What I Learned When They did a Hernia Repair Job on me

The folder on my desk says Presbyterian General Surgery Hernia. Inside it says I have an inguinal hernia on the right side. My first inguinal hernia was on the left side about 15 years ago. I suppose my body wanted to be symmetrical, ha!

Hernias form near the groin, near a tunnel called the inguinal canal. A weakness in the abdominal wall (like a small slit) appears next to the inguinal canal. Over time, the intestines can press through this weak area causing it to bulge through the groin. I first noticed it while taking a shower, and at times it felt hard, which worried me.

I was in Kansas at the time and Kim, my step-daughter, took me to the doctor. He said I could drive myself back to Albuquerque – I would be safe even though it took 11 hours. Kim bought me some compression shorts to hold the hernia in place, which helped a lot.

It was a funny little hernia. Sometimes it would pop back in and I couldn’t feel it, especially when I lay down. But then it would pop out again for no apparent reason.

When I reached Albuquerque, my intestines were very swollen, and the first doctor’s notes had said if this happens, go to ER and don’t wait. So I did, although the pain was light. My Bible study leader, Doug, got out of bed, dressed, and met me at the ER, and I was very thankful for his company. After waiting 6 hours they took a CT scan of my intestines, and the new doc said I was okay, no blockages of my intestine. This can happen with a hernia and can be dangerous. If a hernia twists and loses blood it can harden and die, and become very painful, which requires emergency surgery.

An appointment was made with Doctor Brown at Presbyterian Rust facility in Albuquerque. He asked me how the hernia happened. I said I’d had constipation problems, and he said that will do it. He surprised me by telling me I could play pickleball as much as I wanted to before the surgery, which was a month out, but not for 6 weeks afterwards.

The Surgery.

Garland, an old friend, kindly drove me to the hospital, and I was given a bed where I undressed into a gown. The pre-op nurse, called Brook, was a very good communicator, and we discussed her family and my family in Australia. It turned out her husband and I had both worked for a while at Los Alamos National Laboratory. Brook set up the IV with saline solution, and took my vitals.

While Brook was wishing me well, I teared up as I am emotional, and tend to tear up at the smallest things. She saw this and asked what was wrong. Nothing, I explained. She offered to pray for me, and said a beautiful prayer.

Brook was followed by Doctor Brown, the op-center nurse, and the anesthetist. I asked the latter what anesthetic he would use. I think he gave it two long names, which I didn’t recognize at all. He laughed.
Dr Brown explained they would push the hernia back inside the abdomen, then stitch a mesh patch over the weak area. The stitches dissolve over time while the abdominal wall flesh grows around the mesh. This is what was done on my other hernia 15 years ago. I can feel the scar which is a few inches long.

The main difference now is the hernia repair can be done by a robot called Da Vinci. It requires three little keyholes (1/2 inch slits), cut near the belly button or navel. A high-resolution camera is inserted through one of these holes, and becomes eyes for the doctor. The mesh is rolled up and poked through another hole. The robotic arms are like an extension of the surgeon’s hands.

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The Da Vinci Method.

If you are interested, below is a written summary of the steps for robotic inguinal hernia repair after the patient is anesthetized with general anesthesia. If not interested, you can scroll down to Recovery At Home.
1. Three 8mm cuts, less than ½ inch, are made in the upper abdomen to allow placement of three 8 mm diameter cylinders (trocars).
2. A camera and two other surgical instruments are placed through these cylinders (trocars) and attached to the robotic arms.
3. The surgeon is sitting in a type of virtual reality console and is controlling the camera and two other instruments. The surgeon’s hands are in a delicate controller that translates the surgeon’s finger and hand movement to movement of the instruments. The instruments range from different tissue grasping devices to scissors to needle holders (used for sewing).
4. The innermost layer (peritoneum) is delicately dissected away from the muscular abdominal wall behind the area of the hernia. The surgeon requires experience and skill in order to perform a very delicate and safe dissection. The surgeon is working in an area where many vital structures are adjacent to the area of concern for the hernia repair.
5. A synthetic mesh (typically polypropylene) is placed behind the area exposed and sutured to certain key but safe locations.
6. The peritoneum is sewn back to its original location as it covers the mesh within the abdominal wall.
The surgery lasts 1-2 hours normally. The patient is typically discharged to home within two hours after the surgery.

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Recovery At Home.

There was little abdominal pain, which was great, but I took a hydro and slept most of the night. On the first recovery day, I was told to walk around 50 yards every hour. I paid some bills, checked my emails, and enjoyed lunch brought over by Chrissy, a friend from pickleball. Garland checked on me throughout the day, and I was feeling fine.

The doc had warned me that a shoulder pain would happen, and said it came from the three little holes of the robotic treatment, which I didn’t understand. He gave me some little green pills, a muscle relaxant, but when I popped one it gave me drymouth. So I didn’t want to take any more of those.

In the evening, Cecily bought over some soup and salad (plus tiny cheesecakes) which were wonderful. However, a shoulder pain started later in the first day at home, very intense if I reached down or forward. It quickly became worse. I couldn’t get into bed it was so bad. I had to sit up in front of 3 pillows. I realized I could never sleep like this.

Then I recalled the little green pills called Tizanidene. I crawled out of bed and popped another one. In about 20 mins the pain alleviated, and no shoulder pain next morning.

But I thought I better take another green pill next morning, to stop the shoulder pain from coming back. Pretty soon I couldn’t read my emails, and dry mouth returned. I could barely walk to a comfortable chair. Fell asleep for over an hour.

I have new respect for the little green pills, I just had to adjust the timing and be prepared for a fadeout. Later in the day I could read my emails again, and walk in a straight line.

The Shoulder Pain.

I googled on this and found the following: Carbon dioxide is used to inflate the abdomen during robotic hernia surgery. The gas can irritate the diaphragm, causing referred pain that travels to the shoulders. It generally lasts 1 to 3 days, rarely longer.
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The Gray Nomad, writing this on May Day, 2026.

I am deeply thankful to the medical staff at Rust, and Doctor Brown. I appreciate all my friend’s prayers, especially Kim who took me to the first doctor and bought the compression shorts, Doug for sitting with me for long hours in ER, Garland for transporting me to and from hospital, and to Chrissy, Cecily, and Roberta for bringing food. The shoulder pain was a setback, but I did eventually sleep well, and my hernia pain has been minimal. I just have to learn to handle the little green pills!

“…now you may belong to Another, to Him who was raised from the dead in order that we may bear fruit for God.” [Romans, chapter 7].