Hernias Post Op

I read a lot about men getting hernias after RP. I also know someone
personally who had one 5 years after his prostatectomy.
Is this related to the surgery?
Or are men more suceptable after this operation?
Any statistics?
Anything to watch out for or prevent?
I am currently weight training (10 & 15 lb dumbells) daily...don't
want to cause any new problems.

In article
<177a3b14-1cef-46a7-98cf-31dfad9a6c96@d45g2000hsc.googlegroups.com>,
skeptic <ribrass@aol.com> wrote:

> I read a lot about men getting hernias after RP. I also know someone
> personally who had one 5 years after his prostatectomy.
> Is this related to the surgery?
> Or are men more suceptable after this operation?
> Any statistics?
> Anything to watch out for or prevent?

I had a double hernia repair 15 months after my RRP. Who knows if it
was a result of my operation or was there all along? I believe I read a
medical article that suggested urologists check more carefully for
potential hernias pre-prostatectomy.

Paul

On Jun 9, 1:06*pm, skeptic <ribr...@aol.com> wrote:
> I read a lot about men getting hernias after RP. *I also know someone
> personally who had one 5 years after his prostatectomy.
> Is this related to the surgery?
>

I'm 4 yrs and 3 months post-RRP and have suspect hernia, possibly due
to running training. Doc not sure, no "outbreak" just chronic pubic
and groin pain during exercise. X-Rays (for Osteitis Pubis)
negative. Follow-up appt with surgeon in a couple of weeks.

Dave

On Jun 8, 9:06*pm, skeptic <ribr...@aol.com> wrote:
> I read a lot about men getting hernias after RP. *I also know someone
> personally who had one 5 years after his prostatectomy.
> Is this related to the surgery?
> Or are men more suceptable after this operation?
> Any statistics?
> Anything to watch out for or prevent?
> I am currently weight training (10 & 15 lb dumbells) daily...don't
> want to cause any new problems.

Inguinal hernias are a known post-op complication following PCa
surgery...ron

Urology. 2007 Vol 69, issue 2, pp 326-329

Postoperative Inguinal Hernia After Radical Prostatectomy for Prostate
Cancer.

Abe T, Shinohara N, Harabayashi T, Sazawa A, Suzuki S, Kawarada Y,
Nonomura K.

Department of Urology, Hokkaido University Graduate School of
Medicine, Sapporo, Japan.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the incidence of inguinal hernia after
radical prostatectomy and compare it with the incidence in patients
with prostate cancer treated with radiotherapy. We also analyzed the
effect of potential risk factors for inguinal hernia after radical
prostatectomy.
METHODS: We investigated the medical records of 53, 43, and 74 men who
underwent open radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP), laparoscopic
radical prostatectomy (LRP), or radiotherapy with or without
laparoscopic pelvic lymph node dissection, respectively, and evaluated
the respective incidence of inguinal hernia after these therapies. The
risk factors were analyzed using a Cox proportional hazards model.
RESULTS: The incidence of inguinal hernia was 17% (9 of 53), 14.0% (6
of 43), and 1.4% (1 of 74) in open RRP, LRP, and radiotherapy groups,
respectively. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards analysis
demonstrated that open RRP and LRP were significant risk factors for
the development of inguinal hernia.
CONCLUSIONS: Urologists should be aware that inguinal hernia is an
important postoperative complication of open RRP. More interestingly,
even LRP could promote the development of postoperative inguinal
hernia.

PMID: 17275071

oitbso is right about the hernias.

I just saw my doc (uro) and the questions included one that asked if any
hernias had developed.

I'm over 3 years post open RRP.

I had 2 hernias PRIOR to the RRP...and sometimes they can fix one during
the RRP...but one of mine was too large.

So...I still have the two, one is larger, so you can see it protruding,
the other not seen..and the internist sez that the current thinking is
to leave it alone if it doesn't hurt or bother you.

Mine do not.

Ron B.

Chicago

"Paul Johnson" <psj@elgatito.com> wrote in message
newssj-E323F7.21444908062008@news.phx.highwinds-media.com...
> In article

> I had a double hernia repair 15 months after my RRP.
> Paul

Hey, Paul! Haven't heard from you in 2½ years. How's your fight coming?


--
PSA 16 10/17/2000 @ 46
Biopsy 11/01/2000 G7 (3+4), T2c
RRP 12/15/2000 G7 (3+4), T3cN0M0 Neg margins
PSA <.1 <.1 <.1 .27 .37 .75 PSAD 0.19 years
EBRT 05-07/2002 @ 47
PSA .34 .22 .15 .21 .32 PSAD .056 years
Lupron 07/03 (1 mo) 8/03 and every 4 months there after
PSA .07 .05 .06 .09 .08 .132 .145 PSAD 1.4 years
Casodex added daily 07/06
PSA <0.04, <0.05, <0.04, <0.04, <0.1 2/12/08
Non Illegitimi Carborundum

> Or are men more suceptable after this operation?

