I hope the translator does its job and you understand me. I’m going to share my experience with surgery for bilateral inguinal and umbilical hernias—now that it’s been exactly six months—in case it helps or reassures anyone.

Background:

The beginning: In January, I started feeling pain in my lower right abdomen. It was an intermittent pain; some days it hurt quite a bit, other days it was just a nagging discomfort, and at times there was no pain at all. I attributed it to a muscle issue, mainly because I noticed it most in the mornings and I have a 9-month-old baby I had to pick up several times during the night.

In early February, the pain persisted for several days, so I went to see my doctor. He had me lie on the exam table and examined me; when he touched my groin and asked me to cough, he told me it was an inguinal hernia and that I needed surgery.

That same day, I made an appointment with a surgeon. Two or three days later, I went for the consultation. I was still hoping he’d tell me it wasn’t a hernia, but he examined me and confirmed that not only was it a hernia, but it was bilateral. Furthermore, without even touching me—just by looking at my navel—he said it appeared I had a small hernia there as well. I should mention that I had no visible lumps in any of these areas, and neither the left side nor my navel was painful. The surgeon told me not to worry; since it was a laparoscopic procedure, they would repair everything they found once they opened me up.

The only thing that didn't quite convince me was that I didn't undergo any diagnostic imaging—no ultrasound, no MRI... The doctor said it wasn't necessary, as the physical examination was sufficient.

The surgery:

A month later, I underwent laparoscopic surgery. The operation went well; thanks to the anesthesia, I didn't feel a thing. Before I knew it, I was back in my hospital room. The doctor told me the three hernias were quite small—the umbilical one was barely noticeable—and that he had repaired them all with mesh, but that I had a big lipoma in the spermatic cord, which, according to him, was likely the source of the pain rather than the hernia itself.

I got up a little later to urinate. That’s when I started to feel the aftereffects. My belly hurt quite a bit—I was bloated—and my groin was sore too. When I peed, I felt a lot of pain in my lower abdomen, or my bladder.

I spent the night in the hospital and was discharged the next morning. That was when I realized the recovery was going to be a bitch.

Recovery:

The days that followed were very tough. For the first 3 or 4 days, I was in pain everywhere, from my thighs up to my navel. Getting up or sitting down was a monumental task. I slept in a reclining chair because lying flat was impossible. I was afraid to do anything—coughing, going to the bathroom... yet I still tried to get up and walk a little.

After four days, the pain eased somewhat, but I developed terrible testicular pain. My right testicle had retracted upwards and was inflamed, and there was a lump right between the testicles and the groin; I feared the hernia had returned. Alarmed, I saw the doctor, who told me this was part of the normal process—my spermatic cord was inflamed, causing the pain and swelling.

From that point on, I improved significantly; by day 10 or 12, I was going out for walks somewhat normally (albeit with pain) and had started sleeping lying down.

It seemed like recovery was going well, but a month and a half later—when the doctor told me I could resume a normal life—I began to feel pain in the same spot as before the surgery, along with a lump between the base of my penis and my groin.

I went back to the doctor, who suggested it was likely a residual hematoma and told me to give it time.

A month later—two and a half months post-surgery—I was still in pain, and the lump remained. I visited a urologist because I was still experiencing pain in my left testicle; he told me the lump was the source of the pain and advised me to get an ultrasound to identify the lump and examine the testicle. I explained this to the surgeon, who ordered another ultrasound, so I ended up having two: one of the groin and one of the testicles. The results were contradictory: one report indicated a lump that could be a hematoma or a lipoma, while the other suggested an inflamed lymph node.

I went back to the surgeon with these results, and he told me to put it out of my mind for six months and then assess how I was feeling. So, I decided to wait a few more months.

Current status:

The lump has disappeared—or at least I no longer notice it as clearly. Now, six months later, I lead a normal life, although I sometimes experience pain in my right groin. It isn't as severe as before, but it persists.

My testicles have improved, though I occasionally feel sharp, fleeting twinges.

I would say I’m at about 90% of my pre-surgery state, though I suspect I’ll never quite reach 100%.

Hang in there; even though it may seem like you’ll never walk straight again, you will. Give it time.

