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Is A Big Painful Lump Post Abdominal Wall Reconstruction A Serious Concern?
Question: trying to figure out how to send you the photos which I’m hating to send because I look hideous. I’m gonna try to give you as detailed info that I can. Lil I said earlier going back to the hosp isn’t exactly what I planned on doing. I thought I would finally get to start living again by now. But I am in the medical field as well so I’m the type of person that basically wants/needs an idea what I’m getting into before I go or I will find any way I can to get out of it lol ...I am 47 yrs old and have had an unimaginable 28 abdominal surgeries which range from removing scar tissue to ratical hysterectomy. I had a scar that runs down the center of my stomach and I guess it was about 12 inches or better long. All my surgeries was done thru that scar over and over which led to an Incisional hernia around 10yrs ago which was successful but it was done open with a drain. I was told that I could no longer have laparoscopic surgery’s because there was to much scar tissue and by the time they would get In there they was completely blind so a few years later I had gall bladder surgery which my husband told the surgeon ( which was very cocky I suppose because he was an upcoming surgeon making a name for himself) was told I could not have it done laparoscopically because of the risk I just told you. Well he done it anyways and from that point what he called a total success I came home first night crying because the same pain that I went to ththe hospital with and he said was gall bladder was worse then it ever had been and no Dr has ever been about to figure out what the pain is but it was not my gall bladder lol ok so any ways that was my last surgery til now. I’m trying to give you as much detail as I can without boring you. About 8 yrs ago I started noticing my tummy getting fatter. I’m not a big woman but not a small one either lol. I felt I was always proportioned out pretty good because I never had a belly which thrilled me but I started noticing me getting a belly but I had no insurance so the drs would giv me a script for pain medicine and send me on my way because no Insurance I couldn’t afford testing. I got insurance 3 yrs ago and a new Dr. He diognosed my lupus and some other things and thru this time I noticed where I thought I was getting fat was actually a ventral hernia along with what they told me was my abdominal wall falling basically how they put it. I searched surgeons he was suppose to be one of the best along with being at the best hospital I. Florida because it’s a Disney hosp which mean money and money means better equipment for the drs. I went In to see him and long story short he said that I wa basically a do or die situation because of the wall being so weak. Again this dr was told by me and my husband that I could not have it done with what they call a robot at this hosp and told him why and he asked if he could try that if he seen it was a risk he would pull out and do an open. I trusted him so we said ok. He told me that it would be probably a 8-10 hr surgery with probably a 10 day hospital stay. He done it with the robot I was only in there for 3 hrs and they let me go home on the third day and that was after I asked to stay an extra day because of pain and the fact that the main incision looked infected to me. They scheduled all my post ops before left the hospital and when I went in to my pcp he said it was infected and had to put me on antibiotics. I tried to get good pictures of my tummy for you so you could see how big it is. They also let me leave the hospital knowing that I had not had a bm nor did I have bowel sounds just wanted to throw that I. There. When the swelling went down my tummy was flat again. Then I started hurting really really bad and was noticing that I was bruised and assumed it was from the surgery. As the days went on it got bigger with a lot of pain especially to the touch it also carries heat in to. It’s not a hernia but I don’t know what it could be. It’s does not react to a couch besides the pain. I can not push it in even to try to get thru the pain. I’m going to try to send the pictures if they don’t go thru you might have to tell me how to send them
I’m trying to figure out how to send you the photos which I’m hating to send because I look hideous. I’m gonna try to give you as detailed info that I can. Lil I said earlier going back to the hosp isn’t exactly what I planned on doing. I thought I would finally get to start living again by now. But I am in the medical field as well so I’m the type of person that basically wants/needs an idea what I’m getting into before I go or I will find any way I can to get out of it lol ...I am 47 yrs old and have had an unimaginable 28 abdominal surgeries which range from removing scar tissue to ratical hysterectomy. I had a scar that runs down the center of my stomach and I guess it was about 12 inches or better long. All my surgeries was done thru that scar over and over which led to an Incisional hernia