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Interested to hear from anyone out there who has had a hernia op and how they recovered. I had open op and a mesh inserted. Doc told me I could drive within 10 days. I had the op nearly 3 weeks ago have trouble walking for 5 minutes. They told me 4-6 weeks off the bike. At this rate it will be a lot more. It's driving me mad (and is still painful) so hoping for some STWM advice before I go stir crazy and turn into a lump of lard
I had one earlier this year. Although my op was keyhole. I managed to start some light cycling on the turbo after a week and was back cycling outdoors after 3 weeks with no ill effects. Hope you are able to get back on your bike soon.
Jeez, thanks Austenb, I had the chance for keyhole and considered it but didn't go for it as it was NHS and they would have had to reschedule the op and I didn't want to wait another x months. If ever I have to again............
I had an old fashioned repair years ago - open you up and stitch you back together, After 3 weeks I felt fine.
I suggest its back to the docs to be checked. Sounds a bit slow recovery to me
nacho - MemberJeez, thanks Austenb, I had the chance for keyhole and considered it but didn't go for it as it was NHS and they would have had to reschedule the op and I didn't want to wait another x months. If ever I have to again............
*Bangs head on wall*
You took an open op private rather than a keyhole NHS? Thats a painful lesson for you
yes I know, silly with hindsight, unfortunatley I had no idea and they told me the risks were the same just a bit of a difference in recovery time but if I wanted keyhole they had to rescedule. I had been waiting 5 months. I have just found a website where it seems quite a few people having the same issue as me
I had surgery on my hernia (just above the navel) nearly three weeks ago. I didn't cycle for the first two weeks, then two days of 40 mins each on the turbo trainer, with a gentle 35 mile ride last weekend. Feeling ok, cycling doesn't aggravate it really, though doc said take it easy for another couple of weeks (no big hills), and no lifting the children. Definitely no problem walking after the first five or six days though, so perhaps it's worth getting checked out? Mine was a simple slice & stitch job, no mesh, as it was quite small apparently.
Had the same op 5 years ago & was walking fine after 3 weeks. gentle jogs & road bike after 5 weeks, & back on the mountain bike after a couple of months.
seem to remember reading stuff at the time about people having a lot quicker recovery times than me though.
From seeing my doc to operation was 3 months to the day. I was told it would be keyhole and they did open surgery instead.
The first week after the op was a struggle, as I was shuffling round like an old codger. I left it 10 days till I drove as instructed and even then found it a bit painfull.
I was signed off for 3 weeks by the hospital, even though they said it would be 2 (not that I complained, but my manager did - tough!), although I did get my certificate extended another week as an hours commute either way and flying a desk all day was too uncomfortable.
I didn't get back on a bike till about 8 weeks after my op, even though I had been given the OK to start riding again post 6 weeks when I was discharged as an out-patient. I aimed to do a gradual return fitness programme as my fitness level had vanished and then went through a falling off phase which really did my confidence a load of good.
8 months on the 'hernia area' does feel a bit uncomfortable now and again, but I take a weeks rest and I'm fine.
Hope you recover soon!
Cheers all. It was worse than I expected and that the doc's / info provided made out but seems like it's not just me. Looks like I'll be off the bike for a while 🙁 but there is light at the end of the tunnel 🙂
Had a repair carried out after lifting one too many rolls of lead. I went through a phase of worrying about tearing the stitches. All good now though 🙂