right inguinal hernia open repair recovery journal

Well, it is near 5am and I just had some percocet. I set my alarm for every four hours to take some pain meds. Urination has gotten easier as time has gone on, but the past two times I got up to go to the bathroom I felt lightheaded and dizzy by the time I got back to bed. I am not sure if this is because of pain, because I haven't had much to eat (goldfish, crackers, and tomato soup) or a combination of the two.

Any movement is still quite painful. I have to say, like others, I completely underestimated the amount of pain. I thought it would feel like a pulled muscle...it does not. More like a knife stuck in the flesh that gets twisted when you move. I am not looking forward to trying to poop, but that's why I have been eating soup and taking stool softener. Even before my surgery I was constipated so I am used to it by now.

Again, I have no weird burning or what feels like nerve damage, just pain around the incision. More to follow later today.

Best of luck in your recovery. I hope the one question you asked your surgeon was what he will do for you if you experience chronic groin pain months after his procedure. Sometimes you have to be even direct to ask if he will be willing to remove the mesh if you request it. It seems more and more patients are afraid to ask the tough questions of doctors and hold them accountable, but as I tell everybody I speak to - you are your ONLY best advocate for your own healthcare. Again, best of luck on a quick recovery.

Well I woke up this morning and I am in much less pain than last night, I can walk and go up and down stairs pretty well. I feel no burning nerve pain so I am hoping for the best. I feel like the reason this forum is so negative is because only people with problems post. Those of us who are doing well need to make our voices heard to help prospective patients. I was so scared because of the posts talking about chronic burning pain, and so far I am fine. If a nerve was pinched in the mesh, I would have felt it by now. Best of luck to everyone,

"If a nerve was pinched in the mesh, I would have felt it by now"

Not necessarily. I won't assume to know how much research you have done on this but alot of times, people start to recover quite normally, with some lingering pains. Then, months later, usually 6-24 months later, people start to experience chronic low-to-high grade pain on a daily basis because maturing scar tissue has entrapped the nerve. Only time will tell if you are one of the lucky ones. I, too, was quick to pronounce victory after my hernia surgery, only to have the pain come roaring back 8 months later. Let's hope you have a long-term pain-free recovery. Best of luck.

Scar tissue does does not take 6 months to develop. I am sorry you had problems but I'd blame your surgeon and or your lack of movement after the operation. My father and grandfather both have had open hernia repairs with mesh and are doing fine, as are most people. Like I said earlier, this board is 85% negative because only those with bad experiences post.

Today has been a good day. I have walked throughout the house with only moderate pain taken care of by Aleve. Urination is back to normal although I have not pooped yet (although that is possibly because all I have had for the past four days is tomato soup). I am still a little swollen but I am confident tomorrow will be even better.

I woke up this morning feeling even better yet again. Compared to the afternoon I got home (almost 48 hours ago) it is incredible. I could barely get in and out of bed then, not that pain is really more of a discomfort. I had my first bowel movement, it was small but not too painful. The things that hurt the most right now are laughing, coughing, or sneezing. Later today I get to take the bandage off. Swelling is way down too.

Just took the bandage off. I have a 3 inch incision covered with butterfly stitches. The gauze had minimal blood, just dabs every few millimeters and it smells fine so no infection. The famous "healing ridge" is not painful to the touch. All seems well.

Shifting position (from lying/sitting/standing) and coughing/sneezing/laughing are still slightly painful. Wearing pants is also uncomfortable. Everything else seems fine. I see the surgeon for my first post-op checkup on Tuesday.

I had my first normal bowel movement today, didn't hurt. Again, my pain in all areas is slightly less today than yesterday. I will post after my post-op appointment on Tuesday.

Hello whodatbe. Thank you for your detail description. I'm schedule to have my repair on June 8th, now more calm and relax. I only read bad comments as well, really scary.
Thanks again.

You're welcome man, I wrote this exactly because of that. Finding this forum scared the hell out of me before my surgery, I only read a few people with positive things to say. I deduced that this was because most people with good results never even think to share their experience. That said, it is important to research the surgery, shop around for a well regarded surgeon, and limit your chances for complications after by following the doctor's orders.

Today I feel probably 75% back to normal but I will avoid all strenuous activity until told otherwise. Good luck to you man, it will be all good

I just got back from my first post op appointment. The doctor was very happy with my recovery so far, as am I. The incision is healing nicely and the pain has mostly subsided. I will see him in a few weeks and then that's it. To everyone out there worried about this surgery, don't take all the negative posts on this board as your fate. I was nervous reading them too. Make sure to shop around and be comfortable with your surgeon and all will be fine. Godspeed,

Congrats!

wvk, your post helped me get over the anxiety before my surgery, so I just want to say thank you and you are partly why I wanted to write my own!

Just to chime in with my experience, having read many dreadful stories online about the surgery needed to repair the problem, I was concerned about the pain during recovery and possible side effects. My doctor and his staff did a great job explaining the procedure and answering my questions. The surgery itself was smooth and my recovery quick. I was off the heavier pain pills within 48 hours and off Tylenol in three days. When I had questions afterwards, his staff was available to answer questions and setup a post-op appointment. Side effects were minimal and I was back up, walking around and feeling great less than a week after the surgery.

It's been two weeks now and I'm up to walking 2.5 miles/day. During the post-op, my doctor said to hold off one more week on jogging. I'm looking forward to getting back in to it without the pain I was feeling previously.
If anyone is facing surgery and is looking for a doctor, I would highly recommend Joseph P Muldoon, M.D. with NorthShore Medical Group in Chicago. He did a great job getting me back to good health quickly.

Great news man! I am now 10 weeks post op and I am feeling pretty great. I'd say I am 85% back to normal. I haven't been taking OTC pain meds for maybe 3-4 weeks. I still am careful with what I lift because anything over 20 pounds or so does cause some slight discomfort near the incision but I can walk and move just fine.

For anyone in the DC area, Doctor Stephan Evans at Georgetown Uni Hospital did my surgery and he did a great job. Easy to get an appointment and good follow up, I recommend.

Had my open bi-lateral surgery with mesh placement Oct 16, 2012. Most of what you describe I went through. Walking every hour for 10-15 mins every day helped me alot + icing. I can't take narcotics so was on a muscle relaxer and extra strength tylenol for about 10 days. Am 8 weeks post op and am still somewhat sore at times - later on in the day and from sitting at a desk all day leaning forward. No major pains - just sore "inside" the incision area at times but goes away fairly quickly. Also some minor nerve / muscle twinges as things heal and go back into place. No lifting over 20 lbs yet as I want to wait a couple more weeks at least and take it slow. Don't want to go through it again but honestly it isn't as terrible as most post I have read. It is a mjor surgery and you will be sore for a while! Good luck to all in your surgeries and recoveries!