Northern

My Experience - Wisconsin

Thanks Rajibaji,
Great info. The dining room table would scare most, but, lol. It wouldn't bother me. Once you have a couple hundred taken out, its kinda like clipping your finger nails. Its just maintenance, lol. I like your upbeat comments though, its nice to see someone take the fear and depression out of it make the best of the situation. We really have no choice. Ya gotta do what ya gotta do. Even though I understand those feelings.

Great info also on costs. Not all Drs will drain your wallet. There are ways to get things done. It can be exhausting at times trying to find them, but don't take 'no" for an answer.
I've had the same Dr for many many years and have been lucky.

As for pricing here. Well. think about it. lol. A 40,000 house here would cost about 500,000 in any city. So we just let our Dr's whip out their butter knives, whiskey, and have at er. lmao.

Keep contributing - it's great to hear the ups and downs of "Lipoma Life" I think we all should have our own TLC tv show.

Take Care ! My best to all and remember when you call your insurance company.....

"Make it idiot-proof and someone will make a better idiot."

OMG That is ridiculous. Was it a plastic surgeon or a general surgeon ? I'm still for a unifed health care system. Get rid of every single insurance company that raises the overhead so high for us and the dr's, and than health care can be reachable for everyone. Think how much 'fat" could be cut by deleting every outside insurance company. If they got rid of all the insurance companies and what they cost, for red tape and paper work, it would save BILLIONS in waste. Than healthcare could be provided for everyone on an even basis. Everyone deserves the same health care. It should not be base on income. We should all be entitled to the same cold medicine or cancer treatments. Period.

Where do you get the 4585 for each one ? One of the reasons for doing more at once is because of the initial charges. If you get one at a time taken out its going to cost a fortune. If you do 10 it costs alot less since the surgical area is only prepared once and the instruments and bed are only use once for that session. Besides, people spend alot more on a new set of ta tas or some other vanity surgery. This surgery is meant to be a relief from physical discomfort and pain.
To answer the DR above. I don't have Dercums Disease. I have many Angio Lipomas. There are alot of misconceptions about Lipomas. Even by Dr's. They ARE painful. Not all, but many are. They are very uncomfortable when you have them in large quantities because they are stretching your skin and pulling on your muscles and flesh as you move or push against you on your legs or back when you sit. Even if the tumor doesn't cause pain itself, if you sit on it, lean against it or push on it from sitting or sleeping it can be very painful.

Hi Prashanth. Ask as many questions as you like. I will try to answer them. I do need to make a point that I am not a dr and I am referencing my own personal experiences.

First of all, Some hospitals have plans and grants to cover surgeries like this when needed. There are also state programs to help. If the tumors are growing, don't let them get too big. The bigger they are, the harder it is to take them out and it can be more dangerous or have more side effects such as "empty spots" from where a large tumor was.

I have a BIOPSY on a regular basis meaning that a tumor is sent to pathology to make sure there isn't any cancer. Because there are so many, it is good for me to check that. There are no scans that I know of that will tell you if there is something more serious wrong. Only surgery and pathology can check that (as far as I know) The only treatment I am aware of is surgery.

I have had over 50 taken out many times. There is no guarantee that they won't come back. But please remember, your condition may be different from mine and it is important to have a Dr. evaluate them. I have talked to people that waited too long and the tumors became seriously large and the root system was deep. Some, if left alone, can become extremely large and can attach to internal organs and weave into muscles.
I have lost feeling because of them. Had Involuntary movement, extreme pain, trouble walking and standing, trouble sleeping and sitting, and may more different symptoms that the tumors caused. It all depends on where they are, how big, and how deep they are. Nobody seems to know why they appear or grow the way they do. I do need to point out, that I may take out 70 during the winter but I leave just as many there. The ones causing the most problems are the ones that come out.

The only scars you can see on my are from the most recent incisions. There are stitches or butterfly bandages. I use alot of stitches because of where they are such as stomach or legs where they could stretch open. The scars will fade. I put lotion on them a couple months after I know they have healed. The trick to avoiding the scar is to be careful when healing so the incisions don't come open (thats why i like stitches) Than keep the scars out of the sun !! They will burn and keep that pigmentation. Keep them cover with clothing until healed well enough to use a sun block on them. I use a vitamin E enriched lotion to aid in fading.

The first time you have them removed it can be uncomfortable but don't let it scare you. The first few days after surgery are usually the worst if you have any problems at all and it does get better. it all depends on how many, how big, and where.

If you are feeling pain at all, you need to have them checked. The fact that they are there would warrant that. There are many different variations that can be similar, yet very different in the end result.

I don't mean to scare you but you do need to be aware of your body. I was about your age when I had my first one removed. I started researching and asking questions to find out as much as I could, and I still am asking, and now am 47 years old.

It can be a struggle but life is still good. Every surgery I've had gave me more than it took. It relieved much more pain and discomfort than it caused. You have to do what you feel is right for you. I understand the feeling of being "invaded" in having them all over my body. The fear of where they will be next. I still get angry and frustrated at times and want it to just go away and the fear involved.

When I started dealing with it, there was no internet. I, like many others, were much more isolated and alone. It was frightening thinking we were the only ones. Keep searching and asking questions. ALWAYS ask questions. If a dr won't answer them or you feel brushed off, find a different dr.
Remember, you're not alone in this condition. I have met some wonderful, courageous people through out my years of searching.

Hi,

First thing you need to do is find an actual surgeon. I do understand the pain. Unfortunately, many of the doctors still say, regardless of what we tell them, that Lipomas are not painful or dangerous.
My surgeon is a general surgeon who does things from simple procedures to cancer treatments, skin grafts, mastectomy, heart, etc...

Search for surgeons in your area and call each one. My process in finding a surgeon took a long time, but that was before the internet existed so things have changed now. Look for surgeons that may have a practice outside your hospital.

Don't give up though. You can ask ahead of time when you call if the surgeon would do that type of surgery.

You do have to be persistent and tell them you need it checked out. If its causing that much pain tell the doctor that says no to send you to a specialist. You have that right.

I have had alot of surgeries and each has given me back control of my body, not taken it away.

I am not a doctor and don't want to steer you in the wrong direction. I do think though, that you need to have it checked out again and if you haven't they should, in the least, make sure it is what they say it is.

If a person can lose a hand and have it sewed back on and work.....why are they saying they can't remove a lipoma ? Get a different doctor.

I was told that surgery is the safest way. Liposuction is not recommended. The roots of the lipoma can attach to veins and doing liposuction could cause serious bleeding problems.

I have had some fairly large tumors taken out and I have talked with people that have had some taken out that were well over baseball size tumors.

You just need to find the right doctor. I have had a few that have left a numb spot here and there, but I am happy the pain is gone !