Possible umbilical hernia

[SirRaymondClench]

A couple of weeks ago I was shifting some stuff about getting ready for a holiday and my stomach area was painful after, to the point where I took some painkillers at bed time (I don't often take painkillers) I had an abdo hysterectomy a year ago so shouldn't be shifting heavy stuff about but did it anyway because I am stupid sometimes.
Anyway the day before holiday I found a tiny pea sized lump (rock hard, unmoveable)
Yesterday I was trying to show my mum the pea lump and realised I had a larger softer sort lump next to it (prob totally unrelated)
I think I have a hernia. It's sore, I keep feeling a bit queasy and the lump disappears when I lie down.
This morning the larger lump seems a little smaller to the point where I think GP (was going about the pea lump anyway) won't do anything.
Do they always operate with adult hernias?
Is it even worth mentioning if it seems smaller today?

[seasalt]

Yes, mention it. I had this and my GP said it could become strangulated so better to have op to repair it which I did. It used to pop out every so often.

[SirRaymondClench]

Seasalt thanks for your reply!
Is it normal to feel a bit queasy or is that unrelated?
You can't see a 'lump' from the outside (although I could a bit last night) but if I feel around I can feel it. Just didn't want to mention it and get the "I can't feel anything" from the GP and look like a nutter and then get home to a massive lump

[SirRaymondClench]

Ok update:
Saw a lovely but quite 'Old School' GP who said she thought the pea lump is a stitch and that although she can see there is some separation in my stomach muscles and a protrusion what I need to do is stomach crunches and go back in 6 weeks!
The last thing I feel like doing is stomach crunches.
That can't be right can it?

[seasalt]

Oh I would be wary of doing stomach crunches, surely that would make it pop out? Mine used to come out if I did a lot of bending like hanging out washing, etc. I'm not sure about the queasiness because I have IBS and my stomach is rarely 'right' anyway. If it's not better in six weeks I would ask for a referral to consultant.

[SirRaymondClench]

I agree Seasalt I can't see me doing stomach crunches any time soon! she made me try while I was there and it was so painful.
She agreed it's a hernia and said I needed to 'close my stomach muscles' but surely if part of my intestines has prolapsed through then closing my stomach muscles is only going to cause more problems surely?
It hurts when I bend over.
I think the queasiness is something else as I'm so very tired at the moment so I think I have a little low level bug healthy
I think I will see how it goes (although from what I've read online hernias don't tend to go away on their own) and see where things are in 6 weeks and demand a referral like you said.

[Hairylegs47]

I have a hernia in my upper stomach. It pops out very once in a while, is I lie down and pop in back in. I want to make sure it doesn't become strangled. I've been doing lots of muscle exercises to strengthen them. It's working too, the times when it 'pops' are lessening.
And yes, it makes me queasy popping it back in.
I was told I would need surgery if I didn't sort it and I couldn't have surgery til I lost weight!

[SirRaymondClench]

Sorry to hear you have a hernia too Hairy it's a bit grim isn't it?
Is yours above your belly button then?
Does it not hurt to do the exercises?

[Hairylegs47]

It's a couple of inches above - its an epigastric one apparently. Google was better at explaining than the DR, but she didn't speak much English. I think that was the grimest part. I miss the NHS.

It only hurts if it's popped out. I make sure it's in before I start. It doesn't really bother me too much.
Is yours painful at all?

[SirRaymondClench]

Are you abroad Hairy?
It's sore (but that could be from me prodding it when I discovered it the other day!) I keep finding mixed reports about whether to exercise or not online. At the moment it's quite painful so no stomach crunches etc for me.