Sasha -- I just found your post by accident. I'm so sorry that you have this problem and financial worries too. I had an incisional hernia after colon cancer surgery, but I never lifted and did the things you did. I live in Canada so had no money problems. Unfortunately there was an error in the surgery -- small bowel was stitched to the hernia repair and they had to go in and do it again. The surgery was done without mesh but from what I read, mesh isn't a real problem with this kind of surgery; it's more with the pelvic floor, uterus, etc. where all the tissue is soft. I think as nurse you probably know all this. I hope you have found a solution by now ...

Hey bleusblue2... I almost forgot about this post! Well, I decided that I will have to lose weight to have the hernia surgery. Although neither of my doctors, my primary nor the surgeon, think that a big deal, I have done a lot of research about the surgery with mesh. If you lose weight after the mesh is placed, there's a likelihood of it "rolling" up inside you and causing all sorts of trouble. Also, I am very overweight. It's never good to have any kind of surgery if you are overweight. So... I am on the second day of eating differently and it is hard. BUT I have to do it. I cannot think that there will be a good outcome to walking around for the next few years with this huge hernia. As I said I look pregnant, no joke. And I am trying to put my life back together after becoming a nurse and now leaving nursing. Physically it's just too hard. Most of the nurses I know who work in the hospital are injured in some way, neck, back, etc. I cannot regret it now... but I do have to move on and losing weight and getting this hernia repaired are two things that have to be done. Thanks for your note. Where do you live in Canada? The best hernia hospital in the world is near or in Toronto, Shouldice. Also I have always dreamed of visiting Quebec and Nova Scotia... maybe someday! Enjoy your first days of spring!

Hi Sasha -- I live in Toronto. My family doctor says she would never refer anybody to Shouldice! She says they live on their reputation and are out of date. My surgeon says they get the easy cases. Of course anybody who plans to go there should not take my word for it. My husband had a simple hernia repaired there years ago and it went fine. Meanwhile, my own hernia repair done elsewhere had to be redone one week later because the bowel was stitched to the repair! Apparently that's not unknown. Surgeon was mortified. I am trying not to gain weight because these repairs have a failure rate and I am hoping my repair will hold; weight gain might stress it. At least that's my guess. it was done without mesh. May I mention something about diets? That submarine guy wasn't so far wrong. If you could eat the same thing every day, not thinking about it, you might take it off more quickly -- a couple of my family members are doing this.

Dear Bleusblue2,

Shouldice certainly has a good PR person... I was completely pulled in. Right now I just need to lose this weight, not just for the hernia surgery, but because I am feeling unhealthy and unhappy. I don't go around sad, but I don't feel as confident as I used to, because of a lot of things: the hernia, going into nursing which turned out to be very bad for me health-wise and mentally/ I am basically having to start over again, yet again! I am returning to being an administrative assistant like I did before nursing school. Less stress, less wear and tear on the body and mind.

So... maybe the best thing I can do right now is concentrate on small steps... like lose 10 pounds and then go to the next 10 pounds.... I have completely given up bread and sugar and it shows you something that I already feel better after two days! And I am not as hungry as I always am. Lose the weight and then see where I am with the hernia surgery. I hate the idea of having a foreign body placed in me (mesh) -- but maybe I need to do more research on it.

And absolutely, yes, do not gain any weight! From what I have read that is more dangerous to our health than anything and to surgery repairs, etc. Do you have an exercise regime? We have just passed through one of our "worst" winters here in Arkansas and now the sun is out daily. I have no excuses for not walking every day! So that is part of my plan: losing weight and walking at least 45 minutes three times a week.

Thanks for you feedback on these matters. Otherwise I would have gone around thinking Shouldice was the best place in the world to have that surgery done.

When you say that submarine guy... are you talking about Subway? Because I am not eating bread, yesterday I went into a Subway shop and got them to put tuna salad in a little bowl and then all the veggies that would have gone on a sandwich on the side. It was delicious!

The reason I am giving up bread is because in the past when I have lost weight, the only thing that really worked was giving up bread, potatoes, rice, and all those comforting starches... I don't think these are "bad" foods -- I just know for me that is what has always made the weight "move".....

I have not always been overweight. It's just been the last 15 years or so... it's a different world in many ways... people do look at you differently... some people even act like you are immoral or just "not with it" -- even though I am one of the brightest people I know! How's that for some confidence? LOL.

Thanks, again. Write back if you feel moved to. Do you have a garden?
Cheers, Sasha

Hi Sasha -- I just looked at your profile -- I don't have one on here and pretty well try to keep a low profile. I love your dream to travel in a dew drop trailer and paint landscapes -- I am also a painter. A painter with a hernia!

My relative is on this diet: A special smoothie in the AM -- full of flax, protein, etc. Lunch is 1/2 submarine, double turkey piled with veggies. Supper is a skinless chicken breast with lots of vegetables -- he likes it and says he isn't hungry. Of course if you exercise a whole lot you will get hungry. My neighbour has successfully lost weight -- gym three days a week, no sugar, no soda, watch portions. It's a hard row to hoe.

I will say that I have never had a real weight problem either and that's genetic. It's only since the hernia after an operation for colon cancer. I was very lucky on that one. But I went completely vegetarian for the operation -- COMPLETELY. No wheat or pasta or rice or dairy. Of course if I ate in restaurants I did my best to not even eat flour or dairy but there were times it didn't work. I dropped 20 pounds, was pretty skinny. Now I just want to stay under a certain weight because of the hernia. Believe me I do know how hard it is when you are prone to gain and the world around us just eats and eats.

As far as Shouldice goes, you aren't unusual in your perception. Even when my surgeon was negative I withheld my judgement because after all, she's a surgeon and would do the 'job' too. But when the operation went wrong and I talked to my family doctor I said that if the hernia came back I'd go to the Shouldice, she was adamant that she'd never refer anybody there! If you remember -- my hernia was repaired but the surgeon says a certain percentage don't hold. I've had bad luck up to now. I'm thinking I would just wear a binder if that would do the trick rather than another surgery. But I simply don't know at the moment. Just hope it holds.

I don't have a garden. I live in an apartment in the heart of the city.

It's very nice to hear from you!

Nikole