Holy FUCKING SHIT! Think I might have a HERNIA! PLEASE HELP!!

[Silent Method]

AHHHHHHH!!! HELP ME!

Yesterday night I was posing in my mirror and I noticed what looked like a "bubble" in the side of my belly button. I puhsed on it and after that I couldn't see it any more. I didn't think much of it at the time.

Tonight I was doing the same thing and there it was again! This time I was a little more conscientious as I slowly probed the "bubble." It definitely felt like protrusion of tissue. As I pushed it felt like it slid right into my abs.

Motherfucker!! I'm at the end of a cycle and I don't want to lose all my gains! I wasted my entire summer recovering from surgery and now I feel like I'm facing it again! I'd be VERY hard-pressed to see a doctor at this time as I am flat broke. I will have med insurance, but not for about another month. What the fuck should I do?

It does no hurt in the least. Can I still workout? Can I squat? Leg press? Can I still work my abbs tomorrow?

I'm freaking out! Help me!

 

[WARBIRDWS6]

i got the same thing on top of my bellybutton. when i lay back on the bench to bench press it protrudes out as i go to lay back. and if i push in on it it hurts sometimes. but doesn't hurt unless i mess with it. scared the shit out of me, but since i have some decent fat around my belly right now that i am shedding....i don't think much of it. but it is there. sounds like what you got. but why would a protrusion around the bellybutton be a hernia?????

 

[mlkmgr]

chill out, it is not the end of the world. i have had two hernias so far. first: push the possible hernia down/ back in. bear down like you're about to take a shit and see if it pops back out. if it does not the first time, try a few times just to verify. if it pops out, you more than likely have a hernia. the first thing the doc told me was to lay off/lighten up on the weights. i did at first and then realized "shit, i am going to have surgery to repair this anyway"- so i kept lifting heavy as possible. although, it made my hernia, which started out as golfball size, go to a little less than baseball size. the doc understood, but WARNED the possibility of the tissue becoming pinched in the muscle and would require emergency surgery. luckily this was never the case. remember it is not the end of the world. so if you can, hold out until insurance. it is only outpatient, but it is expensive!!!
good luck bro!!!

 

[Silent Method]

sounds like what you got. but why would a protrusion around the bellybutton be a hernia?????

I feel better already. A hernia is "a protrusion of an organ or part through connective tissue or through a wall of the cavity in which it is normally enclosed." This can be through the abdominal wall or the diaphram etc.

 

[WARBIRDWS6]

I feel better already. A hernia is "a protrusion of an organ or part through connective tissue or through a wall of the cavity in which it is normally enclosed." This can be through the abdominal wall or the diaphram etc.

ah, ok. IC narrowminded defenition on my part. i got a decent sized one. but i hate to mess with it. that is not sounding like fun. i'll leave it alone since it leaves me alone. for now.

 

[mlkmgr]

basically a hernia is a tear in tissue. commonly the abdominal wall. it is a result of weak tissue. once you have one hernia, you generally will get them again. this is what i was told by my doc and surgeon. my old lifting buddy has had 5 in his lifetime. they can be left alone, but if you have insurance, get it fixed. i am not saying i am an expert, just going from personal experience X 2.

 

[Silent Method]

chill out, it is not the end of the world. i have had two hernias so far. first: push the possible hernia down/ back in. bear down like you're about to take a shit and see if it pops back out. if it does not the first time, try a few times just to verify.

I'm trying not to mess with it, but I can make it pop out again.

So your telling me to continue with my training and just make sure the little fucker's not getting stuck in a pinched position?

Did you have surgery? DETAILS MAN, DETAILS!

 

[winderman]

one way to get it to go back in is drink a couple of glasses of water then jump off a chair this will make it go back into place, just a little advice till you can get it fixed

 

[mlkmgr]

make sure the little fucker's not getting stuck in a pinched position?

i just simply pushed mine right back in every time i felt it pop out. if it gets pinched, it begins to block blood flow and you will definitely know. i had surgery on both hernias. simple outpatient surgery. the only thing the surgeon and anesthesiologist really questioned me on was the use of AS. (could negatively interact/react with anesthesia) i was not on anything so was not an issue. the surgeon goes in and slices you open right above the hernie (lump). they use a mesh plug (something like a porch screen) and sew it back together. pretty bad pain first and second day home, but gave me morphine and lortab to help with the pain. can not lift more than 15 lbs. the first 4 weeks. hurts like hell to shit, you CANNOT push. i was off work for 4 weeks and could not lift for 4 months. a little more than was required, but was worried i would re-injure self. i hope this helps a little.

