Hernia Patch Lawsuits: Claims reviewed for all Davol ring and dual-mesh hernia patches

36 Responses to:

“Hernia Patch Lawsuits: Claims reviewed for all Davol ring and dual-mesh hernia patches”

1. Fredricka Says:
   March 14th, 2008 at 3:48 pm

   I am writing on behalf of a friend who had a very bad result from a bilatereal hernia “repair” operation. According to the operative report, the doctor placed a “3-D Max patch” on both sides.
   My friend had a serious partial ileus and was very ill for about 2 months post op. Further, the hernias were not repaired.

2. lisa Says:
   March 18th, 2008 at 8:46 pm

   well I’m post surgery for removal of eroded mesh “flat sheets” from Bard,product number not on recall list. But I had no choice but open surgery to remove the mesh because it caused so many complications within me. I spent 2.5 weeks in hospital because of internal leaks, etc. I’m home now but still healing. My surgery was only in 2001 as a result of abdominal surgery not hernia.

3. Dawn Says:
   April 7th, 2008 at 11:50 am

   Hi Lisa. I really feel bad for what you have went through. I had my first hernia repair in 2002 and my life has been a nightmare ever since that day. Three hernia repairs on right side to remove mesh and entrapped nerves, leaving me with chronic lower right back pain and lower abdominal chronic pain and very bad swelling, which hasn’t went down since the surgery. My life has completely changed since this one surgery. I have the bard mesh on the left side, and I’m really getting worried, because Now I am beginning to have the same problems on the left side that I have been having, and continue to have on the right. Prolene mesh, flat used on right side, but it feels like I was injected with something lethal and deadly, no joke!!!! I have never endured this much pain in my entire life, so it’s obvious these mesh patches are causing extreme damages, long term damages at that. I am only 37 and I feel like I’m 56 because of how slow I have to walk now. I can’t sit nor can I stand for long periods at a time, and that is very frustrating considering how athletic and energetic I used to be. I feel like a new me, but instead of a bubbly, upbeat, on the go me, a more depressed, socially withdrawn and frustrated me. Never in a million years did I ever think my life would change so drastically due to a simple hernia surgery. What really blew me away, was about 2 years ago, after my surgeon had retired, a friend of mine was at a gas station filling up our vehicle, and inside of the lil station we see my surgeon up at the counter loaded with beer and wine. YOu can only imagine the first thought that went through my mind when I saw that. I will not make false accusations, but wow!!! That is all I can say. Makes you wonder a bit. Especially considering how his story seemed to changed so often when discussing the treatments he had performed on me. I’m thinking if he doesn’t even remember what he did, how can he have done it successfully in the first place? One time he told me he put mesh in the right side, then another time he told me he didn’t. I finally had to get my medical records to see exactly what he did. Anyway, hang in there Lisa. I think Prayer really does help me, but I still find myself being depressed and frustrated because I’m not seeing a miracle. Hopefully one day. God bless and hang in there.

   Dawn

4. anthony Says:
   May 2nd, 2008 at 5:52 pm

   I had a right inquinal hernia repair in 2003. I noticed above the repair a tennis size ball and no tender. It moves around. Not so sure if it is related to the hernia repair.

5. lisa Says:
   May 30th, 2008 at 11:50 am

   Dawn, Best of luck to you! Get a lawyer. All this pain and suffering is not right! I hope you heal soon.

6. MIke B. Says:
   July 26th, 2008 at 1:11 pm

   Dawn: I had 7 Surgeries to repair my abdomen because I had the mesh inplanted in me. Believe me I know what you are going through. Since 2006 February I spent total time in the ospital 4 months.

7. wanda Says:
   July 30th, 2008 at 2:21 pm

   i too am going through hell, every sence this patch has been inside of me i have had cronic pain, uncontrolible diarea, thicking of small bowel wall, as well as bowel obstruction and know knarrowing of the bowels. no doctor will remove this patch. i also right know on a ct scan showes coiled wirers and a circlar pattern in the area of which the patch is.

