The surgeon told me that if I were to lift something too heavy or something the wrong way that the wire mesh he put into me could literally pop out.

It is best not to do any lifting over I think I was told 20 pounds. You don't want to risk getting another one, nor do you want to risk having the mesh detach. One of my 'repairs' was done because one corner of the mesh had become detached.

I had bi-lateral hernia surgery in 1994.  I was told it was classified as minor.  It was a one-day thing where I was operated on in the morning and discharged that afternoon. 

If that was minor, I hope I never have to experience major surgery.  I never thought the day would come where I wouldn't want to laugh.  The soreness during the recovery period was bad whenever I would laugh, cough, and sneeze.  The surgeon told me to be careful about what I lifted for the rest of my life.  To this day, I feel pulsations below my waist when I lift something or strain.

Just came upon this after replying to your recent post.

Don't let anyone tell you that hernia surgery is minor.

I have had 5 hernia surgeries. There was nothing minor about it.

People tend to downplay them.

The first one seemed routine. I planned a family trip to Mexico for 6 weeks after the surgery. At week 5 there was infection. I was admitted and the site was opened. It remained open when I was sent home. It was going to have to close on its own. By June that had happened and then I had the original hernia surgery all  over again.

In 2006 the mesh  detached in one corner. Back again for hernia surgery. During this surgery ovarian cancer was discovered.

In 2007 problems again and another hernia surgery.

I am still being monitored. by the surgeon to make sure nothing has come undone. I cannot even imagine going back to have this done again.

Hopefully, your surgery was successful and will remain that way. Still, I suggest having your primary care check things out when you have exams.