Hernia fears again

[AbeLinkedIn 41]

So over a year ago I had a hernia scare in my lower abdomen after doing some heavy lifting. Those fears have returned as Thursday I've felt a pain as I was lifting a trash can on my truck to take to the road. I haven't felt much in the way of pain in that area for the last few days but now my fear has evolved because of some constipation I've had lately. I'm worried that my intestines are poking through and I can't feel it and I can't use the restroom as well as a symptom. 

Am I reaching or should I be concerned? Would I be in more pain if I had a groin/intestinal hernia? Who gave Dr. Google his medical license? 

[MARC 429]

Most likely just a muscle strain. I have an Umbilical hernia and my internal medicine and GI physicians said to just watch it. Mine has no pain at all. I would not be concerned as we all get aches and pains at one time or another if we lift something, turn in an odd direction, etc. 

[AbeLinkedIn 41]

You're probably right. I had a BM a moment ago and I felt regular. All this stress has me thinking the worst case scenario 

[MARC 429]

I am the same way sometimes sorry to say. 

[AbeLinkedIn 41]

I hate this, the thought keeps coming to my head and I used to be free from the grips of HA. I can't feel any protrusions but part of me feels tender around the lower right abdomen and I'm concerned about my BMs. I used to be normal, now I'm back to being a hypo

[AbeLinkedIn 41]

Anyone else?

[Morris_The_Cat 23]

I think anyone and everyone here is fearful since this is a HA forum. Lol. I also think though a lot of former HA sufferers come here and help us out, knowing how exhausting and terrifying HA is.

I always say, give it time to heal itself.

Relax, take some slow deep breaths. Take an easy 10 minute stretch break. Take a nice walk on a beautiful day, after work when you've got no significant priorities or responsibilities to address and clear your mind.

Realize that the more significant addressable illness for you to overcome is your initial fear.

You can address that yourself with meditation, acceptance of the injury and confidence in knowing that you're doing something about it by noticing it. And that it's not a death sentence. 

If you've had normal bm, then theres a good instance theres nothing wrong and that it's simply strained muscles (which is why I said an easy, gentle, light stretch break).

I've had muscle pain I've misdiagnosed as "cancer" or something else (clots, aneurysms, etc).

Try not to jump to conclusions that its always the worst thing you can think of

[Iugrad91 501]

My general rule if of thumb is give new sensations at least three weeks to resolve before seeking out reassurance from a doctor. Sometimes I wait even longer if it’s something that tends to come and go, as that almost always is my anxiety talking. Sometimes I seek help sooner, like last week when I knew I had a sinus infection I went in and got a prescription for antibiotics. But things that are not black and white like infection (aches, pains, etc) I will give some time before I look for help. 

 

[AbeLinkedIn 41]

That's just it, I think it comes and goes which I suppose is good, and I managed to use the restroom earlier. 

[Iugrad91 501]

Typically when something comes and goes I attribute it to anxiety. It is either brought on by stress or my over analyzing sensations that I have at certain times, when I’m not occupied with something else usually.

[AbeLinkedIn 41]

I think it's stress in my case. It's making me think I have a problem that's not really there. I'm just curious what some actual hernia signs are since Dr. Google says constipation and abdominal pain are causes for emergency 

[AbeLinkedIn 41]

Update: The area of concern still feels tender like it was bruised (Probably from my constant poking and prodding) but I don't feel a lump or anything problematic that I know of. I was able to use the bathroom this morning but it wasn't a ton and it was a darker brown. Should I take these all as signs that I'm okay or is there something I'm missing? 

[Morris_The_Cat 23]

I'm sticking with strained abdominal muscles. I think you'll be fine

[Anxiety Man 1]

21 minutes ago, Morris_The_Cat said:

I'm sticking with strained abdominal muscles. I think you'll be fine

AbeLinkedIn, I've had something similar for years. I get a spot in my lower right abdomen. Worried if it was appendicitis, or a hernia, for a long time. It comes and goes. I've chalked it up to a "sports hernia", makes the most sense.  I've always tried to feel for a protrusion, or look for a lump, and never find anything. I do workout, but the last time this happened, recently, I was just walking somewhere quickly, lol. 

Now, my whole issue with this, and anything else health-related, is the problem of health insurance. If I could see a doctor, for something like this, I would. But, it always boils down to not being able to afford to get the help I need. Yes, I am in the U.S.A., with the world's best healthcare system. Haha.

[JOYCICLE 654]

On 5/19/2019 at 3:38 PM, AbeLinkedIn said:

So over a year ago I had a hernia scare in my lower abdomen after doing some heavy lifting. Those fears have returned as Thursday I've felt a pain as I was lifting a trash can on my truck to take to the road. I haven't felt much in the way of pain in that area for the last few days but now my fear has evolved because of some constipation I've had lately. I'm worried that my intestines are poking through and I can't feel it and I can't use the restroom as well as a symptom. 

Am I reaching or should I be concerned? Would I be in more pain if I had a groin/intestinal hernia? Who gave Dr. Google his medical license? 

  Apparently anxiety sufferers did and we are the LAST people who should be giving out licenses.  

Constipation is very common with anxiety and the more you stress about something the more backed up you can get. All kinds of pain and pressure can be present. It's not always literal constipation as some of the pain and pressure is likely gas. Either way digestion is a sneaky one. 

[AbeLinkedIn 41]

It seems lately between the tenderness near my groin and my using the bathroom and that unexplained tinge I got Thursday, all signs in my mind scream inguinal hernia. I feel like I'm going mad here. The fact I'm overweight doesn't help as a friend of mine was obese, had a hernia, and died. 