8. keanna Says:
   August 21st, 2008 at 5:45 pm

   I went through the same thing. I had my first hernia repair surgery on Aug.25Th of 2007. That’s right after I had my second child on July 20Th of 2007. And since that surgery, I was going through some pain. 4 months afther the surgery I was still having pains and my stomach was still looking like I was about 4 months pregnant. My stomach was so hard.I had infection and the pain was hurting me so bad it had me ball up in a knot it felt like painful cramps. I couldn’t do any exercise b/c it would hurt and i couldn’t even hold my baby. I could have felt something was floating around in my stomach and it will hurt. I also had felt something was poking me in my navel.(I mean it actually felt like someone was using a knife and was poking me in my naval. It hurted so bad that I would have to lift up my skin where my navel was just to kept it from poking me. I couldn’t turn or bend down a certain way b/c it will hurt. so I went throuh some stuff. So now I had my second surgery done on April 25th of 2008. So now I’m walking around with no navel and I can not have any more kids b/c of the first surgery. the doctor that did my second surgery he had to cut me open and take out all that stuff that the first doctor had put in me. The second doctor told me I had to get this surgery done and he told me that he didn’t have no other choice but to do that.He said that I could have die in a couple months if i didn’t got that done.

9. Eric S. Says:
   September 4th, 2008 at 4:30 am

   I had my hernia surgery in 2001. Maybe six months to a year later i started experiencing some problems with my bowel movements. By the way i had both left and right lower inguinal hernia’s repaired at the same time. The patch was a new procedeure then. Back to my problems. As time went on it became almost a punishment to have to take a crap. Because afterwards i would be in alot of pain. Starting in my abdominal area then eventually really bad lower back pain. I don’t have any health ins. and it cost so much to see a doctor, plus the fact that i’m a construction worker, i just had to deel with the pain. Iwent through many a sleepless night curled up in a ball wondering what was wrong with me. Whenever i would have sex it also seemed like i was being punished because the pain i would have to endure. Icouldn’t figure out what was wrong untill i saw the commercial about the recall. When isaw that i new right away that was it. On the otherhand trying to get some help is not easy. Ihave the medical records of my surgery. Hopefully since they have expanded there investigations to more patches i can get someone to help me. Ihave a 9,000 dollar emergency room bill, that states exactly that i was suffering from unexplained extreme abdominal pain. This was before i new about the recall so i did not know what to tell them, they did a few tests plus a cat scan and were not able to find out what was wrong. I have other problems but ther hard to explain.

10. Linda B Says:
    October 2nd, 2008 at 6:03 pm

    10/2/08 I like everyone else, I also have had surgery back in Sept12,2003.in Manatee Fl,it was an emergency surgey I never knew I even had a hernia until I had a regular ob/gyn check-up.I had been working landscaping,lawn work some 15 years, Then be told you got to quit work now because you about to bust your intestens open. So I had the hernia surgery,I followed all doctors orders to the tee, When I was cleared told I could go back to work,I did. But shortly afterwards I started getting heartburn yeast infections Alot of same signs I had before,but didn’t know what they were, the biggest is fluid retention,in the knees and the feet.Yes I have gone to doctors, BUT ONCE THEY FIND OUT THAT YOU HAVE ONE HERNIA,THEY DON’T WANT TO DO ANYTHING FOR YOU OR DOES THE STATE, THEIR’S ALOT OF RED TAPE,PLUS MELPRACTISE LAW SUITES THAT COULD PUT MORE SHORTAGE OF DOCTORS,i FEEL THE (FDA0 FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WAS ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL TO LET THIS HAPPEN FOR SO LONG TO SO MANY PEOPLE,and they like me not be able to get any help other thenpain we live with from day to day. Ihad to quit a new job that I had just started 3 weeks ago,shortage of breath,feet swelling,double over with cramps, I even denined getting help from Social Sercurity,or SSI until I can get some other help, I am homeless, lost everything because cann’t hold job down,with what I have. Even back in 2004 I called the doctor that done the surgery he was no longer at the address of Manatee Hospital.NO one knew where he went, I was getting this from the hospital other county doctors, anyone that he had ties with,THAT INCLIDED THE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT THAT SENT ME TO HIM.THEIR IS ALOT OF RED TAPE COVER UPS. HOW MUCH ?What scary is how much kick back is involed? that us little people got hurt with.Ineed medical help tody not 10 years down the road. Screw the RED TAPE help us.

