You should continue to walk several times a day once you are at home, gradually increase the distance and the intensity until you’re back to your normal level of activity.

Look back to your own activity goal worksheets in the patient log. Are you on track? Do you need to tweak them in any way?

Most patients can return home with little difficulty. Family and friends can support you initially with:

• Driving you home.
• Meal preparation.
• Food shopping.
• House cleaning and laundry.
• Avoid heavy lifting for the first 8 weeks as doing so affects the healing abdominal muscles and puts you more at risk of developing a hernia.
• As a general rule, once you’re pain free you can return to most activities including sexual intercourse.
• You may start to drive usually 6 to 8 weeks after surgery. You should check your motor insurance, but make sure you are confident you are well healed and not taking strong painkiller medication.
• Your surgeon or GP will decide when you can return to work. This depends on your recovery and the type of job you do.