Have you ever done a DIY mini op on yourself?

[yesichangedforthis]

If you go to the GP and request they do something and they say ''that comes under cosmetic and you will have to pay'' and you can't afford it, and it's giving you grief, would you
Take Matters Into Your Own Hands?

Okay
So I have a lipoma/cyst/fatty lump on my thigh that is really starting to annoy me. It's been there years so I know it's nothing sinister.
But, it's as annoying as hell.
I've been to the doc and they say it can't be removed on the NHS because it's classed as a cosmetic procedure, and will cost me XXX amount to remove it.
I can't afford it.
So I say, ''I thought you would say that, so I have a back up plan.

I'm going to sterilize the area, sterilize a needle and basically stick a pin in it to drain it.
His reply was ''That won't work, because it will only come back''

My argument is, Yes, it will eventually come back. Ideally the whole thing needs to be excised. Ideally.
However, it will more than likely take quite a while for it ''to come back'' which means I will have X amount of months (maybe even years) before it gets so big again.
So it's in my interests to go ahead, right?
I don't want to go for the rest of my life with a great big blimming lump on my leg.
What to do? If you're poor and can't afford something that's causing you distress?

A sharp one.
I'd be tempted to ice the area first to numb it a bit.

I'm going to try one more time.
If nothing happens, it's back to the GP.

I'd start with a very fine needle, then work up.
Sterilise sterilise sterilise!

I've PM'd you.

5cm across (think it might be 8 or ten on big things like thighs) and they should scan it to check the tiny possibility it is malignant. They don't like removing them. You need to be mentally distressed and it to be causing physical discomfort and good at arguing your case

What's the cost they are quoting you? Can you get the price then look around for other quotes?

Off to find a needle.

Should I go in slowly or jab it in quick?
What if it's near an artery?

Seriously, I'm a surgeon, please please don't attack it with a needle, or anything for that matter. I have no idea about NHS commissioning in different areas but all I can suggest is to appeal to your GP telling them how much it's bothering you and see if they'll at least refer for an opinion. In my experience we're definitely allowed to excise lumps if there's "diagnostic uncertainty". But if not explore getting it done privately? It's really not worth trying to do it yourself and ending up with awful scarring from an infection that looks worse than the lump ever did.

If you're really going to do it yourself, can you at least buy a proper medical needle rather than a sewing needle? Then it'll be already sterile. Also get yourself some Hibiscrub to wash the area beforehand.

But actually the worst that could happen is that you get a serious infection and die. I'm not suggesting that's likely.

It does sound uncomfortable and I'm sorry the NHS won't help with it

Mrs P, it's more sticky outy than across.
It's become more prominent lately.

If its not a liquid cycst I don't think sticking a needle in it will help.

Can you save up the cost of the op at all?

I have a lipoma in my thigh that's been there for years. Growing slowly and now about 2-3cm but you can't notice it unless you happen to feel it under the skin.

Doctor asked if it would like it removing but I declined as it isn't causing me problems (obviously yours is different and is causing issues). When he explained the op to me he described it as hard fat, like gristle, which will come out in one solid lump. I don't think a needle will do much?! Maybe a second opinion before opening yourself up to infection risks? Be careful, op

I have a lipoma in my thigh that's been there for years. Growing slowly and now about 2-3cm but you can't notice it unless you happen to feel it under the skin.

Doctor asked if it would like it removing but I declined as it isn't causing me problems (obviously yours is different and is causing issues). When he explained the op to me he described it as hard fat, like gristle, which will come out in one solid lump. I don't think a needle will do much?! Maybe a second opinion before opening yourself up to infection risks? Be careful, op

Don't attack it, I had one that was squashing the femoral artery and nerve. After three refusals, they finally removed it and the surgeon was WTF this should have been done ages ago.

elpinquinua,
if the needle's sterile. and I sterilise the area, then what's the harm?
I just want to find out if it's liquid (tmi) or solid.

I had a mole thing on my forehead which the NHS wouldn't remove as it was a cosmetic issue only. But then I found I kept on catching it when I was brushing my hair, and making it bleed, and they agreed it was now in danger of getting infected as it was so often scraped and sore, and they whipped it off for me.

You might find that if your cyst catches on things and bleeds ever they are more willing to remove it for you.

Demand a scan as it is growing.

I tied a lumpy wart thing up with dental floss
It wasn’t comfortable. On my wobbly thigh , but it fell off
It’s growing back now

Now you're scaring me.
I think I will make an appointment next week.

Hopefully a different GP will see it differently?
Addmitedly, the last time I saw a GP it was fairly small
and now it's a lot bigger, so they might remove it.

In my area there is one GPs surgery that does "cosmetic" operations like that very cheaply. I've had an unsightly wart frozen off for £5 there and DP had a fatty lump removed for £50. You don't have to be a patient there and you can self refer.

Anywhere like that where you are?

Dh had one of these removed from his back on the NHS just last month. Ask another GP. He had to wait a little while, I think about a 6 weeks maybe for a minor op appointment slot at the surgery.

Its located about 2cm to the right of my left hip bone, virtually the top of my groin, where it meets my hip.

The harm is that even sterile operations done by surgeons fully scrubbed in sterile operating theatres still carry an infection risk, wound infections are a serious problem. You cannot replicate operating theatre conditions at home so the risk is even higher. If a doctor has told you it's a fatty lump, it's almost certainly a fatty lump, that means a needle will have zero benefit. The other potential harm is that you have no idea of the anatomy of it, where relevant arteries, veins or nerves are in relation to it. When we excise these lumps we explore the area carefully and take care not to damage such structures. A needle is blind. I'll say this once more - please - just leave it alone.

Thanks.
I'm definitely making an appointment.
It used to feel fluidy, but has hardened, so I don't think DIY route will work.

I have loads in my arm. Hubby is always asking if he can cut them out. I'll send him round shall I?
TBH as long as it's not too far under the skin and you're not too squeamish then maybe.
I had a small cyst on my face that was on top of the skin. The doctor gave me a huge needle that was super sharp and almost blade like to drain it with. Turns out it wouldn't drain so I cut it off. It was tiny but cutting it off was grim. It took a lot longer than I thought and once you start you can't exactly stop... though if you get halfway they might consider it necessary