Other Issues. The first bowel movement may occur anywhere from 1 – 10 days after surgery. As long as you are not nauseated or having abdominal pain, this variation is acceptable. Constipation can occur after this operation, and taking milk of magnesia (two tablespoons; twice a day) can prevent this issue.
Your Recovery
You should feel better after a few days and will probably feel much better in 7 days. For several weeks you may feel discomfort or pulling in the hernia repair when you move. You may have some bruising around the area of the repair. This is normal.
After hernia mesh surgery, most patients can go home the same day. Full recovery may take four to six weeks. Elderly patients who undergo laparoscopic surgery may recover sooner. Patients should perform only necessary functions right after surgery, but can resume light activity after a few weeks.
Mild pain or tenderness may be the only symptoms of hernia mesh failure. In other cases, patients may experience a burning sensation around the surgical site or a bulging area that protrudes through the skin. Bulging may be caused by the mesh dislodging or migrating, which can cause inflammation and pain.
Hernia surgery risks
Common risks and side effects soon after surgery include: Bruising, or infection and bleeding at the incision site. Problems with urinating if the hernia was in the groin. Accumulation of fluid, called a seroma, at the prior site of the hernia.
Symptoms of hernia mesh migration include pain, nausea, fever, chills, vomiting, swelling, redness, skin irritation, fluid buildup and weight loss. It's also possible that no symptoms present until the migrated mesh creates an emergency.
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.
Well balanced meals will help the body recover. Consider fruits, vegetables, and whole grains together with healthy proteins from fish, meat, eggs, tofu, nuts, milk and dairy products, such as yogurt and cheese.
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.
A hernia can affect the intestines, which may cause a change in digestion and bowel movements. People may experience constipation or narrow, thin stools. In severe cases, constipation with a hernia may indicate intestinal obstruction.
It is possible that the repair is still intact and bulging of the mesh causes swelling. Bulging can be the result of an insufficient surgical technique. The problem is more frequently seen after repair of large defects, especially when mesh are used to bridge the defects, and more frequent after laparoscopic repair,,.
Since normal swelling after hernia surgery is part of the healing process, the body can take three to six months to get rid of the swelling. In patients with very large inguinal hernias that extend down to the scrotum, sometimes the swelling may be there for longer than six months.
You may notice that your bowel movements are not regular right after your surgery. This is common. Avoid constipation and straining with bowel movements. You may want to take a fibre supplement every day.
Bowel Movements
Surgery tends to back your bowels up on its own due to surgical anesthesia, narcotics/pain control, limited mobility. Over the counter (OTC) stool softeners may be taken if needed. Please monitor your bowels closely after surgery especially if you are taking prescribed narcotics.
Foods to eat after hernia surgery include any that are high fiber or have a high water content—just avoid anything you know will make you gassy. Options include: Watermelon. Apples.
Fibre-rich, low acidic foods like apples, pears, carrots, sweet potatoes and leafy greens are good dietary choices when you have a hernia.
Avoid foods that cause constipation such as dairy products, red meat, processed foods such as pizza, frozen dinners, pasta, sugar products such as cakes, pies, pastries, doughnuts and caffeine and caffeine drinks. Some discomfort, but this should not be excessive.
Most people can return to their normal activities within 4-6 weeks after the procedure, but this can vary depending on the type and complexity of your hernia. Ask your doctor for advice about when it would be safe for you to return to work or school.
Will my stomach shrink after hernia repair? The size of your stomach will not necessarily shrink after a hernia repair. However, depending on the cause of your hernia and the type of repair you have, you may experience changes in your abdominal appearance after surgery.
Pain and other hernia mesh complications may occur right after hernia mesh surgery or years later. Patients have reported pain in the stomach, abdomen, groin, leg and testicles. Hernia mesh pain symptoms include a burning sensation at the surgery site, inflammation or swelling, and tingling.
Try to avoid vigorous coughing if your repair was done with the open method. Coughing may strain your incision. For a couple of weeks, when you need to cough or sneeze, splint your incision. This means putting pressure over your incision with your hands, a rolled up blanket, or a pillow.
People who have a mesh plug used to repair their hernias often feel the mesh plug. While it's not always painful, some chronic pain issues are likely due to the shape and location of the mesh plug.
A rare but potential complication, however, is deep infection with mesh involvement and is sometimes seen long after the repair, sometimes years later [6]. The longest time between repair and infection reported in the literature is 17 years [6], and case series range from four months to 10 years [6,7].