Advice Needed - Post-Op Recovery After Hernia and Reversal Surgery

I have developed a hernia from coughing through COVID. I'm having reversal surgery in a few months and am nervous about post-op recovery. Anyone have advice?

Hello

I suggest you practice 'reverse breathing' BEFORE you go in for surgery - [Guys apparently - according to my surgeons - find this easier than females - BUT IT IS WORTH GETTING THE HANG OF - took me the best part of 8 hours to learn in ITU - BUT IT IS VERY WORTHWHILE DOING ONCE YOU FINALLY GET THE HANG OF IT - it saves no end of lung complications - because the last thing you want with a post-surgical hang is a collapsed lung - BEST TO BE FORTIFIED AND READY TO DEAL WITH THE WEAKNESS. GET YOUR GP / NURSING TEAM TO ENSURE YOU KNOW HOW TO DO IT - PRACTICE IT]

CHECK WITH YOUR GP - because of the covid first - as I have no experience of covid/long covid - AND I AM NOT A MEDIC -

SO PLEASE DO NOT TAKE THIS SUGGESTION BEFORE YOU HAVE CHECKED WITH YOUR OWN MEDICAL DOCTORS

[what worked for me may not be appropriate for you]

BUT DO ASK - because, I found it difficult to learn/perfect when I most needed it - IT WOULD HAVE BEEN SO MUCH EASIER FOR ME HAD I KNOWN ABOUT REVERSE BREATHING AND HAD PRACTICED IT AND BECOME PROFICIENT before my surgery!

TAKE CARE - AND check it out - NO POINT IN STRESSING IF THERE IS A POTENTIAL PRE-PREP WHICH MAY HELP

but promise to check with your doctor first

CHEERS

JAYNE

PS sorry about the caps - just seen them! - but sending as is

waves from the hills

Thanks very much for your advice. I'll try it. 

Mags

Hi Rocky, I had my reversal on November 15. The recovery from surgery was real for sure and not terribly different than the recovery from the ileostomy surgery but without having to get used to the new life of living with the pouch. You'll have to take it slow for a while, not lift things, be careful getting in and out of bed, etc., for the first week or two. Go slow with introducing foods as your system will be waking up both from the surgery and from not being in use for the time that you had the ostomy. Be really conscientious about hydrating and get yourself going walking as much as is comfortable each day. I had a hernia too from coughing going into the surgery and they were able to repair it as part of the reversal. I worry that I may have reinjured it through coughing again, but will find out more when I have a routine CT scan this Friday.

Everyone is different of course, but I have been very encouraged by my new reality post-reversal. I am able to eat everything at this point, have fully regained my strength and while I have to use the bathroom 3-5 times a day, I have excellent control, have had no accidents and not much urgency. Others have had a much harder time I know, but it can be encouraging to hear some positive stories as well. I am fully back at work, taking long walks with my dog in the woods, going out to dinner, seeing friends and living a pretty normal and manageable life. I hope you have as easy a time as possible with the experience as well. Now that I am through all the stages of treatment that started more than a year ago, I am finally feeling like myself again, though still processing the overall trauma of it all. Will be thinking of you.

Rich

Thank you for sharing your story. It really helps to hear others' perspectives and recovery. I'm scared but trying to put it aside. 
Have a great year 🎊

Words of Encouragement from Ostomy Advocates I Hollister