HERNIA RECOVERY COMPLETE!

[MikeS]

Hey fellas, Id like to give an update on my hernia surgery (2 inguinal, 1 umbillical-laproscopic mesh repair) which was performed 12/24/09. I got quite a bit of info from bros here who had similar experiences with this operation. I decided to focus on the advice of BigTex who had the fasted recovery, as I was not about to wait 6mo+ as many others here had recommended before complete recovery and heavy compound lifting. I put in my mind that 8wks was my goal, of being near 100% of my former self.

As of 8wks, I was 100% and actually had several lifts that were best lifts, at least within the last 10yrs or so, when I was 30lbs heavier bodyweight. It took 9-10wks (current) for squats to get to 100%...everything else was 7-8wks. Id suggest rowing, legpress, and squatting may take a bit longer. I started lifting 10days after surgery, using very light weight, 135x20reps bench, for example. Went up about 50lbs every week. Most important, full breathing and no bearing down/holding breath during reps, for 5-6wks. At
6wks I was close to 100%. Thats when Dr and others suggest you START lifting. I had a much more aggressive and focused goal. I do consider myself fortunate to recover so quickly...I was basically in pain the day of and day after the operation...then just mild discomfort for about 2-3wks. No need for meds except the day after, then afterward maybe some advil for a couple weeks.

I appreciate all the help from others who have had similar experiences...good luck to any who will suffer similar misfortunes-its nowhere near as bad as I had feared.

 

[King-kong]

MikeS,
This is a dumb question but how did you know you had a hernia. Was there a lump. Many workouts I feel as if something is gonna rip out of my gut just below where a belt buckle would be, but off to the right. Every time I gotta drop the weights and feel for a lump but nothing.

Glad to hear your doing well post op. Especially glad to hear how fast youve recovered.

 

[maldorf]

thats a funny coincidence because I had the exact same surgery as you. I had a medium size umbilical and two inguinals both on my left side. My right side was ok.

I didnt do as well as you with pain though. I was in bad pain for about 5 days or so. I had to have my wife pull me up out of bed because I couldnt use my abs to sit up.

I did train similar to you though and got my strength back in about the same time frame. I did however end up tearing part of my umbilical hernia again. the hole is much smaller now and im not sure what tore. I had the mesh put in, youd think it would have been stronger. It tore about 4 months after the surgery when I thought I had fully recovered. So its not bullet proof by any means. Im not sure how it tore.

 

[maldorf]

MikeS,
This is a dumb question but how did you know you had a hernia. Was there a lump. Many workouts I feel as if something is gonna rip out of my gut just below where a belt buckle would be, but off to the right. Every time I gotta drop the weights and feel for a lump but nothing.

Glad to hear your doing well post op. Especially glad to hear how fast youve recovered.

So is the pain close to your belly button? If so, it could be the start of an umbilical hernia. I had one of those repaired. It starts out like that, just a pain. Eventually it will tear open though and your peritoneum will start to poke out. Youll feel a liitle squishy bubble which you can force back in if you push hard enough on it. If you leave those untreated, they keep getting bigger and bigger slowly each year. I had mine start when I was just 19 and didnt have it operated on till I was about 35 yrs old.

to me when you first tear it, the pain feels like you are being burned. Almost as if someone is pushing a hot ember into your abdominal wall.

 

[MikeS]

I didnt even know I had the umbillical or the 2nd inguinal. No pain or symptom of lump or distension at the navel. The inguinal I knew I had was a small lump. At first I though it was a swolen gland but it persisted. No pain at all, or increase in size of the petrusion. But they never go away on their own...and they almost always get worse, although it can take years as mentioned before. So I figured Id just get it done, during the operation, he discovered the other 2 hernias.
Hope this helps.

 

[kid1dakota]

Glad to hear it went well.I have been putting off getting mine done for years.

 

[JETHRO TULL]

Good to hear you are back at it, MIke!

I had a hernia repair done and I waited 4 weeks before weeks before doing much and then it was nothing stressful after that for a long time. I waited until and did fun stuff. This was back when I was 17. Hernia right above the navel about an inch.

Have had no problems since. I've seen folks rip those out. Bullriders up here push too hard too soon. One of the kids I taught texted me tonight, he's going back in for a second hernia surgery soon. He's afraid to go in! lol Not afraid to get stepped on or gored by a bull though! lol

 

[blacksterbmw]

Had an umbililical hernia repaired in May 08, just above my belly button. HAd no pain with it at all but after surgery was sore for a few weeks. Waited 2 weeks then started really light and slow liftinf and working my way from there. So far so gud, no probs. There was quite a bit of tightness for upto a year but the doc siad it was just the scar tissue stretching.

 

[musclehead04]

Its great to hear you guys talking about how fast you bounced back from this. I go in for surgery to fix an umbilical hernia tomorrow. To tell you ya truth it has kinda got me down cause I have been told 6-8 weeks for recovery. Its nice to know that some of you guys have bounced back a lot faster.

 

[fsm]

I had surgery for an umbilical hernia two weeks ago and I see the doc tommorow for a post op appointment. My experience so far is similar to yours.
Pain the first day or two and mild discomfort after. I hope to be able to at least resume some aerobic excersize soon.

FSM

 

[MikeS]

Musclehead - Dr's are ultra cautious. 6-8wks to me meant full recovery. Im kinda crazy like that.
FSM I saw your thread about your operation. Bro, start lifting like I did now...its been 2wks. Do 135x15-20reps and breath evenly and deeply. Go up 25-50lbs each wk. Your body will tell you what you can do. GOod luck!

 

[stonecold434]

I should probably get this done some day soon...getting tired of pushing my belly button back in. Doesn't seem to have much effect on anything, just kind of annoying.

 

[maldorf]

I should probably get this done some day soon...getting tired of pushing my belly button back in. Doesn't seem to have much effect on anything, just kind of annoying.

Yeah, for me it was really just cosmetic. Good thing is that insurance considers it to be needed and pays for it.

 

[johnjuanb1]

I just had my umbilical hernia repaired this morning at 9am. He also repaired a smell lateral hernia, as well. The hernia was tearing upward towards my upper abs. The umbilical hernia was moderate to large in size. It grew very quickly in the past 2 months. Most likely to high dose hgh and a 22lb GAIN in body weight. I put off the surgery for 5 years. I feel no pain as of yet. Been icing it off and on all day. I'm surprised to see how many bodybuilders have umbilical hernias. Nice to know I'm not the only one. My doctor said 80% of the strength of the repair is complete within the first 10 days. He said I can go all out in the gym in 3 1/2 to 4 weeks. I'm already walking a block, 4x a day. I got very lucky to find a surgeon with a competitive bodybuilder for a son. He knows all about the lifestyle, gear, hgh, everything. So far, so good!!! Good luck to all of us on successful permanent repairs!

 

[fsm]

Saw the doc yesterday and he gave me the green light. He said most important to listen to my body and it will tell me if I am going too far too fast.

FSM

 

[pridefighter2000]

Good stuff in here,i've been putting off surgery for my hernia but reading this gives me inspiration to go through with it knowing i dont have to wait forever to get back into the gym afterwards.

 

[Tyrone]

Glad to hear you had such a succesfull recovery MikeS...That's great news!!

 

[chevy1234]

Had surgery 1 yr ago.No problems at all.Doc said do what ever you want.Its more a mind thing,dont waste time just get it over with you will sleep better.Not a big deal at all.