Anyone had a belly button hernia?

[KTP]

I went to the doctor with a lump inside my belly button and was told it is probably a very slight hernia (common in babies). I can feel it bulge when I cough, but it isn't sticking out or anything, just can't poke my finger as far into my belly button as I used to. The doc said it is elective to get it fixed and didn't look in danger of strangulation. Sorry if this is TMI, but I panic about cancer whenever I have some sort of pain.

To tie this in with finance, I am considering waiting until 2014 to get an ultrasound and then some sort of surgery. New to us this year is an HSA, and every visit up to $5,000 comes out of our pocket or the HSA (company contributes $2000 to it). So far this year we have only had $250 total of hospital bills and I have paid those with cash. I want to let the HSA grow tax free as it is invested in a brokerage account. I treat it like a Roth IRA.

What do you think? Am I being penny wise and pound foolish? I am not in pain really, but it has me thinking a lot when I lift something (will this be the time that my guts come spewing out ?) Again, sorry for the TMI.

I wonder how much an ultrasound costs out of pocket...

[kork13]

Personally, I'd recommend just getting it taken care of. I know a few people (surprisingly young actually, all in their mid-20's) who have had hernias & gotten them repaired no problem. Hernias often are not critical (as long as they don't strangulate), but if it bothers you & causes concern, just get it fixed. It's up to you and your level of comfort, but IMO, peace of mind is worth going under the knife if you know something is wrong. The only downside of getting it repaired is that you'll have to take it easy (no heavy lifting or strenuous exercise for you... but then, that is also the kind of stuff that could make it worse if not corrected, so either way)

[Wino]

It's called an umbilical hernia, and I have had one that I got repaired. I let it go too long, and it got worse. It will only get worse, so go ahead and get it fixed. I had mine fixed about 7 years ago, and although it was poorly done, I don't have any more problems with it.

[KTP]

It's called an umbilical hernia, and I have had one that I got repaired. I let it go too long, and it got worse. It will only get worse, so go ahead and get it fixed. I had mine fixed about 7 years ago, and although it was poorly done, I don't have any more problems with it.

Thanks. I do want to get it repaired (I think they use a mesh?) but was thinking of waiting until Jan 2014 so the surgery will go on a fresh 2014 deductible. I am sure with the tests and surgery it will exceed the $5000 deductible, so anything else we have done in 2014 will be *free*.

Was yours ok for at least 3 or 4 months?

[Wino]

Three or four months probably won't make a difference. Your mileage may vary. I went two or three years before I had mine fixed.

[adviceseeker]

Have it check ASAP to eliminate complications if you wait for a year or so to have it fixed! Better to treat something early as it can cost less.

Good luck!

[MonkeyMama]

I'd just get it taken care of.

I don't know the odds that it is obviously just a hernia. But in one single year both my spouse and I went in to Doctor for various lumps and symptoms and we were both told it was absolutely nothing. His ENT had a gut feel and sent him for an MRI. (Turned out it was brain tumor - though he exhibited no symptoms that alarmed neurologists - I think he had seen two before he was diagnosed - he just did not exhibit *any* of the symptoms expected given the HUGE mass in his brain). SO, I go in with a lump just a few months later and the doc is like 99.99% sure it is nothing, but he sends me for ultrasound almost apologetically. I think just too many freak things like this and he had been proven wrong by one too many ultrasounds. I did not mind given my spouse's experience, and because an ultrasound is very low cost and - it was only like $200-ish though it wasn't covered for me - and has no radiation and so on. (MRIs cost us $1500 and we need a ton into eternity, so ultrasound sounds darn cheap to me!!) Anyway, what followed was a cancer scare.

I will give you that in both cases they were benign and if we waited a year or two or three would probably not amount to much. But, they don't mess with these things - one day they tell you it is "nothing" and the next you are having surgery. If it was cancer, taking it care of ASAP would be prudent. They never know for sure until they cut it out and biopsy it.

I don't say to scare you. Fear is not my angle. But I get the sense you can afford to get it taken care of and your health isn't just worth messing with.

If it's 100% a hernia, then I don't think it probably matters much. If it can get worse though, I would be inclined to just get it taken care of. The mere suggestion of an ultrasound makes me thing you should get it done. You can make better decisions based on those results. IT may be no big deal to wait for the surgery.

All of the above said, being able to choose year of surgery and not being rushed into it "next week" does sound nice. If you have that kind of freedom - enjoy it.