What can I expect after hernia surgery? How long is my recovery?

[Travis_]

I am post-surgery 3 days in, so this video was reassuring and helpful. Thank you.

[ROCKINGMAN]

I've just had an Inguinal Hernia repair. Operation was successful, as many are, recovering well, feel almost back to normal after 5 days. No issues. Just normal soreness, extreme immediately after and gradually wearing off. Surgeons are fantastic.

[yesitsuguns]

6th week after operation. The doctors did an amazing job, and I’m glad I’ve got it done.

[christopherpatten]

Hello Dr. Harris. Thank you very much for your informative videos and explanations. You are helping a lot of folk and it's greatly appreciated. I'm a very fit 37 year old male. I've had laparoscopic TAPP surgery with mesh on an inguinal hernia about 10 weeks ago. I was told by my surgeon that I would be able to resume to light jogging after 2 weeks with no restrictions at around 4-6 weeks. I had a decent amount of pain and discomfort during the healing process, did not want to risk anything and only returned to jogging/sports by week 6 once I got pain free. I ran 2, 4 and 5 miles within the first week combined with mobility exercises and light weight training to get some core strength back with no pain or issues. At week 7 I helped a friend move a couch while wearing a lifting belt. Unfortunately a day after I started feeling a every so slight burning sensation that became more intense within a few days. I freaked out and started to feel/press/pull my abdominal area over and over again to look for signs of a recurring hernia. No bump. By doing so I feel like I irritated a lymph or nerv (or scar) from repetitive pressing and touching it multiple times a day. Could the burning/pulling sensation come from that? Could it be scar tissue that is stretching? What are the chances of a recurring hernia and the mesh failing after lifting the couch? I did rest for a week with no change. It's been two weeks now with a burning/pulling sensation. Would you recommend rest or return to light running? Thank you!

[robcary]

I am very encouraged by your explanation of recovery. I am resting at home from the hernia procedure about 12 hours ago...committed to getting back to strength training being smart about easing into gradual increases over many months...no complications, allow to site to heal.

[zubairkaka]

Had open umbilical hernia surgery 2 weeks ago. Just got removed stitches yesterday. Feel comfortable as Do not take too much stress and not thinking too much of outcome. only focus on not stretching things too far. Act according to doctor advice. Am diabetic also. All please Do not hurry for getting back to work or physical activities. Your body demand lot of love from you. So please give it due comfort. Stay blessed!

[blueties]

Brilliant, thank you!  This is just the sort of advice I was looking for.  I had the surgery yesterday and no advice on caution or expectations was offered by my surgeon.

[BrianWelakana]

I am from Kenya Africa 🇰🇪I did my laparoscopic inguinal hernia surgery 4days ago and am feeling better and great.thanx doc

Tomorrow it's my operation, thanks for the videos.

[bnolsnols]

I am 7 weeks post op bilateral inguinal hernia repair, while getting better, having up and down days, I feel at least 3 months. The more I talk to peopl who have had the surgery, 3 weeks is a miracle. I had hip surgery as well and same situation. Why do surgeons mislead on recovery time, I honestly am just trying to figure out the motivation.

[JABARgaming]

Day 3 now post op had the mesh put in.. and honestly who ever has this surgery coming up, don’t read comments on these videos. Everyone is making it seem like a nightmare . Just take it easy, ice it get up slow don’t do anything crazy and it’s a breeze. ❤

[daf]

Thank you for the insight, Dr., you have been far more help in explaining this process I'm going through, than ANY of the VA Dr.'s I have been treated by.

[robyescombe]

I’m on Day 3 of recovery. I’m already completely off pain medicine. Don’t be scared, friends.

I’m 43, in good health but nothing special.

I had a right side inguinal hernia mesh repair — and during my examination my surgeon detected a weakness on the left too, so he meshed that preemptively. All done in one operation, laparoscopically. My right hernia was slightly higher up compared to the average inguinal, I’m told, but I can’t say whether that really effected my comfort after the operation.

Day 1 is rough - but not unbearable. No need to be worried. I didn’t even need the opioid painkillers. I stuck to a Tylenol + Aleve combo.

Icing is a must. I did 20-30mins on/off for the first 2 days. Helped a lot. Remember to ice your balls too - they swell. I iced in bed right before sleeping, but didn’t do it again until the morning. I had help, but I kept ice packs in a small cooler by the couch, and in another small cooler by the bed for convenience anyway.

