I was recently diagnosed with a right iguinal hernia late last month and am scheduled for open repair hernia surgery at the end of this month. I am very scared about it and need some help in answering these questions:
1. Has anyone ever died during one of these surgeries? If so, what can be done to lower the risk of that?
2. Is it scary to be put under for this procedure?
3. How much pain are you in afterwards?
4. Are there any non-Addictive pain meds the doctor could prescribe to me?
5. How do you manage to mentally overcome being afraid of having this surgery?

This surgery is in and out procedure, no pain involved and it is done quite often. No it isn't scary to be put under for this, it is the best sleep you will ever have!

No pain afterward, but everyone has different levels of pain. Yes, if you ask your doctor he will give you a non addictive pain medication, usually tylenol 3.

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I was recently diagnosed with a right iguinal hernia late last month and am scheduled for open repair hernia surgery at the end of this month. I am very scared about it and need some help in answering these questions:
1. Has anyone ever died during one of these surgeries? If so, what can be done to lower the risk of that?

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Probably. What is the mortality rate? Sub-percentile. You can't really do anything about this.

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2. Is it scary to be put under for this procedure?

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It is scary to be put under for ANY procedure in my opinion. Sometimes the anaesthetic can be brutal.

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3. How much pain are you in afterwards?

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Some. You'll have good pain killers for it while it does the initial healing. The over the counter for a bit while everything finishes up.

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4. Are there any non-Addictive pain meds the doctor could prescribe to me?

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Yes.

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5. How do you manage to mentally overcome being afraid of having this surgery?

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This is a fairly routine surgery. It isn't a emergency or dangerous surgery. There is precious little that can go wrong. I don't know how you deal with pain or stress but it is seriously something you have to overcome on your own.

These questions are really questions you should be asking either or attending doctor or your surgeon. A hernia is basically a bulged tissue. Like if you put your finger and stretch plastic wrap. The wrap with be taut everywhere but where it was stretched. What the surgery does is clip what has stretched and sew up the rest so it is taut everywhere.

There really isn't anything to be worried about but since you're having concerns, talk to your doctor about them.

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I was recently diagnosed with a right iguinal hernia late last month and am scheduled for open repair hernia surgery at the end of this month.

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Open repair is quite different than laproscopic repair. You may be in hospital for a few days depending on how well it went.

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1. Has anyone ever died during one of these surgeries? If so, what can be done to lower the risk of that?

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Death is a risk for any surgery where general anesthesia is done. If you are smoker, stop smoking. If you are a drinker, stop drinking.

Are you on any medications? Some medications need to be stopped days or weeks prior to surgery of this kind.

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2. Is it scary to be put under for this procedure?

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Going under general anesthesia is scary for anyone. I've had 17 surgeries, and am nervous every time.

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3. How much pain are you in afterwards?

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Pain tolerance is different for everyone. What may be uncomfortable for you may be excruciating for another person. But you will have some discomfort.

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4. Are there any non-Addictive pain meds the doctor could prescribe to me?

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Yes, there are many. Tylenol 3 contains a narcotic called codeine, so it can be addictive. One of my favorite medications that is non-addictive that I give to my surgical patients is Toradol.

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5. How do you manage to mentally overcome being afraid of having this surgery?

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Again, everyone prepares differently. This is a routine surgery that is non-emergent. Very little can go wrong other than the possibility of post-op infection. Should that occur, you take antibiotics.

What I recommend for you is to take this list to your doctor. Your doctor knows you and your general health and can put your mind at ease.