hernia repair surgery...what to expect??

I'm having my "large uterine hernia" repaired on Aug 4 by Dr Evanson.  When I had my one year post op follow up in May and we discussed it, he told me I would only be there overnight, could drive once off pain meds, and no running for three weeks.

Beyond that, what can I expect? Will I be on the bariatric floor or somewhere else at St V's? The hernia is quite large, and is in the panni area.  My insurance denied the panniculectomy request, saying it's not large enough, hasn't been 18 months since my RNY, and no documentation of failed medical treatment.  With that reasoning, I'm not pursuing the appeal at this time, I just want the dang hernia fixed, and will deal with the excess skin later if it's still an issue. 

Will I feel OK within a few days? My girls start school just a week after my surgery, and with a kindergartner and first grader, I don't want the last days of their summer vacation sucking because Mommy doesn't feel good.  I'm in excellent physical shape, so surely that'll help!

Will I be up walking and stuff while there? A friend of mine is having lap band surgery just an hour before my hernia repair, so I'd love to go visit her while I'm there.

I'm sure all this info will come from his office, but I'm on vacation and won't be home til Monday, and it was just on my mind.....

Amy,

Everyone is different. My hernia's were different than yours and I had some pretty severe complications that they were trying to take care of along with it. But..I'll try to give you an idea based on my exeriences and what I have heard 'would had been' if it had not been for my specific situations.

At St. Vincent's, even if the surgeon requests that you go on the bariatric wing, it all depends on how many post-bariatric patients they have on if you'll get placed there or not. Really, the best you can hope for is to be placed on the 2nd floor. The 3rd floor is not remodeled yet and the rooms are crap compared to the 2nd floor rooms (especially when you're in there for 11 days!!).

Usually, for a hernia repair, you're in the hospital for 1-3 days.. it all depends on how well they can get your pain under control. Again, that is very personalized so your tolerence may be different than someone elses. If the surgeon has to do other things while he is in there, that may have an effect on how long you may be in the hospital also. On the other floors, the nurses aren't as proactive at getting you up out of bed as they are on the bariatric wing so be sure you ask them to help you get up...often. Blood clots are a -otch. They do not typically put you on lovenox after this surgery like they do bariatrics unless you have had a history of clots or a suspicion of them (lucky me!).

For a hernia, my surgeon's nurse usually does the FMLA paperwork for 2-3 weeks off of work..a week more if you have an extended stay in the hospital. Mine involved my intestines all being worked on and the abdominal wall having to go through some major relocation so I will be out 6 weeks. It has been 3 weeks since mine and this mommy is still hurting and I'm sure small kids would think I suck to be around right now. But..as I said..more was done on my insides than what they are planning on doing with yours so you may be just fine within a week or so.

Sherri