How long should I rest after hernia surgery?

For hernia patients, if the condition is more serious, surgical treatment is generally required. After the surgery, you should pay attention to recuperation and rest in bed right after the operation. Generally, it takes at least one month to fully recover. There will be a certain feeling of tightness after the operation, which is a normal phenomenon. If it causes pain, you can take anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs. In addition, you should also pay attention to your diet.

Preoperative preparation

1. Preoperative examination: including

(1) Blood, urine, and stool examinations.

(2) Examination of bleeding and coagulation time.

(3) General X-ray examination of the chest and abdomen.

(4) Electrocardiogram (ECG)

2. Fill out an anesthesia and surgery consent form.

3. The day before the operation, the staff will shave your skin.

4. For safety during anesthesia, we will give you an enema the night before the operation, and please start fasting 6 to 8 hours before the operation (not even water). So if the operation is in the morning, you cannot eat after 12:00 the night before. If the operation is in the afternoon, you should start fasting after breakfast on the day of the operation.

5. Preoperative care: Reducing activity or losing weight can temporarily relieve symptoms. Wearing a hernia support belt (abdominal belt) can also temporarily relieve symptoms. In any case, the only treatment is surgery. There are two reasons to have hernia surgery: to correct or prevent a dangerous strangulated hernia, and to relieve pain that interferes with your daily activities. Appropriate surgical options can provide patients with minimal postoperative discomfort, rapid recovery, and symptom relief.

Postoperative matters

1. The wound will feel tight and painful 1 to 2 weeks after the operation. This is normal. The doctor will prescribe painkillers for you to relieve the pain.

2. The wound should be kept clean and dry. If the gauze becomes wet, please notify the nurse and the doctor will change the gauze for you.

3. You should lie flat on the bed after the operation. If you want to sit in a semi-lying position, you should bend your knees to avoid increased abdominal pressure.

4. Usually you can get out of bed and move around on the day after the operation. When getting out of bed, first move the healthy side of the body to the edge of the bed, lie on the healthy side, and use the healthy arm to support the body to sit up. When you want to lie down, first sit on the edge of the bed, use the healthy arm to support the body, and slowly lie down from the healthy side.

5. If there is tension at the suture site or swelling of the scrotum, you must stay in bed and can only get out of bed after the swelling disappears.

6. Strengthen nutrition and eat light and easy to digest food.

7. Avoid excessive activities, running or jumping within one and a half months after the operation, and avoid constipation, coughing, crying, etc. to prevent recurrence.

8. Wound care:

(1) The wound will feel tight and painful 2-3 days after surgery. This is normal.

(2) After returning home, please keep the wound clean and dry, and cover the wound with beauty glue

9. Diet:

(1) Increase the intake of high-protein foods such as dairy products, eggs, and fish, which can promote wound healing

(2) Drinking at least 2000cc of water a day or eating more fruits and vegetables can prevent constipation.

10. Daily life:

(1) Pressing the wound with your hand when coughing suddenly or moving can reduce the pain caused by abdominal force.

(2) Avoid activities that increase abdominal pressure within three months after surgery: such as coughing, straining to defecate, lifting heavy objects, climbing stairs for a long time, mountain climbing, riding a bicycle, riding a motorcycle, running and other strenuous exercises

11. Precautions for drug use:

Please take the medicine on time according to the doctor's instructions

12. Please return for consultation immediately if any of the following situations occur:

(1) Fever

(2) Inflammatory symptoms such as redness, swelling, heat, pain, and abnormal secretions

(3) Persistent vomiting or severe pain from wounds