper solutions to use when cleansing ... some can be irritating.

Were you fitted for a proper binder while in hospital?  Sometimes they are easier to put on if you put it on the bed & lie down on it, then fasten.  Did you receive instructions about time limits for wearing it?  Perhaps you had it on for a while too long the other day. 

Wishing  you well ... hopefully the sunshine has been streaming through your windows today.

Stardust - caring thoughts continue to be with you during this concerning time for you.  (I agree with carolla, have someone look at what you are unsure about.)

Iagree with carolla and Beloved. Have it checked.

carolla

I'm fine now because my daughter was just here after work. She thinks my incision is healing all right and it looks all right. I put some pressure on part of it re bending forward to read on the net etc. I was fitted with a binder at the hosp. which was much too tight...ouch....the nurse said so. They only had one size. I had one around here that was too big, men's large, so my daughter cut it smaller. I'm only about 5 ft. 2 so the men's large is too wide, it  digs into me. I'm ordering a decent size that should fit better  on the net via Amazon. I have no instructions about wearing it. I believe its for walking mostly.

CCAC has no reason to come here since I don't have infection, I don't require dressings or care.. I'm familiar with them because of  my husband's illness. I think its only natural to have some pain. I wasn't offered any pain meds. because I generally don't like strong meds. I take reg. tylenol and gravol for a bit of  nausea.

I can have a shower the dr. said but I haven't yet because the staples don't look 100% tight. I have sponge baths, no strong soap or perfumes. I'm wearing long clean white men's sleeveless undershirts because there's no bandage. A bra hurts me as it cuts across my wound at the top at the present time.

Thanks so much for your concern. I think I just get a bit emotional because of my bad experiences in May 2011. I don't want to endure anything like that again! I do think I'll be fine...it takes time....its not necessary to go to a clinic just because part of  the wound is rather red. I have lots of clinics nearby if the need arises.

Yes...yes...its a nice sunny day. I can hardly wait to waltz  around the fields and chase  butterflies...perhaps another 2 weeks. I see my own  surgeon next Thurs. and also I need to see Dr. Fred  Brenneman after or before.  Man oh man....I've had the top doctors, my claim to fame...and I'm very grateful.

Take good care dear stardust!  Naturally you are concerned and thinking about  your past episodes of difficult healing - so truly - rather than worry (and I might worry about part of the wound being red, actually) take action for reassurance.  It's okay - you deserve good care!  You're not being a sissy or a burden.    I hope your binder will arrive SOON - have you ordered it yet? 

Sending you a big virtual bowl of chicken soup - my husband just made it yesterday! 

(if you're leaning forward to read on the computer - maybe you can just move your monitor closer to you and you won't need to lean!)

carolla

Tra..la..la...la... la...the soup's a sensation...thank you!

  I didn't order the binder yet, I will. I may get my grandson to order it on his lap top because I've no puter security right now. I have to give Amazon my Visa number. Meanwhile my daughter comes to spend time tomorrow night so I'll get her to work on cutting and adjusting the old one. We had many trips last year trying to find these binders, Shoppers Home Health etc. It seems they don't order many or  not in a variety of sizes.

You would laugh....and I do too..at how casual the doctors take these hernias. They seem to think its like a pregnancy......NOT....its perfectly fine to go around for a year or two looking like you're 9 mos. pregnant at age 74. I was so embarrased....so clumsy... so off balance...afraid of falling. Dr. Bren. is the only surgeon in Canada doing the pig skin mesh. He's very busy training people too and travelling.

Dr. Bren. freaked my daughter out handling my hernia....stretching and pulling it...like he was preparing a loaf of bread for the pan.  She had to look away. He was checking to see that there's room inside, no strangulation.

A scab came on it once.... my surgeon asked me  on the phone : " Did it see the world?" meaning were  my bowels  exposed ? I thought that was funny. He sent me to an emerg. dr. in case at the hosp. This fellow also had no concerns in particular. It seems some  people don't get their hernias treated or operated on. They wait....if they break open they get emerg. surgery ( plastic mesh). I didn't want to take a chance on that.

Amen and amen......my ugly Shrek hernia is gone. I wish I could post a prior pic. of it to gross you all out....oops I'm being mean.....sorry. I never knew there was such a thing.

Thanks again guys and gals for your support.

