WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?! nice to *see* you.
Can't they just give you a local anasthetic for that? Isn't that just sewing up a muscle?

I see that you already posted at the Hernia forum. Good for you. Maybe you will find support for that kind of hernia.

I posted there when I was about to have surgery for an inguinal hernia. Two posters gave me detailed description of everything, from surgery to recovery. I'm such a worry wart. That helped immensely.

I was all bummed out. I only do alternative health care. I hated that I could do nothing about this. Everyone said that nothing could be done other than surgery. The doctor said that it had to be done. Otherwise the intestines could come through the muscle, be strangled, and fatal. So, don't wait. Get it done. You don't know how much I hate saying that. I had not been to a doctor for over 15 years. I had never taken any pharmaceutical ever. I'm normally very good with pain; but this was very bad. Your hernia may be very different since it is in a much different location. I do hope someone will respond to you.

Otherwise try not to stress so much. Find a good surgeon who has done this many times before. My operation only lasted 40 minutes. The anesthesia was the scariest part. I agree with you there. But, thank goodness, I remember nothing.

good to hear from you!

if there is one thing doctors can do, its mend flesh. the anesthesia bothers me too. those fluoridated drugs are very dangerous. set them straight. you want to be awake and you dont want fluoridated drugs. it should not hurt to have regular valium once. i can hear the gasp! did trapper say that? well, yes. i have had my share of diazepam before and there is no better muscle relaxant around. you dont want to be fighting them while they are working. but nothing fancy - no fluoridated drugs or spinal taps. if the anesthesiologist is good with epidurals, that may be all you need. just make sure they understand you dont want to be put out. you will feel what they are doing, just not feel any pain associated with it.

in surgery, your life is in the hands of the anesthesiologist. his bill reflects that. find one you can work with. dont let them pull a switch on you at the last minute and try to bully you. doctors can be so elitist. YOURE the one getting cut on and paying the bill.