I had the surgery 23 years ago and continue to lift heavy. You just have to be very careful and not put too much stress on your pelvic wall. The worst thing you can do is hold your breath while you're lifting heavy because that causes you to put too much pressure.
I'm not advocating that you do the same, check with your doctor. But I personally felt so much better after the surgery and recovery. HTH. You can PM me if you want me to answer more questions.
Kathy