around 10yrs ago which was successful but it was done open with a drain. I was told that I could no longer have laparoscopic surgery’s because there was to much scar tissue and by the time they would get In there they was completely blind so a few years later I had gall bladder surgery which my husband told the surgeon ( which was very cocky I suppose because he was an upcoming surgeon making a name for himself) was told I could not have it done laparoscopically because of the risk I just told you. Well he done it anyways and from that point what he called a total success I came home first night crying because the same pain that I went to ththe hospital with and he said was gall bladder was worse then it ever had been and no Dr has ever been about to figure out what the pain is but it was not my gall bladder lol ok so any ways that was my last surgery til now. I’m trying to give you as much detail as I can without boring you. About 8 yrs ago I started noticing my tummy getting fatter. I’m not a big woman but not a small one either lol. I felt I was always proportioned out pretty good because I never had a belly which thrilled me but I started noticing me getting a belly but I had no insurance so the drs would giv me a script for pain medicine and send me on my way because no Insurance I couldn’t afford testing. I got insurance 3 yrs ago and a new Dr. He diognosed my lupus and some other things and thru this time I noticed where I thought I was getting fat was actually a ventral hernia along with what they told me was my abdominal wall falling basically how they put it. I searched surgeons he was suppose to be one of the best along with being at the best hospital I. Florida because it’s a Disney hosp which mean money and money means better equipment for the drs. I went In to see him and long story short he said that I wa basically a do or die situation because of the wall being so weak. Again this dr was told by me and my husband that I could not have it done with what they call a robot at this hosp and told him why and he asked if he could try that if he seen it was a risk he would pull out and do an open. I trusted him so we said ok. He told me that it would be probably a 8-10 hr surgery with probably a 10 day hospital stay. He done it with the robot I was only in there for 3 hrs and they let me go home on the third day and that was after I asked to stay an extra day because of pain and the fact that the main incision looked infected to me. They scheduled all my post ops before left the hospital and when I went in to my pcp he said it was infected and had to put me on antibiotics. I tried to get good pictures of my tummy for you so you could see how big it is. They also let me leave the hospital knowing that I had not had a bm nor did I have bowel sounds just wanted to throw that I. There. When the swelling went down my tummy was flat again. Then I started hurting really really bad and was noticing that I was bruised and assumed it was from the surgery. As the days went on it got bigger with a lot of pain especially to the touch it also carries heat in to. It’s not a hernia but I don’t know what it could be. It’s does not react to a couch besides the pain. I can not push it in even to try to get thru the pain. I’m going to try to send the pictures if they don’t go thru you might have to tell me how to send them
I’m trying to figure out how to send you the photos which I’m hating to send because I look hideous. I’m gonna try to give you as detailed info that I can. Lil I said earlier going back to the hosp isn’t exactly what I planned on doing. I thought I would finally get to start living again by now. But I am in the medical field as well so I’m the type of person that basically wants/needs an idea what I’m getting into before I go or I will find any way I can to get out of it lol ...I am 47 yrs old and have had an unimaginable 28 abdominal surgeries which range from removing scar tissue to ratical hysterectomy. I had a scar that runs down the center of my stomach and I guess it was about 12 inches or better long. All my surgeries was done thru that scar over and over which led to an Incisional hernia around 10yrs ago which was successful but it was done open with a drain. I was told that I could no longer have laparoscopic surgery’s because there was to much scar tissue and by the time they would get In there they was completely blind so a few years later I had gall bladder surgery which my husband told the surgeon ( which was very cocky I suppose because he was an upcoming surgeon making a name for himself) was told I could not have it done laparoscopically because of the risk I just told you. Well he done it anyways and from that point what he called a total success I came home first night crying because the same pain that I went to ththe hospital with and he said was gall bladder was worse then it ever had been and no Dr has ever been about to figure out what the pain is but it was not my gall bladder lol ok so any ways that was my last surgery til now. I’m trying to give you as much detail as I can without boring