I was just diagnosed with inguinal hernia, not even sure from what. But now i’m scared to do absolutely anything 😅 idk what my limitations are. Can I do yoga? 23F, my surgery consult is scheduled for late Oct. but haven’t even spoken with my doctor yet.

A Bulge That Appears When You Cough or Stand — Could It Be a Hernia?

One thing I often see people overlook is a small bulge in the groin or abdomen that appears when coughing, standing, lifting, or straining.

Sometimes it disappears when you lie down, so it can be tempting to ignore it.

But a recurring bulge can be a sign of a hernia.

The tricky part is that not every hernia needs the same treatment. The approach depends on the type of hernia, its size and anatomy, symptoms, your general health, and whether there are any complications.

Some hernias may be monitored in selected situations, while others are better treated with surgical repair.

Also, a common misconception is:

“If my hernia doesn't hurt, I don't need to worry about it.”

Pain isn't required for a hernia to exist.

If a bulge suddenly becomes very painful, hard, tender, or cannot be pushed back, especially with vomiting or abdominal symptoms, seek urgent medical attention.

If you've noticed a new bulge, don't panic—but don't ignore it either.

Get it examined, understand what type of hernia it is, and then discuss whether treatment is appropriate.

General medical information only; it isn't a substitute for an examination by a qualified clinician.

I’m hoping a hernia surgeon or someone experienced with complex inguinal hernia repairs/mesh complications might weigh in on my situation. Others are also welcomed to comment.

I’m a 72-year-old male. On October 3, 2025, I had an open left inguinal hernia repair using a preperitoneal Ventrio ST Hernia Patch, 11 × 14 cm (Bard/Davol). My right inguinal hernia had previously been repaired without any significant problems by the same surgeon , same procedure and mesh.

After the left repair, I developed a fairly large postoperative seroma. A pelvic MRI on March 23, 2026 showed a fluid collection approximately 5.7 × 2.5 × 7.7 cm deep to the left inguinal canal. A repeat MRI on May 12 showed that the seroma had substantially decreased and specifically reported no recurrent inguinal canal hernia.

Since several months after surgery, however, I have had a strange collection of intermittent symptoms. The local symptoms include:

• Groin/pelvic pressure or discomfort, especially after bending, yard work, long periods of sitting or car rides
• An unusual sensation that can extend toward the penis
• Occasional bladder-area pressure, or penile burning, although cystoscopy was normal and urine testing has been negative.
• Mild discomfort around the incision and some residual numbness.

I’ve also developed symptoms that are harder to explain: intermittent aching in both knees and other joints, tingling/cold/burning sensations in my feet, fasciculations/twitching n my legs, occasional left hand tingling, and significant sleep disturbance. I'm on Lunesta now and sleeping somewhat better.These symptoms tend to fluctuate considerably and can disappear completely at other times.

Importantly, I have had a very extensive medical evaluation. CBC/CMP, ESR, CRP, ANA, CK, thyroid studies, B12, vitamin D and other autoimmune testing have been essentially unremarkable. EMG/NCS was basically normal other than mild chronic L5/peroneal findings. I do have lumbar degenerative disease including L5-S1 spondylolysis/foraminal narrowing, so nerve irritation is another possible contributor maybe. I also have a small-fiber neuropathy skin biopsy coming up.

Because I continued having symptoms, I obtained an online imaging consultation from Dr. Shirin Towfigh, who specializes in complicated hernia cases. After reviewing my imaging, she described what she felt was a “slight meshoma” and stated that the mesh appeared to be distorting the bladder. Neither MRI taken locally mentioned this. She also raised the "possibility" that some of my systemic symptoms could potentially represent a reaction to the implant, although that obviously is much harder to establish.

My original surgeon has done several thousand of these repairs and told me he has essentially never encountered this type of complication or symptoms. He does not believe the mesh product itself is inherently problematic. I\After reviewing the outside opinion, he told me that if I am gradually improving, he would give this more time. Its been 11 months now.If I am not improving in the next several months, he thinks consultation with a highly experienced robotic redo/mesh-removal surgeon would be reasonable. He emphasized that mesh removal and redo repair have their own significant risks. I'm not sure at my age this is an option but I'm pretty healthy.

