Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with surgery

Wound Care in Vienna

klausness — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 13:52:16 -0800

AustrianHealthCareFilter: How do I go about getting minor post-surgical care in Vienna over the holidays? I currently live in the UK, and I've just had to have a nasty boil surgically drained. I now need to have the wound re-packed and dressed regularly for several weeks. Here in the UK, that can be done by NHS nurses, but I'm going to be in Vienna over the holidays (leaving in about a week). I know that I'm covered under EU health insurance agreements (and I have my EU health insurance card), but what I don't know is how I would go about actually arranging to get care. I don't want to go to an emergency room and wait ten hours just to have a wound dressing changed. I assume the post-surgical care would all be routine if I'd had the surgery there. What makes it complicated is that I had the surgery here but will need care there (not to mention that this will be over the holidays). I have family there, and they're looking into it, too, but so far they haven't been able to find out anything. Hive Mind, can you help?

YANMD/PT: How to maintain push-up-related fitness while recovering from hand surgery?

mccn — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 10:00:43 -0800

You are not my doctor or physical therapist. I am getting some minor surgery on my hand in a few weeks. (And I'll repeat the surgery on the other this coming year.) The surgeon stated it would be about 10 days before I could put my full weight on the hand to do things like push-ups (and probably, to get up from a seated position on the floor). I have recently been pretty out of shape, but started doing tae kwon do in September. Since then, I have graduated to being able to do 20 full-style pushups in a row, without a break, or 50-60 kneeling style (I'm a girl). I like having this facility, and it makes me feel better given how much work I still have to do in other areas.

If I purchase some wrist weights so that I'm not straining the hand, what kinds of exercises can I do so that I don't lose the muscle/endurance I've built up and have to start all over again? (For my next belt test, I have to be able to do 55 pushups/minute to pass - which would be about one month post surgery.) I tend to build muscle rather quickly, up to a point - but I also lose it fast.

Do we pay our whole vet bill?

missanissa — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 13:50:02 -0800

Our dog died at the vets office after surgery, is it reasonable for us to ask for a refund? Nearly 10 year old dog, had foreign objects in his stomach, quit eating due to stomach discomfort. the vet surgically removed it but had to also go into his intestine to get the whole thing out. After surgery we got a call saying he was doing well. The next morning we got a call saying he had died. He developed a hole in his intestines near where they removed the stuff. The vet was sure this was not there when he closed him up.

I realize that this was an old dog and that every surgery has risks. I also realize that the vets time is valuable and he needs to make money to run his business. He also spent 3 days there getting tests and IV fluids and other care that we have already paid for.

My boyfriend paid upfront for this procedure. We will be going back to the vet later this week to pick up his ashes and collar. Are we unreasonable to ask to have some of the (>$1500) surgery bill refunded? Does anyone have any experience with something like this?

My mom changed her face.

Anonymous — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 21:27:32 -0800

I come back to Southern California for Thanksgiving and my mom has gotten idiotic plastic surgery. Please help me cope. My mother is in her mid-60s. She always looked 20 years younger, but never had self-confidence. In the last few years she has grown increasingly vain; paranoid about her relatives to the point of cutting off several that I liked; and convinced that something is wrong with her looks. In fact, she has refused for probably 15 years to let me photograph her.

Well, as of tonight it is now too late to photograph my lovely mom the way I remember her. This year she became obsessed with the idea that her average-sized chin and slight-overbite were betraying her double chin and retention water. Which is fine, I mean I guess I have heard of people getting facelifts (not that I would be thrilled about that either; I prefer people to age gracefully) but then she decided the answer was a chin implant.

She had the surgery without telling my brother and me. I found out about this 2 weeks via Gchat with my dad. The given excuse was that I was having such a hard time in life that they didn't want to make it worse. I hoped for weeks that she wouldn't look like Michael Jackson.

So I walk in the door for Thanksgiving, I am already going through a lot, and suddenly my mother's lower face looks like Sigourney Weaver's! I guess it may be swollen and will go down a bit, and maybe I am overreacting.

