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This handout explains what a hernia is and what you can expect after surgery.
There are many types of hernias. A hernia is a bulge where bowel pushes through a weak area in the groin, abdomen (ventral or incisional), or your navel. You may have your hernia fixed using an open approach or laparoscope.
An open hernia repair has one incision and you have more pain.
A laparoscopic hernia repair has a few small incisions or “port” sites instead of one large incision. You may have less pain.
Incision Care
Expect the incision to be pink, swollen and numb at first. If you are a man who had an inguinal hernia, your penis may be bruised and scrotum may be bruised and swollen. This is normal.
Follow the incision care instructions below.
Look If you notice signs of infection, call your doctor.
After at least 24 hours, you may shower and let soap and water run over the incisions. Do not scrub your incisions.
Do not soak in a hot tub, bath, or swim until it is healed. This may be at least 2 weeks.
If surgical “glue” was used to close your incisions, it will fall off on its own – don’t peel it off.
Pain Relief
If your hernia was fixed using laparoscope, you may have some pain in your shoulder, neck or back. This is caused by the gas used to inflate your abdomen during surgery. It will only last for 1 – 2 days. Heating pads will help. Please use heat on the lowest setting, for no more than 15 minutes at a time.
It’s normal to have pain, swelling, and numbness of the incision and area around it.
You may use an ice pack on your incision for 20 minutes, then off for 20 minutes to decrease pain and swelling. If you don’t have an ice pack, make one by wrapping a bag of frozen peas in a towel. Males may also use a rolled up wash cloth or towel to elevate a swollen scrotum. Males should also wear support briefs instead of boxer shorts.
Activity
After surgery, talk to your doctor about how much weight you can lift and when you can return to work. These guidelines will depend on how your hernia was fixed.
Factors that will affect this are:
If mesh was used.
If you had an open hernia.
If you had a laparoscopic hernia.
Your doctor will talk with you about when you can get back to your normal routine. You will have a follow-up visit in 7 – 14 days.
Standing or laying down puts less strain on your wound than sitting upright. You may feel more comfortable sitting in a reclining chair.
You may resume sex when you feel ready, which may not be for 2 to 3 weeks.
Do not drive for 1 week after surgery. Do not drive if you are taking opioid pain pills or if you have trouble sitting for a long time.
Watch for any new bulge at your wound site.
Do not strain during a bowel movement or hold your breath.
While coughing, sneezing, laughing or during a bowel movement, firmly press on your wound with your hand for extra support.
Preventing Constipation
Opioid pain pills will cause constipation. You may want to increase fiber in your diet slowly to avoid bloating and gas. You may need to use a stool softener and/or a bulk fiber laxative to prevent problems. Buy these over the counter at your drugstore.
Eat a balanced diet each day to include:
8-10 (8 oz) glasses of fluids a day (water, juice, tea, etc.).
At least 4 servings of fruits or vegetables.
At lease 2-4 servings of whole grain bread or cereal.
When to Call
Increased swelling
No bowel movement 3 days after surgery (you may need a laxative)
Fever by mouth over 101.5°F for 2 readings, 4 hours apart
Excess scrotal swelling or pain (some testicular and scrotal swelling is common)
Trouble passing urine
Increased redness or warmth of wound
Pus-like drainage or blood from wound
Pain not controlled by pain pills
Rapid or excess bruising (some bruising is normal)
Who to Call
Surgery Clinic
Monday – Friday, 8:00 am – 4:30 pm
608-263-7502 or 1-800-323-7502
After hours, weekends, or holidays you will reach a paging operator. Ask for the doctor on call.
If you are a patient receiving care at UnityPoint – Meriter, Swedish American or a health system outside of UW Health, please use the phone numbers provided in your discharge instructions for any questions or concerns.
