Seems like everyone in my family has had inguinal hernias: Dad, sister, myself, my kids. Mine was insignificant enough that I don't remember how long the recovery was.
The one thing I do recall, though: If you have the surgery, take something to clean you out before surgery, because you don't want to do #2 for as long as possible afterwards. And the other advice: Vicodin causes constipation, and makes #2 real difficult. I hope you get the picture
Be sure your surgeon gives you the right preparatory advice. Mine didn't
