Sounds a bit like what my wife suffereed. She had gall bladder removed in her early 20's, in the days when they made about a foot long incision in the stomach. Over time and 2 more childbirths and other straining activities, she developed a hernia. I often caught her pushing on her stomach and asked why. She said she felt better when she did. Apparently the surgery scar opened up and allowed part of her intestine to poke out. So at age 50, in goes another dr. to repair tear. They used a piece of mesh to cover the tear. No problems since, but there was a year long recovery period where no abdominal muscle use is required. Not sure if that was dr.'s orders or her scheme to get me to do housework.
Not sure what to recommend, but in her case it was the possibilty of intestine obstruction that was the deciding factor.