But still, I had to go outside and sob while my younger brother comforted me. (He was in town to introduce his first girlfriend ever, who looks like a normal curvy woman and not a plastic-surgery addict, btw, and whom I am afraid of scaring off if I freak out about this. I always thought, until now, that our family was sweet and normal.)

I realize it's her face, not mine. But my mom taught me growing up that looks don't matter. And it is basic to my sense of continuity that my mother, the person I was closest to growing up, not shapechange like fucking Odo from Deep Space 9.

Can you guys please help me deal with this? Who even gets "chin implants"--something my cyberchondriac mother has at one time or another tried to push on me or my brother? Am I right to be upset that my dad kept this from me?

Rear ended by a drunk driver then effed in the rear by the medical system.

pmaxwell — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:09:51 -0800

Bone graft gone wrong. Testicle swollen, major pain, difficulty walking, Doctors not helping. Need advice. I am trying to get some information for a friend. Below is as much info as I have. Any help would be appreciated.
--------------------------------------------

Jan 2003
My friend Kin was stopped at a light in Philadelphia, PA when he was hit from behind. The drunk who hit him had 9 prior DUI’s. Not surprisingly, he carried no insurance, had no registration or license. He was driving with stolen plates.

Kin was treated by a Dr. K at a hospital and diagnosed with a sever neck issue (don’t know exact diagnosis). He was told surgery would not help his condition. He was in severe pain. The Dr recommend a Morphine pump to help manage the pain. Kin begged the dr to “go back in” and fix the issue. The Dr refused.

2004: Eventually, Dr. K referred Kin to Dr. F for a Discgram. Dr. F decided surgery would be beneficial and recommended replacing two vertebrates (C5, C6) with titanium.

While awaiting surgery, Kin worked with pain management specialists. They prescribed Oxycontin (20mg then increased to 60mg). Here is where Kin began his addiction to Oxicontin.

Aug 2005: Dr. B from a Philly hospital performed surgery. Disc was replaced with piece of titanium that was to fuse. After the procedure, Kin’s condition worsened. For the next 18 months Kin repeatedly told the Dr B he was not right – could feel pieces of titanium move. Pain increased significantly. Kin was now taking 6 or so Percocets daily to manage after weaning himself off Oxycontin.

September 2007: Kin was referred to Dr. G (orthepedic surgeon at HHS in New York). Dr. G immediately recommended surgery. He suggested removing the titanium vertebrates and replacing with bone (with from a bone graft from Kin’s hip) . Kin agreed.

After the procedure, The Dr. G said the screws securing the titanium vertebrates (from the original surgery) we so loose, he was able to take them out by hand. Thats what was causing Kins pain – loose screws! Dr. said his neck should heal well and he should experience a vast reduction in pain.

Over the coming months, Kins neck felt 90% better. Occasional flare ups but nothing compared to what it was. Kin was ecstatic, he was fixed. – so he thought.

Prior to the neck surgery, they removed a piece of bone from his hip to use as the material to replace titanium vertebrates. Kins hip was not healing. He was back in severe pain. The Dr said it would take time to heal. Kin waited. He was now back up to 6-8 Percocets daily.

By Feb 2008 pain was so severe, Kin had trouble walking and was taking copious amounts of Percocet to function. His testicles swelled. He reported everything to Dr. G. Numerous tests were done: MRIs, bone scans, cat scans, and xrays. No Diagnosis or prognosis was given.

Kin moved to CA – he needed better weather. Every cloudy day in Philly amped up the pain in his hip (his neck was now a non-issue).
Even though he alerted his insurance company he was going to move, they waited until he was moved in to tell him they would not cover him in CA. Disability insurance dropped him as well b/c they secretly video taped him directing the moving truck into his driveway.