Also, get up and walk around the room for a few of the 20mins phases when you’re not icing yourself - walking sooner rather than later has speeded up my recovery significantly. Seriously, do it Day 1.

Diet is super important: you really, really don’t want to get constipated from the painkillers. So for 2 days BEFORE the operation, I ate vegan/vegetarian meals with high fiber.

The afternoon/evening after my surgery, I only drank plain chicken broth (just liquid) with a little fiber powder in it, with salt and herbs, and a handful of saltine crackers. Felt SO GOOD after the pre-surgery fasting. Also has a nice dose of protein in it, which helps.

Day 2, I upgraded to lentil soup with crackers and some peanut butter on wholewheat toast. Felt AMAZING.

I read someone’s advice not to over-hydrate immediately after surgery until you’ve peed. Apparently there’s a risk of the bladder not waking up immediately after surgery, so by drinking too much too fast, they needed to go to the ER to get a catheter. So I did drink some water in the recovery room, but was cautious at home until I peed the first time.

I started taking stool softeners the evening of the operation, and took them again in the morning and evening of Day 2. I also drank a cup of Smooth Move tea each day.

Day 1, I lay down propped up when I wasn’t up and walking. Day 2, I made myself to sit in a regular chair to get myself ready to sit on the toilet.

I had my first bowel movement in the evening of on Day 2, without giving myself an enema, thankfully. However, I had some home ones on hand just in case. Likewise, I had Milk of Magnesia on standby, but so far haven’t needed it.

In short: hydration + lentil soup + stool softeners is a winner.

I’m on Day 3 now. Trying not to get cocky, but I managed to shower fairly comfortably this morning and I’m off pain meds completely.

A couple of other handy bits:

I was very lucky: my surgeon gave me ‘mobile blood clot prevention’ things that are basically compression socks that have a little motor that squeezes your calf every minute or so. I wore them while I was sleeping and I think they’ve been a good addition. But even if you don’t get those, regular compression socks will also do the trick, no doubt.

Also, after my intubation my throat was quite sore and I often had to cough, which is very painful. A throat numbing spray was a great help.

If you have people taking care of you, make sure they take Covid tests and don’t have a regular cough/cold — you definitely don’t want to be coughing or sneezing during your recovery.

And that’s everything so far!

I was so grateful for the accounts and advice I found in places like this, so this is me thanking all you strangers and paying it forward. Truly, don’t be scared - it’s been nowhere near as bad as I feared - you can do it, friends!

Power up!!

[toddbefield]

Just had left inguinal surgery yesterday...apparently they found a second...mesh installed..fixed laprascopically. Hardly any pain meds as my elderly mom paranoid, but plenty of pain. Slept last night mostly flat (mistake)...will stay propped up a while now. Bending over tough also. Actually did some light errands this morning, but trying to take it easy. Plan on improving daily...will talk to surgeon next week. Appreciate your video!

[momak]

this is nice and classy doctor has calming voice

[siamsazed]

Thank you doctor Harris. Your videos helped me a lot. I am suffering for hernia about 2 years. & I'm thinking to surgery for this in near future. Thanks again

[RanRightRealty]

Most excellent sharing of the subject matter. Thank you

[jimmoshinskie]

Thanks for taking time to clearly explain the time periods. Well done. I feel better. Nit getting to lift weights is bad but your explanation helps.

[xmoose]

I had open inguinal hernia surgery with Dr. Harris and the surgery went smoothly. But my pain finally reduced to a manageable level after 10 days. So expect minimum 10 days to be able to get up from your bed without significant pain. The post op instructions were insufficient and weak, I had to do a lot of internet research to find out why I was running a low grade fever, why my stomach was bloated, and the use of an Enema to help the first bowel movement (what a relief!) Also Lazyboy recliner is a must (better yet to have the one that lift you up), had I known I would have bought a lift chair / recliner before the surgery. days 2-5 were the most painful. Need lots of sleep so I took Advil PM, your body repairs much better if you get sufficient sleep every day.

I am definitely on the road to recovery but it still hurts around the cut/scar area and also when I sneeze or cough after 4 weeks. 4-7 days of recovery is really a marketing ploy, it's more like 4 to 7 weeks for open surgery.

[mczenk]

Just had my hernia repair this morning. I'm doing okay, hurting but I'm ok. Thanks for the video.