u/gitburner

I wanted to share my full recovery story after my inguinal hernia surgery, because the last weeks have been extremely difficult and very different from what I expected. I used AI to translate and structure the notes I wrote myself over the past weeks.

Before the surgery: I had a large visible left inguinal hernia with a clear bulge. During a more detailed ultrasound, a small hernia on the right side was also discovered.
The surgery was done endoscopically.
During the operation, the right hernia could not be found from the inside.

Directly after the surgery: The pain was almost unbearable. I was sent home with only paracetamol, even though in the recovery room only oxycodone had helped.
For half a week I struggled badly until my doctor and I finally found a painkiller combination that worked at least a little: Novalgin, Tilidin and Ibuprofen — all high‑dose.

The first days were terrible because of the CO₂ in my abdomen. I couldn’t pass anything for three days until I finally had success with laxatives.
My bladder also felt uncomfortable and irritated.
I could barely get up without help. Even simple movements were extremely painful.

First weeks – constant pain, big hematoma, slow changes In the early weeks I developed a large hematoma. It caused pressure, burning, pulling, stabbing pain, and the symptoms changed from day to day.
Sitting was often the worst.
Sometimes the pain went up the side of my body toward the ribs — some of that pain had already existed before the surgery.

My stomach skin became very sensitive at times. Even light pressure or clothing felt uncomfortable.

Weeks 3–6 – ups and downs The pain fluctuated constantly. Some days felt like improvement, then suddenly everything came back.
I had burning sensations in the groin, pressure, pulling, and discomfort around the hip area.
The abdominal skin sensitivity came and went.

Week 6 – major setback About two weeks ago I helped my 12 kg child down from a chair to the floor.
It wasn’t heavy lifting, more like guiding the movement — but maybe this action caused a long and intense pain flare that lasted for days.

Week 7–8 – new pain patterns Since that setback, the symptoms have been very inconsistent again.
Burning pressure pain on both sides of the groin, pain around the pelvic bone, burning on the sides of the abdomen, and the stomach skin becoming extremely sensitive again.
Even a waistband feels uncomfortable.

The hematoma still causes a deep pressure feeling.

Ultrasound and blood tests Last week the hematoma was measured at about 2 cm.
Yesterday another doctor measured it at about 2.5 cm — partly solid, partly liquid.

Blood tests were completely normal.
Ultrasound showed no complications.
An MRI is planned, but the waiting time is one month.

Current situation Right now the pain is strong even when lying down.
It burns, pulls, presses, and switches between left and right.
The hematoma still presses painfully.
The skin on my stomach is extremely sensitive again.
The sides of my abdomen burn.
And I also have pain higher up on the abdomen, above the three endoscopic incisions.

Pain medication helps only partially.

I’m sharing this because my recovery has been long, unpredictable, and full of setbacks — even though all tests so far are normal.
If anyone else has gone through something similar, especially with a persistent hematoma and fluctuating pain weeks after surgery, I’d appreciate hearing your experience.