Kin repeatedly contacted Dr. G to tell him about the incredible pain in his hip. He was getting very limited attention. He was falling thru the cracks. They finally referred him to a Dr in CA (a 5 hour drive – and he needed to go back twice). The Dr saw Kin, took various MRI’s CAT’s and other tests and then NEVER SPOKE TO Kin AGAIN!. The Drs Assistant simply told Kin they could not help him.

June 2009: Eventually, HHS agreed to see Kin again, Kin flew to NY for 8 days of pre-arranged tests and procedures. Once there, they totally changed the itinerary they had agreed to. They sent Kin for a RFD(S) treatment. A Dr W did this non-surgical procedure. After, Kins pain amped up 20 fold. Again, they said to give it time. That was over a 4 months ago. The pain has not subsided. He is up to 12-15 Percocets a day. He has gone to the local emergency room in CA for help. They were astonished at the films of his hip– a large arrowhead shaped growth with spurs on the bone. It seems like the bone and nerve grew back in such a way as to cause the pain. They said they had no one at their hospital who can help him.

These days he has limited contact with HSS, they rarely return his calls/emails. In the last call, they advised him to go off Perocet and to try Subutex, which he is trying. And they also advise him to get a dorsal column stimulator (installed in his body) to help mitigate the pain, he will not. There is no longer any discussion on how to heal Kin, only how to manage the pain. When Kin asked if there was a way to kill the nerve, they said that’s what they tried with the RFD(S) procedure and it did not work.

Kin has ballooned up to about 250 pounds. His blood pressure is way high. Although I have been very concerned and distantly involved over the 4 years this has been going on, I am now more concerned than ever, As the hope of getting fixed gets more and more remote, Kin is spiraling into a very dark place.

So I am looking for any recommendations, referrals, advice on what Kin can do.
> Has anyone experienced this kind of bone/nerve issue?
> are the any Dr’s or programs that are specialists in this field (west coast)?
> Does anybody know of a service that can function as a health advocate?
> What about this dorsal column stimulator? What are the real percentage of people who have significant pain reduction?
> malpractice suit? know any lawyers in NY?

Nasal polyps removal: Boston or Bergen?

Anonymous — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 08:53:41 -0800

I'm thinking of getting surgery to remove nasal polyps. Should I get it done in the Boston area, where I have no insurance, or in Bergen, Norway, where I'll be returning for work in January (with a worker's visa)? Or should I have it done at all?

post-surgical bruising

moonlet — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:32:26 -0800

Is there a term for the type of bruising that occurs after surgery, away from the site of the surgery? My coworker had surgery for a torn meniscus about two weeks ago. Her knee didn't bruise much and the swelling's gone down, but as of this week, her food is black and blue. I'm sure I've seen this phenomenon before, and I made a passing reference to it before she consulted her physical therapist and was told that it is indeed drainage of dead blood cells from the knee.

Now we're both curious about it, and most of the things I find online about post-surgical bruising are tips for plastic surgery aftercare. She's not particularly worried about how to care for it, but we both want to know: is there a term for this?

Recommendations for laser eye surgery in London

dmt — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 03:37:04 -0800

Recommendations for laser eye surgery in London I have been thinking about laser eye surgery for some time. Last month my optician confirmed that my prescription has been stable for long enough that I am now (at 33) a viable candidate. Obviously I’ll look to an ophthalmologist for a definitive view but I’m now interested in taking the next step.

So then, what was your experience with laser eye surgery? Did you use someone in London; were you impressed? What did it cost? Any recommendations on the various available procedures? My sense is that the various procedures are safe but I would really like to avoid halo effects while driving at night.

Finally – and this might be a deal breaker – I would be happy to use eyedrops for a period following the procedure but a year sounds like a hard act to follow; the rest of your life sounds positively onerous.

Additional details: shortsighted by 1.5 in both eyes with mild astigmatism.

Help save my hair!?!

gilsonal — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 06:24:35 -0800

Post-surgery hair loss? Anybody have experience with this? How long does it last? Does it grow back on its own? Do I need to see a doctor? I'm female, 25 years old. I had surgery about three months ago, and my hair has started falling out rapidly. To the point that I'm losing more hair in a day than I would naturally over the course of a couple weeks. My ponytail is already smaller. I don't see any spots, but I do have long hair.