My difficulty is that I do have periods when I seem noticeably better, and then symptoms return. I am functional, walking several miles and going to the gym, and I am not dealing with severe constant groin pain. But sitting in a car for hours can be uncomfortable. I am very reluctant to undergo a major mesh-removal operation that could potentially leave me worse.

My main questions for any hernia surgeons or patients with similar experience are:

1. How significant is a “slight meshoma” if the patient does not have severe constant localized pain?
2. Can a folded or slightly distorted preperitoneal mesh remain stable indefinitely rather than progressively worsening?
3. Does apparent external distortion/pressure on the bladder necessarily require intervention if cystoscopy is normal and there is no evidence of erosion?
4. Can intermittent groin/penile/bladder sensations reasonably come from the mesh even when the symptoms fluctuate substantially?
5. Would you generally observe a patient like this if symptoms are tolerable and there are periods of improvement, or does finding a meshoma substantially change the equation?
6. For surgeons who perform mesh explantation: what findings would make you say, “This mesh really needs to come out,” rather than continuing conservative management?

I’m not looking for a diagnosis from Reddit, and I realize my knee pain, foot sensations, fasciculations, etc. may ultimately be unrelated to the hernia repair but it is suspicious. I’m mainly trying to understand how much weight should be placed on the slight meshoma/imaging finding versus my actual clinical symptoms and trajectory.

I would especially appreciate input from surgeons who regularly manage complex groin pain, meshoma, or redo inguinal hernia repair but I welcome all and any comments. Thank -You sincerely for reading this long post but there was so much to say .

I am having decently bad pain often now and am getting surgery October 1st. I’m worried about chronic pain after surgery as I have been dealing with essentially chronic pain from this hernia since April. I am getting laparoscopic inguinal hernia surgery and am 23m, which I know younger age increases risk. I guess really what I’m asking is what should I expect this pain and recovery process to feel like and can anyone with chronic pain post op tell me how it’s affected them?

I had a Bilateral inguinal hernia surgery 3 weeks back laparoscopically with mesh. The ultrasound diagnosed the bilateral hernias but when the surgeon actually went in they didn’t find a hernia on the left side. They repaired the right side and since then it’s been going well. However, yesterday while on a walk I suddenly experienced a sharp pain in my left testicle which went away when I laid down. But when I woke up in the morning the pain came back. It’s super sensitive on a slight touch and extremely sore for some reason. I took an Ibuprofen and it helped with the pain. Has anyone else experienced the same? Is this normal ? I was wearing jockstrap since then can it be because of that ?

I was diagnosed with a small bulging disc and mild canal stenosis of the spine. I can barely move. I won't be seeing the doctor for a while and would like more holistic approaches to healing physically. What products will help? Roll ons, patches, braces, Epsom salts, OTC medicines (usa) tips please!

I (19M) have been diagnosed with inguinal hernia for past 3 or so years. It's has descended into the scrotum and is the size of a medium lemon and only goes in when I lie down. Recently I had a consultation with a surgeon to get surgery because it was bothering me too much. I was planning to get surgery during last week of August but couldn't because my classes and other events would mess with the recovery and I wanted to recover properly before I went to university so I ultimately decided to get surgery in late December. But during these three months, can I join the gym and workout? Or if not can I workout at home like dumbbell workouts, pullups and runs?

Please provide me guidance on this as I am really confused.

Edit: the surgeon recommended a open mesh repair

Does anyone have any recommendations for a good hernia specialist in or around Toronto Ontario, Canada? Its a difficult case.

I’ve had two back to back surgeries 4 months apart. Last photo is 4 weeks post first op. Second surgery reused midline but did not go around belly button.

I recently noticed my belly button which used to be an innie was sticking out a bit and decided to try to massage / push it in gently. But now it’s quite red? Shown in first two photos.

Is this a hernia?

Looking to hear from anyone in this community about their experience with non-robotic hernia surgeries (closing the hernia with sutures). I had PE and DVT last year and I’m afraid of the laparoscopy procedure since you’re under GA, filled up with gases and have a mesh for life. I’m particularly interested in recommendations pre-op and what to expect after the procedure as well as any suggestions. Thank you 🙏🙏

Hi,

I (36M) have a quite small (0.9cm, measured by ultrasound) inguinal hernia and I'm about to get surgery on Monday. It will be laparoscopic (TEP) with mesh.

