I'm about nine days after surgery and am doing very nicely. However, I have found the post-surgery recovery information to be woefully inadequate, both online and in the booklet that my surgeon gave me, so I thought I would post some tips here. My surgeon and his office have been great, and while he was willing to answer all my questions, I didn't know what to ask as a first-timer. Here are my thoughts:
1. Don't be afraid to contact your surgeon's office to ask questions. Mine has a nurse who is very helpful with recovery questions.
2. With the swelling that will ensue, make sure you have a decent supply of garments with expandable waistbands. I was sure glad I didn't throw away my old khakis with the elastic on the side in addition to belt loops. If you need to get back to the office fairly quickly, it's hard to show up in gym shorts and a T-shirt. And after nine days, I still can't wear my jeans yet.
3. Be prepared to have your sleep interrupted. For the first few days, I found it helpful to take pain meds before bedtime and then sleep in a recliner. I still had to get up at 3am to urinate (I've had the typical frequent urination as well), but it's sure easier to get out of a recliner than out of bed. And you don't wake up the wife when you do so. As the incision pain has subsided, I'm now back in bed and getting back to a somewhat regular sleep routine. However, if you have a low bed (mine is pretty high), it may take longer.
4. My pain meds (oxycodone/acetominophen) made me drowsy, but did not resolve the burning pain and pulling around the incision in the first few days. You may want to talk to your surgeon about the kind of meds you'll be getting.
5. I was allowed to shower three days after surgery and I found it very helpful to have one of the hand-held shower devices. If you don't have one, get one before your surgery. They're very cheap in places like Home Depot.
6. Move around as much as you can because it's said to aid healing. Don't sit in that recliner all day.
7. Eat modest amounts of food and avoid the temptation to snack while you're recovering at home. You don't want all that swelling in your lower abdomen to be replaced by fat.
8. Don't become overconfident. After my pain subsided, I thought it was OK to lift a partially filled paint can or a few light groceries -- or even mash some potatoes in a bowl. It's not. Even light lifting can bring some pain back. Confine your activities to walking, not lifting. And take those stairs one step at a time if you need to.
9. You won't be able to bend down, so be prepared not to pick up your things from the floor. Take care of personal hygiene issues -- i.e., cutting toenails -- before surgery, because you won't be able to do it for a while afterward.
10. If you're prone to back pain or back issues, the early recovery period may make things worse since it's hard to stretch and stand in your normal positions that may help your back. After a week or so, I've found it easier to stretch and things are returning to normal.
11. Be prepared not to cough, sneeze or laugh. It hurts in the first week. I pity the person who has hernia surgery and then develops a hacking cough the week afterward.
12. Take the doctor's advice and use stool softener a few days before and after surgery. This will help you not to push when a bowel movement is imminent. And on this subject, it may be helpful for some people to have a grab bar or similar device at the toilet to help them up and down.
13. When you're sufficiently off the pain meds and are ready to resume driving, be aware that rough roads can make you very uncomfortable. I would also not consider taking a long road trip -- where you have to sit upright and confined for a few hours -- for at least the first couple weeks.
I'm not a doctor, but I hope this is all helpful. I feel very lucky that my recovery is going so well.
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