My surgery removed part of my small intestine, but my vitamin levels are okay and I'm injecting those that I can no longer absorb naturally. So i don't think deficiencies are at fault. It appears that the stress from surgery can cause hair loss, and I'm pretty sure that is the case here. They say it happens 3 to 4 months after, and that's pretty much on schedule with what I'm experiencing.

I'd really love to hear some personal experiences about this. I'm trying not to worry or be too self-conscious, but I'm losing what seems like tons of hair and I'm starting to panic lol. What was your experience? How much hair did you lose? How long did it last and is there anything I can do to make it stop sooner? Is a doctor needed or is this just going to resolve on its own?

Tab A into Slot B

cjorgensen — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 13:37:00 -0800

What can I expect with a parotidectomy? Google is not failing me, but rather overwhelming me. The descriptions mostly seem to be from a clinical perspective and too few from a personal perspective.

I have a 1.7 by 2.6 cm multi-cell benign tumor behind my right mandible close to the back of the lower part of my ear. It is going to come out. I think I have a fairly good grasp of the surgery from the perspective of the surgeon, but am interested in things like personal impact, pain, recovery, unknown issues to watch out for, etc.

If you link to anything particularly gruesome, can you please indicate as much? My girlfriend will probably also be reading this. She's fine with text and drawings, but photos and video are most likely out.

This question about general anesthesia helped a lot. I am one of those people more afraid of "going under" than of the surgery.

Usual disclaimers about not being my doctor apply.

Good meals for surgery patients?

Knowyournuts — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 13:53:55 -0800

What are some good meals for folks recovering at home from surgery? I want to bring some food to my friend, but he is too polite to say, "I want this, but none of that," etc. If you have had surgery, what were you able to eat? What did you absolutely not want? This is for a person who normally likes everything. The surgery isn't related to the mouth or GI tract. Thanks!

What the knot?

Brennus — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 15:09:31 -0800

What is special about a square surgical knot? It seems like the regular kind of knot I use to tie my shoes, just using a very specific hand technique. Is there any advantage to this knot tying technique?

I can never think of a good title to my questinos. Sorry.

Brandon1600 — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 20:57:11 -0800

I need help with creating a plan to diagnose a possible alignment problem with my right leg what I can do do fix it. I have always had a funny way of walking. I tend to lean forward and walk closer to the front of my feet than the back. It is not a perfect heel-to-toe movement and it makes me bounce. I am very self conscious of this and when I am in public I try to walk normally, resulting in a burning sensation on the bottoms of my feet. Think of when you were a little kid and you had to walk around the shopping mall all day and your feet hurt. My feet make an L-shape when I am standing still; my right foot clearly turns out more than the left. Another way of saying this is that my knee does not line up with my foot.

I used to run and work-out a lot. I ran the Kona Marathon about four years ago and at about mile twenty, my right knee felt like it was going to come unhinged. It was a strange kind of pain so I walked the rest of the way. I also noticed when I did squats that my right foot would turn out (heel inward) and I would have to reposition myself.

So.

I think the first thing to do is get a doctor's opinion. I don't normally deal with doctors and I can't say I really trust them. What kind of doctor should I go to? What sort of tests and procedures should I expect?

If I end up having to get surgery, what is the most effective way to pay for it? I have crappy insurance now, and I am going to be a full time student starting in January. Should I go out of country?

I am not sure what information about me would be relevant to figuring this out but:

I am 28 years old, American, employed until December with basic health coverage, well within weight standards and generally healthy, and a military veteran.

Thanks for taking the time to read this.

sudden surgery

Cat Pie Hurts — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 13:44:37 -0800

Sudden substernal thyroid surgery dealing with the now and the after. I'm an overweight 36 year old male who has breathing issues for a few years now. I quit smoking a few years ago, hoping the breathing would improve, but it didn't. So I lost a lot of weight. That helped a bit, but not too much.