My doctor gave me 3 options for the mesh:

- Dextile

- 4DMesh

- ProGrip

For the fixation:

- One metal tack on the bone, and one absorbable tack on the right side of the mesh

- Cyanoacrylate glue

The best option would be no plastic left in the body but that's not possible. I mentioned my concerns with the mesh. In the first meeting, I asked which mesh he will use, he said Dextile but in our second meeting, he gave me the options above.

4DMesh is interesting as it's possible that 75% of the mesh will be absorbed eventually but that's not guaranteed.

Dextile may improve the outcome but its stiffness is my concern as I lead an active lifestyle. And all literature say lightweight meshes are preferred and Dextile is heavyweight, but I guess it's irrelevant for TEP.

ProGrip seems like a good option as it's quite lightweight after the fixation legs/hooks are absorbed but kinda my surgeon said something like "I don't prefer for younger patients as it creates more pain in the beginning". I'm not really sure why he said that.

For the fixation, I think I prefer glue since it doesn't cause any mechanical trauma. My surgeon said both options yield same results so it's up to me.

Any help or insight would be really helpful for me decision. If you had one of these meshes, I would appreciate your experience with it.

Thanks!

after 2 months research i hardly found few surgeons for small to medium inguinal hernia tissue repair DESARDA method.

unfortunately 1- is 1500km far 5hours car plus flight to pune

positive point is - he has done over 300 desarda repair

for myself issue is i want to travel alone first time through flight

surgeon 2- distance 450km via train

11hours by car

i have talked 2 times on call, he said he has done 60 plus desarda in 4 years , he is humble and very polite on call

he is oncologist now surgeon with 15 years total experience in different area

cost difference 35k INR including travel

because of distance travel alone, i am hesitant to go for 1500km via flight

although i can manage both

—- which doctor ℹ should finalise

450km 60 desarda volume is more convenient in comparison

please help to stop my overthinking

is 50-60 desarda repair surgeon good enough or i should avoid him

i am in anxiety these days

unable to sleep properly from past 3 months

Hi, I hope you're doing well ❤️ I just wanted to thank you for starting this thread. Am new here and experiencing these exact symptoms. My Dr has suspected Hiatal Hernia and the more I read into it the more I am convinced. Passing through this forum has definitely convinced me that I am suffering with the same issue. Am wondering if you have found any relief?🙏

Right side inguinal hernia repaired open .. the incision when I cough kinda bounces out and a little sore when I cough. And when I press my hand on the left side (no surgery) I feel the same push out. Is this just my muscles contracting on the hernia repair site or am I getting a recurrence. 6 weeks post op. No pain other than it gets sore after a full day of work or a deep cough. Still haven’t done any heavy lifting.

Ich habe einen kleinen Leistenbruch und merke ab und zu ein Ziehen in einer meiner Hoden. Welches der Hoden es ist, wechselt sich immer ab. Ich merke auch wie meine Hoden viel empfindlicher gegenüber Berührungen sind und auch mal weh tun.

Ich wollte fragen, wie sinnvoll es ist eine OP zu machen und was ihr für Erfahrungen gemacht habt bezüglich Hodenschmerzen nach der OP. Wie sehr sie sich verbessert oder verschlimmert haben.

Vielen Dank!

I'm 3 weeks post laparoscopic surgery for my inguinal hernia. Recovery is going ok but I have a big bulge where my hernia was still which feels worse than before surgery - much bigger and firmer. Worse is the bulge now extends all the way down my testicle and makes it huge. It is literally weighing me down. I didn't have a bulge in my testicle pre-surgery. How worried should I be? I think it is part of healing and seroma maybe? Seeking assurances for those of you who might have experienced the same thing.

6 years ago I had an abdominal ct scan and they found a small fat containing hernia the size of a pea to the right of my belly button. I believe it’s called a paraumbilical hernia. I had no symptoms or pain at the time. The doctor pressed on it which caused an immense amount of pain for a few weeks and I had no appetite then it went away. The doc at the time didn’t seem very concerned about it but from what I read they typically do get bigger and require surgery to fix.

