Toddler hernia operation- can we bring him to the beach 2 weeks after?

[Anonymous]

I have a 2-year-old son will be having inguinal hernia surgery in a week. I had schedule vacation time for us 2 weeks after the surgery, before we knew that he has hernia.
From what I read we need to keep him from strenuous activity for the first 1-2 weeks and that the main problem with this surgery is infection. However, it seems like the stitches will dissolve in a few days.

Has anyone has similar experience? Would it there be risk for infection if we take him to the beach just 2 weeks after the surgery?

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't.

[Anonymous]

Ask his doctor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ask his doctor.

+1

[Anonymous]

I had hernia surgery as a teen in high school. NO WAY was I feeling up to going to the beach 2 weeks later.

[Anonymous]

My son had inguinal surgery at 3 months old and we went to California about a week and a half later. He was honestly fine after about three days--the anesthesia was the worst part.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son had inguinal surgery at 3 months old and we went to California about a week and a half later. He was honestly fine after about three days--the anesthesia was the worst part.

But at 3 months, your son didn't want to play in the sand and water.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had hernia surgery as a teen in high school. NO WAY was I feeling up to going to the beach 2 weeks later.

Toddlers bounce back from things far quicker than teenagers. My kid had surgery at 2 and woke up asking me to go to the park. We never filled the painkiller prescription. Keeping him calm for a few days was torture. He had surgery as a teen, similar in scope, and it was a much longer recover period, with pain meds, sleepless nights, and days of not wanting to leave the couch.

OP, I'd ask your Dr.

[Anonymous]

I'm shocked that you would even ask this. Your child is far more important than a vacation. Why on earth would you subject him to the travel and not being in his own home away from his doc in case of emergency.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm shocked that you would even ask this. Your child is far more important than a vacation. Why on earth would you subject him to the travel and not being in his own home away from his doc in case of emergency.

Oh dear lord. We're talking about 2 weeks after a relatively minor and straightforward procedure, and a vacation that a toddler will enjoy, with family he loves who make him feel safe, at a location that has phone access and hospitals. She's hardly "subjecting" him to anything.

OP, I'd double check with the doctor about whether the sand and salt will irritate the surgery site. That would be my only concern.

[Anonymous]

As a pediatrician, I can tell you that it will very likely be totally fine. The skin will heal over in just a few days. He may be a bit sore and less happy to run around, but there is no reason not to take him to the beach. No risk involved.

The poster at 22:53 is a total idiot, and should be ignored.