This thread is a great resource. I will add my own experience and edit as needed until I am back to normal training.
I am 61 and developed a right inguinal hernia around April 2018. It slowly progressed over the year but my GP and surgeon both cleared me to continue racing. I did an Ironman on 1 Jul and a 70.3 on 2 Sep. In Oct my surgeon cleared me for IM Florida but we scheduled the surgery for a few days later on 8 Nov. In IM Florida (Haines City) I felt it on the downhill portions of the run and was holding my side in for the last 7 miles. It was definitely time for the surgery.
8 Nov: I went in for laparoscopic repair at 9am and the doc told me he would look at the left side and do it too if necessary. I had an open repair of a left inguinal hernia in 1967, but apparently it was still in good shape. However, I was not allowed to leave the hospital until after 4:30 pm when I was able to finally start peeing. I did not have any post surgery nausea. I walked a slow half mile the next day and one mile today. I am not going to push this as I don't want any setbacks at my age. I did not have any problems or pain taking a dump, nor did I experience any swelling or discoloration of the boys. Cue the hallelujah chorus! I am icing my gut which looks like a small pot belly from the gas they pump into you. My ankles are a little swollen so I am elevating them when sitting down.
18 Nov (10 days post op): I feel 95% recovered although I don't think I would want to try sit-ups at the moment. Bandages are off, but I still have the steri-strips over the incisions and am supposed to leave them on until they fall off. The stomach bloating is almost entirely gone. I'm getting in and out of bed without limitations and can roll over on either side with no pain. I'm walking a brisk 3 miles per day. I feel that I could start back running but I won't see my surgeon for another 8 days and want his clearance. I have a full plate for 2019 and can't afford a set back from being too aggressive.
26 Nov (18 days post op): I walked 24 miles last week and had my first post-op appt with the surgeon today He told me my hernia was the "real deal" and I had a "bleeder" at my upper incision which is the only location with minor residual soreness. I feel ready to go, but he told me to walk one more week, then I can start back slowly but with no intensity until I am 6 weeks post-op. I don't need to meet with the surgeon again but he gave me his card...presumably in case I screw things up by coming back too fast. As much as it pains me, I will continue the walking for one last week.
27 Dec (7 wks post op): Final Post - I am off all exercise restrictions. The past three weeks I ran 10-15-20 miles. Biking is up to 115 mpw. I only started swimming last week and will do just 5000 yards this week. I did one bike workout this week with 6 x 15 secs all out and felt nothing other than being out of shape.
Looking at my USAT scores for 2018, I peaked early in the year and slowly slid backwards throughout the year as the hernia progressively worsened. But getting the surgery done in the off-season at least allowed me to complete all of my planned races for the past year. And listening to the doc and not trying to come back too fast was a good decision. Now I'm looking forward to 2019 without any limitations. If anyone has a hernia and is reading this thread, then I hope I've provided some reason to be optimistic. Good luck!
I am 61 and developed a right inguinal hernia around April 2018. It slowly progressed over the year but my GP and surgeon both cleared me to continue racing. I did an Ironman on 1 Jul and a 70.3 on 2 Sep. In Oct my surgeon cleared me for IM Florida but we scheduled the surgery for a few days later on 8 Nov. In IM Florida (Haines City) I felt it on the downhill portions of the run and was holding my side in for the last 7 miles. It was definitely time for the surgery.
8 Nov: I went in for laparoscopic repair at 9am and the doc told me he would look at the left side and do it too if necessary. I had an open repair of a left inguinal hernia in 1967, but apparently it was still in good shape. However, I was not allowed to leave the hospital until after 4:30 pm when I was able to finally start peeing. I did not have any post surgery nausea. I walked a slow half mile the next day and one mile today. I am not going to push this as I don't want any setbacks at my age. I did not have any problems or pain taking a dump, nor did I experience any swelling or discoloration of the boys. Cue the hallelujah chorus! I am icing my gut which looks like a small pot belly from the gas they pump into you. My ankles are a little swollen so I am elevating them when sitting down.
18 Nov (10 days post op): I feel 95% recovered although I don't think I would want to try sit-ups at the moment. Bandages are off, but I still have the steri-strips over the incisions and am supposed to leave them on until they fall off. The stomach bloating is almost entirely gone. I'm getting in and out of bed without limitations and can roll over on either side with no pain. I'm walking a brisk 3 miles per day. I feel that I could start back running but I won't see my surgeon for another 8 days and want his clearance. I have a full plate for 2019 and can't afford a set back from being too aggressive.
26 Nov (18 days post op): I walked 24 miles last week and had my first post-op appt with the surgeon today He told me my hernia was the "real deal" and I had a "bleeder" at my upper incision which is the only location with minor residual soreness. I feel ready to go, but he told me to walk one more week, then I can start back slowly but with no intensity until I am 6 weeks post-op. I don't need to meet with the surgeon again but he gave me his card...presumably in case I screw things up by coming back too fast. As much as it pains me, I will continue the walking for one last week.
27 Dec (7 wks post op): Final Post - I am off all exercise restrictions. The past three weeks I ran 10-15-20 miles. Biking is up to 115 mpw. I only started swimming last week and will do just 5000 yards this week. I did one bike workout this week with 6 x 15 secs all out and felt nothing other than being out of shape.
Looking at my USAT scores for 2018, I peaked early in the year and slowly slid backwards throughout the year as the hernia progressively worsened. But getting the surgery done in the off-season at least allowed me to complete all of my planned races for the past year. And listening to the doc and not trying to come back too fast was a good decision. Now I'm looking forward to 2019 without any limitations. If anyone has a hernia and is reading this thread, then I hope I've provided some reason to be optimistic. Good luck!