QuestionI had an incisional hernia repair on Jan.9, 2007. I saw my surgeon for follow up today and of course when I got home, I had questions. I hope you can help me. He said I had multiple "swiss cheese" defects and that he put in a large piece of mesh, I think 20 cm. My question is this. What will be my risk of recurrance? I am a nurse in a hospital setting and I am very afraid as once back to work I will be doing heavy lifting on a regular basis. I like the idea of the large piece of mesh. It seems that this would actually protect me from further hernia, moreso, than just a smaller piece in one area. Another question I have is this? What causes the swiss cheese effect? Was it the continuous lifting? Is this caused by separate incidences or is this a phenomonom that pretty much happens all at once when an area is weak?
Thanks so much for the wonderful service you provide!
Cindy
AnswerI am a nurse in a hospital setting and I am very afraid as once back to work I will be doing heavy lifting on a regular basis. I like the idea of the large piece of mesh. It seems that this would actually protect me from further hernia, moreso, than just a smaller piece in one area. What will be my risk of recurrance?
Answer, with such a large piece it is near to zero
Another question I have is this? What causes the swiss cheese effect?
Answer: likely you are in poor physical conditioning
Was it the continuous lifting? Is this caused by separate incidences or is this a phenomonom that pretty much happens all at once when an area is weak?
Answer: probably over time but due to being so severely out of shape etc.
