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I am lounging here, recovering from double hernia repair surgery and wondered how many of us have gone through the same thing. I realize that this survey will be skewed (most of the guys here play more than most of the guys not here) and further influenced by who decides to respond. But, I was recently at a band director thing and some of us were standing around talking. Of the four of us there, all were low brass guys and all four either had hernia repair done, or were about to. My wife is a physician, and she said I could get some preliminary ideas and maybe we could do a full blown study together. Then we could possibly determine if the inter-abdominal pressure, the schlepping around of heavy horns, or extra-curricular activities precipitate this injury.

I got a double hernia hauling wood off after the '79 hurricane (Fredrick was no lady). Took me 3-6 months after surgery before I could cough and laugh as well as lift normally.
I try to avoid holding my tuba while playing and most always play it on it's stand.
Last Sunday at the outdoor festival at Milton, Florida, the wind blew so hard, I had to tie a piece of quarter inch yachtbraid line from the top bow of my tuba to a convenient gazebo post upwind from us. I would have been unable to let go of it otherwise.

I almost voted yes because I have a hiatal hernia, which is NOT the same thing as what you are talking about. It's on my chest and it's internal, so it doesn't show. It never caused any problems with my tuba playing.