This kills me.....

[turbomangt]

I had my Hernia opertaion last Wed and it feels like I was shot in the gut. Kills me not to be able to detail. I have a waiting list started already and I've decided to book jobs starting end of next week. I hope that is not too soon, but I have a high tolerance of pain. Whatever is in these pain pills works, feels like I'm on cloud 9. Gary

[a.k.a. Patrick]

LMAO. I think Id' stick with cloud 9 Gary.......

[BigAl3]

hope you feel better soon!

[mtwedt]

Gary,
Do not return to work without discussing with your surgeon the recommended activity levels for your surgery. It is dangerous and inappropriate to use pain meds to tolerate pain while doing activities that can damage suture lines. Your ability to tolerate pain is not the relevant issue here. The ability of the various layers of sutures to withstand pulling, twisting and torque until the tissues are healed is. If you do activity that is not advised by you surgeon, you tear suture lines and there are several in there that you cannot see. In your particular case, there are suture lines closing peritoneum, muscle, omentum, subcutaneous tissue and then the skin. The reason you feel like you were shot in the gut is particularly related to the muscle layer that was cut when your hernia was repaired. Many people don't realize that our ability to stand, twist, bend, lift, hold heavier objects and support the back utilize abdominal muscles. Not investing the time to recover from your surgery now can cause more problems down the road that can further interfere with your ability to work for even longer periods. I don't know the recommended timelines for activity for your surgery....your surgeon put the suture in and has first hand knowledge of your anatomy and tissue quality and can help you determine the safest course of action as you tell him exactly what is physically involved in detailing. Other factors, such as diabetes and chronic steroid use can affect wound healing as well and have to be accounted for. Hang in there......

[SamIam]

You do NOT want to restart earlly. I had a similar minor operation, microssurgery and they stuffed mesh in to hold things in place, and told me I would be back in 2 weeks. At the end of 2 weeks, I didn't feel bad, so I played in a golf tournament previously scheduled. After about 6 holes, I was hitting it like something out of "The Natural" ending up on 1 knee because of the pain.

I ended up setting myself up for another 2 weeks of recovery.

I'd call the doc and wait.

[Rollman]

Originally Posted by SamIam

You do NOT want to restart earlly. I had a similar minor operation, microssurgery and they stuffed mesh in to hold things in place, and told me I would be back in 2 weeks. At the end of 2 weeks, I didn't feel bad, so I played in a golf tournament previously scheduled. After about 6 holes, I was hitting it like something out of "The Natural" ending up on 1 knee because of the pain.

I ended up setting myself up for another 2 weeks of recovery.

I'd call the doc and wait.

Originally Posted by mtwedt

Gary,
Do not return to work without discussing with your surgeon the recommended activity levels for your surgery. It is dangerous and inappropriate to use pain meds to tolerate pain while doing activities that can damage suture lines. Your ability to tolerate pain is not the relevant issue here. The ability of the various layers of sutures to withstand pulling, twisting and torque until the tissues are healed is. If you do activity that is not advised by you surgeon, you tear suture lines and there are several in there that you cannot see. In your particular case, there are suture lines closing peritoneum, muscle, omentum, subcutaneous tissue and then the skin. The reason you feel like you were shot in the gut is particularly related to the muscle layer that was cut when your hernia was repaired. Many people don't realize that our ability to stand, twist, bend, lift, hold heavier objects and support the back utilize abdominal muscles. Not investing the time to recover from your surgery now can cause more problems down the road that can further interfere with your ability to work for even longer periods. I don't know the recommended timelines for activity for your surgery....your surgeon put the suture in and has first hand knowledge of your anatomy and tissue quality and can help you determine the safest course of action as you tell him exactly what is physically involved in detailing. Other factors, such as diabetes and chronic steroid use can affect wound healing as well and have to be accounted for. Hang in there......

Gary
I hope you litsten to all this good advice . I know your livelihood depends on your getting back to work but take it slow . Get well and rest up.
Regards
Jerry

[DaGonz]

Gary... better to take your doctor's advice now than to reinjure yourself and need more surgery later!

[turbomangt]

I guess you guys are right, I go back next Thurs, will see what the Doc says. I didn't know they cut through muscle tissue also. Gary

[a.k.a. Patrick]

Wise decision Gary, you'll recuperate, just be patient....Just like auto care, wise decisions reep better dividends....

[mtwedt]

Originally Posted by turbomangt

I guess you guys are right, I go back next Thurs, will see what the Doc says. I didn't know they cut through muscle tissue also. Gary

Good decision, Gary. An oversight on my part; I didn't ask what type of hernia you had repaired.....that could affect any incision of the muscle layer.....hernias can be inguinal, ventral or umbilical. I think there is entry through the muscle layer in the repair of all of these, but it has been a long time since I did any work with this....I do cardiac surgery, so I stay north of the diaphragm and south of the clavicles. Still, I would not change my recommendation to you or any one who has surgery. It pays to work with the people who did the surgery and invest the time up front in doing it properly......MTwedt