Edit: I found some pics..... not mine...but an example of how big , ugly and depressing these things can be. I didn't want to look at my own body. I had thin skin and sort of a red murky bulge on top  that never healed properly from my  2011 operation.

Ugly pics.....

I wish this on nobody. People get hernias after hysterectomies, its very common apparently.

Warning - you may get grossed out!

http://drdumanian.com/pages/g-hernia.html#major

Ahhh Stardust, you're having quite an ordeal.

Like the others I'm a bit concerned about the pain and redness around your wound. When was the last time you've seen your doctor? Have you seen him since surgery?

You say your daughter does not think you have an infection? Is she in a health related field? Does she know all the signs of a wound infectiion? Do you?

I'm concerned with wound dehiscence and it might be wise to note if your redness is spreading by marking the perimeters of your wound.

But Stardust, we CANNOT properly assess over the internet. Follow your instincts and seek a proper second opinion from a medical professional! ASAP! Sepsis is nothing to monkey around with, better to catch things early.

agreed

Tell me about sepsis.......I was in hosp. with it  over 3 weeks in May  2011 after a perforated ulcer operation. I was brought to emerg. by ambulance with the  siren roaring. When my daughter arrived the drs. were debating if I could survive an operation, no pulse etc.  They tried....I was  code blue....but they succeeded later. I came home with 20 pills a day to take. It was from this operation  that my hernias developed by the fall. Dr. said its common after my ulcer  kind of surgery and its  caused by infection.

I had my same surgeon in hosp. this time plus the top dog hernia surgeon in Canada. I was under doctor's care waiting for this hernia  operation for  about a year. I had the surgery on March 19 past. I was in hospital  8 days doing well, no complications and my surgeon came to see me often. He discharged me on March 26.

He was well aware of my prior bout with sepsis so he had given me antibiotics during the surgery as a safe guard. Dr. Bren. specialist  from Sunnybrook requested that the staples be left in for 3 weeks, its normally a week. I'll  see him when he's available. I see my surgeon next Thurs. Apr. 11 to get the staples removed.

I can go with my daughter across the street to a clinic. We have a few.   I don't trust them. My husband went there  with bloody urine ( bladder cancer). They told him to make an appt. at a place that was closed down for a bladder test. There was no  office place doing it.  I phoned the clinic , they said...ho...hum... not open... they never sent him to hosp. for the test or tried to help him. That was in May so he waited until Nov. when his dr. put him in hosp. immediately  He had his bladder removed the next Jan.

My daughter googled and it  said redness is not uncommon after staple surgery in the abdomen. Its red in spots.  There's tension....a pulling of the muscles together ...my abdomen is hard like a rock with a big piece of pig skin having to settle down and mesh with my own skin. I'll ask Dr. Bren. how long that process takes.

I know the hernias look just awful...they are just awful.....but there's really nothing to be done after surgery if there's no bleeding ( I have none) and no pus ( I have none). I'm told to watch it. I can see. When I had sepsis in hosp.in 2011 my scar was bleeding. I'm O.K.....I have to walk....not stay in bed too much...I'm up and down...eating some. I have a list of foods to eat  on a graduated scale as I get well again.

Sorry to scare you guys....my awful hernia scared me too...finally I can look in the mirror again. I'm quite sure I'm through the worst of it. I love my surgeons...the best in town. I'm quite sure there's no infection, no fever, no weakness...I'm getting stronger day by day.

See  my surgeons below.....I'm so lucky to have these terrific guys.

( Note - Pinchuk is my general surgeon at North York Gen. now... he did my ulcer surgery ...also he does/did cancer surgery at Princess Maragret. He hopes to learn the hernia pigskin surgery and get it approved re funding. He's young in 40's. I got home one week ago. I feel I got excellent care, the hosp. staff was very pleased with my results and the neat incision)

Brian Marshall Pinchuk - info Biography:

Independent Practice (from 30 Jun 2008) Registered on 01 Jul 2003 Graduated at McGill University in 2003 Specialty General Surgery (30 Jun 2008) Hospital privileges: Toronto East General Hospital (Toronto)

