How do you know if you have a hernia?

I know some of you have had hernias that are no doubt hernias but others didn't know it was a hernia until the doctor diagnosed it. If it's not painful or obviously protruding how do you know? Holly W

Hi Miss Holly, First it depends on Where it is, how big it is and I am sure other factors. Some don't know until they are opened up if they had any or not. Some are painful and some aren't. The smaller hernia is, the more dangerous it can be. Mine was the size of a Softball and it did stick out when I strained. but it wasn't painful at all that is why I didn't realize I had one at first. Mine was an incisional hernia. The way mine was tested was, I laid on my back and did a partial crunch and as soon as I did it it would pop out. It would pop out when ever I strained at all. Some people get them the size of a small watermelon! I know someone that hers was so huge I thought it was fat until she got it fixed. But the small ones are the most dangerous. I hope this helps.---Toni

ya know, when i had my WLS they found a hernia i'd had since birth. i had no idea. Then when i had my tt, they found two hernias, again i had no idea. this time, i had some weird pain when i did my physical therapy and didn't know what it was. i told the surgeon i "suspected" i might have a hernia, i was just mildly suspicious that it might be that as i had no idea what the pain was, and yup, sure enough it turned out to be a hernia. i had it repaired last week. i guess what i'm saying, is you don't know, your doctor will know. ask him to check it out. he was able to feel it with a very quick and painless exam. there's many different types but for me, certain exercise and certain movements caused an uncomfortable feeling below my belly. nothing excruciating, just uncomfortable and odd.