Umbilical Hernia?

Hey guys,  I need your help.  I know a lot of gastric bypass patients have experienced hernias.  But I was trying to get more information.  How did you know you had one?  What were the symptoms?  Was surgery the only way to repair it?  What kind of recovery was the surgery if you had it.   I am 3 years post op from my RNY and I just finished my third and final round of plastic surgery 6 weeks ago.  Yesterday I noticed a bulge at the top of my belly button.  I don't go back to the doctors for another 5 weeks and I will get his opinion on what this bulge is.  It doesn't hurt but it certainly appeared out of nowhere.  I had noticed a slight hardening in that spot about a year or so ago, and my doctor said it was probably some scar tissue.....just to keep an eye on it.  Well, this is definitely a change in it.  The only thing I can think of would be an umbilical hernia but then I am no doctor.  I am just getting back to normal and the last thing I want to think about is going back into surgery.  Any comments would be appreciated.  Joann

Hi Joann,

I started seeing a bulge like you are saying. Then the surgeon pushed on the area and felt the separation. Surgery is the only way to repair it, but some good news. If you need to have skin removed that can help with your tummy tuck approval. If you don't want or need a tummy tuck they can do repairs often times lap and the recovery is less. Hope this helps. If you think you might have one best thing to do is see a surgeon ASAP. Some hernias are known to cause bowel obstructions because the bowel will come up through the weak abdomen wall and kink the intestine. Just be careful.