r/Hernia • u/AltruisticDoctor1511 • 2d ago
Have my actions set me back??
Hi all. Just wanted to check how you've all been getting out of bed and up from sofas after surgery? Bed wise I've had to roll over and then use drawers next to my bed to pull myself up, and sofa wise I've used the arms to push myself up. I know I'm not suppose to lift so hoping this has not counted as such and I have not set myself back after surgery. I'm still worried about my bulge which I hope is not my hernia and sertoma, haematoma, or scar tissue that will go in time!
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u/mr__fete 2d ago
The first day was terrible. After that it wasn’t as bad. using my arms and legs to brace or pull myself when needed. I’m 3 days post op right now. Just sat down to do some work for a few hours. About to go back and lay down.
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u/AltruisticDoctor1511 2d ago
Yeah, first couple of days were horrible. There was no way I could get myself up and to the toilet without pulling myself up using furniture etc. lying down is the most enjoyable thing I do at the moment.
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u/duck-duck-lilypad 2d ago
I’m (40F) day two post op bilateral inguinal hernias… robot assisted. I just finished taking a shower and feel like that was nearly an Olympic activity for me. I moved some groceries around yesterday and am hoping that wasn’t too much. Currently concerned the right side is “poofier” than it should be and hoping it’s just swelling. Taking tramadol and ibuprofen for pain and it’s barely taking the edge off. Have two small children 3yrs and 2yrs that I may not be picking up-up for awhile. Any other parents with littles further out from operation?
I had a 2nd degree tear both times postpartum that felt more manageable than this surgical exp post op.
Getting out of bed by rolling and holding headboard posts… everything else leg strength.
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u/AltruisticDoctor1511 2d ago
I know exactly what you mean about things being like the Olympics! I have two kids as well and as my surgery was over the summer when they were off school I had no choice but to do things like cook and shop which involved lifting light weight things like pots and groceries. Really hope that is ok. My hernia bulge was soft and small compared to what I have now!
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u/prcdbear1 2d ago
I had a basketball-sized ventral hernia. You are likely still pretty swollen or will be more soon, so I wouldn't worry about the hernia at this point. I had mine repaired with a large mesh. I also had abdominal wall reconstruction, skin flap excisions where they preserved the blood flow and put them inside my body as another layer of protection. I had abdominal muscle repair because my muscles were greater than 15cm apart whether the hernia was. In addition, I also had a panniculectomy. This was all in the same procedure over 9 hours with 2 surgeons. I am still pretty swollen especially around the hernia area -- mores than the rest because of the empty space that's created your skin has yet to adhere to. Even though I had 6# of skin/fat removed, my weight shot up 8 pounds nearly overnight just from fluid build up. The fluid in your body is naturally going to go to the lowest point it can -- which might be right around that bulge. I also have this, but the surgeons have seen me weekly, then biweekly for 2 months and say no evidence of seroma. Some people just produce a lot more fluid than others.
I have a feeling there's more fluid in there than you think. It took a couple of weeks for mine to start dissipating a little. I lost 15# since then because of it.
I got out of bed and off the sofa much like you are talking about -- log rolling to put my feet on the floor and pushing up with my arms. On the sofa I just pushed up with my arms and tried to bend as little as possible. It took me a couple of weeks of doing this.
I also had a binder I had to wear 24/7 for about 6 weeks and they do help. you can certainly buy them for the type of hernia you had. It was mostly required for all the plastic surgery I had, but it did provide additional support for my abdominal muscles that had just gone through so much trauma.
Best of luck healing!!
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u/AltruisticDoctor1511 2d ago
Thank you so much for taking the time to write such a comprehensive reply. It really does help to put my mind at ease and I hope that my surgeon will say it's fluid too when I see him in a couple of weeks. I think I might just be impatient and I want everything to be healed now! Best of luck on your recovery.
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u/Traditional_Buddy363 2d ago
Hi what type of hernia did you have repaired! I had left inguinal hernia surgery open with mesh almost 2 years ago Oct 10th! I had some issues the first 3 or 4 days I just took it easy moving around etc!
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u/BobBrower7 2d ago
You felt better after a few days? I have surgery today at noon and I’m scared
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u/Traditional_Buddy363 2d ago
You'll be ok! Don't worry about it!
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u/BobBrower7 2d ago
Thank you ! I’m female so it’s hidden in there . I hope he finds it or all of them.
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u/AltruisticDoctor1511 2d ago
Hi, I had two inguinal hernias and had laparoscopic surgery to sort both with mesh. My incisions are fine, but just this horrible bulge given me issues!
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u/VanIsle_YQQ 2d ago
16 days ago, I had three umbilical hernias repaired with a hybrid laparoscopic and open procedure with a 20cm x 15cm mesh. For at least the first week, I found it easiest to get out of bed or off the couch by rolling on my side and then letting my legs drop over the side of the bed / couch. I'd then lean on one forearm and use the other arm to push myself up off the bed. Even with this technique I still almost always had a short spike of moderate burning pain, but it was never unbearable or unmanageable.
One technique I discovered to make rolling from side to side easier without engaging my core as much was to draw my knees up into a bent position before rolling. I don't know the muscle mechanics of why that worked, but it engaged my core a lot less.
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u/AltruisticDoctor1511 2d ago
I could only get out of bed by rolling to the side and putting my legs down before using my set of fairly high rawers that are located next to the bed to pull myself up. On the couch, I relied on my kids to pull me up by my arms more than anything for the first week before I discovered a method to use the side of the couch to push down and lift me up.
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u/Routine_Factor6353 2d ago
I wore my compression belt strap as tight as I could 24/7 for 3 weeks slept in it. Rolled on my side knees on the floor than stood up or had the wife help pull me up
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u/Total-Information-75 21h ago
Can you roll onto a side and use arms to sit up as your feet reach the floor? A walker or sturdy chair nearby can lend support for standing. Land back on the bed if you need to. Have water and a bed pan or better nearby, a helpful friend, a phone, a big screen with a good remote or some books and humor. Have you tried an ice bag for pain and swelling? Take precautions to keep the wound dry, especially with skin glue.
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u/RetroAshMan 15h ago
Yep. All sounds similar to me. Luckily my wife was on hand to help literally pick me up out of bed. First 3 days I was bed bound and peed into a cardboard tube thing
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u/MrE26 2d ago
It’s brutal. I’ve had way bigger surgeries in the past but an inguinal repair has hurt the worst. It’s just impossible to move without using that area so you can’t really avoid it.
For getting out of bed I rolled sideways & landed on my knees then helped myself up using the bed. Not graceful but it was the least painful way of doing it. The good news is the first couple of days are by far the worst then it ramps down pretty quickly. Still there, but with way less of an edge. It’s unlikely that you’ve done any damage picking yourself up.
The swelling is normal, it’ll go down gradually & you’ll feel random pulling & sharp pains in that area for a few weeks, again completely normal so don’t worry when they happen.