essnce629
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Update: The walnut sized tumor they removed from my hernia is BENEIGN!!! It was just some really super weird growth that my body made as a result of the the hernia being inflamed, irritated, etc. It consisted of hypertrophic (out of control growth) cells of the hernia sac. It was NOT a lipoma and took pathology over a week to figure out. Dr. Burns will send me the full pathology report once he gets it (he had just spoken to the pathologist on the phone the day off my followup).
Tomorrow will be 14 days post op. I felt much better at the 1 week mark and started driving again then. The burning subsided after about a week. After driving I sometimes feel a little stiff with a dull ache but its getting better every day. My steri strips came off yesterday and the incision is healing well. There’s the raised ridge where the incision is and the area is still a little tender to the touch in some areas, while a little numb in other areas. I still have a little swelling. Everything appears to be healing well. I still used my ice pack when laying down but I’m using it less and less each day. I’m trying to take it as easy as possible.
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quote dog:How is your recovery ?
Today is day 5 post op. Recovery appears to be going as it should. I still have a lot of burning pain around the incision site when up and about, so I’m trying to take it easy and keep an ice pack on the area as much as possible, including while sleeping. I’ve also had lower back pain so I’m using a heating pad on my back whenever I’m sitting or laying down. Initially, the area around the incision would start burning as soon as I’d start walking around, but today it was about an hour of me walking around the house before the burning kicked in. I’m still taking the pain meds (Toradol 10mg) every 6 hours around the clock although I just finished the bottle today and will move on to Ibuprofen. I have been taking arnica homeopathic tablets 4 times a day and using arnica cream around the incision site as well. I’ve had zero bruising, although I do have some very minimal swelling and tenderness around the area. The incision is still covered by the steri strips until my followup appointment with Dr. Burns on Thursday. I haven’t driven yet and definitely don’t feel ready, so I have extended my help with getting my kids to and from school through Tuesday. That will be the one week mark and I’m hoping I’ll be able to drive by Wednesday, especially since I need to be able to drive back down to Newport Beach (1.5 hours each way) to my followup appointment on Thursday. I didn’t hear back from pathology on Friday, so I’m hoping I’ll be hearing tomorrow (Monday).
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So today (1/29) was my no-mesh inguinal hernia repair with Dr. Robert Burns in Newport Beach. He uses the Desarda method. Surgery went smoothly and I feel ok for now (8 hours after surgery), probably because of the meds! We’ll see how I feel in the morning! Unfortunately, they found a tumor IN my hernia! WTH?!? They got it all out and are sending it to pathology. I should find out more at my follow-up appointment next week, unless they call me sooner. I was half out of it when Dr. Burns was explaining it to me, but apparently the hard lump I was feeling was mostly tumor, not hernia! All I asked in my foggy haze was if it was common, and they said no. Gotta keep it interesting around here I guess! Fingers crossed for good news.
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It’s appears to be an inguinal hernia, but he said they won’t know 100% until they’re inside. My goal had been to have surgery over winter or summer break, but I couldn’t get everything figured out by winter break and I definitely can’t wait till summer since it’s now incarcerated.
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There was a cancelation! My surgery with Dr. Burns is getting moved up to next Tuesday, the 29th. Wish me luck! Any tips for recovery?
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So I saw Dr. Burns on Thursday. I really liked him and he was super thorough at explaining everything. He said I was a good candidate for a no-mesh repair since I’m young and therefore my tissues should be healthy. Unfortunately, he’s out of town all next week and the first surgery date available is Tuesday, February 5th. So I’m scheduled for surgery that day, but if there’s a cancellation before then, they’ll move me up. It’s going to suck waiting 16 more days since the last 10 or so with an incarcerated hernia have not been fun, but maybe I’ll get lucky and the date will be moved up. I’m just glad to finally be getting it fixed after 14 years! But I probably shouldn’t have waited till it’s almost an emergency situation! Thanks everyone for the recommendations. I’m happy that it will be a no-mesh repair even though the recovery time is longer.
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quote dog:essnce629 o,,boy! Look here is what help me amazingly https://www.herniatalk.com/9743-hernia-support-belt ..
Also the person you are going to see isn’t dr Brow .
Bill Brown, M.D.
650 703 9694 Cell– Dr Robert Burns very experienced good doctor in Newport Beach, but not the only hernia he does ……according to his words ..when he does he does it with no mesh ..Very Good. ..I communicate with few of his clients they like him.
– Dr. Chean is taking a very difficult cases ..so it is 10 times harder to get a good result.He is a GOOD doctor.
Dr Harris does great job with mesh but you wont without mesh ..correct?Yes dr. Towfigh would be my first choice an amazing doctor .but .also out of my network..i have the same insurance. :{
..here is link to dr Brown https://www.sportshernia.com/ Call him on cell now to TALK about you problem ..possibly he will do surgery on Monday…Thursday ? it is 1 hoer to fly from you..more fast then driving from LA to Newport beach …It is ultimately your choice ..i just don’t want to see you go to emergency.
Oops, I’m sorry, you’re correct! I’m seeing Dr. Burns in Newport Beach, Dr. Brown is in Fremont, which is why I didn’t consider him. I know it’s a short fly, but with 2 kids in school it’s not really feasible to travel right now. Perhaps if it was during summer break. And about the mesh, I have no idea if I’m even a candidate for a no-mesh repair. Perhaps I’m not. That’s why I need a consultation. I can’t even remember if my hernia is femoral or inguinal. When I saw Dr. Towfigh the last time, I hadn’t been diagnosed with Graves yet and we never even discussed a no-mesh repair because it wasn’t even on my radar then.
Also, what does the hernia support belt do? Does it put pressure on the hernia to keep it pushed in? My hernia is super tender and painful to the touch so I can no longer press it. Even washing down there in the shower is extremely difficult because it’s so swollen and tender. I wouldn’t be able to have anything pressing on it. I can’t even lay on my side when I sleep anymore because it hurts so bad.
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quote dog:Sorry to hear about your problem.Try to call to dr.Brown.not far away to fly ..he is in network
Yes, I already have a consultation with Dr. Brown in Newport Beach next Thursday the 17th. He’s in my insurance network. I’m just hoping my hernia doesn’t strangulate by then. It’s clearly incarcerated now as I haven’t been able to push it back in for over 2 days now.
Dr. Edward Phillips is not in my insurance network unfortunately.
Dr. Chen is in network but when I looked him up all I saw were multiple 1 star reviews and a pending malpractice lawsuit for a patient who hemorrhaged out and died during hernia surgery with him recently. If he was the only option then fine, but if I could get a surgeon with much better reviews, like Dr. Brown and Dr. Towfigh, that would make me much more at ease.
It looks like Dr. Todd Harris in Newport Beach is in network also. 1 review said he is very knowledgeable about the different types and latest mesh options. Perhaps using a mesh with less plastic would be an option for me. I’ll call his office on Monday.
I asked about a cash payment option for Dr. Towfigh and they dropped the price from $13,500 to $11,000. Unfortunately, that still isn’t feasible right now and someone in my insurance network is the best option financially.
Has no one heard of Dr. Matthew Lublin in Santa Monica?
I haven’t had any imaging done of my hernia. It’s quite obvious that that’s what it is. I’ve had 2 consultations with Dr. Towfigh already and she diagnosed it without issue. My grandma also had a hernia in the exact same spot as mine, that she had repaired several years ago, and I know that hernias have a genetic component to them.