Hernia surgery Fri morning.

lendaddy · 12-05-2005, 06:30 AM

Go in Fri morning and am not looking forward to it. How bad is this going to be? I can go to work on Monday I assume (like I have a choice)? FWIW, it's a small navel hernia, not a groin hernia. It's outpatient, so how bad can it be?

As a side note my dad goes in tomorrow to get a nerve on/in his heart snipped to prevent his arithmia, neat week

TerryBPP · 12-05-2005, 06:34 AM

Good luck bud.

Joeaksa · 12-05-2005, 06:37 AM

Hope it goes well, do not know anyone who has had it recently. Did have a friend who had it a year ago and was back at work 4-5 days later. He was limited to lifting nothing heavier than a book (or beer!) for a month.

JoeA

lendaddy · 12-05-2005, 06:40 AM

That's just it, I can't find anyone who's had it like mine (just a small navel one) most had groin or both and they tell some pretty rough stories of black and blue gibbletts and that's just not cool. I am seriously considering canceling the appointment based on the horror stories. One guy here at work said he would have two more open heart surgeries before he'd do another hernia surgery!!!!! WTF

Joeaksa · 12-05-2005, 06:57 AM

What causes it and what are we supposed to do to prevent it? Not lift anything?

Joe A

Superman · 12-05-2005, 07:10 AM

Good luck, Len.

It'll hurt. Hope that helps. You'll probably whine all the way home and whine from your couch and your family will get even sicker of you than they usually are. Frankly I care about your dad's operation more than yours, of course. Both should go well.

Nathans_Dad · Nathans_Dad's Garage

Depends on how large your hernia is. Sounds like yours is pretty small based on your description. Sometimes they can do hernia surgeries laparoscopically which would cause much less post-op discomfort than an open surgery. Either way, they may deploy some mesh to help keep the hernia from reoccurring and that can sometimes be irritating for a few days. Overall hernia surgeries are not that big of a deal, but you might have some abdominal muscle discomfort for a few days.

lendaddy · 12-05-2005, 07:13 AM

Thanks Rick, that is more like it

Sup, they tell me my dads surgery is pretty simple. They send some kinda probe up his thigh into the heart and snip. It would take alot more than that to bring him down

greglepore · 12-05-2005, 07:15 AM

If you've got a hernia, you had a weak area there for a long time, probably since birth, and it ruptured. Not much can be done to prevent it.

W/ a good surgeon who does a lot of hernias (this is the key) its not a big deal, barring complications. I'm totally med-phobic, but was fine w/ mine; you'll not want to do much the first 24 hrs after, but the second day is much better, and you'll feel pretty much back to normal in a couple of days.

I had mine done on a Friday am, in the same hospital where my mom was seriously ill w/ end stage lyphoma, was on my back Friday and on my way to see her on Sunday morning when I got "the call", and managed to deal w/ a long day/night with her and then all the attendant stress and arrangements without giving the hernia procedure much of a second thought.

lendaddy · 12-05-2005, 07:17 AM

Thanks Greg and sorry about your mother. Puts things in perspective.

Nathans_Dad · Nathans_Dad's Garage

Oh and you shouldn't need to worry about your "gibblets" because your friend likely had an inguinal hernia which is totally different from an umbilical hernia. Inguinal hernias occur when the intestines pooch out into the inguinal canal. This canal is what is left after your gibblets made their journey from your abdominal wall down to their current resting place (back when you were still a fetus...you know, not human or alive). Anyhow, that's why bruising in that area is common after inguinal hernia surgery...it all connects.

lendaddy · 12-05-2005, 09:46 AM

THanks SoCal, I imagine the websites were full of "lawsuit pending" as well

Maybe I should call the doc.

M.D. Holloway · 12-05-2005, 10:03 AM

len - my 82yr old Dad had it done about 5 months ago - he was sore for awhile but now he is back to pumping iron and walking 1+ hour everyday.

The only time his gut hurt him is trying to pork the 50yr old bitties that hang out at the sr center. My gut would hurt as well, more from laughing than anything else!

masraum · 12-05-2005, 10:09 AM

I knew a guy that had a herniated naval. His doctor told him not to worry about it because he was in good shape. He did situps every day.

I noticed after that that I must also have a small hernia there. I'm just ignoring it and trying to stay in shape.

I think the best thing that you can do to avoid a hernia is keep your addomen and back muscles strong and lift correctly. Your stomach is as important when lifting as your back is, both need to be exercised and strong.

But that's just my theory, I'm certainly no expert.

rrpjr · 12-05-2005, 02:43 PM

lendaddy, I had this exact procedure in May. From my experience, you should not be worried. I never felt a thing. Recovery was just as predicted. The first two nights following surgery were uncomfortable but not painful (though I did not take the full dosage of Vicodin). Just follow the recovery instructions they give you.

lendaddy · 12-05-2005, 07:08 PM

Thx, I think I should just get it over with.

Evans, Marv · 12-05-2005, 08:39 PM

I had the same type of hernia that SoCal had. That was about 10 years ago. The nurses shaved me, and the doctor and his assistant gave me a local. We all carried on a converstation while they were in there doing their thing. The put the nylon mesh in, and I have an inch scar somewhere in my pubic hair. I was thinking if I had that done again, I'd ask them for a mirror so I could watch. I took the week off but really didn't need all of it. It was uncomfortable for about 3 days. The doctor told me most people have had their hernias since they were babies, and it just takes the years in between for them to get to the point they need attention. Go for it.