It's Probably Nothing Serious

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I saw my surgeon yesterday morning to have him take a look at this hard knot that formed beneath the incision in my bellybutton. He pressed around a bit (which hurt like hell) and concluded that it's most likely a seroma, or built up fluid, which should eventually go away on its own. He said he doesn't think it's an umbilical hernia, but there is a slight risk there could be one, although the x-ray to check for that would be worthless right now since I'm still swollen (and have seromas in my body) and it would be hard to detect a hernia. So for now he's going to keep an eye on it. He told me the signs to look out for that would indicate an infection or some other serious complication, so I feel better knowing what to watch for. I'm also relieved knowing that the knot is most likely nothing serious. Although it's still very painful and I wish it would go away! Tonight I did notice a small lump along my groin line near where my hernias were located, and I'm hoping that is nothing serious either. I see the surgeon again next Friday and will bring it up with him then. There is a low risk the hernia (or hernias) will return and that I will get an umbilical hernia, but if that happens he will go back in and fix it. I just don't want to go through this surgery again, as it has been very hard to recover from. I thought I would be feeling better by now, but it turns out it can take a few months to feel "normal." Wish someone would have warned me of that! Ahh, well. We live, we learn.