The instructions below apply to any hernia surgery you have had with Dr. Mandelbaum.
The instructions below apply to any hernia surgery you have had with Dr. Mandelbaum.
Shortly after the surgery, you may feel full or nauseated easily. This is usually due to the anesthesia during the operation. It should fade within hours.
After having your hernia repaired, there are no limitations on your diet.
Please resume all your regular medications at their usual times immediately after surgery, unless directed otherwise.
If you take blood thinners you will have personal instructions, please discuss with Dr. Mandelbaum prior to surgery.
You have been given a prescription for narcotic pain medication. This often slows the bowels down and you may become constipated. It is advisable to take a laxative the first few days after the operation to make sure you do not become overly constipated, because if you are straining during a bowel movement this can damage your hernia repair in the first few weeks after the operation.
You can then shower and allow the water and soap to run over the wound. Keep some paper towel by the shower to keep your towels from getting soiled if there is a small amount of discharge. Pat the wound dry and cover it with some loose gauze secured with tape.
The steri strips, staples or stitches should be left in place for your first visit after surgery with Dr. Mandelbaum. Avoid submerging the incision for 1 week from the procedure.
Your first post operative visit after a hernia repair with Dr. Mandelbaum will be approximately a week after the operation. If you do not have this scheduled please contact the office.
Feel free to peel off the steri strips any time after 10 days from the procedure.
Your activity level should be reduced the first two weeks after the surgery. The incisions are about 30 to 40% strength of normal tissue at 3 weeks.
You can increase your activity after the first two weeks, allowing pain to be your guide in your recovery. This just means you can steadily increase your activity as long as your pain is under control.
Often after surgery you may have a few days where you feel really well. This is usually when people increase their activity level and the following day feel very sore or very tired. This is normal. It’s OK to do this, just be aware you may experience these “ups and downs” for a few weeks. Just as long as you are improving from day to day and week to week, you are on the right road to recovery.
If you should have increasing pain, increasing redness, increasing bulge or discharge at or from the incision please contact the office.
If you have any other questions or concerns during your recovery, please do not hesitate to call us at any time.