 

[40butpumpin]

There's a surgery for hernias involving a "mesh" to repair it. It's apparently more expensive but the benefits are well worth it. The healing time is significantly reduced and the chance of reoccurence is much less than the non mesh, which btw is the traditional way of repairing it. Good luck.

 

[Silent Method]

Re: make sure the little fucker's not getting stuck in a pinched position?

i was off work for 4 weeks and could not lift for 4 months.

 

[mvmaxx]

DAMN bro that sux! Hurry up and get that insurance.

 

[Silent Method]

FUCK! I spent 3 months in the summer laid up in bed. I don't know If I can handle it again. I'm making such great progress on my physique. 4 MONTHS!! FUCK!

I'm going to have to ignor this little fucker for some time. I can't stop my training now. GRRRRRRRRR!

Shit, I don't like having to worry about this shit.

 

[SmooThy5464]

whats up man yeh i had a hernia last summer right under my abs it sucked though i still lifted threw it for a while i had the hernia for some time it wasnt really that bad i kind of got used to it it would just hert at the end of the night but i held off on the surgery for a while till i was capable of getting it done the surgery wasnt bad at all afterwards i was pretty pissed cuz i lost quit some weight and had to sit around but i was in the gym like 3 weeks after and got back some good gains wasnt soo bad though u have to be carefull after having one though because u r more likely to get another after the first. if u have any specific questions about it PM me and i will gladly help u out with anything i can because i know what u r going threw it sucked goodluck man wish u the best...

 

[The Majestic]

I had one last summer, right in the middle of doing bent rows, i felt a pinch. Sure enough, i had a hernia. I got the mesh,and have had no problems at all. I was at the end of a cycle at the time as well.

3 weeks post surgery, i was back in the gym didn't really skip a beat.

In the meantime, just keep an eye on it until you have insurance, and stay away from exercises that may put too much stress on that particular area.

Best of luck to you bro.

 

[Silent Method]

but i was in the gym like 3 weeks after

3 weeks post surgery, i was back in the gym didn't really skip a beat.

These make me feel a little better. Thanks guys. Hell, I'm thinking of taking some low dose anavar durring recovery to retard muscle wasting. I'll live, but it's just bad timing. I feel like my training is really taking off - I don't want a forced break.

 

[SmooThy5464]

don't worry about it u wont loose that much in a few weeks just make sure your diet stays up to par and u will be alright goodluck man...

 

[liftsiron]

One of my PT clients a Medical Doctor, had a moderate umbilical hernia as it seems that you have, repaired on thursday afternoon and was back in the gym on tuesday morning the following week for a chest workout.
He waited two weeks until he started doing legs though. He had it repaired with the screen which is the way for you to go as well.
Until you get it checked I suggest that you refrain from any heavy leg work as this may enlarge the existing tear, and make repair far more difficult. Also it is necessary for you to be careful that you do not pinch off the small portion of purtruding intestine, because that portion may die and gangrene could develop, this is not all that uncommon. I'm not trying to freak you out, but I do want to alert you to possible complications that could arise. Be careful and you won't have any problems until your insurence kicks in.

 

[Silent Method]

One of my PT clients a Medical Doctor, had a moderate umbilical hernia as it seems that you have, repaired on thursday afternoon and was back in the gym on tuesday morning the following week for a chest workout.
He waited two weeks until he started doing legs though. He had it repaired with the screen which is the way for you to go as well.
Until you get it checked I suggest that you refrain from any heavy leg work as this may enlarge the existing tear, and make repair far more difficult. Also it is necessary for you to be careful that you do not pinch off the small portion of purtruding intestine, because that portion may die and gangrene could develop, this is not all that uncommon. I'm not trying to freak you out, but I do want to alert you to possible complications that could arise. Be careful and you won't have any problems until your insurence kicks in.

Thanks for the advice. I'm no doc, but it sure sounds like I have the same type of "umbilical hernia." I skipped legs today but I feel sick for it...

 

[SofaGeorge]

That doesn't sound like a hernia... get it checked to see if it is a lumpoma.

 

[40butpumpin]

These make me feel a little better. Thanks guys. Hell, I'm thinking of taking some low dose anavar durring recovery to retard muscle wasting. I'll live, but it's just bad timing. I feel like my training is really taking off - I don't want a forced break.

Silent Method you do understand that The Majestic had the Mesh surgery which is why he had such a speedy recovery? You won't get that with the non-Mesh method.

The Majestic did you insurance cover the Mesh without any problems?

 

[Silent Method]

That doesn't sound like a hernia... get it checked to see if it is a lumpoma.

What is a "lumpoma?" I'm searching but I can't find it. I'm going to get checked out for sure, but I'm literally broke. Please get back to me soon on what a lumpoma is so I know what I might be dealing with.