My GP thought it might be my tonsils, so she sent me to an ENT. The ENT found a "large mass" in my neck, so he sent me for a CT scan yesterday. The results of yesterday's scan show that my thyroid is massive and extends below my sternum. It is also causing significant compression of my trachea. My GP called in a surgeon who wants to remove my thyroid immediately because of the severe compression and concern over choking. I've been living with the issue for awhile now and have learned to compensate.

What it comes down to is:

Today has been a snowball of phonecalls and appointments and I am lost an terrified.

The surgeon has already scheduled the surgery for Tuesday (the day before my freaking birthday). He feels that it's urgent that the thyroid is removed.

1. I want some time, even if it's only a week, just to "get my affairs in order". Yes, whatever that means. I know surgery is risky business. I have never had anesthesia before and I am overweight, so that puts me at much greater risk. Can I push for that time?

2. This is a rollercoaster. How do I deal? If I don't get that time, do I just let go and roll with it?

3. Post substernal thyroidectomy recovery. What can I expect? Everything I've read applies specifically to women. Any male specific advice?

4. I'm not kidding. If they're taking it out, I want it. What can I do to let me keep my thyroid in some preservative fluid? It's mine, dammit!

Thanks, everyone. I'm so freaking scared right now, it isn't funny, but the surgeon and my GP assure me that I'll have an immediate quality of life improvement post-surgery (breathing!).

Nap time!

elder18 — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 08:38:46 -0800

What are your experiences being under general anesthesia? I have to have a minor surgery later this month. It's my first time having surgery of any kind. I'm most nervous about the general anesthesia I'll be under.

What are/were your experiences being under general anesthesia? What kind of tips, if any would you offer?

Also, where can I find reputable information about it? Thanks.

And yes, I know you're not my doctor.

ACL Surgery Advice Please

swngnmonk — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 16:35:49 -0800

Going in for ACL replacement in a few days - what can I do between now and then to prepare for the next few weeks? So I'm going in for surgery on Wednesday to replace my right ACL, which I tore a couple of months ago. I'll be getting a cadaver ACL.

I'm looking forward to having a functional knee again, though I know that's 4-6 months from now. What I'm worried about is the next few weeks. I've read the previous questions posted, and I'm pretty clear on the idea that the week or two after surgery are going to suck. Doc is installing the cooling device & I'll be spending time w/ one of the devices that moves my knee for me as well.

I'll be staying with my dad and his GF for the first 2-3 days after, but then have to return home, where I live alone in a walkup duplex. So I have to deal with navigating stairs, and I need to get around. I have a stubborn streak, I'm lousy at asking for help, and I believe I can get anything done if required. But I realize I'll be gimpy as all hell, and I need to accept that I'll be limited in mobility for a while.

So, with all that: What made your life easier during your recovery period? If you had to do it over again, what would you do in the days leading up to it to make life easier afterwards?

Thank you!

What were other people's foot surgery experiences like?

gwenlister — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 08:53:37 -0800

Found out I need surgery on my foot to repair a torn ligament. Looking for tips and stories from people that have been there done that. Plus I have some extra hurtles facing me due to the surgery.... Hurtle 1: I live in an attic apartment with no elevator. I'm not able to move apartments before the surgery, nor would I want to. Any tips on how to manage a lot of stairs on a daily basis while in a cast and crutches?

Hurtle 2: I live in Canada and it will be icy and snowy for much of the time I am in a cast. Anybody had to crutch around on icy snow ground?

Basically I'm just looking for suggestions and stories of what to expect and what other people's experiences with foot surgery were like in terms of recovery, unanticipated issues you wish you had prepared for before hand, how long before you were able to get back to normal activities, etc. I know that people's surgeries and recoveries vary, but I'm still interested to know how others' went.

I had surgery, it made me unstable, to say the least. Help!