[JOYCICLE 654]

I've never heard of a hernia killing someone, perhaps a complication of one, but not the hernia itself. I'm no doctor, of course. But I've always thought of hernias as more annoying than harmful.  I'd focus on your digestion and see if you can get things flowing more smoothly and then see if that twinge goes away.  

 

[AbeLinkedIn 41]

My thing is surely I'd have more obvious symptoms but the tenderness seems to be near my groin/pelvis and my mind wants to race and say I feel something that's not supposed to be there or something odd like a swelling. Could it be more of a muscle thing that's swollen or what? I don't have pain from coughing or using the bathroom/passing gas, it just feels bruised. 

[AbeLinkedIn 41]

Okay update time: I don't have a hernia, but I feel I'm more conscious of my BMs and how often I go to the bathroom thinking it's related to the hernia scare. 

[Morris_The_Cat 23]

I ate a ton of sushi for dinner (lots of rice), followed by a sugary milkshake. 

My heart was pounding so hard I thought it was going to explode. 

I was terrified I was going to have a heart attack which exacerbated my heart beat even more from anxiety. 

Then I rationalized with remembering what I ate. Taking medication,  and then I go to pee and see I'm seriously dehydrated by its color. No wonder my heart was pounding so hard!

My blood was probably thick as molasses from lack of water. 

The mind plays these tricks on us bro, and we think worst case scenario. Its taxing and I feel, understand and know your pain all too well.

Always try to rationalize your fears when they get out of control. Rationalize and push the negative thoughts out each time they flood back in with more positive affirmations and confidence in your ability to rationalize. 

[AbeLinkedIn 41]

But could our minds confuse u and make us think of something that's not there? I'm getting unnerved about this BM thing considering the most I did in the bathroom these past few hours is pee and pass gas in small amounts. My mind is making me think the worst and I feel around and poke and prod and make the area more sore 

[Morris_The_Cat 23]

So stop prodding the area. If you're constipated and backed up and filled with fecal matter till the point you're intestines are gonna burst from a hernia, you're going to feel a little more than slightly nauseous or some abdominal pain...I'd be pretty sure. I'm not a doctor but I'd rationally assume if I wasn't pooping normal after a few days I'd be more than just a little unsure.

I wore my cpap last night for the longest I've ever worn it (it's so uncomfortable, woke up like 6 or 7 times through the night). After 7hrs and 16 minutes I woke with slight pain in my left eardrum, probably from the pressure of the face mask.

However I was emptying my email yesterday and saw a fear mongering clickbait email entitled: "Tinnitus is a sign the brain is dying" that was just begging me to open it and buy whatever bs they were peddling. Can you guess what happened this morning as a result of remembering that email? Because its 5am as I'm typing this.

My heart practically shot through my chest, and my fingers are shaking as I type this now and come down off that fear and adrenaline. 

This is the stuff we do to ourselves. This is why some people take medication for awhile (prescribed by their therapist responsibly of course) so they don't have these random episodes. But for those that don't want to be medicated (me) or can't afford it because of our countries abysmal healthcare system (me, pretty often as well)...we come on here searching for validation. Validation that obviously, you don't completely believe in. Nor do any of us, as we continue to come back with new worries (me included, but I've tried to refrain from posting about my worries to avoid seeking validation I'm ultimately going to struggle to believe in).

And you're not to blame, because I do this to my wife constantly to the point it was starting to affect her so I sought out professional help.

As I go through the CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) regimen with my therapist in the months to come, hopefully each week I can post useful information on here that may or may not completely help someone. 

Ultimately you're going to have to either trust your instincts and rationalize and believe nothing is wrong with you, or seek a doctor to make the educated decision for you.

Based on your symptoms and stories a lot of people here believe you're okay. And that your fears are exacerbating your issues. Ultimately it's up to you, whether or not you choose to believe it.

 

[AbeLinkedIn 41]

You make a lot of  excellent points. I think the hernia fears have subsided as nothing really feels out of the ordinary, I'm more concerned about constipation and nausea and I know fixating on those things will only strengthen them, but it's the gas bloating that sets me off.

EDIT: Just had a BM, but I still feel a little bloated from gas. 

[Morris_The_Cat 23]

Anxiety does all kinds of things to your guts. I had a 4 month episode of watery diarrhea due to anxiety. Then when I finally got anxiety relief from setting up an appointment, come time for the doctors visit and my BM's were back to normal. 

Do you know how mad I was at all that wasted time I spent worrying only to realize once I stopped worrying, the diarrhea went away? The doctor told me anxiety can have all sorts of physiological effects on our bodies.

My bowel movements are normal now. Especially after he told me to eat more fiber, drink more water and eat healthier. 

So much of this stuff is completely in our heads. I was CONVINCED I had colon cancer, crying about it alone and hiding my fears from my wife so as not to upset her with my HA issues.

Just relax. Give these things time. Take some deep breaths, accept your condition and see if it heals. If you get worst, it doesn't mean you're dying. It just means have it checked out at an urgent care or your PCP. But give it a little time to go away.

Increase your non-gassy veggie intake. And Relax 

[AbeLinkedIn 41]

Funny, I had colon cancer fears at one time but given I'm not old enough for that and no other present symptoms, I got over it quick. I'm just going to say I'm a little backed up and once I stop focusing on it and thinking I have to meet a poop quota, I'll be fine.