The Dogmother Posted August 31, 2011 Share Posted August 31, 2011 The Boy is due in for a hernia repair today, he seems pretty relaxed about it. I am due to collect him from High Wycombe hospital after work today to bring him up here to stay with me for a few days. He lives with his folks on their farm; his mum is recovering from a broken hip and their cottage has very steep stairs with a downstairs bathroom, both are quite deaf too, so if he needed anything in the night, they'd never hear him so hardly ideal. At least up here he will have Rosie around most of the time and he just 5 mins away. The question is... from experience, what sort of recovery time can he expect and how long until he's able to drive again? When not working as an illustrator he delivers luxury performance cars, so really needs to be able to drive soonest. I don't want him to push it too much Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted August 31, 2011 Share Posted August 31, 2011 A surgeon with whom I am acquainted advises that usually 10 days for driving but best thing is for him to sit in car when it feels comfortable and ram foot on brake as for emergency stop. If that is comfortable and does not cause pain over hernia scar, then he is fit to drive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted August 31, 2011 Author Share Posted August 31, 2011 Thanks Egluntyne, that's what I advised him. My understanding is that it takes longer to get over the anaesthetic than the actual op. It can be a very long day when he's out driving, so I am hoping that some illustration work (home-based) comes in before then so that he can recover more fully while still earning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scarlettohara Posted August 31, 2011 Share Posted August 31, 2011 It can be quite painful (had someone in over the weekend for out of hours gp in quite a bit of pain) so make sure you leave hospital with pain relief Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted August 31, 2011 Author Share Posted August 31, 2011 Thanks, i will make sure that he has plenty when I collect him. I have some Diclofenac at home anyway - he's not one to suffer in silence so I'll know if he needs pain relief. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted August 31, 2011 Share Posted August 31, 2011 It depends where it is, keyhole or open repair and whether it is a recurring hernia as to how long to refrain from anything manual. Most hernia ops though do only need a week or so of rest. If you want to PM me the specifics I can get some more info for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted August 31, 2011 Share Posted August 31, 2011 Men it will take full 10 days - women 5 at least - we are better with pain, stoic and determined - sorry chaps tis true. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keyhole kate Posted August 31, 2011 Share Posted August 31, 2011 OH has had both side repaired he does a heavy lifting job so was signed off for some weeks he was far worse with the anasthetic than the surgery Men are such lightweights Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirstine Posted August 31, 2011 Share Posted August 31, 2011 He should be given written advice on what to do when by the hospital. My DH had a hernia repair a week ago today, and the advice was that he could drive when he was safe and comfortable to do an emergency stop, and that this would probably take about a week, but might be up to a fortnight. He had a little spin in the car yesterday evening. The area that the hospital were a bit vague on was wound care, but we have been conservative as they gave us loads of dressings. DH needed painkillers for a couple of days, but has been fine since then - I think he is happier with a bit of discomfort as he doesn't want to overdo it, and does want to feel if he has pushed it too much. I'd second the fact that the anaesthetic caused more problems - he wasn't allowed out of hospital the first night and reacted quite badly to his first post-op cigarette! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted August 31, 2011 Share Posted August 31, 2011 my dad had two repaired last November and he said that any pain from the op was nothing compared with the pain that the hernias caused, which he coped with for a few years and said it was lovely when it stopped He is a restless spirit and lives in a remote area so was driving within a few days and back hill walking within a fortnight. My FIL had his done a couple of months later and made more of a meal of it, but that is his nature, and he is 10 years older. Be guided by how he feels and common sense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted September 1, 2011 Author Share Posted September 1, 2011 Thanks Guys I collected him last night, which (as you'd expect) took ages as they'd lost his drugs and the doctor to sign him out. Got back to my place about 10pm, he was in a lot of pain but I managed to get him upstairs and into bed with a piece of toast, hot chocolate and a warm codeine phosphate. He'd drunk a lot of water yesterday evening as they couldn't discharge him until he'd spent a penny, so we were up and down all night with him staggering to the bathroom. He's tucked up at my place now with instructions to drink plenty and move around. Rosie is around to keep an eye on him and I'm only 5 mins run away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubereglu Posted September 1, 2011 Share Posted September 1, 2011 Let us know how he's getting on Clare, as Dad is due to have a hernia op in a few weeks too. Apparently he will not be able to drive for a week afterwards, as he won't be insured? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted September 1, 2011 Author Share Posted September 1, 2011 I understand that car insurance can depend on the depth of the repair Liz He's managing the pain much better today and is up and about in between rests - I'm a firm believer that being active helps. He's stiff and in a fair amount of pain today but I've shown him how to combine the various painkillers he has and it's better this afternoon, apparently. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted September 1, 2011 Share Posted September 1, 2011 Have you dosed him up with arnica? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted September 1, 2011 Author Share Posted September 1, 2011 Yup I told him to walk down the garden in the sun this afternoon, that'll perk him up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
