I'm studded for my discomfort...

TheUnsane1

So how would you like to have soft movable little fatty tumors under your skin pretty much all over? Not much? Me either.

I have what are called Lipomas all over the place it's difficult to count them but at least 30 of them scattered about. They range in size from about the size of a shelled peanut or pistachio to some that are bigger than a walnut, and one group that seems to be getting into a katamari damacy or voltron kind of groove and is linking up to form into a roughly 8 inch long miss shaped blob on my ribs.

Now typically they are fine but some times cause me pain or numbness. I have had one in my arm cut out by a dermatologist due to pain before I knew what they were. Typically I would go to my family doctor to discuss them and how we could go about potentially mapping them out or seeing where they may have ended up(since it seems some have been growing lately). The issue with doing that is my doctor actually has them, so as such she sees it as a situation where hers are perfectly fine and no big deal so mine surely are too.

Does anyone else have to deal with these things? Any advice on what kind of specialist would be best to seek out for these? Should I be worried that the one on my sternum is larger than a golf ball and has been there for as long as I can remember? Should I be extra worried that the golf ball sized one is also becoming less pliable than the majority of them?

If it matters I'm male and in my early 30s.

Telex

I have them (although smaller than yours), and from what I've heard they aren't a big deal unless they start hurting (they can pinch nerves) or restricting movement. So if it's uncomfortable, get them checked out/removed, but I don't think they are at risk of becoming cancerous tumors or anything like that. (Apparently in very rare cases they can, but that is if they are inside your bone or kidney or something). But if you are worried definitely get it checked out, they might want to take a biopsy or remove it just to make sure its benign (which it almost certainly is). They can be easily removed and cosmetic concerns are a valid reason for it. I myself have one on my neck that bugs me... at some point I might get it yanked out.

Thanatos

If your doctor isn't listening to your concerns, get a new doctor.

republic of me

My mom has them. you can get them surgically removed she just cant be operated on because of other health concerns that's what the doctor told her any way.

Morblitz

I Think I've had one for years on my stomach. It only hurts if its pinched of if something heavy slides down my stomach and catches it, or something. I've been told I could get it cut out if I wanted but its not neccessary. However if they're causing you pain/weirdness and you have a lot of them, and that concerns you, it wouldn't hurt to get a second opinion.

One Doctors advice is fine, but when they start going down the road of 'im fine so you're fine'. I'd ask someone else for some input.
What you could do is see another doctor, and then ask them where to go from there, what kind of specialist can you see, or what you can do about them, etc. It doesn't sound like your original doctor is much help because she doesn't seem to understand that you want them gone. Try a different path, I'm pretty sure any specialist you'd want to see may require a referral anyway?

TheUnsane1

I think the mass of them in my side needs to be removed since they seem to be clumping up on each other. My doctor felt them and sort of shrugged it off as no big deal. It's the length of my out stretched hand from thumb to the end of my hand and raised for fuck sake. I guess I should start searching for a new doctor to see since I would like to either get some removed or at least have some idea of where the ones I have are and what they are doing since I have read they can push between my ribs or in some cases be on the surface of organs.

When I had the one cut out of my arm I originally went to the doctors for arm and hand pain and numbness. The change from nothing to very noticable discomfort was over the course of a few months. I'd rather not have surprise major discomfort near my spine, or in my inner thigh, or any of the other varied locations these exist.

Morblitz

Keep in mind, doctors don't usually give a shit about anything that they believe isn't actively causing you damage. If you can live with it fine they don't usually see a reason to go to the trouble of fixing what isn't broke, but slightly weird looking and uncomfortable.

She should of course help you remove them if that is what you want, most doctors will/should do so if you ask them. I'm sure you'll be able to find a doctor that will.


It does sound like the implications of this is distressing to you. So a second opinion you should probably get.

This is just my experience with doctors, anyway.

Kakodaimonos

Have you been tested for lipomatosis? It does sound like you might have that. See if you can get a consult with a dermatologist.

Lipomas by themselves are benign. You can get them surgically removed either with a local or general if they're deep. Some lipomas they may recommend you don't remove if the lipoma is close to a nerve or vein. Often, the surgery is not covered by insurance since it's considered "cosmetic".

TheUnsane1

I have not been tested for lipomatosis. I also would suggest people DO NOT google image search that. The dermatologist I have gone to in the past has gotten insanely popular I guess. My mom called for an appointment for herself there friday and was given an appointment for mid september. I suppose I could wait til then. Currently only one is causing any sort of pain and it's not really anything more painful than a healing bruise level of pain.

starmanbrand

My Grandpa, my Mom, and I all have them. Biggest one I've got is right above my elbow at probably about a 1" around. I've never had any of them try to be removed because only two ever cause me pain and thats only after they are hit.

But you're not alone!

bowen

I have them. Only remove them if they become a physical pain. Other than that, everything else is cosmetic.

If you're self conscious about your appearance, don't worry about it. If anyone ever questions you, most won't, just say your body is so badass it fights cancer (they are technically tumors). The joining ones are a different type of lipoma, though, which can be painful.