Surgical Care Group

Patient Instructions for Inguinal Hernia

The doctor will check your medical history and may order tests that haven’t previously been done and blood work.
You may need to visit the hospital a few days prior to surgery to ensure that all the tests are done and to complete paperwork.

Do not eat anything after midnight the day before surgery.
Do not take blood thinning medication (such as Coumadin ) for at least 5 days prior to surgery, and be sure to ask us about this medication if your are taking it.
Take half of your usual dose of insulin. Do not take other medications to lower your blood sugar.
Take all other medicines you are currently on with sips of water.
Shower and shave as usual.

You will stay in the recovery area until you are completely awake. Once you are stable and completely alert, you will be given something to eat and drink.
Pain will be controlled with a local anesthetic injected during surgery and will be supplemented with medicine as needed, but expect some discomfort.
Usually hernia repairs are done as outpatient procedures. You should be able to go home the same day.
You will need someone to drive you home when you are discharged.

Resume your usual activities, including walking and climbing stairs, as you feel able.
You may resume your usual diet.
Pain medication often causes constipation and you may require a mild laxative, such as Milk of Magnesia, or a stool softener such as Colace. Drink plenty of fluids.
You may resume sexual activity whenever you choose.
Do not lift more than a gallon of milk (about 8 pounds) until you are seen in the office and your physician tells you otherwise.
You should not drive until you are pain free, off medication, and confident that you can handle a car under all driving conditions.
Your return to work depends upon how you feel and your job requirements. Most patients return to work within one week after surgery.
You should see us in the office about 10 to 14 days after your surgery.

You may remove the outer dressings 24 to 48 hours after surgery. At this time, you may shower.
There will be small tape strips over your incisions. Leave these in place. It is okay if they get wet or fall off.
If your incision(s) are dry, leave them open to the air. If you have drainage from the incisions, place a dry dressing over them.
If your clothing rubs on any incision and is irritating, place a dry dressing over it.
It is common to have some swelling in the scrotum and around the incision(s). It is also common to have some bruising or purple discoloration in these areas and in the penis. This will go away over time.

You should continue on the medications you were on prior to surgery. You will also be given narcotic pain pills. You should try to wean yourself off them as soon as possible.
The narcotics are also constipating so you should take a mild laxative or stool softener if you need one.