hernia or lipoma? - off topic

can you go to another surgeon for a second opinion?

I agree with Granolamom. Please go for a second opinion. Hopefully, you will get a better vibe from the next doctor.

- Lilly Anne

Hi Amy

I'll add my voice to those of Granolamom and Lilly Anne. Get a second opinion.

When you said, "I wish I trusted doctors more", I thought, "Why would I trust another person who has given me advice that doesn't fit with other information that I already have?" That is actually a very good reason to *not* trust the person, at least until they can justify their advice.

The fact that he did not offer you any tests (did he even palpate it???), to find out what your lump is, says to me that he really doesn't want to know now. Surgery will tell him what it is, and by then it will be in a little kidney tray and gone from your body. Problem solved. He does not acknowledge that you would rather not have any surgery if it is not necessary.

The other thing is that you will need to sign a consent form before having the surgery. If he doesn't know what procedure he is going to do you could be giving him permission to do whatever he wants to while you are under anaesthetic. I am not sure this is a good idea!

There still seem to be a large number of doctors in this world who operate on the priciple that if the patient is worried about something, then remove it and the problem will be gone. Unfortunately it is often not that simple.

Your caution is justified.

Cheers

Louise

Hi Amy!

I have a lipoma in the outside of my upper arm - they can really occur anywhere - many people get them near their neck and at the base of their skull. My daughter has one on her leg near her shin.

I showed mine to my dermatologist years ago and remember him saying "Not a lot can go wrong in that layer". The point being, they should be able to tell what layer the hernia/lipoma is coming from.

I would suggest going to a very well established (I guess this means older - someone who has seen a lot of patients over the years) dermatologist for a second opinion.

Keep us posted!

Christine

After I had my daughter I had a lump - I was first told it was a hernia - Then told it wasnt a hernia - then I was told it IS a hernia - Which it was. I ended up having emergency surgery back them (Para Umbilical hernia) as it got strangulated - Since then I had a second operation as it came back - That 2nd op was this march 16th... So I would definitely say YES get a second opinion.

I did see a different surgeon before and he blamed my hernia failure at repair on my Multiple Sclerosis - So I cancelled his Operation and got me a new Surgeon I felt happy with - You are in his hands so you MUST feel secure in that.

My 2nd operation was a mesh hernia repair - By keyhole surgery - I have pictures of inside of me I can email you lollllll - Just two though.
The mesh repair was FAR superior to the normal one - It hurt less, and I was up and about far sooner. So I would say that would be my choice - I do hate the idea of having the mesh inside of me - But unfortunately I had no choice...

If you want any more information on this kinda thing - Email me thorugh the contact link above - I am happy to share more :-)

Are you in UK? I am in Kent and I had a surgeon who was recommended to me by a friend whose son has had some major surgery with him - He is great at his job - I went to UK BUPA :-)

I found some info here http://hcd2.bupa.co.uk/fact_sheets/html/femoral_hernia.html

Sue

Look into the eyes - They hold the key!
http://www.bringmadeleinehome.com/img/maddy544x150Banner.jpg

My hernia was not found until the doctor pushed and his fingers went right through the hole! So just a little feel will nt give a real answer...

Sue

Look into the eyes - They hold the key!
http://www.bringmadeleinehome.com/img/maddy544x150Banner.jpg

Hi

i can allost hear the audible groan - here she goes again with her alt. medicine.. but whatever saves pple from having invasive surgery or foreign product or toxic drugs is worth looking into i think.

i have a feeling that outside of herbs internally and acupcunture that herbs or poultices would be very very usefull to shrink it topically

look up cabbage/castor oil poultices perhaps if you're interested in ginving that a shot

best wishes

Anne-helen

Sorry but Herbs are not going to help in any way if this is a hernia. And personally if it is I would say in a very loud voice GET IT FIXED SOONER RATHER THAN LATER.

The first time I was on a 9 month waiting list in UK - Within a month I had a strangulated hernia and thepains of this are TERRIBLE - Kind of like labour pains but continually rising inintensity with no subsidence of the pain at all - Constantly increasing. Plus you can die of a strangulated hernia.

Sorry to be so insistent but I have had the same hernia twice - And the first fix was a strangulated hernia and I could well have died.

Herbs are great for alot of things - But I would urge getting this fixed...

Just my opinion :-)

Sue

Look into the eyes - They hold the key!
http://www.bringmadeleinehome.com/img/maddy544x150Banner.jpg

was wondering....my ds (he's 3) had an umbilical hernia at birth, its since closed up but now he's still got all this excess skin hanging off his belly button. kids at the pool have been teasing him that he has a 'penis on his belly' : (
do you know of any way to shrink this topically?
dh and I are not considering plastic surgery, as it is a cosmetic issue only.

