Hernia surgery

I had open inguinal hernia surgery on my left side yesterday.  I'm wondering if others here have had that and what their symptoms after were and recovery.

For me, a little more than 24 hours now, I'm comfortable, but achy while sitting in a recliner or in bed, but I get a sharp stabbing pain, like a needle is being jabbed into me right where my left leg ligament joins my pelvic bone just under the scrote.  I get that pain when I stand up and put weight on my left foot, as in walking to the bath room.  I also have a burning/needle pain at that spot and at the incision when urinating.  I can only relax my bladder and let 'er dribble. If I try to force a stream, it burns and stings worse. 
I'm taking Percocet (Oxycodone/Acetaminophien 5/325) 2 tablets (10mg/650mg) every 4 hours.  Oxycodone is generic for  Oxycontin.  10mg 6 times a day is the max dose allowed.  Oxycodone is an opiate.  However, it's having almost zero effect on me.  I got up this morning at 7am and haven't even felt the need for a nap.  I've been catching up on my reading, researching a new cell phone provider, talking on the phone to my dad and other academic tasks.  My wife says I am able to carry on easy and intelligent conversation, and that the 'euphoric' mood an opiate should put me in, isn't. In fact, I'm a bit hyper if anything she says.  I wonder if the pain would be that much more severe if I wasn't to take it at all.  I can't 'test' that because everything I've read says that it's hard to bring pain back into control compared to maintaining a steady dose of medication for control. 

Anyways,,,
Anyone else had the surgery and can let me know what their symptoms and recovery was like as well as any reactions to pain medications?

Also, is anyone aware of the differences between Percocet, generically known as oxycodone, and Vicodin, generically known as hydrocodone?  My adverse reaction with Vicodin in the past has been disturbing nightmares.  With Oxcodone I've been itchy and dry-mouth. 

Thanks!!

Sorry to hear that man, be careful with them polls bro😉 they do make you feel really good and can be really addictive. I was hooked on that shit in no time. I have been off that shit for over 2 month now and looking healthy again. Heal up bro

Thanks for sharing that with me ginoltk.  I wish they would give me some relief but it doesn't seem to be taking much of the edge off the pain.  I think perhaps my body metabolizes morphine type drugs differently than most.  I was given some to relax me for a vasectomy years ago when I was shaking like a peach leaf in fear.  Doc had the nurse give me a second dose.  Nether one did anything for me.  Afterwards I demonstrated to the doc by standing on one foot, closing my eyes, leaning back and with outstretched arms, touched my finger to my nose.

Other than itching and dry mouth, I feel no effects.  I thought it might relax or make me drowsy at least. 
Can you tell me what effects I should be aware of or feeling with that dose?  I'm cutting back to half that dose starting right now just to see if they are reducing the pain I'm feeling now with this dosage. 

If something dosen't feel right make sure to tell the doctor. And have it documented in your records that you told him of symptoms. I had a friend who hasn't recovered from his hernia surgery. The doc used a mesh my friend was complaining about the extra pain doc said it was normal. this went on for almost a year. Turned out something with the mesh was causing some major scaring. He used to race cars and set them up. He was like semi pro. He can't do that anymore. The last time I talked to him he was going to try. after his surgery to repair the dammage. If the first doctor would have been more concerned about his complaint maybe he would not of had all the scaring. You might be able to bring up the company and problem with mesh as there is a big major class action suite. As my friend wasn't the only one to have this happen to. Sorry I don't mean to scare you. Just want uyou to be aware and let doc know as soon as possible to document this stuff.     

I would consult with the doc if its not doing any comfort or relief from the pain. If you have not taken any narcotic on a regular basis the 2 pill should help but everyone is different. I don't want to to make suggestion here on the dosage for I will not do that cuz that one extra pill can make you od. I almost od a few times and that was not a very good experience. All I can say is talk to your doctor or just smoke some pot, I smoked a few time when I was detoxing on the pills.

Vicodin does nothing for me. I have Oxycodone but rarely take it. When I do I'll take 2 then 2 more about 4 hours later. That usually gets me through the day, then I will go months w/o it.
I still have about 60% of a script I got last January.
I know that I was given Diloudid (sp?) for kidney stones and I was instantly on cloud 9. Took the pain away at the snap of a finger. It was right then I realized how people can become addicted to drugs. It was a great feeling, but no way would I want to duplicate it for fun. The consequences scare the crap out of me.
Hope you find what works Jerry. Wishin' you a speedy recovery.

No worries about me taking any more than prescribed, I'm quite the tea-totaller when it comes to anything that way.   I'm more concerned with the Acetaminophen in the compound.  325mg x 2 pills 6 times a day is  3900mg a day.  The max dosage is 4000 a day.  The stuff isn't addictive, it's TOXIC!  It can poison me and damage my liver.  I'm sure the government is conservative on those dosages but still, I am alert to it.   