Anonymous — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 09:36:58 -0800

I think having surgery made me anxiety prone and depressed. Is this possible and will I go back to being myself after I fully recover from the surgery? I know YANAD. Let me first apologize as this will probably go long. I had major foot surgery in the last few months. About 4 hours after getting home from the surgery, I had a panic attack (rapid heartbeat, sense of impending doom, the works) due to the cast. It was making me very claustrophobic, not being able to move the foot, etc. I was yelling at my husband to take me to the ER to get it off. I was able to calm down, but had several more panic attacks that first week. I finally broke down and saw my family doctor who prescribed an anti-anxiety pill (Klonopin). This made me feel better and I take it as needed. I now feel like I'm starting to get depressed, though.

Some relevant facts:
1) Before all of this, I considered myself to be emotionally stable, no anxiety, depression, no other health problems, not on any type of medication.
2) I did have some mild claustrophobia prior to this - I don't like MRI machines or any kind of restraints (like those over-the-head things on roller coasters), but it didn't really interfere with my life.
3) I have not worked in 8 weeks, which probably doesn't help my state of mind since I HATE sitting at home, but my desire to go back to work is zero. I am scheduled back in the next week.
4) I thought after I progressed through each step with my foot I would feel better, but this hasn't really been the case. For example, when the cast came off, I felt better for a short time, then had anxiety due to the pain of transitioning to a walking cast. I just came out of the walking cast and again I felt momentarily better, but the longer the recovery goes on, the crappier I feel.
5) I would prefer not to be on anxiety medication for long. My physician keeps telling me how addictive it is and how horrible the withdrawal is. She says that if I continue to need it, she will transition me to an anti-depressant.

I know I should probably see a therapist and psychiatrist, but I was wondering if anyone had gone through something like this after surgery and how you dealt with it. Even if you didn't, I'll take any personal insight you might have about dealing with anxiety and depression.

Anonymous because I don't really want to share the ordeal with some people who may read this. My husband is the only person who really knows the whole story right now and I'd like to keep it that way for the time being. Hope that makes sense. Throwaway e-mail: foot_bad@yahoo.com. Thanks.

EBD wha?

Bezbozhnik — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 07:38:50 -0800

I just had some surgery done on my knee and lower leg, and when I took the bandages off, I discovered written in purple marker the phrase "EBD YES!" What might that mean?

How to manage my debt and life as a whole

thegreatcokeolympics — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 12:34:41 -0800

How do I get my life on track with high debt and a chronic medical condition? So i'm 26 years old and have been completely on my own since i was 18. I come from a working class family who lives in a small dying town with no jobs. I knew if I was going to make something of my life in any way, I had to get out of there. Being so young and inexperienced, it's not like I could get a well paying job to support myself. And it's not like my family had any money to give me.
So 5 years ago, I took out many many loans and used that money to move myself across the country to " the big (and expensive) city" to attend college and hopefully start a new life there.

I also used the student loan money to pay for everything I would need to live on (mainly rent because the dorms were more expensive than studio apts, food, and school supplies) and even then it still wasn't enough, so I also worked full time in addition to going to school full time, just to make ends meet.

On top of this, to make matters more complicated, I also have a chronic medical condition. I have had it mildly since I was 10, but never had it addressed, or even diagnosed as to what it was, since my family lacked health insurance.

It was still fairly mild even when I moved here, but through the years got much more serious and I am now in constant daily pain and have some serious breathing issues. I tried to get health insurance on my own, but no plan would cover me due to the pre-existing condition. So I had no choice but to pay out of pocket for all medical expenses. Of course I had no out of pocket money to spare, so I used credit cards to pay all my medical bills.

And I never had enough credit to pay for anything medical that would truly diagnose me, so I resorted to many expensive pain management treatments only to be left with my condition progressively getting worse.

Now flash to present day, 5 years later, and I am $60,000 in debt from school, $10,000 from credit card debt. The job market is scarce and no one is hiring on staff. I've been taking very low pay freelance gigs which don't even amount to half of my expenses.

