What are the signs and symptoms of an umbilical hernia?
• Signs and symptoms may be very different from person to person. The most common sign of an umbilical hernia is a bulge or swelling in the area of the navel. You may be able to see the lump, or you may feel it when you gently press on your navel. You may have pain or burning in your abdomen. The pain may get worse with coughing, sneezing, lifting, or standing for a long time. The skin over the hernia may be swollen, red, or even gray or blue. The lump may get bigger when you bend, cough, or strain to have a BM. Laying down sometimes decreases the size and the pain of the hernia. • If your hernia is not treated, the following serious problems may happen: • Incarcerated hernia: An incarcerated (in-KAHR-ser-ay-ted) hernia is when the hernia cannot be pushed back into the abdomen by your caregiver. The tissue becomes stuck or trapped, which can cause serious problems. Umbilical hernias have a high risk of becoming incarcerated. If this happens, your intestines may become blocked. You may
