The Dr says normal

[Jay Ar]

5 1/2 years ago I had a Triple Bypass. Then March last year I was in hospital and had a total knee replacement. The hospital Dr was doing his rounds and I asked him about a lump just off centre and below my right rib cage. It is about 2 in in dia and probably a quarter in hight. He said it's probably just a bit of a Hernia from your Bypass and if it doesn't worry you, don't worry about it. I have 2 questions.(A) does this sound normal, (B) Are there any others in here that have a simular thing. I probably should mention it is just a soft and puffy lump.

[Phlox]

Hi Jay. Im not sure this post will help you since the Doctors have left me with more questions than answers, but thought I would chime in because that lump you mention (along with symptoms) is part of what Ive been going thru lately! The lump may be unrelated to my symptoms, but the lump you describe sounds just like something I have in the exact same spot! Ive been having some strange symptoms the last few months in that area as well, and at FIRST I thought they might be related. The PA at my docs office told me it might be what you mentioned---a hernia. With the symptoms, though, they sent me for a CT Scan of my abdomen & chest last month, and they found a "growth" near my diaphragm, which got me referred to a surgeon...when I asked the surgeon if that growth they found was this lump, he told me "probably not" and the surgeon thought the lump might just be a "calcification" but the results were "unclear." Im supposed to go for another Ultrasound next week, so I hope to learn more since I still dont know exactly what is causing my problems...still having discomfort in my RUQ, as well as chest pressure and bouts of fatigue.

Funny thing is, I recently had a VERY bad episode of Gout as well (when it rains it pours, and THAT might be related according to the PA), but when I asked the ER doctor about the lump, he told me he thought it was a "lympoma" (not cancer, just a fatty tumor that is supposedly harmless, but I am probably spelling it wrong). So....3 different opinions on that lump from 3 different doctors!

Like I said, I didnt think I would be much help, lol, other than to simply tell you what my experiences were regarding that same kind of lump. If youre not having any symptoms around/from it, that sort of helps ME actually: I am really starting to believe that it might be something UNrelated to what is causing my other symptoms, just seemed fishy because it was in the RUQ, same area as some of my discomfort. And dont get me started on how one Doctor says Gall Bladder, the other says no...hehe! If you find out anything specific about these lumps, please repost to share the info? I would appreciate it!

[Lenin]

Phlox,

I think the word you are looking for is "lypoma"...a fatty tumor/cyst...completely harmless.
I doubt that it can be a tophi from gout because mid body is the warmest part of the body and thus the least likely place for uric acid to crystallize.

Where was your attack, the classic big toe-bunion joint pain called podagra since ancient times?

My guess for both you guys is that the growth is some sort of calcified scarring as a result of the surgical incision...like those tenacious knobs we get at the sight of an angiogram catheter insertion.
Remember the surgery has an INTERNAL sawing that is welded up with steel wire...that's apt to create some WICKED scar tissue that is too deep to see.

[Jay Ar]

Thanks for the fast replies fellas, I must say I hardly know that the thing is there until I look in a mirror. And at 67 yrs I'll wait until it gives me some discomfort before I get a more thorough check up as I've had enough of Hospital, Drs and Pills and medication etc. I bet I'm not the only one in here that feels like I do.
Jay Ar

[Phlox]

I know how you feel Jay, hehe. Unfortunately I am still having symptoms so I have to figure out whats causing it. And youre right Lenin, the gout attack was around the bunion on the left foot but it was the worst ive ever experienced, with my heart rates going insane..and not only did it not go away, it then went into my RIGHT foot by the toe just as intense. I was more afraid of my insane heart rates than anything, but boy those hurt far worse than any previous attack and lasted much longer. And of course the Uric Acid levels show normal every blood test...hard to catch it from what the doctor said. Something I found interesting after reading one of your posts in another thread, too, Lenin---about 2 weeks after the worst of the gout pain was gone, I started noticing creases in my ears, especially on the right. I know they werent there because (1) I have a photo from a few months ago where I dont have any, and (2) I remember checking when I first saw that thread where you guys were talking about them, and I was clear. Now, after this bad episode of gout, 2 weeks later I have ear creases? Yeesh...I really think there must be something to that, but its hard to tell your Doc it is something that concerns you.

As far as the lypoma (thanks for that I couldnt remember the exact name, hehe), I havent had any kind of surgery in that area, or even testing beyond CT & Ultrasound, so Im not sure what else could cause it. Im not sure if its related to my fatigue and RUQ discomfort or not..if it werent for those symptoms, I would probably do exactly like Jay and not worry about it. The P.A. at my docs office (and I) just wonder if its all related or not--the fatigue, fast heart rate, the gout, the RUQ discomfort...but lately I sort of doubt the lump/lypoma is part of it.