Postgraduate Training: PostGrad Yr 1 at University of Toronto - General Surgery (01 Jul 2003-30 Jun 2004) PostGrad Yr 2 at University of Toronto - General Surgery (01 Jul 2004-30 Jun 2005) PostGrad Yr 3 at University of Toronto - General Surgery (01 Jul 2005-30 Jun 2006) PostGrad Yr 4 at University of Toronto - General Surgery (01 Jul 2006-30 Jun 2007) PostGrad Yr 5 at University of Toronto - General Surgery (01 Jul 2007-30 Jun 2008) Clinical Fellow at University of Toronto - Surgical Oncology (01 Jul 2008-30 Jun 2009) Clinical Fellow at University of Toronto - Surgical Oncology (01 Jul 2009-30 Jun 2010)

Specialty Surgery, General Gender male

Years of experience 7

License number 79267

http://mds.servicerating.ca/Dr/Brian_Marshall_Pinchuk

This is the specialist I had/have:

Dr.  Brenneman travels across Canada teaching the pigskin hernia technique. It takes a year to get surgery at his hosp. Sunnybrook. My surgeon Pinchuk  wanted to learn it which is how I got the surgery paid for at North York Gen.....lucky!  My idea because of possible allergies to plastic or poly mesh inserts.

Fred Brenneman MD, FRCSC, FACS

Dr. Fred Brenneman is a Trauma Surgeon and the Chief of the Trauma Program at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto. He is an Associate Professor in the Department of Surgery at the University of Toronto, Chair of the Ontario Committee on Trauma of the American College of Surgeons, and President of the Trauma Association of Canada. He is also the Trauma Medical Director for CRITICALL®, the province of Ontario’s Emergency Patient Referral Program. Following his General Surgery residency at the University of Toronto, Dr. Brenneman spent a year at Cook County Hospital in Chicago in a Trauma Surgery / Critical Care Fellowship. His clinical practice involves Trauma Surgery, General Surgery and Critical Care Medicine. His research interests include the following: Long-term outcomes in patients following injury and the use of ultrasound in trauma assessment.

Dr. Fred Brenneman is a trauma general surgeon and Medical Director of Trauma Services at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto. He graduated from medical school at the University of Toronto in 1988 and from the general surgery residency training program in Toronto in 1994. He completed a trauma surgery fellowship at Cook County Hospital in Chicago, Illinois, before starting as a trauma general surgeon and intensivist at Sunnybrook in 1995. He is an Associate Professor in the Department of Surgery at the University of Toronto, and is the Immediate Past-President of the Trauma Association of Canada.

His clinical practice involves trauma surgery & critical care medicine, and general surgery with a particular emphasis on complicated abdominal wall hernias including laparoscopic ventral hernia repair. He has recently helped to establish an acute care surgery service at Sunnybrook, and he provides national leadership in the organizational development of acute care surgery in Canada.

http://generalsurgery.utoronto.ca/faculty/list/brenneman.htm

(He's a doll..in his 50's...both these guys have a sense of humour, good bedside manner)

O.K. guys...please stop worrying.....its a gross thing I know. I'd have done anything to escape the surgery and the whole thing. Did you know that there are 1000's or millions of hernia surgeries each year , a lot of them are men's groin hernias, quite small, done as an outpatient.

Surgeons doing massive size  hernia surgery in general don't appear to have a great reputation in the field. They don't consider it a serious surgery .....( really?) . There are different methods such as inside body  surgery via an abdomen hole, a  tiny scar. It seems there's a tendency for the drs.  to be a bit sloppy, many patients have severe pain for a long time, some surgeons cut the nerves to reduce the pain but it doesn't help. Some patients get infection from the poly mesh and the surgeons are reluctant to remove it  bit by bit  ( you should read the U.S. hernia forums) ....it takes time.

The hernias come back again...more operations....what a messy field this is. People travel far to find a good surgeon. Our famous hernia  clinic in Toronto, Thornhill, Shouldice Hernia Clinic,  has been sold to the U.S. They are called a cheerleader hernia  hosp.  because they refuse to do any complicated hernia operations such as mine. They protect their reputation, they do mostly men's. People come from around the world. ( Mine is called a massive ventral hernia.)

stardust,

Not only the doctor, but the patient also cannot take it too lightly.

If you have concerns, see the doctor or even call TeleHealth. 

There are many folks who have complications and those who need a negative pressure machine, vac, to help close these type of wounds.