Question:
What does a hernia feel like?

I have an area right by my navel that always kind of bothers me. It's not really that painful, it just tugs and pulls constantly. At times I feel a small lump there but I'm not really sure what I'm feeling. Any suggestions? BTW I'm 5 and 1/2 months post op and down 92 pounds. Thanks in advance for your help. Ciao for now.......    — perezrdh (posted on November 25, 2001)

November 25, 2001
Victoria, I had two hernias. One was an umbilical one and it was strangulated. That means it was kind of kinked and could've caused serious infection but it didn't. I didn't feel anything with it. It was just a little puffy lump that stuck out some. I thought I was just getting fatter and my belly button was sticking out because of that. With the second one, it was incisional after my surgery and I didn't know I had it either. I couldn't even tell it was there. I had lost 70 lbs at that time and it didn't look any different or feel any different. The doc said it was "significant" in size when he repaired it. Now, since the repair I do feel pain. I had a revision 6 wks ago and I think the pain from the hernia repair is sorer than anything else. Good luck. Lots of us get incisional hernias and they are very very easy to get. I don't really know if there is any danger in letting them go unrepaired.
   — Marilyn C.