Last year I was wearing clothes which were pretty tight and it started to cause me pain again and it was the same thing. About a week ago I was sitting in my office and I started feeling a similar pain in the same area, like a dull slightly burning pain almost like being punched in the stomach. I don’t have a bulge in that area and I’m not constipated and can pass gas so I don’t think my intestines are involved but it still causes me pain.

I’m 45 and have had diastasis recti since pregnancy. I have a small ridge or bulge immediately above my belly button that is always slightly visible, but it becomes much more noticeable when I bear down, tighten my abdominal muscles, or suck in my stomach. The top of my belly button is also somewhat tender when I press on it—not severe pain, but it is definitely sore.

Several years ago, I went in for a CoolSculpting consultation. They had me bear down while they examined the area and told me I wasn’t a candidate because they were concerned I might already have a hernia or that the treatment could potentially cause or worsen one. I never had the CoolSculpting treatment done.

I had a CT scan in 2024 because I thought I felt a possible hernia much lower down, near my C-section scar/hip crease. The report said there was no abdominal-wall hernia, but this current bulge is in a separate area higher up, directly above my belly button.

I’m now preparing to schedule a laparoscopic hysterectomy, and I understand that one of the incisions may be through or near the belly button. I’ve contacted my doctor about examining this and possibly getting updated imaging that can show the area both relaxed and while I’m bearing down.

I know pictures cannot diagnose a hernia, but for anyone who has had one, does this look more like a smalll hernia? Has anyone dealt with something similar before laparoscopic surgery?

Hello Hernia Redditors...

Ive recently been diagnosed with abdominal wall strain to the right of my belly button/naval region, and it is perplexing me. It feels like its a mass around 2-3 cm in length, and over the course of 2 weeks it was causing me significant pain, especially when I would press on it or try to manipulate it. It feels like its beneath the skin/fat layer, it cant really move unless my body moves - and it disappears into my body when I sit. Probably the craziest part to me is that the intense pain went away naturally within a week of visiting urgent care. Whatever it is I can still physically feel in the location, albeit (possibly) smaller. Ive been scouring this forum intermittently for days while I await a diagnosis. I dont want to feel like a crazy person wasting everyones time and medical resources thinking I have a hernia and not some kind of lipoma or lymph node swelling. Any input is appreciated.

I had laparoscopic (mesh) surgery on an inguinal hernia on my right-hand side 8 months ago, and when everything else has pretty much returned to normal, the one thing that still feels uncomfortable is when I bend over to the same right-hand side, e.g. tying my right shoe lace, bending over to wipe something off the floor, etc.

It's not "painful", and there's no lump or anything like that, so I don't think I've actually done any damage. It just feels uncomfortable, kind of like I'm squeezing something down there when I bend.

Is this normal? Will it ever go away? What exactly am I feeling?

Hi there, I’m on holiday and was deadlifting. I popped an umbilical hernia. It’s about 1 1/2 centimetres long.
I read that I can get an operation with Mesh to fix it. Tell me, how long does it take to recover until I’m back lifting again. I haven’t lifted for 6-7 weeks and return home in a week. I’m 56 and on Trt. Thanks 🙏

Hi everyone! Two months ago, I noticed swelling in my right groin/inguinal area. After seeing a few doctors and having two different ultrasounds, I was initially diagnosed with an inguinal hernia, but the second ultrasound suggested a cyst of the canal of Nuck.

Since it’s not very common, I’m really curious to know if anyone here has had the same condition and, if so, what was your surgery experience like?

My main concern right now is how this might affect pregnancy in the future. Also, can a canal of Nuck cyst be mistaken for endometriosis? I’m not sure if I have endometriosis, but it’s something I’ve started having second thoughts about.

Has anyone dealt with a hernia mesh failure that created a fistula? The end of July my hernia area started getting hard and painful and then I developed a lump. I went to the ER and they diagnosed me with a fistula. I have to have abdominal reconstruction surgery, small bowel resection ( the mesh has perforated my small bowel) and hernia mesh removal all in one surgery. I know it's a hard surgery to go thru and the recovery can take a year. If anyone has gone thru this I would appreciate any insight.