Thanks Tote!
I hope I'm able to make the crab-n-chill next month.  I have the reservation and everything!  Well, I know I'll be there, maybe just not on the water.  Those Pro Anglers weigh a LOT!!  ha! 

You might be able to bring up the company and problem with mesh as there is a big major class action suite. As my friend wasn't the only one to have this happen to. Sorry I don't mean to scare you. Just want uyou to be aware and let doc know as soon as possible to document this stuff.   

I was aware of and discussed it with my surgeon during the consultation.  He told me he uses a mesh that he's been successful with on over 5,000 hernias he's performed with zero recur or revisits of repair.  He told me the recur rate is less than 1 in 100 statistically and probably less than 1 in 1000 for the mesh he uses. 

I asked him about Laparoscopic surgery; small incisions done via a camera.  He told me that it's too difficult to make sure the mesh has laid down correctly.  If a corner folds up, it ends up poking the tissues and causing something similar what your friend describes.  The mesh and muscle grows together into a real mess that way and very difficult to remove.  Do you know if your friend had that Laparoscopic surgery or not?

One thing he did tell me; that if there were any nerves that were at risk of being affected by the mesh, he ties them off and cuts them. It causes a small, dime-sized area to be numb but just about guarantees no aggravation to the tissues around it.  He assured me that it would affect my ability to have sex.  I told him my wife would either greatly appreciate that.... or not.  Ha!!   

Sounds like you have it handled. I never asked about the incision sight or type of surgery.   

Sounds like you have it handled. I never asked about the incision sight or type of surgery.

It would have scared the heck out of me if I hadn't and read your post.  Hopefully your concern enough to bring it up in this discussion will help others too.  I know as men, we tend to brush off our health, but maybe that's a reason wimmen out live us.  I'm quite sure I'll live longer married to a gal who takes good care of me.  I can't imagine how I'd be getting through this as a single guy on my own.   

Last December I had hernia repair surgery. It was laproscopic surgery and I got the mesh patch (no numbness or scaring btw). I quit taking Percoset after a few days then vicodin for a day or two (makes me jittery & constipated; not a good combo haha). I experienced a lot of the symptoms you described, despite having lapro instead of open surgery. Most pain went away after a month or so. Except when I forgot about it and did something akward or in a wierd position (like wrestling w/my son). A year later, I still feel the patch in there if I bend far to the left etc. I didn't paddle for about 3 months, and I fished freshwater first because it requires less core muscles. Honestly I was surprised how long it took to feel 100% again. But I couldn't paddle for about 6 months until I finally had the surgery...it was too painful. So it was worth it.

I had a right and then left side inguinial hernias repaired about 10 and 13 years ago.  Both were repaired with mesh, no problems since then (even lifting my PA with no problems).  I have 6" scars on both sides.  I found it easier to sit in my office chair as it was easier to get out of with the armrests compared to the couch or recliner.  I even slept in the chair the first few nights.  Very hard to get out of bed, easier to roll on your side and push up with arms and elbows.  I did not take any pain meds or aspirin as they did no good for me and they will make you constipated.  I carried a pillow around with me in case I had to sneeze or cough.  I tried not to watch comedies on the TV as if I laughed it would hurt like hell.  I think I was off for 5 or 6 weeks each time (Worker Comp covered both due to accumulative trauma).  Being an active guy the worst thing was not being able to do anything during the recovery time. 
I do remember the burning sensation but that has been gone for years. 
Four years ago I had laproscopic radical prostatectomy via a Da Vinci robot and they did that because of the mesh from the hernia repairs, they said they could not make the normal open incisions due to the mesh on both sides.  I healed up much faster from the laproscopic prostatectomy compared to the open incision surgeries of the hernias even though the laproscopic surgery was much more invasive. 
I will PM you some other information. 

Today I am feeling better.  Last night I quit taking the Percocet about 8pm and started taking ibuprofen about 4am.  The ibuprofen is doing as good a job as the percocet did for pain relief without the risk of getting too used to it.  I took 800mg of ibuprofen at 4am and again at 8am.  It's now after 3pm and haven't had to have any meds since.  I feel the pain and put a bag of frozen peas on the area for about 20 minutes and it goes away.  My head is much clearer and my appetite has returned.
It's slow healing I'm told, but I am making it to the can and back to the couch without nearly passing out any more!! 
I see the surgeon again on Thursday, hopefully for the last visit.  How many Dr. follow-ups are normally associated with hernia surgery anyways? 

Thanks for all the feedback and info from everyone who posted.  It's all greatly appreciated. 

Wishing you a speedy recovery.
Matt


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