11. Billy Says:
    October 3rd, 2008 at 9:57 pm

    I had a hernia surgery on March 2008 and since then I have had nothing but pain in my lower back and in my stomach. I have been to the Dr. and he more or less says that it’s nothing and just wants me to go to the pain clinic. I have had 8 hernia repairs before and have never felt like this before.It feels like there is a whole in the mesh and nothing but pian. I can’t walk more than 1.5 hrs without being miserable. It is hard to get comfortable and this seems like a crazy way to have to live life.

12. Cathy Says:
    October 29th, 2008 at 11:13 pm

    I am on my 4th operation since the first hernia repair. The doctor said that I developed a small hernia at the end of the mesh so he supposedly repaired that. Next I go in for follow-up only to have the same egg shaped lump on my stomach. He said it was only fluid and it would go away. It hasn’t and neither did all the pan I feel everytime I go to urinate. For months I was treated for a urinary tract infection only to later have a CT scan that showed I had a metal staple penetrating my bladder and pulling it up in the air like a tent. The urologist did a procedure to release the bladder by cutting the staple. Only then did he tell me he has never seen a mess like I have in 35 years of practice and that my pain will probably not go away as it is irritating my bladder. I can’t get no surgeon to touch this mess and my insurance has yet to let me go to a hospital out of the area that will fix the problem and that are well equipped to do the surgery successfully. I feel for all the people who write to this website and pray for you all. Please post my comments to all as they need to know they are not alone or crazy.

13. Sherri Says:
    November 4th, 2008 at 1:37 am

    It is amazing how these surgies change your life. People think laproscopic surgery – no problem. Well 4 abdominal hernia surgeries later, chronic pain, 29 incision from one surgery…WOW…I wear a brace 24 hours a day to try to keep the pain down. I also experience the hard as a rock bulge, can not bend, cramping take your breathe away pain. I have been back to my doctor, who is wonderful @ Vanderbilt, but after a CT scan it was determined that to remove the mesh could be life threatning. I am only 40 with family and successful career and this is horrible. It all started with a laproscopic gall bladder removal.

14. Barry Says:
    November 11th, 2008 at 12:19 am

    I had Bard Ventralex patch on a naval hernai sept 2007. It’s been tender
    everyday and down right painfull some nights. Have to sleep sitting up
    on the couch most nights. Ever since the surgery my belly has enlarged and it feels like I’ve got a pillow growing in there. My wife thinks I’m fat. I can’t exercise to get rid of the belly due to pain. Can’t work like I used to without pain such as mowing or raking leaves anything like that. I saw a doctor a couple monthsa fter sugery and they did ultrasound. Tech said he saw a “mass” didn’t know what it was. It’s been 14 months and still not better.

15. Jeff Says:
    November 13th, 2008 at 10:45 am

    I had hernia surgery in 2000.I didn’t know you could get so sore.I felt like i had absolutley been stomped.I had to sleep in a recliner for 17 days.I tried to ly down on the bed but when i did it felt like everything in me was tearing into.For the last couple of years now it causes me pain and i sleep mostly in a recliner.I can’t lay in the bed but just a few hours at a time because no matter how i lay the place hurts.Hurts sitting,lying down,bending over and even standing.The lower part of my belly feels numb all the time.The biggest joke was they sent me home the same day they did the surgery.That was a fun two hour ride sitting up.

16. valerie Says:
    January 2nd, 2009 at 2:20 pm

    I had lap gall bladder surgery in May 2008 , now i have an umbillical hernia that hurts like hell and its huge. I noticed more pain after my gall bladder surgey and complaint to my surgeon for months. It wasnt until i was in the ER with bad bad pain that almost made me feel as if i was constantly being kicked in stomach that they discoverd i had the hernia from ct scans.

