Tummy Trouble

Factual Questions
1

TMI WARNING: This is a medical question. Although there’s not a high “eeewww” factor, neither are there any warm fuzzies involved.

I have an umbilical hernia. Do I care?

I know these are common in infants and pregnant women. Sometimes they are corrected surgically if it looks like they’re not going to spontaneously heal when the cause of the hernia (i.e., infancy or pregnancy) goes away. There is a slight danger of incarceration or strangulation of the hernia if left untreated.

But I am neither a pregnant woman nor an infant. I’m a middle-aged obese male. This condition is not going to go away anytime soon. My guess is that what is protruding into the hernia is nothing more than fatty tissue, not a fold of the intestine or anything, which is not uncommon for infants and pregnant women. I suppose the danger of it developing into something more serious is possible, but just how serious is it? Should I see my doctor?

I noticed a protrusion in my navel a few months ago. It grew slowly to about the size of a quarter but it’s no longer getting any larger. When it was smaller I could push it back in but it would re-occur almost immediately. I haven’t tried forcing it back in since it has grown larger, figuring I’d do more harm than good. It doesn’t hurt at all. It’s not tender or anything. Other than the minor cosmetic inconvenience it has not effect at all that I can tell.

Any relevant experience or advice from the Teeming Millions?

2

I am a doc, and I have to say that there is some risk in not getting it repaired. First risk is sudden entrapment and strangulation of intestines into the area, which is a surgical emergency. Strangulation occurs when the blood supply to the affected tissue gets kinked off. Even if you are sure it’s not intestines getting stuck in there, you could also entrap and strangulate fatty tissue, or connective tissue, which also can become a surgical emergency. Real inconvenient at 3AM on a Sunday. Or anytime.

I’d say, just have a family doc or general surgeon check it out, and give you the information and the options. Consultation does not oblige you to get the surgery done. There’s no substitute for an experienced hand checking it out, and giving you the straight dope. Without an exam, it’s all guesswork by anyone else.

3

Thanks. I’ll have the doc take a look at it. I’ve been in to see my doctor a couple of times since it appeared but I didn’t know whether to bring it up or not. I will next time.