Hernia Surgery in 5 days-- Need some help, please

[ironserenity]

Hey all my bros and sisters in iron!

Well my long awaited time has finally come for double hernia surgery.... ONe umbilical and one inguinal (I still have ANOTHER inguinal; on the other side, but that is small and getting fixed at another date)
Anyways, my question is..... Depending ho wlong I'll be out (anywhere from3-6 weeks my surgeon says). Do you really think that I will lose all that much quality muscle? I'm reading a book by Joel Osteen taht is teaching me to be optimistic but so many people try to scare me with how much i will lose. And fuck, even if i do lose size, muscle memory is great!
So what's your opinion, will I lose much? and more importanty, HOW CAN I PRESERVE THE MOST MUSCLE DURING THIS TIME WITHOUT FAT ACCUMMULATION SINCE I WONT BE WORKING OUT?

I'm also going to do mild cardio during this time and possibly lean out a bit, that would be nice!

And unfortunately I have a small stomach bug Im trying to shake before my surgery !!!! So Im out of the gym this week as well and I'm sure to lose some siz/strength with the bug.... Would yal advise me to stay out of the gym PRIOR to my surgery too, just to keep my immune system better???

 

[rotty]

You're overthinking. Get healthy and who gives a fuck how much you lose or how much fat you will gain. If 6 weeks is the long estimate you are worrying waaaay too much about the wrong things...worry about getting healthy period. It's like what people said in a previous thread, don't let this consume you no matter how much you love it. In the grand scheme of things it's not that important, your health on the other hand is. Get yourself healthy and the rest will fall into place

 

[nosmas]

Just keep your mind on rest and recovery. You wont loose a dam thing that you cant get back in short time. You tend to get your mind wraped up on something to the point of compulsive (and I relate to that 100%!) so just read the book... stay optimistic... DONT WORRY... and let your body recupe before you start ripping out stitches!
Well be thinking of ya... You will be fine.

 

[maldorf]

I went through a triple hernia surgery, two inguinal and one umbilical. I didnt exercise for a little over 2 weeks and then went back and lifted very light. No exercises that will stress the core:deadlifts, bentover rows, squats, leg presses etc. I did mostly machines the first 2 weeks, since just about everything stress the abs. Even things like bench press. You will have to of course change your diet or you will accumulate bodyfat.
A few things to add. THe pain was pretty bad for me so I was taking some oxycodone and hydrocodone. That stuff will make you extremely consitpated, so watch out! Also, I feel that i will never be the same after that surgery, I still get sore down there from time to time but it goes away. I had a catscan several months later and all looked good, so its probably pressure on a nerve or something. For the first 3 weeks or more it felt like someone had my left testicle in a vice all day long.

 

[PHIL HERNON]

Watch out!

You may shrink down to nothing and your family may disown you, girlfriend may dump you, you may lose your job, your friends may quit hanging out with you...........all because you may lose 10 pounds and be a little softer. On the other hand, you may just be ok.

 

[Max32]

You may shrink down to nothing and your family may disown you, girlfriend may dump you, you may lose your job, your friends may quit hanging out with you...........all because you may lose 10 pounds and be a little softer. On the other hand, you may just be ok.

Lol, Phil is right, it happened to me....nah man, in all seriousness, just use your head and you will be fine. I honestly feel better now than I did 2 yrs ago before my epigastric surgery above my navel (same area as umbilical). Healed nicely and no regrets. Just stick with non-core movements as someone said, alter your diet to more healthy fats, high protein, and good complex carbs in about 2-3 meals per day. You do not want to undereat as that will help you lose muscle at a much faster rate. Just eat smarter, and don't overdo the cardio either without anaerobic training, another recipe for muscle loss...

 

[ironone1]

I had umbilical hernia surgery about a year ago. The recovery wasn't fun let me tell you. I would take it easy for at least a couple of months-you shouldn't lose much size.

 

[bigheinz]

3 years from mine umbilical hernia surgery, i had to rest for 3 long months. i tryed to start very light at the second month but i felt pain and rather to wait. The first 3 weeks were horrible, painfull and very unconfortable, so if you are getting an iginal too, you wouldnt be worry about train, just worry about figure out how to stand up from your bed .... good luck!!!!

 

[Ashop]

Hey all my bros and sisters in iron!

Well my long awaited time has finally come for double hernia surgery.... ONe umbilical and one inguinal (I still have ANOTHER inguinal; on the other side, but that is small and getting fixed at another date)
Anyways, my question is..... Depending ho wlong I'll be out (anywhere from3-6 weeks my surgeon says). Do you really think that I will lose all that much quality muscle? I'm reading a book by Joel Osteen taht is teaching me to be optimistic but so many people try to scare me with how much i will lose. And fuck, even if i do lose size, muscle memory is great!
So what's your opinion, will I lose much? and more importanty, HOW CAN I PRESERVE THE MOST MUSCLE DURING THIS TIME WITHOUT FAT ACCUMMULATION SINCE I WONT BE WORKING OUT?

I'm also going to do mild cardio during this time and possibly lean out a bit, that would be nice!

And unfortunately I have a small stomach bug Im trying to shake before my surgery !!!! So Im out of the gym this week as well and I'm sure to lose some siz/strength with the bug.... Would yal advise me to stay out of the gym PRIOR to my surgery too, just to keep my immune system better???

I see no reason not to train up until the day before surgery if your not in pain or ill.

 

[mikeheavypecs]

Hey all my bros and sisters in iron!