However, I've looked into umbilical hernias an it sounds like exactly what I have. If correct, I'm feeling a little better about my situation. Recovery for corrective surgery for umbilical hernias looks like it is fairly quick.

Adults:

Umbilical or para-umbilical hernias are relatively common in adults. They are more common in overweight people and in women, especially after pregnancy. Most surgeons recommend they be surgcially repaired, as they tend to get bigger over time.

Without surgical repair, there is a risk that some abdominal contents, typically a bit of fat or intestine, will get stuck (incarcerated) in the hernia defect and become impossible to push back in, which is typically painful. If the blood supply is compromised (strangulation), the patient requires urgent surgery.

Incarcerated abdominal tissue may cause nausea, vomiting, and abdominal distension.

Any patient with a hernia that cannot be reduced, or pushed back in, while lying down and relaxed should seek urgent medical attention.

What to expect after
Expect successful repair of the hernia. The long-term prognosis is excellent. Very rarely the hernia will recur. Recurrence is more common if a larger hernia (more than 3 cm) is repaired without a mesh.

Convalescence
Most umbilical hernia repairs are done on an outpatient basis, but some may require a short hospital stay if the hernia is very large. After surgery, the patient's vital signs are monitored and he or she will remain in the recovery area until stable. Medication is supplied for pain as necessary. Patients, or parents if the patient is a child, are taught to care for the incision at home. Full activity can be resumed in 2-4 weeks.

 

[Silent Method]

Silent Method you do understand that The Majestic had the Mesh surgery which is why he had such a speedy recovery? You won't get that with the non-Mesh method.

Doctor, GIMME THE MESH!

 

[The Majestic]

40butpumpin, Fortunetely I have very good health insurance,and didn't have to pay a cent for it. However, this should be covered, the mesh procedure is about 10yrs old,and drastically has reduced the # of re-occurences.

My doctor told me at the time he had 1 out of over 2,500 patients that had a reoccurence in the same area. It actually makes it stronger than the original abdominal wall. Keep in mind i had what is known as a inguinal hernia which is in the groin area.

A co-worker had 4 operations on the same area, when i told him to look into the mesh procedure,so far he hasn't had any problems....

 

[wartime100]

It could be a hernia. Go to the doctor. If it is schedule surgury asap and in the meantime stick to some light maintence workouts and try not to strain. I know how you feel bro. I had a double hernia that was so bad it took me out of lifting for like 4 months.

 

[Fonz]

Re: Re: make sure the little fucker's not getting stuck in a pinched position?

Even though its not what you want to hear he's right.

Stop lifting ASAP.

Right now its just torn not RUPTURED.

If you let it be it CAN repair itself and therefore save some future
hernia surgery for you.

And remember(like someone already said), if your hernia does rupture, that perticular piece of tissue will be VERY subsceptible to tearing again in the future when you lift after you get surgery.

A similar thing happenned to me.

I stopped cold. Lost 17 lbs BUT the tissue healed and now its as strong as ever.

Your choice though. 3-4 months of inactivity vs 2-5 Hernia ops in your life.

This btw has come from not stretching the fascia of the abdominal cavity and doing heavy squatting.(Thats how it happens to BB. To me too)

Fonz

 

[Silent Method]

Re: Re: Re: make sure the little fucker's not getting stuck in a pinched position?

Right now its just torn not RUPTURED.

I'm not sure what you mean here. What is you distinction between "just torn" and "ruptured?" In medical terms, hernia and rupture can be used interchangeably in reference to "the protrusion of a loop or knuckle of an organ or tissue through an abnormal opening." Are you refering to a rupture of the inner organ tissue itself? Or did my discription sound to you like the proximal fascia is merely stretched, not torn? To me, it feels as if any retaining fascia is distinctly absent (ruptured) when the protrusion is present.

What kind of hernia did you have (where was it located)?

 

[wartime100]

With my surgury they put a piece of kevlar in the spot where it occured and its been 3 years with no reoccurance.

 

[Fonz]

Re: Re: Re: Re: make sure the little fucker's not getting stuck in a pinched position?

I'm not sure what you mean here. What is you distinction between "just torn" and "ruptured?" In medical terms, hernia and rupture can be used interchangeably in reference to "the protrusion of a loop or knuckle of an organ or tissue through an abnormal opening." Are you refering to a rupture of the inner organ tissue itself? Or did my discription sound to you like the proximal fascia is merely stretched, not torn? To me, it feels as if any retaining fascia is distinctly absent (ruptured) when the protrusion is present.

What kind of hernia did you have (where was it located)?

Left abdominal wall cavity. About 3cm below and to the left of the belly button.

Every time I got up from a chair it "twinged" like hell.
Got it from not stretching before squatting. The down-up motion from squatting creates enormous force on the abdominal wall.

