Epigastrc Hernia

It has been eleven days since I had an epigastrc hernia repair and wonder if I did the right thing. Light tasks with no pulling, pushing or lifting over 10 pounds; no vacuuming, or mopping and careful with laundry, for the next 4 weeks. I have an abdominal binder to wear for 6 weeks and I can understand that. I am plagued with ‘stitch in the side’ feelings in 4 places where the mesh has been attached. If I don’t wear the binder, these feelings intensify, and the feeling of my tummy pulling the stitches out. I eat too much and the pain moving is intolerable. I was able to sleep in semi comfort, on my side last night, with the binder on of course, and a heavy pain pill to put me under. Turning in bed is murder, as is getting in and out of bed at times. I have felt like a beached whale some mornings as it has taken me 20 minutes to get up. I cannot put proper socks on and am wearing heavy wool socks as they just slip on my feet. I cannot pick things up off the floor and getting down on the floor is another story. I can get down, but not back up. I drove yesterday and that was a big mistake. It is not safe.

I have had an egg sized lump on my abdomen for 7 or 8 years. Eight months or so ago, it became an ostrich size lump, I saw the doctor about it and finally received an ultra sound at the end of June. July 20^th and the doctor tells me that it is not that serious, but if it bothers me, we can get it dealt with. Does it bother me? The lawnmower handle bothers it when I walk into it, and I know it is there when I cough and eat. The next day I receive a call from the surgeon, to see him on Friday, for a diagnosis of what to do.

I finished tidying up the garden on Thursday. Friday, I finished up some bill stuff before going to CR for the 11 o’clock surgeon appointment. It was explained that some people have a small membrane between their rib cage and others have a larger membrane. The latter being my case, the fatty tissue over the bowel had broken through, so it was up to me if I wanted it done, and when. I presumed the sooner the better, if it was that serious, because of winter and more chores with wood cutting. It was now a waiting game for the phone call to say it was scheduled. I was given tons of information and when I got home, I figured I had better start making things ‘easier’ right now because this could happen in the next few days to a few months. The next week would be great I thought, as BC would be home and I could rest for a few days, but, on the other hand, I was hoping it would happen when he was away. I also realized there was a lab requisition that I should have dealt with in CR, which would mean yet one more 150 km round trip.