Well my long awaited time has finally come for double hernia surgery.... ONe umbilical and one inguinal (I still have ANOTHER inguinal; on the other side, but that is small and getting fixed at another date)
Anyways, my question is..... Depending ho wlong I'll be out (anywhere from3-6 weeks my surgeon says). Do you really think that I will lose all that much quality muscle? I'm reading a book by Joel Osteen taht is teaching me to be optimistic but so many people try to scare me with how much i will lose. And fuck, even if i do lose size, muscle memory is great!
So what's your opinion, will I lose much? and more importanty, HOW CAN I PRESERVE THE MOST MUSCLE DURING THIS TIME WITHOUT FAT ACCUMMULATION SINCE I WONT BE WORKING OUT?

I'm also going to do mild cardio during this time and possibly lean out a bit, that would be nice!

And unfortunately I have a small stomach bug Im trying to shake before my surgery !!!! So Im out of the gym this week as well and I'm sure to lose some siz/strength with the bug.... Would yal advise me to stay out of the gym PRIOR to my surgery too, just to keep my immune system better???

Bro, you got such tremendous genetics/potential for size I wouldn't even worry about it! You are also very young which means you have MANY good years to GROW!

Good luck, man , with your surgery.....

Mike

 

[thebrick]

I say get all 3 fixed at the same time. That's what I did. Then you are done for good.

 

[M21SL]

like heavy pecs said. Between your genetics, muscle memory, and your dedication to this, you will be fine bro. Whatever you do lose, you will get back, and then some. Your health should come first, and thats what you are doing by getting these surgeries. Just make sure you are fully healed, then hit the iron, and u will be back and better. take care and good luck with the surgery bro.

 

[maldorf]

The first 3 weeks were horrible, painfull and very unconfortable, so if you are getting an iginal too, you wouldnt be worry about train, just worry about figure out how to stand up from your bed .... good luck!!!!

So true!! Its a major ordeal getting out of bed, so bad that I slept sitting up on the couch for the first night. My wife had to help me get out of bed for almost 1 week. Its a bitch taking a crap too, especially when youre constipated. I was scared I would blow the hernia out pushing too hard. Stool softeners help some. hes right, you wont even think about going to the gym for the first 2 weeks or so.

 

[tatteredxangelx]

hardest part is keeping up with your diet ... from what I have heard, if this is the new "mesh" surgery, u will be able to lift 60% in 2-3 weeks ... let me know, becaue I am pushing off my surgery b/c of everything you mentioned !

 

[ironone1]

Yeah Big Heinz is right, training will be the last thing you will be concerned about. After my umb. surgery I was up all night the first night with hickups. My one nut started to hurt and the doctor thought maybe I had another hernia. I had problems urinating and they put me on Flomax for a couple of weeks. It finally got better but the first month or so sucked; even worse than my shoulder surgies because the pain meds I couldn't take because they upset my stomach. I did light weights and just some cardio for awhile afterwards before I started lifting heavy again.

 

[Chim Chim]

Bro, You should find a doctor that does laparoscopic hernia repairs like mine did. Minimal discomfort for the first 2-3 days, then I was back in the gym. I was squating light 7-10 days post-op. Yes, my Doc was aware. He cleared me to do anything that didn't hurt, laparoscopically the mesh is placed beneath the abdominal wall, not over the ab wall beneath the skin. Very unlikely to bust anything loose.

 

[thebrick]

Bro, You should find a doctor that does laparoscopic hernia repairs like mine did. Minimal discomfort for the first 2-3 days, then I was back in the gym. I was squating light 7-10 days post-op. Yes, my Doc was aware. He cleared me to do anything that didn't hurt, laparoscopically the mesh is placed beneath the abdominal wall, not over the ab wall beneath the skin. Very unlikely to bust anything loose.

Absolutely the way to go. I had the same results. Up and around in a couple of days AND it was triple hernia repair for me.

 

[maldorf]

Bro, You should find a doctor that does laparoscopic hernia repairs like mine did. Minimal discomfort for the first 2-3 days, then I was back in the gym. I was squating light 7-10 days post-op. Yes, my Doc was aware. He cleared me to do anything that didn't hurt, laparoscopically the mesh is placed beneath the abdominal wall, not over the ab wall beneath the skin. Very unlikely to bust anything loose.

thats what I had done and I was out of the gym for more than 2 weeks, although I had 3 repaired at once. He did do my umbilical hernia open, and the laprascope was used for my 2 inguinal hernias. Using the mesh for the umbilical hernia isnt as standard as for the inguinal, but I had them all done mesh. The mesh is not bullet proof, belive me!

 

[oldfella]

IS, I had dbl inguinal repaired laproscopicly. Best way to go. Although my surgeon advised not to train for the first 4-6 weeks. Then engage in llight training only. It took me all of 13 weeks to get back to lifting heavy again. No probs since. Do try to get all three done at once. Don't sweat it bro. You will be fine. Just take it easy and come back slow. All the best for your op!!

 

[ironserenity]

THANKS EVERYONE

Well, 4 days to go!

At this point I am honestly looking forward to an excuse to take a break! I get to rest and recover all of my other little injuries and Im hoping that i can RESET my body so to speak!

I am getting the inguinal hernia fixed with the mesh (laparoscopic), and the umbilical is done standard incision. The umbilical region (as stated before) is a tough area to place mesh because as you guys know there is lots of peak contraction going on in the mid abs, that and my umbilical hernia is big.

I have battled this horrendeous nausea because of these little fuckers rubbing up on a nerve. they make it very hard to eat in the morning and I get nauseas super easy... Dr. says that is common and i should feel better in that respect after surgery, now THAT, I cannot wait for, and just that alone, despite not being able to train, will help me bounce back soooo much better.

Anyone else ever experienced nausea from their hernias?

Yea, and my doc told me that 2 weeks of no lifting at all, then I should feel good enough to do some light machines for the next two weeks, and then after 4 weeks I can slowly add weight in accordance to pain....Meanwhile, on the couch, its going to be forearm curls, static holds with my calves, and some neck work.... wooohoo