What's this mass?
April 6, 2012 10:13 AM Subscribe
Hernia filter: I have a protrusion under my belly button on the right side, almost parallel to the hip bone. You can only see it if I lean back, but then it is very visible. It's about 4 inches long, 1.5 inches wide and is spongy (almost like a gas bubble or bloat). It does not hurt. Hernia?
Additional info:
1. YANAD/YANMD.
2. I have a dr. appt on Monday. The nurse told me that if it wasn't painful then I could wait.
3. I lift heavy and just did deadlifts twice this week (including yesterday). I weigh about 127 and lifted 100 pounds in straight-leg and regular deadlifts this week.
4. I am a woman, age 33, lifting heavy (steadily) for about a year. I have a trainer and my form is proper.
Any ideas what it could be besides a hernia? Should I try to get into a doctor today?
Additional info:
1. YANAD/YANMD.
2. I have a dr. appt on Monday. The nurse told me that if it wasn't painful then I could wait.
3. I lift heavy and just did deadlifts twice this week (including yesterday). I weigh about 127 and lifted 100 pounds in straight-leg and regular deadlifts this week.
4. I am a woman, age 33, lifting heavy (steadily) for about a year. I have a trainer and my form is proper.
Any ideas what it could be besides a hernia? Should I try to get into a doctor today?
IANAD, but I'd suggest that you absolutely stop lifting until you can get in to see a doctor. Hernias don't always hurt.
posted by Halloween Jack at 11:21 AM on April 6, 2012 [4 favorites]
posted by Halloween Jack at 11:21 AM on April 6, 2012 [4 favorites]
From my dad's recent experience, it sounds like a hernia. His wasn't painful, until all of a sudden it was really painful. Then it was time for the ER and emergency surgery before his bowel was permanently damaged by ischemia. If you go to the doctor and they confirm that it's a hernia, I have the feeling that they'll schedule you for surgery, and make you stop lifting until you're recovered.
posted by twoporedomain at 11:22 AM on April 6, 2012
posted by twoporedomain at 11:22 AM on April 6, 2012
If it doesn't hurt, seeing your doctor on Monday is OK. Probably best to avoid the weightlifting until that appointment, but ususal daily activities are fine.
I couldn't quite tell where this is from your description: midline? groin? Does it come and go or is it there all of the time? vary in size?
Things to prompt an ER visit: if you have abdominal pain/nausea/vomiting, or if the lump becomes painful/red. Even if this is a hernia these problems are unlikely on a day to day basis.
Another possibility besides hernia is a lipoma.
Please note that I am a stranger on the internet, IANYD, this is not medical advice, etc.
posted by maryrussell at 11:39 AM on April 6, 2012
I couldn't quite tell where this is from your description: midline? groin? Does it come and go or is it there all of the time? vary in size?
Things to prompt an ER visit: if you have abdominal pain/nausea/vomiting, or if the lump becomes painful/red. Even if this is a hernia these problems are unlikely on a day to day basis.
Another possibility besides hernia is a lipoma.
Please note that I am a stranger on the internet, IANYD, this is not medical advice, etc.
posted by maryrussell at 11:39 AM on April 6, 2012
Seriously, quit the lifting NOW until you are cleared by a doctor. If a hernia becomes strangulated, it is a serious medical emergency. Otherwise, hernia repair is a much lower risk procedure. Low risk enough that I had one when I was a month old and I am certain the procedure has improved since then.
posted by kamikazegopher at 12:30 PM on April 6, 2012
posted by kamikazegopher at 12:30 PM on April 6, 2012
Do you still have your appendix? If so this may be what you are seeing.
posted by The Violet Cypher at 1:04 PM on April 6, 2012
posted by The Violet Cypher at 1:04 PM on April 6, 2012
Do you still have your appendix? If so this may be what you are seeing.
??? Unlikely.
Keep the monday appt, but if you start feeling any abdominal pain, nausea, stop having bowel movements, or if the lump changes colour then try to get in earlier.
Laying off the weights for a few days is probably a good idea too.
posted by chiquitita at 6:29 PM on April 6, 2012
??? Unlikely.
Keep the monday appt, but if you start feeling any abdominal pain, nausea, stop having bowel movements, or if the lump changes colour then try to get in earlier.
Laying off the weights for a few days is probably a good idea too.
posted by chiquitita at 6:29 PM on April 6, 2012
Unless you're 4 foot nothing, you sound very lean to me (moreso given you have muscle mass in that 127lbs).
Do you have stongly defined abs? You may simply be describing an unherniated stretch of palpable large bowel. Given you're lean it may also be visible when you arch back.
The doctor will soon tell you.
posted by de at 8:15 PM on April 6, 2012
Do you have stongly defined abs? You may simply be describing an unherniated stretch of palpable large bowel. Given you're lean it may also be visible when you arch back.
The doctor will soon tell you.
posted by de at 8:15 PM on April 6, 2012
I got one from a bout of coughing; exact same spot you describe. That was a year ago. Aside from "being there" I still work out each morning (P90X2) without any problems. I have avoided the issue after learning the surgery can pose the risk of not "getting a hard on" anymore. The smarter person would go see the doctor. I am sure, if you have insurance, they will do some surgery on you. If so, let me know how that goes.
posted by bkeene12 at 9:00 PM on April 6, 2012
posted by bkeene12 at 9:00 PM on April 6, 2012
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by OsoMeaty at 10:23 AM on April 6, 2012