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Recovery after Surgery

 

Postoperative Rehabilitation

Our postoperative rehabilitation program is directed to maximize a complete recovery and healing process to regain your independence and ensure durability of your repair.

After being discharged from the hospital you may go upstairs and we encourage you to walk frequently and stay active.

We ask that you avoid any heavy lifting after surgery. The lifting restriction timeframe will be decided by your surgeon based on your hernia type and other factors.

We typically don’t like to put a number on weight limit restriction because heavy varies from individual to individual.

Therefore, we ask you to use your judgment and avoid any unnecessary abdominal strain.

Abdominal strain can happen without even lifting anything simply by bending or transferring position incorrectly.

Therefore, participation in our prehabilitation program is imperative.

Diet

  • We encourage high protein for wound healing and high fiber to decrease your risk of constipation.
  • We encourage adequate hydration and a well-balanced diet.

Activity

  • Activity as instructed by surgeon, protecting your abdominal wall (weight/activity restriction).

Bowel Movements

  • Surgery tends to back your bowels up on its own due to surgical anesthesia, narcotics/pain control, limited mobility.
  • Over the counter (OTC) stool softeners may be taken if needed.
  • Please monitor your bowels closely after surgery especially if you are taking prescribed narcotics.
  • You should be passing gas and have a bowel movement within a few days after surgery and resume your normal bowel routine.

Pain Control

  • We may prescribe a short course of narcotics.
  • We encourage you to transition to over the counter (OTC) pain medications as soon as possible (ASAP).
  • We ask that you take over the counter (OTC) pain medication such as Tylenol or Ibuprofen, if not contraindicated, for 1st defense pain control and reserve the prescribed narcotics for breakthrough pain.
  • We encourage the use of narcotics sparingly.

Call your doctor if you experience any of the following:

  • Signs of infection, such as fever and chills
  • Redness, swelling, excess bleeding, or discharge from the incision
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Pain that you cannot control with the recommended medicine
  • Problems with urination including burning, frequency
  • Difficulty passing gas or having bowel movements, not relieved with diet or over the counter (OTC) medications

If you think it is an emergency, CALL 911

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