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Possible occult hernia? :(
Hey guys. I’ll keep this as short as possible. I became extremely sick and have been in bed / homebound for 4 years now with many debilitating symptoms. I had to quit my job when I was 27 years old – I’ll be 32 soon.
It all started overnight back in March 2017. One of my many symptoms is this chronic nerve type of pain behind and above my left inguinal ligament. The ligament is sticking out (it’s hard) and just about every doctor can feel it but they don’t know the cause. Something is pressing against it and causing the ligament to stick out as well as hitting a major nerve which is constantly shooting down to my left leg / ankle. Not a second relief! I’ve had 3 pelvic MRIs and numerous ultrasounds done but they keep telling me that they can’t see a hernia anywhere. I wonder if it could be an occult hernia? Or it very well could be a gynecological issue? I don’t know. I became sick weeks after 2 back to back gynecological procedures (not surgical). I am going crazy trying to find answers. Ideally I’d love to find a gynecological surgeon and an occult hernia general surgeon to operate together so that I can avoid having two separate surgeries. But it has been impossible trying to find these two specific specialists who can work together. I live in Northern California and have Medicare / Medi-Cal for insurance and can’t afford to pay out of pocket. Again, I haven’t worked since 2017. I seriously can’t function and have absolutely no quality of life. I don’t know what to do anymore. I need help. I need some answers. I’m beyond desperate as everyday has been a never ending, torturous nightmare. Are there any doctors that can look at my MRIs to determine whether this could be an occult hernia without charging so much or perhaps who would work with me pro bono? I know it’s too much to ask but at this point I’m fighting for my life and I have nothing to lose by asking. Thank you so much for your time. -
7 Replies
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Consider traveling to Dr T’s office in Beverly Hills if you can. I believe that in-person visits qualify for insurance coverage, while many online consultations/remote readings do not.
Still, I hate to be presumptuous about people’s finances, but if your case is as dire as described, you will have to find a way. $600 is chump change against quality-of-life concerns, especially if you are only 32. You probably got several times that amount of money recently due to the stimulus payouts. Take out a loan if you must. Or setup a GoFundMe and ask for handouts. Fight for your health. Isn’t there an eviction moratorium in California right now? You can find a way. It may suck, and I, too, have evaded medical procedures due to $$$. But if your case is truly that serious, you’ll need to do it.
Best of luck. I hope you get the relief you need.
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@good-intentions, thank you for responding. I have spent over 4 years in bed and have seen hundreds of doctors (Stanford, UCSF etc). My health situation is extremely complex. I won’t get into it here. At this point, I know what needs to be done next. I am in need of an occult hernia / general surgeon who can kindly look at my MRIs as well as a gynecological surgeon who can operate. It’s difficult finding the two specialists who can operate together. But first I need to find someone who understands occult hernias and is willing to look at my MRIs. I have seen MANY physicians. And I have been searching for years. The medical system is so messed up. I know because I’ve experienced it firsthand. If I had the money, I would have already had some answers. It’s unfortunate that you must be wealthy to seek help. Otherwise, you are left to die. Thanks again.
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I was proposing letting a new doctor diagnose your problem, from scratch, using their own knowledge, intuition,and terminology. The term “occult hernia” is a special term coined by a small group of specialists, many are probably not aware of the term but might be aware of the underlying cause of the problem. If you go to see a doctor and tell them what you want them to find they will be hesitant to get involved. People with cognitive bias are difficult to reason with, no offense.
Surgeons have a term for their competition in the outside world – Dr. Google. We all are out here on the internet trying to become experts before we make a decision, which is good, but I think that it’s best to let a doctor make their own assessment before determining if they seem confident in what they have determined, and if their assessment fits your symptoms. Hear them out and see if you agree, see if you feel confident that they know. So far, the surgeons you’ve seen just don’t have an idea, they don’t know. You have to keep searching, I think, until you find one who thinks they understand what’s happened to you.
Good luck.
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@good-intentions, Thank you very much but UC Irvine doesn’t focus on occult hernias – I called. Honestly most surgeons don’t know much about occult hernias and that is why I am posting here. I wish someone could help me.
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That’s a shame Sepi, but business is business. You might try one of the teaching colleges, like UC Irvine. Because your case is so unusual and difficult they might be able to use you for teaching, maybe at reduced cost. It won’t hurt to ask and they might be able to refer you to someone who can help.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_California,_Irvine_Medical_Center
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@good-intentions, thank you so much for responding. I would love to have a consultation with Dr. Towfigh, however, she charges $600-$750 for a consultation, which I unfortunately cannot afford.
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Dr. Towfigh offers online consultations and is known for her skill in reading images. I don’t know if she charges for her consultations but you can submit a request online or call and find out. Definitely worth a shot. Good luck. Hernia Talk is Dr. Towfigh’s web site.
https://www.beverlyhillsherniacenter.com/
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