Expect to be discharged on the same day as surgery. Plan for a friend/family member to pick you up and drive you home.
Repair of your inguinal or femoral hernia does not require any special diet restrictions after surgery.
Some patients may find that their appetite is poor for a week or two after surgery. This is a normal result of the stress of surgery and your appetite should return in time. If you find you are persistently nauseated or unable to take in liquids, please contact our office and let us know.
It is okay to shower starting around 36 hours after surgery unless instructed otherwise. If you have little patches of white gauze or band-aids on the incision, gently remove them before showering.
Incisions are commonly covered with either glue or little pieces of tape (called steri-strips) attached directly to the skin. It is okay to get glue or these little tapes wet in the shower. Do not scrub these areas vigorously. Both glue and steri-strips will begin to peel up on the ends 7 – 10 days after surgery. At this point, they have done their job and it is okay for you to peel them the rest of the way off if you wish. You do not have to have them on when you come for your postoperative visit.
No baths, pools or hot tubs for two weeks following surgery.
We try to close your incisions to leave the smallest possible scar. Do not put any ointment or other medication on your incisions – it will not make them “heal better.”
There are no medical or physical restrictions on activity after surgery. That means it is okay to walk, climb stairs, lift, have sexual intercourse, mow the lawn or exercise as long as it doesn't hurt. In fact, returning to normal activity as soon as possible will most likely enhance your recovery. However, if it doesn't feel good, don't do it. Take it easy and let pain be your guide.
You may also feel easily fatigued and "washed out" for a week or two following the surgery. These factors will put some limitations on your activity, but you will not cause any damage even if some soreness is experienced.
On the practical side, you are likely to be very sore for a week or two because of the tacks or sutures that are holding your mesh in place.
Everyone returns to work at different times. If you want, you may return to work right away; however, as a rough guide, most people take at least 1 – 2 weeks off prior to returning to work, although this timing may also depend on the type of work that you do. If you need particular documentation for your job, please call the office.
You may be given clearance to drive once you have not needed the narcotic (prescription) pain medications for two consecutive days. It is important that you are able to respond quickly to things on the road, and that your ability to react is not impaired by pain or pain medications.
The first bowel movement may occur anywhere from 1 – 5 days after surgery. As long as you are not nauseated or having abdominal pain this is an acceptable time range. It is very common to pass a lot more gas from your rectum than you used to – this is because you will not be able to really belch. Some patients also find that they have diarrhea for the first few days after their hernia repair. In the vast majority of cases, bowel function normalizes with time. Constipation may also be common due to the pain medication. We recommend taking Milk of Magnesia (2 tablespoons, twice a day) while taking the pain pills to avoid constipation.
Some patients find that their hernia “returns” right after surgery. Don’t worry – this is a normal feeling and/or appearance. It is very unlikely that the hernia repair failed so soon after surgery. Much more commonly, the place where the hernia contents were can sometimes fill up with post-operative fluid, a condition called a seroma. This fluid collection is a normal result of surgery and will usually be absorbed by the body over time. This can take up to around 3 months.
It is normal for your scrotum to be slightly swollen or tender after surgery. Along with the use of oral pain medications, using ice packs and scrotal support with a jock strap or towels while sitting can help. The swelling is to be expected and will go away with time.
Call your surgeon's office if any of the following occur:
- Fever of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or greater
- Shaking with chills
- Pain that increases over time
- Redness, warmth or pus draining from incision sites
- Persistent nausea or inability to take in liquids