Currently, my bare minimum expenses amount to $1150 per month.

One of them being a health plan I pay 400 a month for after puting myself on a long waiting list for a government health plan that teams with private insurers to give coverage to high risk people. With this plan I was also able to finally get the tests I needed to diagnose me, only to discover (upon confirmation of 6 different doctor opinions to be sure) that I need a surgery that will cost a minimum of $30,000 depending on where I get it done, while knowing full well my insurance plan will most likely not cover because it is not a common surgery, though results are typically favorable.

I also pay 400 a month to see a physical therapist who I have been seeing for a year and a half and is the only source of pain relief I have found to help me (Insurance only covers 25% of 12 sessions a year, which I have already maxed out) Then pay 300 a month for my credit cards and 50 for my cell phone. And every 3 months, pay 150 forbearance fee for my student loans. That is it.

I had to leave my apartment and move in with a friend who is letting me stay there rent free until I figure something out. They are also fortunate enough to make a decent living and have been loaning me money to help pay my bills, eat their food, and use their computer. If anything, they've almost become my surrogate parent and it makes me feel like shit for puting them in that position, but I simply don't know what else to do.

I would get a second job anywhere I could find, but not only have those jobs even been hard to come by, but my health simply won't allow it at this point. I am extremely distressed, depressed, and hopeless. The biggest issues of all is the health and everything else seems to stem from it to make all the other problems worse. I don't know how much more bare minimum I can get in terms of cutting my budget when I'm already miserable and in so much pain.

I have considered going on disability, but I don't know if I would count since I still have been able to work, so long as the work isn't strenuous and I don't have to be on my feet all day.

I've considered welfare and bankruptcy but I'm not too sure how they work or if I would have to give up making enough money to pay for everything I need just to qualify. Or if bankruptcy will just ruin my credit enough to never be able to rent again.

I want to be responsible and make the best choice that will benefit me in the long run, but I don't know what that is or where to go. I really need some advice or clarity on this, so anything anyone has to say, please I'd love to hear it. Thank you.

Will surgery provide immediate relief for my painful hemorrhoid?

Anonymous — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 07:54:01 -0800

In need of immediate relief for hemorrhoids before I go insane. Will surgery end this quickly? I've had them in the past, and it always sucks and is sore for a little while but lasts maybe a few days tops. This time is worse. By far. I am in agony here, it has been going on for over a week, shows no signs of stopping and has in fact been getting worse. Every time I move I'm getting sharp throbbing agony. Every cough, every time I shift positions, every step I take while walking, all cause sharp pain in my rear.

I've been taking fiber, I've been guzzling water, I've been using prep H, I've been sitting in baths of warm water with a little bit of baking soda, followed by gentle dabbing of witch hazel on a cotton ball. Nothing is helping and in the past few days it has gotten bigger and more painful. The fucking thing is the size of a small grape at this point. I've been trying to stay on an almost all liquid diet because trying to crap is a new definition of hell, so I've only taken one or two shits in the past 4 days.

I've heard there's a surgical option. While I know this won't prevent them from recurring in the future, at this point I don't care. I need this to end now. I am going out of my mind.

If I do opt for surgery, how long will it be before the pain stops? That's basically what I want. I want it to stop NOW.

Also: what is involved in the surgery? Do I need to get a specialist or will my regular doctor be able to do it? Is there any recovery needed from the surgery?

Laser eye correction in the northern virginia area?

Nonce — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 18:34:41 -0800

I am nearsighted with a slight astigmatism, have about $2,000 to spend, and a desire to never wear glasses again. I'm in the northern Virginia area. I can travel to DC, MD, or anywhere close by, but not too far, as I don't want to make any followups too difficult.

Where should I go?

What kind of surgery should I get?

Is transepithelial PRK (all-laser) surgery the best? Or Custom Vue IntraLasik? Or something I don't know about?

