Post Op diary - Open Surgery linguinal mesh repair

Are you taking 800mg of Ibuprofen all in one go?

Hi Matthew

3-4 days, who are they kidding. It took six weeks for mine to settle and the swelling to go down. 

Standing and sitting is the worst I agree but it does get better after a week or so. Even now and mine was 8 weeks ago, I still get pain which the hospital claim are nerves firing off. 

I too heavy co-codimal and that was bad. Blocked for eight days. I was. Worried but doctor didn’t seemed too concerned. 

Anyway yours will will heal it is just a waiting game Matthew.

steve

Don't know if this is of help as my surgery was Laparoscopic TEP left Spigelian Hernia.  All I was told was it would be extremely painful, not to lift ANYTHING for at least eight weeks, not to stretch.  Driving was left to your own discretion, most people said as long as you can do an emergency stop it would be fine but the nurse said to think about maneuvering when parking etc.  On this sight someone had mentioned Hernia Talk.  I wish I had found this weeks ago, so much information such as take Milk of Magnesia for a week then ease off(to avoid constipation!)  walk, walk, walk, eat a light diet for the first two weeks. Beware of exercise even things like yoga for at least two to three months.  It also mentioned that you may experience back ache through sleeping on your back. I found it incredibly painful when going from sitting or lying to standing.The third and fourth week I had stabbing burning pains when standing that really took my breathe away. I am half way through my seventh week  which has been almost pain free apart from the odd twinge.  I had  my appendix operation many years ago and i don't remember it being this painful!  How people go back to work in less than a week I do not know as apparently sitting in one postion is not good.  Hope you soon feel better

Hi Matthew, I had the op a year ago last September. I recently found my post op diary on my phone so thought I would post it for comparison. It covers the first 12 days and where it ends I had a bit of a relapse recovery wise on going back to work. It was tough at the time but it did get easier shortly after. Milestones for me were 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months. 1 year since and only the odd twinge or tightness in the area, especially when physically tired. Otherwise very happy I had the op however as you say and I agree initial healing pain in underestimated. Good luck with your recovery.

Day 0 – Very sore when leaving hospital as aesthetic had mostly worn off. Trouble sitting in taxi home. Soreness/pain is from the incision site. Taking prescription medication as prescribed by hospital (staying off codeine though as worried about constipation as had a horrible experience before with this drug).

Day 1 – Still very sore at incision site. Sleeping a lot.

Day 2 – Easier to sit but still very sore around incision. Slept in the afternoon for a few hours as very tired.

Day 3 – Slightly less sore today also can bend down with relative ease. Noticed bruising to testicles. Very swollen down there.

Day 4 – Much easier to move today but still a little sore. Testicles still swollen black and blue but not much discomfort or pain with it in that area.

Day 7 – Took dressing off in shower. Removed strips slowly piece at a time while repeatedly keeping them wet. Not too difficult and no pain or stinging. Probably took me ten minutes to do it carefully. Amazing how much healing has gone on in that time incision wise at least.

Day 8 – 10 Feeling slightly better every day. Bruising has reduced and slowly faded. Been working in the garden, light duties only but still busy.

Day 11 return to work. Quite uncomfortable sitting at a desk all day. I work 12 hour shifts. Incision is healed fine with a hard ridge that appears to be reducing slowly. Discomfort is internally sore. Maybe it is the body dealing with internal healing and/or mesh.

Day 12 Feeling exhausted this morning on waking up. Feeling sore and tired all day at work. Went out for a walk at lunch time and could not walk far as to sore and fatigued.

Note: Took prescribed pain killers for 4 days plus Ibuprofen. Carried on with Ibuprofen until day 7 then back on them on day 12.

..end

Hi. I had op 16 days ago (RHS open surgery). I spent first 48 hours mostly in bed due to discomfort of getting up and down, but it does ease off quite dramatically after 2-3 days, so don’t worry.

i took all the meds for 5 days, then just ibuprofen (400mg) occasionally for next 5days. I worked from home after a week, as possible in my role, and actually will go back to office today.

Have not needed pain relief in last 5 days, but always have them around. Still have some discomfort, but find I just need to take it easy. Chomping at the bit to get back to running, but not prepared to risk damaging what has been done, so think it will be after Christmas before I can do that.

One word of warning. A week after surgery I was feeling useless watching my wife and kids do all my chores. So I spent 2 hours in kitchen on my feet making biscuits and a cake. Stupid idea, as then spent the next 24 hours recovering by laying down.

Just take it easy, and remember it was invasive surgery and will take time to be fully healed.

Hi Mathew yes pain was pretty intense those first few days. I think at the time I described it as intense ‘stinging’ so it may be what you are describing as burning. As geezer just said make sure you take it easy for a bit and don’t try to do to much.