6 Tips to Recover Quickly After a Hernia Surgery

Hernia, which refers to the bulging of internal organs/tissues through an abnormal opening in the body, causes pain during lifting heavy objects. Sometimes, it can also lead to other discomforts such as coughing and straining during urination or bowel movements. Even when you are standing or sitting for a prolonged period, this can be an issue. This condition can occur for both men and women, when they need to consult a hernia specialist in San Antonio and elsewhere in extreme cases. 

All said and done, how can you recover quickly and be up and about doing your work post your hernia surgery? Here are our tips that you can apply and get well soon, literally!

1.   Wear Loose Clothings – The rule of the thumb post your surgery is to wear clothes that fit you loosely. Clothes with expandable waistbands are good to go as well as gowns with kaftan sleeves. This will help you in moving around, which takes us to the next point.

 2.   Be Active – It is important to take rest post-surgery, but it is also important to be active and keep moving to increase blood circulation. This will be useful for speeding up the healing process in your body. You can go for walking, do some errands that doesn’t strain you to a large extent and so on and so forth. 

3.   Quit Smoking for Sometime – If your personal habit includes smoking, then you may want to quit it for sometime as it may lead to complications and also, come in the way of healing post-surgery. This is important not just for the healing process, but also before you prep for the surgery.

4.  Inform the Physician about Medications – The next step is to inform the physician about the medications that you are taking. For instance, if you are taking any blood thinking medications you will be asked to stop it before the surgery or even after it. This also holds true for other medicines or substances that you are allergic to as well.

5.  Take Care of Wounds – Make it a point to keep the dressings as clean and dry as possible. You need to ask the doctor how you are going to change them and how often are you going to do it.

6.   Eat Healthy – Your body will need a lot of nutrients to heal properly. Hence, make it a point to include fiber and vitamins in your diet, which consists of fruits and vegetables. This will be useful to keep the bowels moving without causing constipation.

These are some of the tips that will help you cope with post-surgery issues. In case you still have any problems, immediately get in touch with the doctor. For more insightful write-ups, keep a tab on this space.

Hiatal Hernia- Types, Causes, and Treatment

In simple terms, the hernia is caused when an internal body part forces another part. It can take place in multiple parts of the body like stomach, abdomen, intestine, inguinal canal, etc. The one caused in the stomach area is known as a hiatal hernia.  

The opening of our diaphragm is known as hiatus. It is a muscular wall which separates the chest cavity from the abdomen while esophagus goes through it and connects to the stomach. When stomach bulges up into the chest through hiatus, a hiatal hernia is said to happen.

There are two types of a hiatal hernia: 

• Sliding Hiatal Hernia- It is the most common type if a hernia wherein the stomach and the esophagus end slides up into the chest through the hiatus.

• Paraesophageal Hernia- Though it is less common, it is a disease of concern. It causes the stomach to squeeze through the hiatus and land next to the esophagus. Initially, this disease won't show any symptoms, however, later on, it can block the blood supply to the stomach.

What are the Causes of a Hiatal Hernia? 

In many cases, the cause of this disease is not known. A person may have a congenital disability of large hiatal opening, and if not, then lifestyle changes like obesity, coughing, pregnancy or straining during bowel movements can bring the disease into effects. 

Who Can Suffer from Hiatal Hernia? 

It often occurs in women or in people who are overweight. After 50 years of age, one can expect the happening of this abnormality. 

How is Hiatal Hernia Diagnosed? 

The diagnosis of a hernia involves observation of esophagus and stomach. X-ray (using a barium swallow) or endoscopy can give a clear picture of the internal happening with the esophagus. 

What is the Treatment for a Hiatal Hernia? 

People do not get to suffer symptoms of a hiatal hernia. However, a paraesophageal hernia can be doubted if the stomach strangles and in this case depending on the intensity of displacement a surgery may be required. It will restore the location of stomach or esophagus whichever has got dislocated. Other symptoms (which can be an indication of some other disease as well) like chest pain or heartburn are also observed when a patient suffers from a hernia. The surgery is often a laparoscopic or minimally invasive procedure.  

Hernia Specialist in San Antonio 

If you want o to undergo hernia surgery in San Antonio, then consider consulting none less than the specialists of Digestive & Liver Disease Center of San Antonio PLCC. They use most advanced diagnostic methods to cure diseases associated with the digestive system and teach their patients through narrated videos and printed brochures.