We are all guilty of it. You feel a twinge of pain in your abdomen, or notice a small lump under your skin, and you tell yourself, “It’s probably nothing. It will go away on its own.”
While the “wait and see” approach works for a common cold, it can be dangerous when it comes to surgical issues. As Board-Certified Surgeons, Dr. Nicole Basa and Dr. Alan Abando see many patients who waited until a manageable condition became an emergency.
The good news? Modern general surgery at B+A Medical Center is minimally invasive, meaning smaller incisions, less pain, and faster recovery. Here are three common conditions you should get checked sooner rather than later.
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Gallbladder Issues (The “Indigestion” That Isn’t)
The gallbladder is a small organ that stores bile, but when it starts forming stones or gets infected, it can cause severe pain.
- The Signs: Sudden, intense pain in the upper right abdomen (often after eating fatty foods), nausea, or pain radiating to the back/shoulder.
- Why treat it now: Gallstones do not go away on their own. If a stone blocks your bile duct, it can lead to severe infection or pancreatitis.
- The Solution: We perform laparoscopic cholecystectomy (gallbladder removal). It is one of the most common surgeries we perform, and most patients go home the same day.
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Hernias (They Don’t Heal Themselves)
A hernia occurs when an organ or fatty tissue squeezes through a weak spot in a surrounding muscle or fascia. You might see a bulge in your groin (inguinal) or near your belly button (umbilical).
- The Signs: A visible bulge that may disappear when you lie down, pain when lifting heavy objects, or a dull aching sensation.
- Why treat it now: Unlike a pulled muscle, a hernia will never heal on its own. It will only get bigger. The danger is “strangulation” where the intestine gets trapped and loses blood supply, becoming a life-threatening emergency.
- The Solution: We offer robotic and laparoscopic hernia repair to reinforce the abdominal wall with minimal downtime.
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Lipomas and Cysts (Lumps and Bumps)
Finding a lump under your skin can be scary, but often these are Lipomas (fatty tumors) or Cysts. While usually benign (non-cancerous), they can be annoying or painful.
- The Signs: A soft, movable lump under the skin. Lipomas are usually painless unless they press on a nerve, while cysts can become red and inflamed if infected.
- Why treat it now: While small lipomas can be left alone, they often grow over time, becoming harder to remove cosmetically. If a sebaceous cyst keeps getting infected, it needs to be surgically excised, not just drained.
- The Solution: In-office removal. For many small lumps, we can remove them right here in our office with local anesthesia, saving you the cost and time of a hospital visit.
Expert Care Close to Home
Whether it is a nagging pain or a new lump, peace of mind is just a consultation away. Dr. Basa and Dr. Abando combine surgical precision with compassionate care to get you back to feeling like yourself.
Do you have symptoms you’ve been ignoring? Schedule a consultation with our surgical team today.
