Hernia Repair: Sharon's Story
November 27, 2019What Sharon Stecklein wants people suffering from complex hernias to know is that there is a solution. Surgically treated for colon cancer in 2014, Sharon developed an incisional hernia the following year that was small at first but grew rapidly.
"For the next two years I suffered from discomfort and recurring pain plus shortness of breath as the hernia grew larger," said Sharon. "It was very unpleasant and often interfered with the quality of my life, but I was told by my physician that it would be difficult to treat due to its size and location and that the surgery might not be successful. I accepted my doctor's prognosis at face value. I had no reason to doubt him, and I just assumed it was something I would have to live with for the rest of my life."
Finding a Solution
That all changed the day she received Holy Cross Health's community magazine in her mailbox and spotted a Help for Hernias informational event at Holy Cross Germantown Hospital with Alexander Sailon, MD, plastic surgeon, and George Conrad, MD, general surgeon.
"I just want everyone suffering from a complex hernia to know that there is a solution and not to give up.” - Sharon Stecklein
"I showed it to my husband," recalls Sharon, "and of course we attended. When I heard Dr. Sailon say that almost any hernia could be surgically repaired, usually successfully, I was so excited. I called for an appointment the next day."
A hernia is a gap or tear in the lining of the abdominal wall that can result from heavy lifting, chronic cough, obesity, pregnancy and other causes.
"Hernias cause pain or discomfort that can reduce the quality of life," said Dr. Sailon. "It's not uncommon to hear from our patients that they have been told their hernia is too large to repair. Holy Cross Germantown Hospital's hernia program is staffed with surgeons with the training and experience to treat hernias ranging from the simple to the most complex, even after prior surgeries have failed."
Collaborating to Heal the Most Difficult Hernias
The hernia program is staffed with a team of multidisciplinary clinical and support professionals who collaborate to serve each patient's unique needs. For complex hernias such as Sharon's, a general surgeon and a plastic surgeon will work together to ensure an optimal outcome. For Sharon's surgery, Dr. Sailon collaborated with Dr. Conrad.
"Dr. Conrad and I used the most advanced resorbable mesh to repair Sharon's hernia," said Dr. Sailon. "It provides support and allows robust scar tissue to form while slowly dissolving over a 12-to-24 month period."
When working with Dr. Sailon, Dr. Conrad begins the surgery and identifies the edges of the hernia. "I make sure we avoid any injury to the bowel or intestines," explains Dr. Conrad. "Dr. Sailon then separates the layers of the abdominal wall so they can be closed back together over the mesh."
Sharon's surgery at Holy Cross Germantown Hospital was a success, and according to Dr. Sailon, she faces a less than a 10 percent chance of recurrence over the course of her lifetime.
Sharon, who worked for 43 years as a nurse, says finally finding a solution to her hernia helped move her life ahead: "I'm just so grateful I can breathe easily again without that discomfort and occasional pain I had endured. My doctors demonstrated such caring and skill during each step of this procedure; I cannot say enough good things about them. I just want everyone suffering from a complex hernia to know that there is a solution and not to give up."