17. alice Says:
    January 12th, 2009 at 11:11 am

    I had my mesh implanted in 2002 , surgeon said I had a Ventral Hernia when He looked inside me . I went to have a differnet surgery but He performed that instead . I have a davol mesh . I’ve had abdominal pain since then , and suffer from other things , My bp seems to stay up most of the time I cannot bend or twist in certain ways cause it hurts pinches me , I’ve had chest pain My husband rushed me to the hospital several time and Thank God my Heart is ok . This time I had a tightness in my chest was rushed to the hospital and Cardiologist , said my heart is ok He siad that in his opinion it is the mesh twisting and causing the pressure . Im afraid to have surgery again since it was very painful. but I may have to im scared

18. Tammy Says:
    January 28th, 2009 at 12:46 pm

    Hello everyone,

    I too, have had the same problems as all of you. My first surgery was in 1996 to have my spleen removed. After that one, I had a hernia repair, in the same incision in 2001. Then in 2004, my surgeon had to go back into the same spot due to swelling in the repaired area. Again in 2005, I had to have an additional surgery, in the same incision again, to have even more swelling reduced (it was fluid buildup in the left upper quadrant of my abdomen). My surgeon decided to put a larger mesh patch in at that time and told me he left the medium sized patch in as well. I can honestly say that since the first hernia repair in 2001, my life has been pure hell. I cannot sleep in a bed, I too sleep in my recliner every night. I cannot wear any type of clothing that zips or buttons or snaps because of the swelling in the area. I have lived 8 years wearing nothing but stretchy pants and sweats. I have gained close to 100 pounds since all this began. My general practitioner believes it’s an unconscious effort to overcompensate for the swelling in the left side of my body. I have lived with, at times, the most excrutiating pain I have ever had to deal with (and I have given birth both vaginal with no meds and C-section not to mention the 4 surgeries in the same area and another surgery to try to remove a blood clot in my liver). I am visiting my surgeon again on Monday, the 2nd, in hopes that he will remove this patch and find another way to “fix” me. Please keep me in your prayers, as I will all of you, and lets hope removing the patch will alleviate some, if not most of my pain.

19. Robert Says:
    March 5th, 2009 at 2:00 pm

    I had right and left hernias repaired by mesh in the 1990’s. Both sides that were repaired have failed. I have been miserable for 16 years

20. Cathy Says:
    April 3rd, 2009 at 11:16 pm

    My comment is to Alice and the others. Please find another surgeon at a larger teaching hospital to repair a problem for the second time. You need to research alot and pray that they will help you. I had the mesh removed after 2 botched ones and my bladder had to be cut to remove the staples he used unnecessarily the last time. I hope you get all the help you need.

21. Scott Says:
    April 25th, 2009 at 9:15 pm

    Wow ! I thought I was losing my mind until I read some of your comments. I had surgery in June of 2006 to repair two strangulated hernias and was in constant pain until December of 2008. At that time I had a CT Scan, a colonoscopy and an upper endoscopy and was told that there was nothing wrong. On January 09,2009 I had emergency surgery to repair a blockage, four ventral hernias, adhesions and removal of two sections of my small bowel ( which had died ). Since then I have been in constant pain, unable to sit or stand without pain and lower back pain. I know my surgeon used a large mesh patch, but I don’t know what kind. Rest assured, I will find out.
    My heart goes out to everyone experiencing this kind of pain because I know that people look at you like you’re crazy when you try to describe it.

22. Carolyn Says:
    May 12th, 2009 at 6:22 am

    I have had pain lately in my right groin area that made it difficult to walk upstairs with associated pain in groin, hip and down my legs. I have gone through MRI’s, injections, therapy, and finally spinal surgery of which none of them have relieved the pain in my inguinal area, hip and leg. As I was laying on my back this morning, 3 weeks after surgery and feeling helpless due to the continued pain, I pressed on the area where the inquinal repair had been done with a mesh in August 1990. The pain was horrible and sharp. I suspect that this may be related to the hernia repair I had 19 years ago. Now I am wondering if the surgery I had on my back was not necessary if the pain I have been having is associated with the nerves (or mesh) in the inguinal area.

23. angela Says:
    June 1st, 2009 at 7:42 pm

    i had ventral hernia surgery in 2008 since then i have had nothing but pain. i have lower back pain bad abdominal pain. trouble with my bowels and dizzy spells. i always feel light headed and never just feel good. i have been to the er 4 or 5 times and to see my surgeon 3 or 4. he is referring me to get a second opinion which i think is useless because they havent given me anything to go on. if anyone knows anything please tell. i dont know which patch they used but i had a very large hernia.