Oh gosh, Amy…I’ve thought of you so many times since your last post…hoping you didn’t get a diagnosis of femoral hernia! I’m glad another surgeon was able to diagnose it correctly. It’s so important to trust our instincts. I have an old fashioned dermatologist (I’m sure he doesn’t do botox!) who deals with skin tumors and lumps of all kinds and is a really excellent all around physician. I bet he would’ve diagnosed it correctly too. So glad it’s resolving!

xChristine

Great it is a Lipoma and not a hernia :-)

Sue

Look into the eyes - They hold the key!
http://www.bringmadeleinehome.com/img/maddy544x150Banner.jpg

My sister is recovering from surgery--my same sister who just lost her last ovary due to an infection-tumor--and it was a lump on her thigh. They did two biopsies prior to the tumor removal and no cancer. They found cancer deep inside the tumor--Fibromyoxide Sarcoma is what she has. Fortunately it has yet to travel to any other area on her body but the tumor removal could cause the cancer to travel so she will be going through 6 weeks of radiation. She had the tumor for 6 years--it was located on her top thigh--close to where her leg joins her pelvic area. This location is USUAL for this type of tumor and cancer. We are very fortunate that my other sister worked for the U of M cancer clinic here in MN and knew which Dr to send her to--this post is alarming me because my sister ignored the lump for 6 years--it did grow but not quickly at all and was never painful or bothersome in the least. I hope they have properly made sure everything is okay with you and are not treating you too lightly--this whole episode has shaken us up quite a bit. It has been a horrible summer for us and all of her surgeries and the waiting to find out. We were so happy the cancer had not spread already as it usually goes into the lungs. Please be very careful. We never dreamed this "harmless" non-painful lump would be anything to worry about...

As the "lump" never bothered her she didn't have anyone really look at it until her emergency surgery after her ovary removal (she lost her first ovary during her pregnancy with my niece who is 11--tumor and then it twisted so badly it was gangrenous--same thing happened with this last one on Mother's Day)--and the surgeon who did her ovary removal didn't know--even thought it could be endometriosis gone crazy...anyhow sent her to a specialist but my other sister veered her to the U of M knowing they are best and he was worried about it right away. This type of cancer is rare--only 2% of all sarcoma's apparently but the tumors can be very tricky--two biopsies and no cancer until they removed it and did the pathology in the lab after the surgery. This cancer, if it travels, usually results in lung cancer for some reason--no idea why and it affects young people very often--teens, and 30-40 yr olds. The tumors are usually on the leg, arm and at times in the chest...but mostly leg and arm...The Dr was very upset after the surgery--looked right at my mom and said "it had to be removed"--knowing removing it could actually cause it to travel as it travels through the blood stream...but the tumor was quite large underneath--5cm--Drs had no idea it was so large as on top to the skin it wasn't much.
She is able to walk without any trouble--that was a risk of removal--nerves etc. have to be cut.
I don't know what sort of Dr you saw --I guess I would be wanting to see someone with some experience in these tumors and sarcoma. My sister has had hernia's also--and that was never suggested--that it was a hernia.
Anyhow...I feel badly since she had asked me about it a couple years ago and I had said well you should ask a Dr about it--usually things are nothing and I wasn't alarmed at all and never pressed the issue--as it never hurt and never dreamed it was anything but a harmless lump. It didn't seem to grow much at all --it was growing internally though!
We were so relieved to find that it hadn't traveled anywhere else already--once it does it is much more serious.

Take Good Care of You!!
Therese

I’m praying for your sister, Therese, and hoping with all my heart that her troubles are over for good. Thank goodness she has such wonderful, caring family. Just want to clarify (for anyone who doesn't know) that a sarcoma begins in the muscle layer and a lipoma in the fat layer. Cancer is such a deep mystery!

For the prayers and thoughts...it has been a long summer for her! My mom has been there for her physically and my dad financially so she is faring pretty well...she is a very active person--a go go goer. I am hoping the radiation goes well--some say it is a "breeze" while others find it more troublesome. My aunt had radiation for breast cancer (she said it was a breeze!) and has been well for many many years--first Dr she saw wanted to remove both breasts!!!! Always get a SECOND opinion!!!

Thanks a lot again for the prayers!

sending healing vibes, good thoughts and prayers your sister's way

what a good move it was to go for that second opinion
you must be so relieved!

Has anyone heard of Proton Therapy? It's a wonderful noninvasive treatment for cancer.

Judy

Change what you can change; be happy with what you cannot.