It was a surgeon I was referred to for an endoscope by my oncologist. I was starting to have some digestive issues we thought might be related to the Whipple (turned out to be a recurrence of the cancer at the original site). He discovered the hernia while examining me during the surgical consult prior to the procedure. He said to just monitor it, nothing about wearing a brace or anything else to support the area. Wishing you and your husband all the best!