Hernia operation experiences

[tobee]

My dad is 87, had a small heart attack in 2020, bit frail now but not outrageously.

Anyone, the time has come for him to have an operation to repair his hernia (abdominal) and has a date for day surgery end of July. I'm slated to help with driving him there and picking him up. Just wondering what I'm likely to expect, how I can help etc. He lives in normal housing with my mum who is nearly 86 and finds walking difficult etc.

Any idea how my dad is likely to be when I pick him up? Im imagining I'll need to use one of the hospital wheelchairs to get him to the car etc.

I can only speak from the experience of fit adult. Relative had hernia op a few years back.
I believe it was repaired using mesh- he has an incision in very similar place as cc is being done.
Operation was done under GA,he was out on the same day.
Obviously it’s abdominal operation so no driving for 6 weeks,lifting and so on They expect you to move around straight away.

As for help- not really sure how reliant your parents are on outside help, I’d do washing,shopping and a bit of cooking.

Is he having it done as a daycase, at his age he might find it takes it out of him especially if he has a general anaesthetic. Dont let them insist he comes home until he feels ready. My family member was told he would recover quickly and would only need paracetamol which wasnt true, he did have pain and found it very uncomfortable for about a week. He may get a bit constipated from being nil by mouth and the painkillers so he might need to get something for that. He needs to avoid lifting, hoovering, mowing the lawn etc. Gentle exercise is good for him.

Is there any way you can stay the night ?
He might need help going to the loo as he will be suffering the effects of the GA for at least 24 hours.

My dad had two hernia ops inbetween lockdowns and a similar age to yours. First time they discharged him on the day, he was fine getting home as I think he was still high on painkillers. Next day was a different story, he reacted badly to the painkillers he'd been given to take at home, was sick, and was generally in shock I think. He became quite confused as well. I live 300 miles away but had arranged to come up and stay (despite my parents saying I wasn't needed). My poor mum was quite relieved to see me when I arrived, having had the doctor out that morning because she was so worried. Changed painkillers and he was much better, was difficult for him to get out of bed for fear of pain but once up he could get about gingerly. I stayed for about 5 days but was more there as a helping hand, company and reassurance for them.

Second op was much better, they kept him in for observation overnight, and he recovered faster (no issues with medication this time).

How your dad responds will partly be down to his current fitness etc. My dad wasn't hugely active and when the painkillers wore off I think the shock hit him a bit and he definitely needed looking after initially. I was quite annoyed they'd not kept him in the first time. Hope everything goes as well as possible for your dad, it's definitely a relief to have had the op done!

My dad was in his late 70's when he had a hernia op. He was supposed to come home that evening but he was so knocked out by the GA he ended up staying the night.

Dad was always, always a gentleman. Never said anything even remotely smutty. But the evening of his op when I had phoned to see if he was ready to come home the nurse told me that he would be staying the night and gave him the phone to speak to me:

Me: "So you're not coming home tonight then dad?"

Dad: "Well there's a rather attractive little blond bit come on duty and if she's looking after me I'll stay as long as they'll have me!"

He had sobered up and was back to normal when he came home the next morning. He was quite tender and it took a month or so before he could drive or walk the dog but he felt fine.