SOunds like a hernia, I definitely think you should get checked out and have radiology work done, ASAP.

Agreed, looks small. But i dont want to take any chances. Will probably push them to fix it surgically and then wait 3 months before starting core exercises

Are you going to get radiology work done and contact the doctor???

Yes, i have sent a message to my nurse and doc at the Cleveland clinic

Great!!! Let me know how things go

Hope you feel better!

Were you exercising intensely??? A lot of people here have gotten hernias from that.

Chronic coughing can cause hernias as well.

Gom, please let us know what happens. And thank you for sharing the photo, helpful.  

Did not do much exercise, its mostly chronic coughing the last week. Sure will keep you all posted.

Chronic coughing will do it!! And Chronic laughing can do it too. Sorry all of this is happening to you! I hate how life is not fair.

I will keep you in my prayers

And yeah definitely keep us posted, hope everything works out.

Quick update: Doc and Nurse at CCF reviewed the picture and symptoms. They just said, it can be a very mild hernia and asked me to wear a belt while coughing. But the other update is that the bulge has for all practical purposes vanished. I had a suspicion that was due to gas build up (i felt bloated as well) and took some gas relief tablets. I got rid of the gas and the bulge has slowly just gone away.

I guess i will just keep a close eye for now and begin core exercises soon to avoid any hernias in the future.

@Gom posted:

Quick update: Doc and Nurse at CCF reviewed the picture and symptoms. They just said, it can be a very mild hernia and asked me to wear a belt while coughing. But the other update is that the bulge has for all practical purposes vanished. I had a suspicion that was due to gas build up (i felt bloated as well) and took some gas relief tablets. I got rid of the gas and the bulge has slowly just gone away.

I guess i will just keep a close eye for now and begin core exercises soon to avoid any hernias in the future.

WHAT?!?!?!! THANK GOD!!! A WORK OF GOD!!! LITERALLY!!!

SO HAPPY YOU ARE BETTER

THANKS FOR THE UPDATE!!!

Well, to be honest, a hernia does not just go away like that. That does not mean you should worry. What probably happened is, like you said, there was gas build up and it caused pressure and bloat. But, that would cause more generalized distention if there was no hernia. Yours was very localized and with it being at the stoma site, it was acting exactly like an incisional hernia, and the stoma site is a common location. It is typical for hernias to slip out and in. That is a good thing as it prevents bowel strangulation.

Yours is quite small and can become less noticeable over time as your abdominal muscles get stronger. I would not recommend any heavy weight lifting though. The defect will always be there without a repair. I had an incisional hernia the size of a grapefruit and repair was optional for me as long as I was not having pain associated with it.

Jan

@Jan Dollar posted:

Well, to be honest, a hernia does not just go away like that. That does not mean you should worry. What probably happened is, like you said, there was gas build up and it caused pressure and bloat. But, that would cause more generalized distention if there was no hernia. Yours was very localized and with it being at the stoma site, it was acting exactly like an incisional hernia, and the stoma site is a common location. It is typical for hernias to slip out and in. That is a good thing as it prevents bowel strangulation.

Yours is quite small and can become less noticeable over time as your abdominal muscles get stronger. I would not recommend any heavy weight lifting though. The defect will always be there without a repair. I had an incisional hernia the size of a grapefruit and repair was optional for me as long as I was not having pain associated with it.

Jan

Hi Jan,

thanks for the detailed note. I will get a ct scan regardless. Its quite possible that it is a hernia since i do get some pain there when i cough. But how will i get my muscles to build up safely? If i do opt to repair the hernia, how long should i wait to start exercises to build my core

also, i flew into ccf for all of my 3 stage j pouch procedures from houston. How complicated is a hernia repair? Do i need to go back to ccf or can i get it done locally.

regards

gom

A good local surgeon should be able to perform a hernia repair just fine. That’s also who can advise you about the size and risk of your particular hernia, and what activity you can safely engage in at this point and going forward. A good surgeon won’t be influenced by their personal interest in performing the procedure. A crappy surgeon will simply advise repair without a thoughtful discussion of the no-repair option.  

I agree with Scott. This is a pretty simple procedure. Any general surgeon could do it. You may want one more experienced, just in case something weird occurs, but there is no need to fly to Cleveland. I don’t really know much about exercise, but you mainly do not want to strain your abs. That increases intra abdominal pressure and can expand the hernia. What ever you do, it would be best to use abdominal support while doing it.

My hernia was diagnosed with a physical exam. No CT scan was necessary.

Jan

Thank you Jan and Scott. Just came out of my pcp's office. She said the same, it was just a visual observation and she confirmed a hernia. She referred me to the chief surgeon at the houston methodist colon and rectal surgery department and also offered a couple of choices closer to me home.

Thank you all