Thanks to the modern medicine, undergoing a hernia surgery doesn’t have to be such a hassle anymore. Most of the hernia surgeries can be done laparoscopically, thus the recovery time shortens, and you can be well sooner.
However there are some cautions and guidelines you should follow after surgery to make sure you heal faster.
About the methods used for surgery we wrote previously here.
We gathered the most useful information here which could give you a clear picture about the aftermath of the surgery.
Eating and diet
- Having a hernia, and removing it via surgery doesn’t affect your eating habits directly. However, after the procedure you can’t drink for another 1 to 4 hours, and can’t eat for 24 hours. This serves your well-being as the anesthesia used to eliminate your pain needs to leave your system first.
- You are advised to eat foods that support your immune system and help you recover sooner. You should take vitamin C, drink enough fluids (at least 3 liters) and eat small portions 4-5 times a day. Try to avoid fatty foods, or foods that hard to digest. You also should stay away from alcohol for a few days.
Sport and movement
Your doctor will determine the exact instructions you should follow after hernia repair however we’re trying to provide a few general tips to give you an idea:
- When the surgery is done laparoscopically it’s an outpatient surgery. You can leave the hospital the same day to recover in your own home. After a day or two you can start mild exercises like walking, you can also drive. After a week you can get back to your daily routine without any trouble.
- If you had open surgery you’ll need more time before you can get back to your life. The first week after surgery you should rest as much as you can. From the second week you can drive and do mild exercises. Then, after the third week you can even ride your bicycle or do strenuous sports and exercises. We suggest you to specifically train your abdomen muscles to make sure they gain back their strength.
Other important information
As you can’t drive right after surgery it’s a good idea to ask one of your family members to take you home after the procedure.
- You should wear surgical binder after surgery to support your abdominal muscles
- There’s no need for suture removal, as your doctor usually doesn’t uses stiches at all. If they do use it, they put dissolvable stiches into the scar.
- After laparoscopic surgery you should avoid direct contact with water for 2 whole days, after open surgery you should avoid it for a week.
The above listed three points are for information purposes only. The exact instruction to follow will be given to you by your doctor. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us via e-mail or phone.