I guess I had mine to long ago. For me it was in '85, a mesh style repair. Misery before, I can not say here where my guts were falling into. 6 weeks of no lifting, very uncomfortable until the staples were removed, and still an occasional twinge, but I do not worry about it anymore. It has not held me back from anything other than mentally as I have not done taken up the activity that caused it since.
