What Follow-up Care Is Necessary After A Hernia Surgery?

After you have gone through hernia repair surgery, it is important that you take care of yourself so that you heal properly. Though it may be hard to rest, it is essential that you take the time you need to heal before jumping right back into normal life.

So, what kind of follow-up care is needed after surgery? Here are some things that you need to do.

Be prepared to need a few days of complete rest.

Hernia surgery is major surgery and you may experience pain and exhaustion for a few days after surgery. Use this time to let your body start the healing process.

Make resting a priority.

Your body will require extra sleep while you are recovering. Make sure that you get enough sleep at night and take naps when you are feeling tired.

Eat normally.

You should be able to eat normally after your surgery.

Drink plenty of water.

It is important that you get enough fluids while you are healing.

Take pain medications as directed by your doctor -but ONLY if you need them.

It is important to stay on top of your pain for the first few days after surgery and throughout your recovery. However, sometimes patients are told to take their pain medication even before they start hurting. Anti-inflammatory medicines like ibuprofen can really help out with pain that you are experiencing now and also prevent pain the next day by decreasing inflammation. However, narcotic pain medications can make you feel sick if you take them and aren’t used to them. Many patients feel nauseated, dizzy, and unwell when they take multiple doses of narcotic medication for pain. Sometimes mild pain is easier to tolerate than the sick feeling a lot of patients get when taking narcotic pain medications.

Avoid lifting.

You should avoid lifting anything that will make you strain your abdomen for up to two weeks post-surgery. This includes children, groceries, dog food bags, and anything over fifteen pounds. 

Wash your incision.

You need to wash your incision daily with warm water. Pat it dry. It is important that you don't use hydrogen peroxide or alcohol because they can slow healing.

Practice the breathing exercises.

This will help to prevent pneumonia after your procedure. Tke deliberate big, full breaths often to stretch your lungs out.

Attend follow-up appointments.

Your doctor will let you know when you need to return for a follow-up.

Once you are cleared, you can start postoperative stretching.

This will help with any tightness and soreness that you may be feeling after surgery.

Focus on eating properly.

A diet high in protein provides the building blocks for your body to heal after surgery. It also keeps your muscles strong.