24. Carolina Says:
    July 7th, 2009 at 2:00 am

    A mesh was used to repair a hernia on my right side. i was miserable as soon as the anesthesia wore off. I spend a miserable weekend at home, had to resort to a bed pan because I could not walk to the bathroom without experiencing excruciating pain. At the hospital, I was told there was nothing wrong, I was directed me home – but I refused to go because of the pain. I was hospitalized for 2 1/2 days. The surgeon did not believe I was experiencing the level of pain I had until he saw me trying to walk to the bathroom while in the hospital. Nothing was ever resolved though. Today, I cannot be initimate with my husband without experiencing pain. i can only sleep in a certain position to avoid pain. I have trouble with bowel movements at times due to the pain. I cannot sit, exercise or play with the children like before – without pain.This repair has been nothing but pain. I want the mesh removed but my PCP says that nothing can be done for me.

25. Dave Says:
    July 30th, 2009 at 9:44 am

    I had 3 hernias repaired in Feb 2007. (both groins & belly button) I am experiencing occasional burning and discomfort in my right groin. I also have something poking out from my belly button like a toothpick. This can be jolting at times and almost feels like it may peirce through my skin. I thought I might be experiencing ring failure as some patches have been recalled. I returned to the doctor who performed the surgery who is telling me the protrusion at my bellly button is a stitch. He says he can remove and install a “softer” patch. Who wants to go through all that again? I am trying to determine exactly which patches were used. The doc says they were Bard Ventralex patches. To be continued……

26. wheeler Says:
    August 25th, 2009 at 10:15 am

    i had surgery on 1/12/05 a charite disc put in on 2/05 i had a big baseball size lump come up in my stomach,i called my doc vargus and they said it was nothing they done and would not see me,time went on and it got bigger and hurt worse ,i had an appt.in june to see, my other doc and when he saw it he said you better see vargus,at the end of june he saw me and asked me what did you do to your stomach,i told him,i called in feb,so he said he was going on vacation and would fix me on july 8th.when i went in he told my wife he did not know it was that bad!! he also said l was the worse paitent he has ever worked on and was glad to be rid of me!!sarasota memorial hosp. 3 surgeries there and 1 in doctors hosp. withen 9 months!!

27. wheeler Says:
    August 25th, 2009 at 10:16 am

    i know they messed my life up,with defective products!

28. Kate Says:
    September 4th, 2009 at 11:43 pm

    I had imbilical hernia repair in Dec 2007, when I had a resection of my colon done because of polyps they found my intestines adhered to the mesh-I had been axperiencing a feeling of bruising on the left side of my stomack. I have that same feeling again-will be calling my doctor Tues to get to the bottom of this.

29. Kate Says:
    September 4th, 2009 at 11:45 pm

    oops the colon resection was dec 2007 the hernia repair was fall of 2005.

30. Martha Says:
    September 11th, 2009 at 7:42 pm

    My husband is laying in a hospital bed right now trying to recover from a very painful laproscopic surgery for what you all are talking about. His intestines adhered to the mesh patch causing a blockage. They HOPE it won’t happen again. I’m not even believing this. He is in so much pain and discomfort from this fix up surgery. His symptoms were pain in his side and then throwing up for 5 days (we thought he had a stomach virus) and unable to have bowel movement. When he went to the doctor on Tuesday they admitted him into the hospital that night and operated on Thursday. His recovery is not going well at all. He still can’t hold food down. I feel disheartened and he just feels horrible.

31. Brannon Says:
    October 23rd, 2009 at 7:31 am

    Pain have you ever felt like you had your testical in a vice or something like that! Everyonce in awhile it feels as if something goes from the right testical up in to my stomach on the right side and it is moving rolling grabbing me. Doctor’s want to look for everything else not that I had a bad hernia repair. Oh yea I had another repair by the same Dr. but they avoided the first surgical site.

    Well I am so thrilled they wanted to avoid the first site; and my question is it possible the DR. could see what the mesh was doing to me and didn’t really want to tell me. How would You feel telling Your Wife Oh it feel’s So Good but Baby it Feel’s so very bad it’s not even funny. I am a very fortunate man and have a very Understanding wife!!!!!!!!!!!!!! P.S. maybe this explain’s why we have had three miscariage’s.

