What to prepare...

DH is going into hospy for a Hernia op on the 10th. As abdominal surgery I figure many ladies who have had a CS can in some way understand better than I will what his limitations will be, the pain he will be in and how I can best prepare for the days after his op. So using that as the basis, what should I do to get ready?

He is the only one here with an open licence - how long do you think he should avoid getting behind the wheel?
We are in walking distance of a small IGA, but not a decent shopping centre.
Its also a fortnight before christmas! Will I be able to get him to take me out for that last minute xmas shopping??
We are picking up the kinds new puppy a couple of days before hand... is that going to cause an issue I should be considering?

Heaven help me, I will have 6 kids to look after, 4 to get off to school and a post-op DH to look after! How can I make all this as easy as possible?

All Ideas very very very welcome!

Ouch that doesn't sound like fun Inertia! I've had a laparoscopy where I was driving again after 2 weeks. Also had my appendix out when 17 weeks pregnant with DS and avoided driving for about a month just because being pregnant I wanted to take it really easy. After my c/s I didn't drive for the "standard" 6 weeks because well I wanted to recover well and also because it wasn't covered on my insurance if I drove and had an accident.

I think the hardest part after each abdominal surgery is just moving around. I found the lap and appendectomy the sorest and hardest to move because they cut through different muscles - my main tummy muscles. The c/s was sore and hurt when I moved but not as much because they cut through my lower transverse tummy muscle.

I think it really depends how he is feeling afterwards whether or not he can drive and best to check with the doctor (and your insurance). I know that after my ops the best thing I did was get up often and walk around and keep moving. Just walking around the house helped me heal faster. It really hurts the first few times, but as you move more it becomes easier and is good for you.

I'm not sure what they do in a hernia op but it might be similar, after my lap I had shoulder pain from the gas they inserted in my tummy. It helps to lie down. It is more painful sitting up because the gas bubble moves upwards trying to escape and presses on your diaphram.

I'd try and get some chrissy shopping done beforehand so you're not stressing out at the last minute. But yeah, get him up and moving (gently walking around the house) sooner rather than later as this will really help.

Thanks for the heads up on the insurance there, Eluned. Never even gave it an inkling of thought!

With the hernia, they are not so much as cutting any muscle, its already "torn". They are repairing it. We have requested and the surgeon agreed to the mesh method which is where they place a type of mesh over the tear that he muscles grow around as it uses more of the stomach muscles to hold the tear closed rather than stitching the already damaged muscle together. The mesh has a much smaller failure rate so we did that to try and make it so he only has to go through this once.

I figured I would need to consider all the xmas shopping on this f/n and the f/n following. We have some rather large presents to collect and obviously I am not going to be wanting to cart them around on my own.

I don't think it will be much hassle to get him walking. It will be preventing him from trying to do too much. One of my main concerns is he does something silly and busts his stitches. With my BII phobia I will be useless if he does.

Thanks so much for the help. Its really appreciated.

My DH had keyhole surgery for a hernia a week before DD2 was due. He was off that arvo, (You'll need someone to drive him home) & for 2 - 3 days I had to help him up & down, but after that he was pretty much ok. He wasn't working at the time, so didn't go back to work, but he probably could've in a week physically. & thats with a physical job.
I'd say with in a week he should be pretty ok. Almost back to normal, maybe with some tenderness where they make the incision, but thats about it :)
HTH

my dps dad had a hernia repair a few weeks ago. he wasnt able to move properly for a week, he was advised not to drive for a week to 10 days and because his job is heavy lifting his boss kept him off for 6 weeks. hope this helps and if you want anything else answered im happy to help xxxx

ok, so DH has had his op and it was a great success.. has a belly button again, it was all good...

Then 3 weeks ago I saw his scar and part of it was inflamed and a hot angry red. I looked at the incision scar and it was an off lemon colour. I said to him to go see a doctor coz its infected. He told me he had his follow up appointment the next day and will talk to the doctor about it. Sounded good so let it go.. Anyway, next day he gets back from the doctors and this surgeon tells him "its just the skin reacting to the stitches underneath. nothing to worry about". I accept that despite my resevations. Naturally they are proven right the very next day. The incision has come apart and it is weeping pus. I had a trip to QLD booked for the next day so I put some betadine on it and told him to look after it... Guess he didnt because 3 weeks later its still weeping pus - now off lemon with a green tinge. Hasnt seen a doctor, hasnt even been looking at it!!!!! MEN!

I plan on belting it on the head tomorrow with some Manuka Honey but I was wondering if anyone else has any tricks for clearing up infections in surgical incisions?

Thanks ladies.

My mum would swear by getting a dog to lick it..antibacterial tongues or wotnot...

I however would suggest a salt bath, which is gonna be pretty painful, or dettol/betadine and a new dressing. Let us know what happens!

PS - I've missed you around :hug:

Most definitely get it seen by a doctor - he will probably need a course or two of antibiotics, they may need to do an ultrasound to check whether there is any infection behind the wound. Please this needs to be taken seriously, even a small bacterial infection site can bring a healthy grown man down...he does NOT want to spend several months getting the wound cleaned and packed every day, which is a possibility if it comes on. Healthy tissue *can* die. The green colour in particular is a worry. Wound care is really important.

I'd be seeing a dr now. Don't wait, it'll get nasty & it will turn into more than just a tiny scar.
Goodluck...