Should I worry about what version of what software the center is running? How detailed to I need to get in this quest? Who has the best rep, the best service, and the best results? Is this possible to do responsibly for that much money?

Please help me not do something stupid to my eyes that can never be undone.

The wound that wouldn't heal.

itsacover — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 20:22:58 -0800

YANASurgeon filter: two months ago, I had surgery. today, I am dealing with the incision opening back up for the second time. How/why and what can i do to stop it? Back in June, I had a sebaceous cyst and a small tumor removed from one of my breasts. The whole thing kind of sucked, but after a year of dealing with a recurring issue, I wanted to have done with it. A month after the surgery, one of my incisions re-opened. They first treated it with some hydrogen peroxide cleaning for a couple days, then they did a chemical cauterization with silver nitrate. After that, it seemed to close up and do well.

Early last week (about a month later), I started to have pain around the incision again and found that it had opened once more. Back to the surgeon I went and he did another round of silver nitrate. The hole was not very large and rather shallow, so we all expected this to take care of it. Three days later, the hole has gotten bigger and deeper.

So while I know you are not my surgeron, has this (or something similar) happened to you? No one seems to be able to tell me why it keeps happening nor what to do to prevent it. I am keeping it clean and bandaged at this point, but is there something else I should be doing? Is this just a waiting game to see if it'll close up and stay that way?

(and, yes, I am calling my surgeon in the AM to follow up about the situation, just looking for any anecdotes, advice, etc in the meantime.)

please help me to not starve

happy scrappy — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 07:54:22 -0800

I'm having surgery in my pelvic/abdominal area on Friday, and since my doctor is expecting some bowel involvement, he is putting me on a clear fluid diet as of Thursday morning. I'm going to be STARVING by surgery time (noon Friday). I feel weak and irritable if I miss one meal, let alone a whole day and a half. At the pre-admission clinic, they told me I can have black tea/coffee, clear soda, Jell-O, water (of course) and "consomme" (broth or bullion, I'm guessing).

Any ideas as to what I should / should not consume that would help to alleviate my hunger? I'm also taking several drugs for pain, which I prefer to take with food, as they tend to upset my stomach a bit.

Any ideas/advice would help. I realize I should have brought this up with the nurse, but it didn't occur to me until now, with this fasting day looming closer (I know it's only a day and a half and I'm being a big suck, but I'm really dreading it). I will be able to talk with my doctor tomorrow, so any advice you give can be run by him first (he may or may not have any helpful ideas, but he'll tell me what I can't have).

Thanks in advance!

What kind of ACL graft did you get?

hybridvigor — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 18:44:08 -0800

Did you get ACL reconstruction surgery? I would like to know as much about your specific experience and graft choice as possible, to help me decide on mine. I am a 29 year old female in fairly good shape. I completely ruptured my left ACL one month ago playing soccer, as well as tore the meniscus and sprained the MCL. I am in PT right now, and will probably get reconstruction surgery for the ACL, definitely for the meniscus tear. I am reading all these journal articles about different graft advantages and disadvantages, and, don't know what to choose. Ideally, I would like to hear from you if you have had all 3 types of graft and can tell me exactly the pros and cons of each. Realistically, I'm not going to find that (very unlucky) person. So:

(a) how long was it between your injury and your surgery? did you do PT before the surgery? in retrospect, do you wish you had gotten the surgery sooner or later?

(b) what type of graft did you choose (allograft, patellar tendon or hamstring)? how long has it been since your surgery, and what advantages and disadvantages have you found related to your specific graft choice? Hamstring/patellar pain, etc?

(c) post-surgery, what do you wish someone had told you?

(d) post-surgery, how long were you useless? (I have a job in which I can sit on my butt all day at a computer, but if I'm in a lot of pain, I will still be mentally useless and unable to do it.)

Thanks. Any information is appreciated, *especially* as relating to specific graft type experiences. I'm trying to defend my PhD this semester, and this is a much unwanted roadblock. Even a week or two of not being able to work might be enough to make me miss the defense deadlines.