32. Rob Says:
    November 9th, 2009 at 11:20 pm

    I had a left inguinal hernia repair patch put in June 2009, the pain isnt bad but I get pulling feeling in my stomach, just doesnt feel like this is going to work and I want it removed but dont know what to do. I get prickly sensations and pulling on my veins. I had no problems with a right repair with no mesh 15 years ago. This doctor gave me bad advice on the mesh I think, he said at my age, 48, that it was less likely to reoccur. I dont know if I should contact a lawyer or new doctor. Also I had an incision to remove a suture knot that was protuding into my skin and there is another one still, that lasted a half an hour while he dug at me while I was awake. I definitely think this decision about the patch has changed my life forever.

33. cindy Says:
    November 30th, 2009 at 12:07 am

    I had double hernia surgery Sept 2006 I had a pieces of Composix EX mesh

    everyone continues telling me they are not recalled I had surgeon tell me he was removing ring I would be in hosp over night with laproscopic I ended up with 5 hours of surgery resection done to colon & another hernia in tummy where he cut in the mesh I layed with blood transfussions in intensive care 4.5 days total of nearly 9 days doctor would not answer any questions I am in so much pain feels like it is inside me cutting me up I seen another surgeon he told us probably would die on table surgery would be 7 to 8 hours to try remove & then have a plastic surgeon rebuild all the damages inside pain is so bad days just want to die so no more pain but I do have family needs me & i need them I wish all you hope but what I have seen lets me depressed Take care .

34. Sue Says:
    December 27th, 2009 at 4:24 pm

    My 81 yo father has a defective Kugel mesh patch (Davol) whose ring is broken; surgeon has tried twice out-patient to remove the ring but only got ~3″ of it; he feels the entire thing needs replacing. From everything I’ve read, he may be right – but I’m hoping some other doc has been able to remove just the ring. If this is similar to your story

35. Martha Says:
    January 22nd, 2010 at 3:57 pm

    I am in the same boat. I now know that there is no hope. I have just had my third surgery to repair what was messed up to begin with. It will never end.
    I had a drainage tube break in half which lead to months of non-healing, infection and then hernia. Two attempts with mesh, the first one failed after 3 weeks, the second one failed after 3 months. In both cases, the mesh had “folded over” and bowel had stuck to it. The third attempt was to remove the mesh from the previous attempts (almost got all of it out) and then used bovine collagen to cause scarring to support it. The doctor, however, decided he was God and transplanted my bellybutton along with it. Why? Who the H___ knows. So, now I start over with the belly button site – not healing, open wound, drainage, infection, abscess. And he never told me that the amount of scar tissue formation would be so great that I would have lumps from IT. God save us from doctors.
    And now – pain, pain, pain. Swelling, bloating, bowel problems, etc, etc. And the medical communities answer to why I have pain? Because of scarring. My God! That is what they were causing so in my mind, they had to know this would happen!
    There are some things that I have learned –
    First, when they use a mesh patch, they don’t close the openeing that allows the bowel through. They just “patch” it over with the mesh. From what I understand, they don’t even try to pull the edges of it together. Imagine if we repaired clothes or upholstery in that manner. The stress continues and it just tears more past the repair.
    Second, anytime that some foreign substance is placed inside of you, you will have a reaction to it. That is in fact one of the ways that the mesh works. It stimulates the body to produce scar tissue. The scar tissue is supposed to provide the support. The mesh never dissolves, however, so the inflammation continues on.
    I don’t know the answers but I am definitely intimate with the problem.

36. Mary Says:
    January 26th, 2010 at 8:59 pm

    I had a giant paraesphogical hernia repair done by laproscopy on May 6, 2009. I don’t know if they inserted mesh or not, but the whole thing ruptured and I nearly died and had to have massive invasive surgery to put my stomach back on August 1st. I don’t know if I have mesh inserted during either procedures. However, I do know of the excruiating pain that I was in and the risk of near dying. The second surgeon didn’t comment on the first surgeon’s work, (since it was the same hospital) but implied the first surgery wasn’t the way to go for this type of surgery.

    How do I find out if I should join this class action suit.

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