Torn for me is when the tissue is stretched(i.e. pulled) still
cohesive. (Sorry....brit terms are different from american).

Ruptured is when the tissue is not cohesive.

Fonz

 

[mlkmgr]

Originally posted by SofaGeorge

lumpoma

 

[40butpumpin]

Doctor, GIMME THE MESH!

Right on brother! Just makin' sure, I'm sure you understand.

 

[mlkmgr]

seriously, you can still lift while having a hernia. you only run the risk of making the tear bigger. i continued to lift and made my hernia about twice the size it started to be. made no difference to the surgeon. small or large he was getting paid the same either way. i had two inguinal hernias. one on each side of my groin. both were corrected with mesh plugs. have had no problems with either spot. the recovery time for me was longer. not sure if was because of location of hernia or what. i suppose every case is different.

 

[40butpumpin]

40butpumpin, Fortunetely I have very good health insurance,and didn't have to pay a cent for it. However, this should be covered, the mesh procedure is about 10yrs old,and drastically has reduced the # of re-occurences.

My doctor told me at the time he had 1 out of over 2,500 patients that had a reoccurence in the same area. It actually makes it stronger than the original abdominal wall. Keep in mind i had what is known as a inguinal hernia which is in the groin area.

A co-worker had 4 operations on the same area, when i told him to look into the mesh procedure,so far he hasn't had any problems....

Man that's good news. My doc told me just last month I have a slight hernia in the groin area. But I've been lifting like a madman in spite of it. He said he's gonna have to check it every once in a while to see how it progresses but he said surgery is definite down the road. But I've known about the mesh for some time but at the time it was not covered by a lot of insurances. I guess now they've had such success with it they were just overwhelmed. I did know it was THE way to go for atheletes and the like becasue of the minimal recovery time and low incidence of reoccurance.

 

[Silent Method]

Re: Originally posted by SofaGeorge

lumpoma

Yeah, from what I can find, lumpoma is slang for a benign growth of unknown origin. Thanks to SofaGeorge for making me sweat a little harder though...

 

[SofaGeorge]

Re: Re: Originally posted by SofaGeorge

Yeah, from what I can find, lumpoma is slang for a benign growth of unknown origin. Thanks to SofaGeorge for making me sweat a little harder though...

Lumpomas are not a big deal. They are fatty tumors. Everybody has them. The kind of hernia you are describing is very rare. Usually a guy gets a lumpoma on his abs and thinks it is a hernia.

Stop sweating. Go to a county clinic if you are broke and get it checked out.

 

[Silent Method]

Re: Re: Re: Originally posted by SofaGeorge

Lumpomas are not a big deal. They are fatty tumors. Everybody has them. The kind of hernia you are describing is very rare. Usually a guy gets a lumpoma on his abs and thinks it is a hernia.

Stop sweating. Go to a county clinic if you are broke and get it checked out.

I'm fairly convinced this is an umbilical or paraumbilical hernia. According to the info I'm finding on the net, they are not uncommon at all. I've played around with this thing nonstop now for a day and I can feel tissue squeeze out of a crevice in my abs when proper "pressure" is exerted, and slide back through the crevice when I push.

I hope you are right and it turns out to be a fatty tumor, but I doubt it.

Good call on the doc though. I need to find some cash fast.

 

[liftsiron]

Rupture or tear mean the same thing, the medical term for either is hernia. Sofa George lipoma is the more commonly used medical term, its means fatty tumor, they are always harmless but often need to removed for cosmetic or other reasons. I do not believe that this is the case with SM, I think that he has a very slight hernia, from the information given.

 

[icelandic]

You can probably find a family medicine physician who can simply advise you if you do indeed have a hernia, tell him your insurance situation and he may not even charge you. Until then, you should immediately cease any excercise that creates intra-abdominal pressure (i.e. just about everything you can do in the weightroom).

For what it is worth, an umbilcal hernia is farily common and rarely requires surgery. There is a very easy test for this: pretend you are doing a sit-up, about midway through the range of motion, feel directly below your belly button, if you can feel a small gap in the abdominal muscle, then that is what is known as an umbilcal hernia. This is a congenital condition and is typically left alone unless the gap is very large in which cae there is a risk of the intestine becoming pinched.

An inguinal hernia is the very serious kind. The most dangerous aspect to this injury is the chance of tissue or the intestine becoming pinned between the muscle tear and becoming gangrenous. This situation is life-threatening and requires emergency surgery within 24 hours. The mesh method is gaining favor by most american surgeons as it drastically reduces the chance of recurrence. The mesh is typcally a sterile kevlar composite. For more information on this procedure, read this (requires adobe acrobat)
http://www.uclh-herniaclinic.co.uk/uclhmesh.pdf