Absolutely YES

Dave P

I'm about 7 years post RRP and have developed an inguinal hernia, not sure
if it was caused by the RRP or if as stated I'm more susceptible.

I'm not sure what to do about it. Afraid that consulting a surgeon will get
a recommendation to repair it. Any information on the pros and cons of
repair vs. waiting would be appreciated.

Also how do I choose a surgeon to do the repair? My GP and Uro claim it's a
simple repair and any general surgeon can handle it. I can't seem to find
info on a surgeon who specializes in hernia repair.

"Dave P" <david@trsusa.com> wrote in message
news:d592d68d-04c9-423a-97c6-2fb422aebd9c@l42g2000hsc.googlegroups.com...
>
>> Or are men more suceptable after this operation?
>
> Absolutely YES
>
> Dave P

"Kemosabe109" <kemosabe109nospam@optonline.net> wrote in message
news:48506c23$0$11615$607ed4bc@cv.net...
> I'm about 7 years post RRP and have developed an inguinal hernia, not sure
> if it was caused by the RRP or if as stated I'm more susceptible.
>
> I'm not sure what to do about it. Afraid that consulting a surgeon will
> get a recommendation to repair it. Any information on the pros and cons
> of repair vs. waiting would be appreciated.
>
> Also how do I choose a surgeon to do the repair? My GP and Uro claim it's
> a simple repair and any general surgeon can handle it. I can't seem to
> find info on a surgeon who specializes in hernia repair.

Kemosabe,

I have had inguinal hernias repaired on both sides. It is my understanding
that the concern with not repairing a hernia, outside of the discomfort, is
the *possibility* of the intestine eventually pushing through the stomach
wall and being trapped in the pouch. This can lead to serious medical
problems. Your doctors are correct, it is a fairly straightforward procedure
done by a general surgeon. I am not aware, in over 30 years in the health
care field, of any medical specialty for hernia repair.
--
JerryW

Please respond to group; email address is not valid

2/11/04 PSA 2.6, Suspicious DRE (age 62)
2/23/04 Biopsy: Gleason 3+4=7, T2a, left lobe
5/18/04 RRP, Path: Gleason 4+3=7, T2c, both lobes
Fully continent by 9/04
PSA through 4/22/08: <0.1

Hi Kemosabe.

I mentioned earlier that I have 2 hernias...one that you can't see...and
one that is 'out there.' (Both before the RRP)

They don't hurt..and my internist told me that 'these days'...the
thinking is that you don't have to fix them unless they bother you.

Just what "I" was told. Many guys have 'em fixed...with the 'mesh' etc.

Good Luck,

Ron B.

Chicago

On Jun 12, 10:35 am, Gi...@webtv.net (Ron B) wrote:
> Hi Kemosabe.
>
> I mentioned earlier that I have 2 hernias...one that you can't see...and
> one that is 'out there.' (Both before the RRP)
>
> They don't hurt..and my internist told me that 'these days'...the
> thinking is that you don't have to fix them unless they bother you.
>
> Just what "I" was told. Many guys have 'em fixed...with the 'mesh' etc.

I've known a number of men who have had hernia repairs (not as
a result of prostate surgery), in at least a couple of them, there
was lots of post-operative pain and discomfort, and a healing
period that lasted many times longer than what the surgeons said
to expect.

Of course everyone's mileage may vary.

For anyone choosing not to have surgery, there are other things
to do. Wearing a jock strap helps, as does wearing a hernia belt.
They are both cheap and safe. In my own case, they worked
very well.

Hernia belts are available on the web or in many drug stores.

BUT --- My suggestion is not a substitute for competent medical
advice. Do see a doctor if you have hernia pain.

Alan

On Thu, 12 Jun 2008 18:06:26 -0700 (PDT), Alan Meyer <ameyer2@yahoo.com> wrote:

>On Jun 12, 10:35 am, Gi...@webtv.net (Ron B) wrote:
>> Hi Kemosabe.
>>
>> I mentioned earlier that I have 2 hernias...one that you can't see...and
>> one that is 'out there.' (Both before the RRP)
>>
>> They don't hurt..and my internist told me that 'these days'...the
>> thinking is that you don't have to fix them unless they bother you.
>>
>> Just what "I" was told. Many guys have 'em fixed...with the 'mesh' etc.
>
>I've known a number of men who have had hernia repairs (not as
>a result of prostate surgery), in at least a couple of them, there
>was lots of post-operative pain and discomfort, and a healing
>period that lasted many times longer than what the surgeons said
>to expect.
>
>Of course everyone's mileage may vary.
>
>For anyone choosing not to have surgery, there are other things
>to do. Wearing a jock strap helps, as does wearing a hernia belt.
>They are both cheap and safe. In my own case, they worked
>very well.
>
>Hernia belts are available on the web or in many drug stores.
>
>BUT --- My suggestion is not a substitute for competent medical
>advice. Do see a doctor if you have hernia pain.
>
> Alan

I guess it makes a difference how important it is to a person to be "whole".

