Do and don'ts after hernia surgery?

Avoid lifting anything that would make you strain. This may include heavy grocery bags and milk containers, a heavy briefcase or backpack, cat litter or dog food bags, a vacuum cleaner, or a child. Ask your doctor when you can drive again. Most people are able to return to work within 1 to 2 weeks after surgery.

What is the best thing to do after hernia surgery?

Rest when you feel tired. You may shower 24 to 48 hours after surgery, if your doctor okays it. Pat the incision dry. Do not take a bath for the first 2 weeks, or until your doctor tells you it is okay.

What is the best position to sleep after hernia surgery?

The doctors do not recommend sleeping on the stomach after the surgery. This position can hurt your spine and can also pressurize the hip area. Try to control your sleeping habits if you are a stomach sleeper. It is best to sleep on your side or back.

What foods are good to eat after hernia surgery?

You must not eat breads, crackers, biscuits, chunky meats such as steaks and dry meals such as cold cuts. You can now start eating soft food such as well cooked pasta, minced meat, flaked fish, well cooked rice, pulses and vegetables with plenty of sauce.

How long does it take for hernia mesh to heal?

After hernia mesh surgery, most patients can go home the same day. Full recovery time may take four to six weeks. Right after surgery, patients should perform only necessary daily functions but can return to light activity after a few weeks of recovery.

Precautions After a Hernia Surgery| Do's

What are the restrictions after hernia surgery?

Activity. There are no medical or physical restrictions on activity after surgery. That means it is OK to walk, climb stairs, lift, have sexual intercourse, mow the lawn, or exercise as long as it doesn't hurt. In fact, returning to normal activity as soon as possible will most likely enhance your recovery.

What should I avoid after hernia surgery?

Do NOT lift anything heavier than 15 pounds for a minimum of two weeks (or as instructed by your surgeon). Do NOT engage in strenuous activity or heavy lifting for at least four to six weeks (or advised by your surgeon). Lifting too soon after hernia surgery can cause a hernia reoccurrence and other complications.

Can I drink coffee with a hernia?

Though acidic foods are harmless and often nutritious, they can many a time increase irritation and affect hernia patients. If one is facing the same, the one should avoid food items like orange juice, caffeinated beverages and decaffeinated coffee.

Can I drink tea after hernia surgery?

Hernia Repair | Hernia Surgery Recovery. You may begin eating and drinking as soon as you get home from surgery. Start with a bland liquid diet such as Gatorade, tea, coffee, water, soup and crackers, or jell-o. You can increase your diet slowly to a regular diet as tolerated.

Can I push to poop after hernia surgery?

Do not strain and try to force a bowel movement though as you do not want to do any damage to your repaired hernia.

How do I know if I damaged my hernia repair?

Can I bend down after hernia surgery?

Avoid lifting more than 10 pounds for four weeks and excessive bending or twisting for one to two weeks following surgery. This is to allow healing of the incisions, specifically the fascia (the strongest layer of the abdomen wall) and to decrease the risk of your hernia coming back.

Is it good to walk after hernia surgery?

One of the main benefits of a little bit of walking after hernia surgery is because it helps increase circulation and promote blood flow throughout your body. By increasing the blood flow and circulation throughout your body, the damaged tissue and muscles around your repaired hernia will benefit from this movement.

How can I strengthen my stomach after hernia surgery?

Pelvic floor exercises, seated knee extensions and forward lunges are also good exercises to try. Remember, start off slowly and don't push yourself. Listen to your body, and your surgeon, in order to build up your abdominal muscle strength safely.

Can coughing damage my hernia repair?

Coughing can put a strain on incisions and may be painful after surgery. The hernia repair should be able to tolerate coughing without damage.

Which fruit is best for hernia?

Try eating: non-citrus fruits, such as apples, pears, melons, and berries. vegetables, such as artichokes, carrots, sweet potatoes, asparagus, squash, green beans, leafy greens, and peas.

Is banana good for hernia?

Hiatal Hernia: Foods That Are Less Likely to Cause Symptoms

The following foods are low-acid-producing foods and are less likely to aggravate your hiatal hernia symptoms: Bananas and apples. Green beans, peas, carrots, and broccoli. Grains, like cereals (bran and oatmeal), bread, rice, pasta, and crackers.

Does drinking alcohol make a hernia worse?

Tobacco and alcohol, together with diabetes mellitus, cause a re-modeling in the cremaster muscle, leading to a loss of support or structural alteration in this region, being able to intensify the occurrences and damages related to the inguinal hernias.

Can I eat eggs after hernia surgery?

You will need to stay on a liquid/soft diet for approximately three weeks after surgery. During that time, you can try or experiment with eating soft, mushy foods like tuna, mashed potatoes, eggs, cottage cheese, and thick soups. The reason for liquids is that there will be some swelling where your hernia was repaired.

Can you do housework after hernia surgery?

You can return to light activities such as housework and shopping after a couple of days. Generally, patients can start driving again when they can make an emergency stop without any pain or discomfort.

How long does stomach stay swollen after hernia surgery?

Your belly will feel bloated for about one week; you may not be able to close your pants. This will pass as the gas in the abdomen is absorbed.

Do your balls swell after hernia surgery?

Men who have had an inguinal hernia repair may find their scrotum is swollen and turn black and blue. This is normal and may worsen after a few days. To help reduce swelling, use ice packs and wear supportive underwear such as briefs. The scrotum will return to normal in a few weeks.

How do you shower after hernia surgery?

Wound Care

It is OK to shower starting around 24 – 36 hours after surgery. If you have bandages on the incisions, take them off before showering. You should see little pieces of tape (called steri-strips) directly attached to your skin. It is OK to get these little tapes wet in the shower.

Does hernia mesh last forever?

Non-absorbable mesh will remain in the body indefinitely and is considered a permanent implant. It is used to provide permanent reinforcement to the repaired hernia. Absorbable mesh will degrade and lose strength over time. It is not intended to provide long-term reinforcement to the repair site.