My inguinal hernia surgery was two and a half weeks ago. It was open surgery due to the large size of my hernia and was perforned under general anesthesia. I was in by 8:30 and went home by 2:30. I could walk fairly well under my own power from the hospital.

I have not suffered much pain, and took the pain pills for only two days. But the result of the general anesthesia which inserts a breathing tube down your throat was an immediate tickle that caused coughing. Two days later I came down with a very coughing cold, probably contracted in the hospital. Coughing caused far more pain and threatened my incision far more than any lifting I have done. I had to get cough medicine to knock the cough down. Wish I’d known that before surgery and had been prepared.

I feel the focus on lifting to be misguided. My surgeon specified a limit of five pounds for at least two weeks. Lifting is part of my profession and I know how to lift. I was lifting more than five pounds two days after surgery, 40 pounds four days after surgery. 40 pounds had nowhere near the effect of coughing or sneezing upon the incision or the mesh repair. It was not even in the same league.

This week, two weeks after surgery, I went back to work full time remodeling. I hired two guys to do the heavy lifting and grunt work and have paced myself with care and attention. Yet I am lifting over forty pounds carefully and occasionally, and have been on my feet for eight hours a day. It actually feels good and does not strain the incision or the repair. I am a fast healer and the incision is rapidly disappearing.

My point is to watch the coughing and sneezing. Hold your hand over the incision when you do cough and sneeze. If you pay attention to how you lift, that proscription is not nearly as important as paying attention to coughs and sneezes. Listen to your body, it will let you know about activities. Inaction is not healthy. Keep mildly active and your body will work with you to heal.