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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Have you ever done a DIY mini op on yourself?

125 replies

yesichangedforthis · 26/10/2017 21:01

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?

OP posts:
Original poster
yesichangedforthis · 26/10/2017 22:27

I'll be seeing the GP.
Take it from there.
If he/she says no it's cosmetic again. I might consider other options.
Not sure what other options there are if you can't go private....

OP posts:
FairyDogMother11 · 26/10/2017 22:30

I performed a diy op on my foot when I was roughly 16. I had managed to embed a large shard of glass in the pad of my foot and it was the weekend so doctor wasn't an option, it wasn't budging when I was using tweezers or whatever to remove it. So I took a sterilised disposable scalpel to it (art student) cut open the skin, removed the glass and stuck some anti septic and a dressing on it. Very successful but idiotic really and I wouldn't have attempted it on what you have! I hope you get it sorted Flowers

Justaboy · 26/10/2017 22:31

As per 1978 this by what you describe will need opening up a bit for removal of the sac that is the bump then stitching up.

Really don't!! get to your GP and either say its getting that painful or you have a mate who will take it out he used to work as a butcher or somesuch nonsense that might persuade the poor old GP to give in and see if they can get you to be seen

Else you might contact a private hospital for a quote but really don't mess with this especially where it is located.

Got that?

Caenea · 26/10/2017 22:32

My dad had a huge cyst on his back for years. It got the the point where it was visible through his clothes and they drained it on the NHS, so I'm baffled as to why you've been told it isn't available...

AuldHeathen · 26/10/2017 22:33

I’ve got a lipoma on my thigh too - mine has got irritating lately as well. I sometimes consider cutting it out but l know l can’t because it wouldn’t work and l’d probably end up with a rip roaring infection.

Original poster
yesichangedforthis · 26/10/2017 22:35

AuldHeathen,
have you had it years as well?
Has it gotten bigger over time?
Have you seen the GP about it in the past?

OP posts:
Original poster
yesichangedforthis · 26/10/2017 22:36

It's so annoying.
What causes these bloody things?

OP posts:
ShotsFired · 26/10/2017 22:40

I had a small bump thing taken off the side of my nose. Well, actually they burnt it off so I had the lovely scent of burning flesh up my nostrils for a while...

But my gp just referred me to a minor procedures clinic and I was in and out in 15mins. Maybe there's something similar near you?

Ollivander84 · 26/10/2017 22:40

I have HS and get abscesses which I drain myself. Unless they're like the one under my armpit which they took one look at and shoved me under GA BlushShock

MsHarry · 26/10/2017 22:46

I thought that if it causes distress,they would remove it. Be very careful, sepsis is real!

TenForward82 · 26/10/2017 22:50

Blimey. I know I'm late to the party and you've decided not to do it, but thank gawd. I had a lipoma removed about a year ago and no, it's not pus, it IS indeed like fat on a chicken thigh, and they have to snip it away from the muscle. I nearly vommed.

Weirdly I was seen for it twice (ten years ago and last year) and they never had a problem about removing it - maybe it's a postcode lottery thing?

TenForward82 · 26/10/2017 22:52

Incidentally after the removal the stitches didn't dissolve properly so I was left with a bit of bump which was definitely filled with pus. I confess I did do DIY surgery on that bit which was gross and satisfying.

stopfuckingshoutingatme · 26/10/2017 22:54

I have had both a lipoma and a cyst removed on the NHS
One was under a general (it was huge and unsightly ) and the second in a doctors surgery

They should have a minor surveys waiting list surely ??

phoenix1973 · 26/10/2017 22:55

Do what you like. I had a huge dangling skin tag on my labia. I tied floss around it. It swelled and was agonisingly painful for days. It also stank. Finally came off on day 8.
No bumps and never came back 2.5 years gone. The pain made me cry though 😓

Ttbb · 26/10/2017 22:58

You're going to have to cut it out if you want to get rid of it.

Jnic79 · 26/10/2017 22:58

Yes I had a tattoo of a name I took it off with a bread knife it bled a lot but it healed I used superglue to fix it
I cut my hand badly on a door when I was drunk and I pulled the glass out and used superglue to the job again good stuff super glue

Gunpowder · 26/10/2017 23:01

Was coming on to ask if doing your own hot wax Brazilian counted (Seriously no one EVER attempt it, it was horrific) and stayed to read the thread and am so pleased you are going back to the GP! Please don't get sepsis in the name of sporn. Shock

AuldHeathen · 26/10/2017 23:07

I was sent for an ultrasound about 5 years ago. Definitely ‘just’ a lipoma. I was told, if it got troublesome, l could be referred for surgery. Since then it has grown. I am a bit unsure about op as l am on immunosuppressants and in the past have got infections after minor ops. Mine is on inner thigh so chafes on the other one (l am not thin!) and it’s about

Daisy0789 · 26/10/2017 23:07

You shouldn't do anything to it yourself. Chances are you will infect it, be given antibiotics as treatment and be left with an even more unsightly lump. I understand your frustration but I can't see them removing it for you, from there point of view there will be greater risks from removing it such as infection and you might be left with an awful scar instead.

AuldHeathen · 26/10/2017 23:09

It’s been there a decade maybe.

ApproachingATunnel · 26/10/2017 23:14

When i was at uni (first year medical student!) i had an abscess on my knee. It was annoying and in the end one evening i had a beer (or two, we used to party hard back in the day), got the sharpest knife, sterilised it with flame and spirit and cut into the abscess (in the bathroom as i had roommates). Let the puss out, sterilised around the wound with spirit and put a bandage on. The operation was a success, the wound healed without any issues. Despite my obvious talent i did not in the end become a doctor...

headinhands · 26/10/2017 23:19

Hi op. I had a cyst removed a couple of years ago. They only remove cysts if they case discomfort etc. Go back and tell the dr that it’s on the side you lay on at night and it’s causing you problems.

alphajuliet123 · 26/10/2017 23:22

I had a lump under my armpit. To be fair it was quite small until I squeezed and prodded it until it was pea sized with inflammation. Summer was coming and it looked bloody awful and seemed to be coming up to a head but was clearly a fatty lump rather than liquid. Anyway, one day I went at it with a needle and tweezers and eventually my pit started giving birth to a white thing, but every time I released it retreated back in. It was horrible but the bugger came out in one piece, bled for a bit and quickly healed over although the area was bruised for a couple of weeks. That was 18 months ago and it's never come back, can't tell it was ever there. Glad I did it.

All that said, yours sounds bigger. If the docs won't remove it I think you'd be best saving to get it done privately.

HeadlessHorsemad · 26/10/2017 23:24

I am Shock at all the people hacking away at themselves!

tictoc76 · 26/10/2017 23:27

I had one of these - doctor asked me if it gave me any trouble and when I said it sometimes hurt he referred me to get it removed. The times it hurt was because it was on the back of my leg so my little ones used to come up behind me and squeeze it!