If you have recently discovered that you need to have hernia surgery, it is time to learn about how to prepare for the upcoming procedure. Before the day of surgery, your surgeon will perform a comprehensive medical exam to evaluate your health and review your medical history. In some situations, patients are required to undergo additional testing and x-rays depending on the severity of the hernia. After all of the testing is complete, your doctor will sit with you and explain the different risks and benefits that are associated with the procedure based on your exam. Make sure that you are armed with questions for your doctor and do not be hesitate to ask questions if you do not understand. Understanding the procedure you're about to undergo is important so that you can relax your body as much as possible.

Make sure that you explain to your doctor fully about all of the prescription and over the counter medications you take, as well as the daily supplements you take if any. This is crucial because some medications will interfere with the way the blood clots. Your surgeon will give you a list of specific instructions to help you prepare for hernia repair . This list will include guidelines about your diet and lifestyle. Following all of your doctors' instructions is extremely important to ensure a smooth surgery and recovery. In most cases, the following guidelines are given to patients before they undergo hernia surgery .

• Refrain from eating or drinking anything after midnight on the night before the surgery. The only thing that can be ingested is any medications with a small sip of water that is permitted by the doctor.
• The colon and intestines should be completely emptied and cleansed. In some cases, patients are required to only drink clear liquids for the days prior to surgery.
• If you are a smoker, it is important that you stop smoking at least 6-8 weeks before surgery. People that smoke are shown to have a higher likely hood of breathing problems during surgery and have a delay in wound healing.
• Patients must also plan for their aftercare and recovery. You will be unable to drive home yourself after surgery, so you should arrange to have someone to pick you up. You will also need time to rest and should see if a family member or friend can stay with you to help with daily activities.

Although this is a short guide on how to prepare for your hernia repair surgery, it does not substitute the expertise of a doctor. If you are showing symptoms of a hernia, get the advice of a doctor. Not all types of hernias need to be surgically repaired. If you catch it early enough, there may be other less invasive options to healing your hernia.

When patients have to undergo hernia surgery, in most cases they can go home just a few hours after surgery, or first thing in the morning. However, if it is the case that the hernia operated on was a more complex case, staying in the hospital for a few days after may be required. A few days after hernia surgery , patients are feeling back to their normal selves and can return to their regular eating habits and activities. Be cautious though because even though you are allowed to engage in light activities, strenuous activities or exercises should be avoided for at least 4 to 6 weeks. Everybody is different and it is important that you follow the guidance of your surgeon.

While patients are recovering from hernia surgery, there are different things that can be done to make your healing from hernia repair as easy and comfortable as possible. Some of the activities that can be engaged in are:

• Taking walks to stimulate blood flow through the body and avoid stiffness in the legs and back.
• Keep the body hydrated by drinking a lot of water and other fluids.
• Make sure to eat meals that fit a healthy diet full of vegetables and fiber,
• Engage in light stretching exercises to avoid soreness in the muscles.

Many patients have reported that they see their surgical wounds begin to heal in about one to two weeks depending on the technique of surgery used on the hernia. Even though there is a quick response healing seen on the outside, the tissues that were repaired on the insides can take up to six months to completely heal. Although there is a heightened risk of a reoccurring hernia because the tissue is already week, there are some measures that can be taken during the healing process to avoid high risk of that.

Some of the measures that should be taken are:

• Do not strain the body with heavy exercise or heavy weight lifting until you have been given the clear by your doctor.
• Quit smoking if you are a smoker. Non-smokers have shown to have a healthier healing process after surgery.
• When passing bowel movements, avoid straining at all costs. This could be why the hernia happened to begin with

Most importantly, during your hernia surgery recovery you should follow all of the instructions of your doctor. All of these things have been shown to help patients in particular cases, but everybody is different. Your doctor will give you a specialized recovery plan and will monitor your recovery with checkups until you are completely healed.