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A hernia is a defect in the wall of the body that causes an organ or fluid-filled sac (such as the intestine) to protrude into another space (abdominal cavity). Hernia surgery may be done as an open-abdominal procedure or as a laparoscopic procedure. We dig deep to explain when you will need hernia surgery in Singapore on this page: https://drganesh.sg/a-guide-to-hernia-surgery-who-needs-it/.
You’ll need plenty of rest and relaxation for several weeks when you have had your hernia surgery. You must keep the surgical area dry and clean—showering is okay after 24 hours — and avoid strenuous activity and lifting objects that weigh more than five pounds. Try to walk every day, even just around the house, and follow your doctor’s instructions carefully because doing too much can cause complications. The pain usually fades in about two to three weeks after surgery, but it may last longer if you haven’t kept up with taking your medication.
As for when you’re able to resume your normal activities; that varies from person to person. Afterward, you’ll also need about six months of recovery before returning to work and physical activity — and even longer if you’ve had a more complicated surgery. With time and proper care, these surgical procedures can improve mobility and relieve pain.
Tips for Recovering from a Hernia Surgery
Usually, you will be given important instructions after your hernia surgery. Follow these instructions carefully to help speed up the healing process and prevent complications:
- Apply ice packs regularly for about 48 hours, and then switch to moist heat or warm baths. Please don’t take a hot shower, soak in a tub of water, use heating pads or take other measures that can raise your body temperature because it may cause serious infections.
- Avoid lifting anything heavier than 5 pounds until you have fully recovered from your hernia operation. This includes bringing in the groceries bags, turning off light switches, or carrying laundry baskets. Anything heavier could set back your recovery time by several weeks due to increased pain and swelling.
- Avoid sexual activity for at least six weeks because any vigorous or complicated movements of the abdominal area can injure your incision and increase your risk of infection. If you have a painless discharge from the incision site, call your doctor immediately because it could be a sign of an infection.
- Eat a healthy diet full of vitamins and nutrients to help speed up healing and minimize scarring caused by constriction or stretching around the affected area.
- Maintain adequate rest to avoid additional stress on your body as it recovers from the hernia operation.
- Alcohol and smoking both interfere with your body’s ability to heal and may cause complications during or after your hernia surgery. Stop using these as soon as your doctor clears you because it could worsen the pain or increase bleeding.
- Take all of the medications prescribed by your doctor. These will keep your incision from getting infected, reduce inflammation around the affected area, improve blood flow to help speed up healing and enhance tissue repair.
Common Post-surgery Symptoms and how to Deal with them
Some common symptoms that may occur after having a hernia operation include:
- Swelling and pain in the abdominal area
- Urinating less than normal because of swelling or performing activities that raise your body temperature
- An itching or burning sensation around the incision site
- Darkening and peeling of the skin (especially near the belly button) caused by constriction, stretching, and exposure to the sun
- A slow return to a healthy weight after surgery
Tips for dealing with post-surgery complications include:
- Use ice packs regularly in the days following hernia surgery in Singapore. These will quickly reduce any swelling, ease pain, and prevent excessive wear on your incision. Make sure not to apply any heat treatments unless your doctor instructs you.
- Drink plenty of fluids every day to help flush out toxins from your body and keep your urine output at normal levels.
- Ask your doctor for medications to help with any chronic pain or discomfort you experience after hernia surgery. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), like Advil (ibuprofen), can help decrease swelling, ease pain and increase blood flow to the affected area. However, these drugs can cause stomach ulcers if taken regularly or in high doses over extended periods of time. If you experience any signs of infection such as pus at the incision site, fevers, chills, vomiting, or severe abdominal pain that does not respond to over-the-counter medications, contact your doctor immediately because it may be a sign of an internal tear around the hernia operation site.
Generally, everybody heals differently, but during the first two weeks after hernia surgery, you should only be making trips to the restroom when necessary or going through normal household activities such as washing dishes and taking out the trash. This is a good time for lying in bed and watching television because it not only helps keep your mind off of any discomfort but also keeps you from moving around too much.
If you start feeling stiff or sore at any point, take a hot shower with Epsom salt or apply a heating pad on low heat over the affected area until the pain goes away. After about 10 days, most people can move freely again with no problems so long as you take it slow and let your body heal.
The right diet will give your body the necessary nutrients to help speed up healing, maintain good energy levels throughout the day, improve your immune system function and reduce stress levels.
- Eat fruits high in antioxidants like blueberries or strawberries to help strengthen your cells against free radicals.
- Use extra virgin olive oil when cooking to decrease inflammation in the abdominal area.
- Increase consumption of whole grains because they are packed full of vitamins, minerals, and fiber, which can boost energy levels while also preventing constipation, which helps keep your digestive tract working smoothly.
- Try to eat at least 8 oz of fish like mackerel or tuna to get extra omega3 fatty acids. You should also avoid drinking milk, butter, and cheese while recovering from hernia surgery because these contain dairy proteins that can make inflammation worse
Final Thoughts
Really, there is no specific time frame for how long you will need to fully recover after hernia surgery as this widely varies depending on the type of surgery you’ve had. Also, remember that every person is different and has a different experience after hernia surgery. Some people feel completely fine within a few days, while others may take up to two weeks to fully recover.
If you’re having trouble sleeping because of pain or discomfort, talk to your doctor about getting something for it, but if nothing seems to work, make sure not to push yourself when it comes to activities like walking and doing household chores because you don’t want to end up in the hospital with a second hernia operation. This type of treatment is very important for getting back on your feet after surgery, but don’t forget that recovering from hernia surgery takes time and patience.
Do you have a hernia? Need some quality aid? Please, talk to us so we can guide you on the next best course of action. Call: 6255 1234. WhatsApp: 8218 7799. Email: [email protected].
Dr Ganesh (General Surgeon in Singapore) – Endoscopy, Colonoscopy, Gastroscopy
Suite 1, #05-23B Mount Elizabeth, Specialist Centre, 329563
+65 6255 1234
https://drganesh.sg/