you. About 8 yrs ago I started noticing my tummy getting fatter. I’m not a big woman but not a small one either lol. I felt I was always proportioned out pretty good because I never had a belly which thrilled me but I started noticing me getting a belly but I had no insurance so the drs would giv me a script for pain medicine and send me on my way because no Insurance I couldn’t afford testing. I got insurance 3 yrs ago and a new Dr. He diognosed my lupus and some other things and thru this time I noticed where I thought I was getting fat was actually a ventral hernia along with what they told me was my abdominal wall falling basically how they put it. I searched surgeons he was suppose to be one of the best along with being at the best hospital I. Florida because it’s a Disney hosp which mean money and money means better equipment for the drs. I went In to see him and long story short he said that I wa basically a do or die situation because of the wall being so weak. Again this dr was told by me and my husband that I could not have it done with what they call a robot at this hosp and told him why and he asked if he could try that if he seen it was a risk he would pull out and do an open. I trusted him so we said ok. He told me that it would be probably a 8-10 hr surgery with probably a 10 day hospital stay. He done it with the robot I was only in there for 3 hrs and they let me go home on the third day and that was after I asked to stay an extra day because of pain and the fact that the main incision looked infected to me. They scheduled all my post ops before left the hospital and when I went in to my pcp he said it was infected and had to put me on antibiotics. I tried to get good pictures of my tummy for you so you could see how big it is. They also let me leave the hospital knowing that I had not had a bm nor did I have bowel sounds just wanted to throw that I. There. When the swelling went down my tummy was flat again. Then I started hurting really really bad and was noticing that I was bruised and assumed it was from the surgery. As the days went on it got bigger with a lot of pain especially to the touch it also carries heat in to. It’s not a hernia but I don’t know what it could be. It’s does not react to a couch besides the pain. I can not push it in even to try to get thru the pain. I’m going to try to send the pictures if they don’t go thru you might have to tell me how to send them
Brief Answer:
Ultrasound helps to differentiate
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
Thanks for your elucidate history and clear photos.
With the history you have provided my thoughts are as follows:
The present problem looks to be a collection of blood or an infected collection, the scar still looks not so healthy.
High resolution ultrasonography can tell us the exact diagnosis and if there is a collection an aspiration of the fluid can tell whether this is blood alone or pus too.
Blood tests help to know for the infection as White cell count may then be raised.
If this is so complete aspiration and tight bandaging along with appropriate medications will help to clear the problems. May rarely need incision and drainage.
But if this turns out to be hernia or so then you will need a definitive surgery at an appropriate time.
Also check for bleeding, clotting and prothrombine time; particularly if you are on any such medications that cause alteration in coagulation profile.
Please get these things asap to get an exact diagnosis and have proper management.
Take care.
Please give feedback about the findings and treatment carried out.
I hope this answer helps you.
Please feel free to ask for further relevant queries if you feel that there is a gap of communication.
Ultrasound helps to differentiate
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
Thanks for your elucidate history and clear photos.
With the history you have provided my thoughts are as follows:
The present problem looks to be a collection of blood or an infected collection, the scar still looks not so healthy.
High resolution ultrasonography can tell us the exact diagnosis and if there is a collection an aspiration of the fluid can tell whether this is blood alone or pus too.
Blood tests help to know for the infection as White cell count may then be raised.
If this is so complete aspiration and tight bandaging along with appropriate medications will help to clear the problems. May rarely need incision and drainage.
But if this turns out to be hernia or so then you will need a definitive surgery at an appropriate time.
Also check for bleeding, clotting and prothrombine time; particularly if you are on any such medications that cause alteration in coagulation profile.
Please get these things asap to get an exact diagnosis and have proper management.
Take care.
Please give feedback about the findings and treatment carried out.
I hope this answer helps you.
Please feel free to ask for further relevant queries if you feel that there is a gap of communication.
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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