Quality of Life Destroyed by Hernia Repair Patch

Indio, CARaymond W. is angry: since his hernia repair surgery, which he believes is a Kugel Mesh Patch, he has had 7 more surgeries for hernia-related infections. He has undergone repeated surgeries to try to determine what went wrong with his hernia repair. Raymond has many symptoms that are consistent with problems with the Kugel mesh patch.

"I had my surgery and the site swelled up to the size of a balloon," Raymond says. "I was told at the hospital that I had an insect bite, but I wasn't happy with that explanation, so I went to the surgeon who performed my hernia surgery. She opened me up and said that I had a MRSA [methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus] infection. Since then, I have had 7 more surgeries. Since that last surgery, I started swelling again and then my insides burst, so I'm still dealing with the same problem I had before.

"I finally got fed up and saw an infectious diseases doctor. He recommended that I have the mesh removed, but now the surgeon who put it in says she's not qualified to take it out because I am in such bad shape. At first, they told me that a plug that was implanted to help with my hernia repair was causing the infection, so they took that out. But, I'm still having the same problem, the same hole in my abdomen and the same pain I had before.

"It has ruined my entire life. I can't sit for longer than an hour. My boss is fed up with me having time off for so many surgeries. I'm in really bad shape..

"Now, I find out that I probably will need another surgery where they will hopefully remove the mesh. This last incident left black, disgusting, coagulated stuff running down the front of my body. I did research on what was going on and found out that I am just one of many people that this has happened to and I think it's ridiculous.

"This has totally destroyed my quality of life. I used to go dirt biking and take my kids to the beach every week. Now, I can't even take a proper shower. I've been taking birdbaths for almost a year. They [the makers of the mesh patch] need to be held accountable for what is being done to folks. This is the worst thing that's ever happened to me, and I'm missing a finger. It's like every surgery they've done was redundant. It's been a strain emotionally, physically and financially.

"I can't afford not to work. For the last while, I've had to have surgery, go home for 3 days and recover and then go back to work. I can't sit for long or stand or bend because the pain is right where my body folds. This has been the worst thing ever.

"Of all the side effects, there are only 2 that I didn't have. I've had internal and external fistulae, abscesses, nausea and diarrhea.

"It's really, really terrible. I feel bad for everyone who's gone through this. I just want someone to say, 'This is our fault, let us take care of it.' I want the problem fixed. Where is the morality? They don't care about people and they can get away with it.

"I just want people to know that just because their surgery was done doesn't mean they're okay. Just because something goes wrong doesn't mean it's their fault. It's the mesh."