Laparoscopy hernia repair

Just had a laparoscopy hernia repair a couple of weeks ago. Recovery time is wayyyy better than 'open' surgical method. I could not believe I did not need any hydrocodones prescribed to me, just a few ibuprofens several days later for anti-inflammatory & testicle swelling. Small but pleasant bonus: getting testicles examined by general surgeon then a resident assisting surgeon before and after surgery. Anyone have laparascopy hernia repair care to swap details?

I haven't had that procedure. What did it involve? What pre-op and post-op instructions did you receive? I have heard that hernia repair causes the testicles to swell and bruise but am not sure why. Any instructions about how to prevent that or treat it afterwards?

The pre-op was pretty easy, nothing to eat/drink the night before, very little over the counter pain meds one week prior to surgery. Post op: no lifting over 10 pounds for 3 weeks, steri-strips would fall off wounds in ten days by themselves, wait one or two days after surgery to shower or bathe, take prescribed pain meds as needed, take it easy for a few days, no driving while on pain meds. Yes, one of my testicles started swelling a day or two after surgery...as well as bruising started to appear on both testicles and penis 2 or 3 days after surgery and bruising slowly dissipates two weeks post-surgery. The only treatment suggested in the post-op instructions were to take over the counter anti-inflammatory meds, and call the 24-hour surgeon-on-duty in case of any pain that would not subside with their prescribed pain meds, as well as any bleeding, fever, etc. I received two pre-op exams day of surgery. One from chief surgeon and one from resident surgeon, separately. Both involved turn head & cough and testicle palpation.

After vasectomies, wearing a jockstrap is highly recommended. Nothing like that for your post-op?

Thanks for info I'm not sure if hernias are heredity but several family members have had hernias and I am concerned about getting 1 myself. In fact I have had a couple episodes with pain in the groin and had to lay down for awhile to recover. They are so infrequent that I wonder if it is 1 starting or not. My NP checked me last year and results were negative but my yearly physical is coming up next week and am curious if she will check again.

The lapa method sounds so much better than what my dad went through. He was out most of the summer after his

Lapo is the way to go...unless it's an emergency because of a strangulated bowel, etc., AND also unless you're a masochist, there is the "open procedure," which I had done on the opposing side of my groin several years ago. The open procedure left me sore for WEEKS, painful to walk, sit up, sit down, getting into bed, rolling around in bed, getting out of bed, etc., etc.

I had a CT scan done before this latest surgery to confirm it was an inguinal hernia. In surgery, the surgeons (surgeon in charge and resident doctor) discovered I had a "sliding inguinal hernia" and then put mesh in. It was very interesting & informative to read the medical file on-line a couple of days after surgery, and the detail they described... palpating testes, etc. I will have a ton of questions at my follow up with surgeon next month. What is a "sliding hernia?" How big is mesh? Where exactly is it? Why did I start bruising & testicle swelling two days after surgery rather than right after surgery? Do you enjoy medical play exams? (just kiddin), etc..

Oh yes, they gave me a free large-size jock strap to wear. I wore it for a couple of hours two days after surgery, but I felt much more comfortable wearing my somewhat loose boxer briefs and basketball shorts. I asked the recovery nurse if I could keep the cloth gown as a momento of the awesome care I received that day. I washed the footies, gown & jock and placed them in a drawer.

@Jon2: if you're having pains, ask your doctor to order a CT scan for you to confirm exactly what is ailing you. Please let me know what your physical confirms.