I have a hard lump in my lower, left abdominal area, just inside of my hip. It is significant when I have not had a bowel movement in a couple of days, which makes me believe it is intestine. Once I go to the bathroom, it is gone or reduced. It feel several inches long and causes discomfort at times.

When I first went to my doctor about this, 2 years ago, he immediately thought it was a hernia. However, the specialist he sent me to was unable to make the diagnosis after the MRI. When they did the ultrasound, however, the women in the room thought that they did find a hernia, but it was very difficult to determine. Of course, I had gone to the bathroom before my appointment and the bulge beneath my skin was not apparent.

Does this sound familiar to anyone with a hernia that was difficult to diagnose?