For those who have had hernia repair with a tummy tuck

Just wondering what the real recovery time for you all was.  I am having a rather large hernia repair, not sure if he'll have to use mesh or not.  He told me what to expect but I was wondering what any of you experienced with it.  How long until you could sleep comfortably, move around without pain, resume normal activity. 

I am also wondering because my surgery will be on Jan 6 or 13th and I don't know if I should go whole hog on decorating my house for Christmas.  I usually decorate a lot and it takes me a while to get it all down.  I can't really count on my family to take it down...I have a feeling if I didn't get it down before I went to the hospital, we'd be finding Easter eggs under the tree! 

thanks in advance.
Linda

I can't respond to your question about recovery but I'm having plastic surgery on Dec. 22nd (my arms) and I downsized with the Christmas decorating this year for that reason.  I knew it would drive me crazy to have it up too long so I chose the things that meant the most to us and I should be able to carefully box most of it up and have my husband put it away.

All the best on your tummy tuck and hernia repair - isn't it exciting to be at this stage already?!

Mickie

New arms for Christmas!!!!  I'm so happy for you Mickie!!!   Yes it is exciting and a little scary but more exciting than anything else!

Good luck with your surgery, too.  We are going to look FABULOUS in 2011, dahhhlink!

I didn't have a hernia but a 6" muscle seperation he fixed with my TT. He said it was one of the worst seperations he's seen, I also had the anchor cut so there were more incisions. That being said, don't expect to walk up right for about 2 weeks. It was a harder recovery than I thought. Usually I bounce right back but, not this time. So worth the results though!
For the Christmas stuff, I'd say to only put up what you can take down before your surgery, you're not going to have the energy to do it for a while. Unless you want to look at it untill Feb. LOL then , just leave it all up!

I was pretty much herniated from breastbone to pubic bone. My repair was done all with my own tissue as part of the TT. No me**** hurt like hell, far and away the most painful surgery I've ever had. Pain meds gave me constipation from hell. New restriction plus surgery gave me NO appetite and I had to push the protein supplements like crazy *gag*. Then I got tissue necrosis and had to have another surgery four weeks later.

My total recovery time was a good three months. My advice is plan for the worst and hope for the best.

Thank you!  I appreciate your responses.  As always I trust you guys more than the docs!!!! 

I *think* I'm going to be conservative with the decorating. :)

I had a fleur de lis tummy tuck with hernia repair last Monday (the 29th).  The first week was pretty miserable, and I didn't do much at all.  I got my drains removed yesterday and things have been a lot better since then.  I originally was planning on going back to work the first week of January, but think I may go back earlier after talking with my doctor.  Good luck- it is painful but I can tell you even at 9 days out it was worth it to me.