Inspired by fellow triathletes Chris Bright and ST-er Rocketshoes, I am on the mend after open bilateral inguinal hernia surgery. This coming Thursday marks my 4 week appointment with my surgeon, and hopefully I will get the green light to begin training again. I plan to periodically update the blog with thoughts, pictures, musings, updates on fitness, and other such assundries.
So, here is the backstory: I have noticed general groin discomfort for the past few years, usually only when I am kicking left footed when playing soccer, which I coach. Also noticed that I could not cut as hard as usual when playing lacrosse, which I also coach. Long story short, this past November I was playing indoor soccer with my players (high school JV) and noticed this growing pain in my left groin. I kept playing, which in hindsight was maybe a good thing, but then again maybe not, and left a significant "pop" in the groin when sending a left footed cross. Pain was evident, stopped playing, went home, iced, etc. Within a few days, I could barely walk, lower ab was very sore, and I knew I did something bad, but I figured it was a groin or ab tear and I rested it. By early December, still couldn't run, do a sit up, and went to the doc. No hernia, but she noticed swelling on both sides. Rested more. Started running again on January 1st, though it was painful and short. Gradually built up distance and speed, but the pain was always there on the left side. The right side, though was swelling and would not go down. Mid Feb, I went back to the doc for the swelling. Sure enough, he diagnosed inguinal hernia on the right, but not on the left where there was pain.
Not wanting to prolong the pain, and wanting to heal before tri season, I went to a surgeon who said I had inguinals on both sides and scheduled me right away for the open mesh surgery.
I was on spring break from school, so I could recover without hastle during vacation. The day before surgery, the surgeon's office called to say that when I had my pre-admission testing at the hospital (Mercer in Trenton, which is pretty good), the anesthesiologist flagged by EKG as abnormal. Now I had to get cleared by a cardiologist to have the surgery. But first, I had to find one at 1:30 on a Thursday who could see me that afternoon. No small task in an HMO. Luckily, I did, and the doc looked at my EKG, asked a few questions, said nothing is absolute and OKed me for the surgery.
Surgery morning, I get there for my 11:30 surgery at 9:00. They hook me up, get me ready, and I am sitting there watching 80s sitcoms with my wife when, at 11:30, the anesthesiologist comes in and says she still isn't 100% about my EKG. She has them do another, which is the same as the pre-test, and then we have to contact my primary and have him fax over one I had done last year during a routine physical. All are the same, with some inverted t-waves. So, she clears me and in I go at 1:30, significantly later than I was supposed to, and having not eaten or drinken anything since 9 the previous night.
I had to go in under general anesthesia, which I was abit nervous about, but I came out fine. Immediately post-op, they gave me something to drink, and when i finally had my wits about me, I was taken back to waiting with my wife. Then, given all of the numbness and the lack of food or drink, I had to urinate but couldn't. They finally catherized me, and the pain/pleasure was a unique experience.
Once home, I had to urinate every hour for the next day, but that finally settled down. After the first 24 hours and the first BM, I got off the Oxycodone and just took extra strength advil. The pain meds didn't really help me at all anyway. I have intentionally not exercized, other than short jogs and throwing the lacrosse ball at practice, dog walking, and the constant movement that being the father of 3 requires. My four week appointment with the surgeon is on Thursday, and if he gives me the go ahead, I plan to ease back into training: On the horizon is Timberman, which I opted to move down to the sprint from the half once I found out about my situation. No way I would have been ready for a half, even in August. More to come later!
