It seems to run in my family, the unique trait of growing lipomas. Thankfully these little buggers are completely harmless, but who needs extra bumps. So I just got finished with having a couple of the more noticeable ones cut out of my arm. The surgery was quick, clean and rather painless.
Thankfully I didn't turn white and empty headed as I had the week earlier when the dermatologist cut off a freckle (which after a biopsy proved to be just a freckle).
I can't say for sure what will make me faint and what won't. I have had some pretty extensive dental surgery; removal of molars and another that required the doc to open up my whole upper gum. I was awake for those and I found them to be kind of interesting. Maybe last week I hadn't prepared myself mentally for the sensation of being cut into like a stick of butter at an Isett family spaghetti dinner.
Speaking of those spaghetti dinners, once Mom put that bread on the table it was like a spaghetti sauce/carb/butter free for all, and of course the 3 or 4 glasses of milk to needed to keep everything soft and manageable. All that over-eating may explain the abundance of lipomas later in life. I am not really sure what causes lipomas, but looking at them in the doctors office they do look like they could have been produced by an overworked GI putting aside some milk fat for later.
Anyway, back to my original idea for this post. On my way home I thought how nice it would be to have a support group for LS's (Lipoma Survivors) and for people who married or were college roommates to an LS. Since I don't think anyone has ever died from lipomas the group could have a pretty positive message and the meetings could be joyous and not filled with all the anxiety and seriousness of say a cancer survivors meeting.
So I am starting LUMP, which stands for Lipoma Understanding, Management, and Prevention. The first (and only) meeting is on this Web site. If you are an LS, or are married to one, or a college roommate of an LS please feel free to send your message of support to other LSs'.
I'm 27 years old and in relatively good health. I try to stay active and eat well. Ever since I was a little girl I've had a pea sized lump in my medial right thigh. My folks took me to the doctor, and were advised it was nothing serious. The doc told them to keep an eye on it and come back if it grew larger. It didn't start growing until my early 20's, probably to the size of a golf ball. I don't do well at the doctor's. At all. In fact, I neglected to go back to the doctor because I was so scared. Makes no sense! The way we take care of a million other things, but dismiss our health so easily. I was so fed up of hating this lump. It was the last thing I thought of every night before I went to bed. Sometimes, I could feel it, like a pulse. I was tired of not being able to wear shorter dresses or not allowing my boyfriend to caress my thigh, not to get graphic, but this was becoming very limiting! I finally made an appt. and saw a doctor. She was the first person to really set eyes on it and to actually touch it besides myself, she diagnosed me with Lipoma and explained my options, Leave it, or have it removed. I said "Get him out!" She then explained because of the bluish color, she was concerned it may have developed his own vascular system. Great! So this thing has attached itself to a vein and has been partying it up for the past several years? The nerve! I opted to have it removed, and I did, yesterday! I WAS SO SCARED. I never had surgery, ever. And it was a breeze. Really, the only pain I felt was from the shot they gave me to numb the area and then a slight burn from the local anesthetic. I did feel a little pressure from her hands, but that's it. Fortunately the lipoma was not attached to any veins, although it was a lot larger then she expected. She did mention in my diagnosis they wouldn't know how deep it was until they could see it. It was large, the size of a tennis ball! Ahh! While she sewed me up with sutures, I actually asked if I could see the lipoma. The nurse handed me the specimen cup and I was in disbelief. I couldn't believe I didn't take care of this little brain looking thing sooner. The whole surgery including prep and wrapping me up was 30 min tops. I actually found another lipoma, a smaller one, above my ankle. I will definitely get it removed as well. Before a few months ago, I never heard the word Lipoma, and now, this may be something I deal with for the rest of my life. I've heard the risks of them returning after removal but I was willing to take that chance. I had a quick peak of the incision before they wrapped it up, and I must say I was ecstatic to see a smooth thigh. If you are considering removal, know it's easy, painless and relieving. I'm looking forward to getting the sutures removed, then I'm wearing a dress and going out!