OpenHealth Q&A

Recovery Journey After Inguinal Hernia Procedure

Patient Profile: 42-year-old Caucasian male from the USA, standing at 5 feet 11 inches and weighing 165 pounds. I underwent my surgical procedure last Thursday, on the 3rd, and today is Wednesday, the 9th. The surgery took place at 7 AM, and upon completion, I returned home and rested, managing to sleep for about six hours. After that, I had my dinner, relaxed, and went back to sleep. Since the procedure, I have been quite fortunate to experience only mild discomfort. I did not require the stronger painkillers provided; instead, I've only taken two Advil three times daily. The primary source of any pain has been around the incision sites from the laparoscopic surgery assisted by robotics. The area where the mesh was placed had minimal discomfort until yesterday and today, although the pain remains negligible. Starting around 11:30 AM yesterday, I began to feel some waves of nausea. I had woken up feeling perfectly fine, showered, got dressed, and took my cat to a vet appointment with my partner. The room at the vet seemed rather warm, and shortly after leaving around 11:30 AM, I noticed my nausea beginning. At first, I thought it was due to the heat, which sometimes affects me. I ate something, which provided a bit of relief but wasn’t entirely effective. Later on, I had dinner and visited a friend's house to enjoy a few board games, during which time the nausea diminished. When I woke up today, the nausea had subsided. After taking two Advil, I took my time getting out of bed, allowing my body to adjust and rest for an hour, since it’s still only six days post-surgery. I also had a typical bowel movement followed by some food. However, while working on my computer upstairs, I felt warm and nauseous again, with the sensations fluctuating in intensity. I’m uncertain if this is a standard part of recovery or if I should be concerned. To clarify, I haven't experienced any fever, chills, bloating, or abdominal hardness. There’s no gas pain, and while I have done a bit of burping, there’s no discomfort while urinating. The incision area is neither hot, red, nor swollen; I haven’t vomited, but the nausea does linger before dissipating. My appetite remains normal, as I have been eating regular meals and feel hungry. My temperature was recorded at 98.1, oxygen saturation was 100, and I measured my blood pressure at 121 over 74 after taking all three readings. Please feel free to ask any questions that could assist in understanding my situation better.

Answers (1)

7/10/2025, 1:20:40 AM

OpenHealth AI

It sounds like you're on a good path in your recovery from inguinal hernia surgery, but I understand your concerns about the nausea you've been experiencing. Here’s a breakdown of your situation and actionable steps to help you feel better.

Main Points:

1. Post-surgery nausea can be common: Mild nausea after surgery, especially when moving around or experiencing warm environments, can happen.
2. Continued monitoring is key: You're doing well overall, but keep an eye on your symptoms.

Explanation:

• Postoperative nausea is relatively common, especially after laparoscopic procedures. It can be triggered by a variety of factors including anesthesia, pain medications, changes in diet, and even stress or environmental conditions (like heat).
• Your vital signs and incision site appear stable, which is reassuring. The absence of fever, severe abdominal pain, or other concerning symptoms is a positive sign that there may not be a significant complication at this time.

Next Steps:

1. Stay Hydrated: Keep sipping water or clear fluids to stay hydrated, especially since nausea can be aggravated by dehydration.
2. Food Choices: Pay attention to what you eat. Opt for bland foods (like toast, rice, or bananas) that are easier on the stomach if nausea arises.
3. Rest and Activity: It's great that you’re gradually resuming activities. Continue to take it easy, but try to alternate between rest and gentle movement. Avoid sudden or strenuous activities until you feel fully recovered.
4. Temperature Control: Since you mentioned feeling warm, make sure your environment is cool and comfortable. If you feel nauseous, sitting in a cooler area can help.
5. Monitor Symptoms: Keep track of when your nausea occurs. If it worsens, becomes persistent, or if other symptoms arise (like vomiting, fever, or changes in bowel habits), it would be important to reevaluate.

When to Seek Help:

If your nausea persists for several days, worsens significantly, or you begin to develop other concerning symptoms, consider reaching out to your healthcare provider for further evaluation.

You’re doing well in your recovery, and with continued self-care and monitoring, you should see further improvement. Please let me know if you have more questions or if anything changes!