Would you ride a Harley or a rollercoaster with a hernia belt? Sounds risky
to me. But after a hernia repair operation that has healed, then sure.

DM

"Danger Mouse" <danger_mouse@att.net> wrote in message
news:k9n354569br4obnll2enfra5aj46jeh50p@4ax.com...
> ...
> Would you ride a Harley or a rollercoaster with a hernia belt? Sounds
> risky
> to me. But after a hernia repair operation that has healed, then sure.

Riding the Harley or the rollercoaster probably aren't big problems
even without a belt, though I wouldn't know. I do know however
that I've been able to shovel thick snow and carry heavy suitcases
while wearing a belt - things I wasn't able to do without one without
a lot of pain.

However, mine was never a very serious case.

One problem with hernias, as with so many medical problems, is
that two different doctors can give you conflicting medical advice.
I once saw a doctor who said not to get an operation - similar to
the advice that Ron B. got. Other doctors have told me to
get an operation.

Since I prefer not to have an operation, and since I had at least
one opinion from a competent medical expert saying I didn't
need it, I used my own judgment and chose his advice over the
others.

It reminds me of the decision about radiation vs. surgery vs.
watchful waiting. In the final analysis, as I.P. always says,
you have to take charge of your own situation and make your
own choice based on what you think is right for you.

To me, surgery (or radiation, or any invasive therapy) is something
you do when you run out of other options and something has
to be done. I never had a problem wearing glasses and was
never tempted to get laser eye surgery. Similarly I never had
a problem wearing a jock strap (or a hernia belt when doing
real heavy lifting) and was never tempted to get hernia surgery.

Other guys feel the opposite way.

Alan

On Thu, 12 Jun 2008 23:28:01 -0400, "Alan Meyer" <ameyer2@yahoo.com> wrote:

>"Danger Mouse" <danger_mouse@att.net> wrote in message
>news:k9n354569br4obnll2enfra5aj46jeh50p@4ax.com.. .
>> ...
>> Would you ride a Harley or a rollercoaster with a hernia belt? Sounds
>> risky
>> to me. But after a hernia repair operation that has healed, then sure.
>
>Riding the Harley or the rollercoaster probably aren't big problems
>even without a belt, though I wouldn't know. I do know however
>that I've been able to shovel thick snow and carry heavy suitcases
>while wearing a belt - things I wasn't able to do without one without
>a lot of pain.
>
>However, mine was never a very serious case.
>
>One problem with hernias, as with so many medical problems, is
>that two different doctors can give you conflicting medical advice.
>I once saw a doctor who said not to get an operation - similar to
>the advice that Ron B. got. Other doctors have told me to
>get an operation.
>
>Since I prefer not to have an operation, and since I had at least
>one opinion from a competent medical expert saying I didn't
>need it, I used my own judgment and chose his advice over the
>others.
>
>It reminds me of the decision about radiation vs. surgery vs.
>watchful waiting. In the final analysis, as I.P. always says,
>you have to take charge of your own situation and make your
>own choice based on what you think is right for you.
>
>To me, surgery (or radiation, or any invasive therapy) is something
>you do when you run out of other options and something has
>to be done. I never had a problem wearing glasses and was
>never tempted to get laser eye surgery. Similarly I never had
>a problem wearing a jock strap (or a hernia belt when doing
>real heavy lifting) and was never tempted to get hernia surgery.
>
>Other guys feel the opposite way.
>
> Alan
>

Yes, you have some good points.

I once got advice from a pulmonary specialist when I had a problem with
pneummonia and a possible lingering side-effect that I thought was keeping me
from exercising by swimming (It wasn't - that pain was really from a stomach
problem) and he said, "If you don't have to have surgery, then don't."

Not bad advice. I only hesitate to leave a problem go unattended because I
might need to have it fixed later, and not be able to for some reason. In
fact, right now I have a condition that can be corrected by some minor surgery,
that, with the way I feel right now, I wouldn't have it done. However, it's my
plan to attempt to land another several-month job in Iraq working some
counter-IED stuff, and such an operation would not be available. If the condx
flared up, I'd probably have to come back. So, I will probably have this
operation and eliminate the threat.

DM

"Danger Mouse" <danger_mouse@att.net> wrote in message
news:utr354hkjsjlgnmaivo4bhsie2p3kanfmf@4ax.com...

> ... So, I will probably have this
> operation and eliminate the threat.

Best of luck with it DM.

Alan