Follow Up Surgery Appt

Today I had the follow up post operation appointment with my surgeon Doctor Schwaitzberg. It was a very positive meeting after a somewhat hour long wait in his examination room. He said I was healing slowly but surely and he was very pleased with my progress. During his examination of the surgery site he could find no signs of any problems. He had a resident student with him for my examination.

I had my list of questions and comments I brought with me and at some point I brought it out and said I had some questions. He smiled and said "Fire Away". He was very thorough with his answers and comments. I brought up the issues with the hernia mesh that Eric was having with his repeat of his hernia surgery and the doctor went into great detail about the quality and different types of meshes. He assured me mine was good. It also turns out he wrote a book about hernia surgeries and wrote a chapter on the use of the mesh. He really went into the medical school teaching mode.

I left the office feeling everything was going to be OK and I was on the way to mending. The rest of the bandage/sutures will come off on their own.

We had a little trouble finding a parking space in the ramp this time. It was a good thing we left a little early for the 2 pm appointment. We found a spot on the 4th level. When we left to go home around 3:40 the ramp had cleared out significantly. Passed lots of empty spots while driving down the ramps to the exit gate.

Some questions and comments I prepared ahead of time

• How long will the pain around the incision last.
• I've been taking a lot of tylenol... about 8 pills a day. 350 mg pills. 
• Take up to 4,000 mg a day... 12 pills.
• Hydrocodone - 1 pill every 6 hours. Stopped Thursday, 2 left of the 12 pills.
• How long taking Polyethylene Glycol Mira-Lax, I stopped on Friday.
• Took the bandage off on Wednesday.
• I've had some bruising in my groin area including my penis and scrotum.
• Inguinal Hernia - protruding from the abdominal wall to the scrotum.
• Lot of online research into scrotum hernia.
• Succinylcholine Allergy - Malignant Hyperthermia
• Trouble sleeping after stopping the hydrocodone. Wake up at night with pain.
• Can only sleep on my back, no sleeping on sides especially the right side.
• How long should I wear the jock support. How much of the time, I've been taking it off at night
• Got a new support strap online to replace the one given to me at the hospital which had metal clips that caused discomfort.
• I was wearing the hernia pressure belt before the surgery. Should I wear it again later.
• I can walk around with little pain or discomfort, sitting down feels better. Laying down is usually painful.
• I could be sitting and feeling comfortable but when I stand up there is some serious pain for a few moments.
• There is still pain around the incision and the area to the right.
• Have there been ongoing issues with the quality of the hernia mesh
• Pain when coughing... smoke in the air, pollen.
• How long to stop lifting anything... 10 lb, 2 weeks
• How often should I keep using an icepack on the incision area
• Going on vacation in the Adirondacks in early July with family including grandchildren
• Should I use a heating pad
• When can I exercise, go for walks
• Get back to PT for hip, spine and leg issues