I have always had a small appetite but over the past 3-4 months my appetite has got smaller and smaller. A couple of weeks ago it disappeared completely. At around that time I also noticed a firm (ish) lump under the skin and just above my belly button. It was oval in shape, stretching upwards for 3-4 cm and it doubled in size overnight. I also experienced sudden weight gain in January - I put on 20 or so pounds in the course of about a month. Bearing in mind I wasn't eating much at the time this seemed very strange.
I went to see my doctor and they referred me for a blood test. The blood test came back completely clear - no diabetes, thyroid problems, coeliac disease, kidney/liver/iron/ calcium problems. I am waiting for an ultrasound scan but that hasn't happened yet. The doctor thinks the lump may be just some muscle that's come to the surface - but then she only felt it after it had doubled in size and got softer.
I have always had a small appetite and when I am busy I tend not to eat very much so my appetite shrinks. I have been very busy over the past few months - could it be that my appetite has just shrunk to nothing? But this would not explain the sudden weight gain/ abdominal lump. my appetite is gradually increasing now that I am off work and able to focus on eating little and often but it is still not huge.
Hi Tilly. Do you think it's a hernia? I don't know about the loss of appetite and weight gain part, but I developed an incisional hernia four months after bowel cancer surgery. Either side of the scar and about two inches above my belly button. Quite large too. I'm having it looked at privately by a specialist soon as I don't want to wait five months or so for the public system here. ( NZ.) No pain, just a nuisance. Dr just says to keep an eye on it.
You don't mention any surgery so this may not be a relevant comment. Good luck!
Hi John, thanks for your reply. My doctor said they didn't think it was a hernia but they didn't explain why. In many ways it seems like the most likely explanation though. I know what you mean about public vs. private - I've decided to go private on my ultrasound scan because it was a 5 week wait otherwise (I live in the UK). I hope you get your hernia sorted soon!
Hi Tilly. Feeling any better? Yes, saw a surgeon today and he was quite reassuring. Just have to wait and see now. Hopefully not toooooo long. It will need surgery.
Hi Tilly,
I was just curious if you ever found out what it was. I'm dealing with the exact same issues right now. Please respond. Thank you!
Hi Tilly. Yes, has there been any progress or diagnosis lately?
I'm having problems typing, but this is working. I had my hernia op last November using mesh and all seems ok so far
Just a few twinges. Muscle pulling on the mesh, scar tissue, nerve damage? The advice is to wait and see, but it's not toooo bad. Hope Tilly lets us know how things are going.