Incisional Hernia Repair

4Chickens

Have any of you undergone an Incisional Hernia Repair?

I am booked in on Monday as a day patient and will be having a general anasthetic. What will my recovery time be like?
My hernia is a result of having my gall bladder removed in Oct 2008 whilst trying to sell our house, selling our house in March 2009 and moving house in May 2009. Basically, I don't think I allowed myself enough time to recover. I was back doing the usual housework within a month (even though it hurt my stomach muscles a bit).

What are your experiences? What should a absolutely avoid and for what time scale? etc etc etc

Just feeling a bit nervous and in need of some reassurance.

Thanks in advance

suzih_2

Hi cindiedunkley,
Oh I know how you are feeling as I have had two of these ops now. The first was after my c-section got infected and did not heal, and the second after I had an op for suspected ovarian cancer (was'nt thank god). Please don't be nervous as you will be fine. It's a very quick, common procedure and although you will be a bit sore for a few days as expected, it soon feels better. The best advice I can give you is to take it easy and let your wound heal. Although you will feel great on the outside you are still healing on the inside. Like you I did too much too soon and tried to carry on as usual (I have three young kids). I don't want to frighten you but I ruined my second op and opened up the wound. Although luckily for me by wearing tighter control briefs to keep my stomache feeling better it somehow managed to heal itself over again and has not given me any trouble since. The best advice I could give you would be, to be very careful for at least 8 weeks ie: leave the hoovering to someone else if you can and don't lift anything heavy at all. Just think of your wound before you go to do any strenuous jobs. Also wear something like Sloggi full briefs as they really helped to support my stomache and helped take the pressure off as so many jobs involve your stomache muscles.
Good luck and don't worry you will be fine. I'll be thinking of you on monday.xx

sillyvixen

i had an incisional hernia repaired 18 months ago - like you i had my gallbladder removed and ended up moving house before i was fully healed to do so.

i had an open op and was up and about a few hours later (putting pj's on and going to the loo unaided) much to the supprise of the nurses. i was kept in 4 days and off work for a month before going back to work on light duties.

my consaultant told me to avoid house work and hoovering for 8 weeks - medical discharge from house work for 8 weeks:j!! i also could not drive in this time as i could not press the peddles and look over my shoulder to revers off the drive:mad: without pain.

i am fine now - i have to be careful with what i lift, my opsite twinges if i lift too much - but i am able to lift more than i could before my repair.

all the best for your op on monday - take it easy after and do as little as you can get away with for as long as possible- no housework or lifting untill you a physically fit enough!! or else!!

and more importantly let us know how you get on - when you are feeling up to it.

4Chickens

Thank you for your replies suzih and sillyvixen.

I feel much better talking to someone who has gone through this. I think I am going to have keyhole surgery but am not sure.
It's a big old hernia I've got. When it pops out it is about the size of a large orange. I've had a tickly cough for a couple of days and it's been in and out like a fiddler's elbow.
I can remember vividly the soreness after the gall bladder surgery and the gas and the staples. I have only booked a week off work as my job is desk based and the guys know that I will not be doing much more than typing and answering the phone in the week that I return.

Thanks again and I will give you an update next week.

suzih_2

Glad you feel better about it now. You made me laugh about the hernia popping in and out, brought back memorys lol!.
Let us know how it went.

sillyvixen

cindiedunkley wrote: »

Thank you for your replies suzih and sillyvixen.

I feel much better talking to someone who has gone through this. I think I am going to have keyhole surgery but am not sure.
It's a big old hernia I've got. When it pops out it is about the size of a large orange. I've had a tickly cough for a couple of days and it's been in and out like a fiddler's elbow.
I can remember vividly the soreness after the gall bladder surgery and the gas and the staples. I have only booked a week off work as my job is desk based and the guys know that I will not be doing much more than typing and answering the phone in the week that I return.

Thanks again and I will give you an update next week.

i had an open op as my incisonal hernia was due to an open chole in the first instance - they knew they would not see due to adheasions! the recovery time for lap surgery is less - once you have had you op the dr's will be able to give you more info as to how long you should stay off work. i was initally told 6-8 weeks but was back in a month. if it takes longer than a week it will - you need to consider your needs as apposed to the needs of your employer!

good luck with everything.

4Chickens

Hi All
Well I am post-op a week now and it has been the week from hell. I did have open surgery and the surgeon warned me that I may have to stay overnight if they have to put a drain in. When I came round they said it was a very big hernia and I have a drain and have to stay overnight. To tell the truth, I didn't care, I felt so rough. The drain caused me so much pain that night I was crying, I just managed to pull myself together before hubby and son came visiting.
I stopped my painkillers on Thursday because I was bunged up then proceeded to fall up the stairs, so I started my painkillers again.
I was due back at work today but last night I had a high temperature and was sick in the dishwasher this morning (as you do!). I have been to the docs and they say I have an infection in the wound and I will now have to take antibiotics and have the rest of this week off work.
I phoned work and explained, I suggested I go on ssp but my boss said that he would pay me full pay for this week and last week I should take as holiday as I had orignally planned, which is good news as I won't be skint at the end of the month and I get 27 days plus bank holidays anyway. He's a nice chap my boss:A
Thanks for all your moral support pre-op.
I tell you what though, I don't know how these dizzy bints go in for all this nip and tuck rubbish. After last week I would rather have saggy boobs and belly any day than the cut I've got going down my belly.
Cheers peeps:beer:

suzih_2

Hi,
Sorry to hear you are not feeling too well. Hopefully those antibiotics will kick in soon. Is'nt it strange how everyone seems to get a post op infection. My friend has one as well after breast cancer surgery.
Don't worry about your scar I had a cut from my navel to bikini line two years ago and it has faded to almost nothing. Don't forget Bio oil. I havn't used it but it sounds like brilliant stuff.
You take care of yourself and hopefully in a couple of weeks you can look back on all this and laugh!. lol. Get well soon.