Locations
Southwest Surgical Associates
Katy, TX
About
SpecialtiesDoctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Doctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Surgery
General Surgery
Doctor Q&A
155 Answers
12 Agrees
The number of answers this doctor has agreed with.
A 26-year-old female asked:
Dr. Joey Bluhmanswered
Surgery 19 years experience
Lots of explanations: Reasons for enlarged lymph nodes are many. Some benign, some serious. Could be viral, allergies, infections, cancers, ect. I would recommend gettin... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 29-year-old female asked:
Dr. Joey Bluhmanswered
Surgery 19 years experience
It can: If the cancer perforates the wall of the colon allowing feces to spill into localized area, an abscess can form. This more commonly happens with dive... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 31-year-old member asked:
Dr. Joey Bluhmanswered
Surgery 19 years experience
Chest Xray: Symptoms could be chest pain, tightness, shortness of breath. But a chest xray is needed to diagnose.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 41-year-old member asked:
Dr. Joey Bluhmanswered
Surgery 19 years experience
Depends: The length of laparoscopic surgery depends on the type of surgery, the anatomy of the patient, the experience of the surgeon, ect.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 68-year-old female asked:
Dr. Joey Bluhmanswered
Surgery 19 years experience
Yes: Surgery is required to repair any hernia. This can be done by opening your previous incision or laparoscopically. Recovery time varies depending on ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 34-year-old member asked:
Dr. Joey Bluhmanswered
Surgery 19 years experience
Varies: Some patients have constant symptoms, some only symptoms after meals, some only after particular meals. Some people have symptoms only once. There ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 63-year-old male asked:
Dr. Joey Bluhmanswered
Surgery 19 years experience
Needs Treatment: I'm assuming he is in the hospital. He should be on antibiotics for the infection of the wound and in his blood stream. He will need good glucose co... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 29-year-old female asked:
Dr. Joey Bluhmanswered
Surgery 19 years experience
No: Two separate diseases, but they can present the same way. Diverticulitis does not cause cancer and cancer does not cause diverticulitis. Any patient... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 39-year-old female asked:
Dr. Joey Bluhmanswered
Surgery 19 years experience
Surgery: There are several home remedies out there that you can find described all over the internet. Avoiding greasy, fatty, spicy foods can help. I find th... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 31-year-old member asked:
Dr. Joey Bluhmanswered
Surgery 19 years experience
Ultrasound: An ultrasound can show signs of inflamation such at fluid around the gallbladder or thickening of the gallbladder wall. But an ultrasound can also be... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 34-year-old member asked:
Dr. Joey Bluhmanswered
Surgery 19 years experience
Yes: Simple answer is yes. Sometimes if the bowel blockage requires resection of the intestine, hernia repair may be delayed or temporized. You don't wan... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 32-year-old female asked:
Dr. Joey Bluhmanswered
Surgery 19 years experience
Sand: I think of sludge at sand in the gallbladder. Not stones but a precursor to stones in the form of a sandy substance. If you have symptoms that could... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 23-year-old male asked:
Dr. Joey Bluhmanswered
Surgery 19 years experience
No: AAA are caused by chronic high blood pressure, genetics, or disease of the arteries from smoking and diet.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:
Dr. Joey Bluhmanswered
Surgery 19 years experience
Lymphatic drainage: After a radical mastectomy many of the lymph nodes have been removed in the armpit or axilla. These same lymph nodes that drain the breast can also b... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 44-year-old member asked:
Please help! what is the difference between an operating room technician and a surgical technician ?
Dr. Joey Bluhmanswered
Surgery 19 years experience
None: I don't know a difference between these two terms. A surgical technician is the person handing instruments and setting up the sterile field in the or... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 22-year-old member asked:
Dr. Joey Bluhmanswered
Surgery 19 years experience
Yes: But be cautious. Any symptom similar to those your experienced during the first pneumothorax, then you should seek emergent medical care. A repeat p... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 73-year-old female asked:
Dr. Joey Bluhmanswered
Surgery 19 years experience
Possible: Hematomas often form in the area of the gallbladder after the gallbladder is removed. This can cause lingering pain that goes away as the hematoma is... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:
Dr. Joey Bluhmanswered
Surgery 19 years experience
See a doctor: Pain in the right side of the abdomen could be many things ranging from appendicitis, colon cancer, urinary tract infection, gallbladder issues, pancr... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 18-year-old female asked:
Dr. Joey Bluhmanswered
Surgery 19 years experience
Antibiotics/ Surgery: Acute colitis is usually treated with antibiotics, probiotics, and hydration. If it gets really bad, it may require surgery.
A fecolith (aka fecal... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 49-year-old member asked:
Dr. Joey Bluhmanswered
Surgery 19 years experience
Unusual: I haven't had many patients complain of back pain after inguinal hernia surgery. It may have been due to the positioning during surgery. Some clinic... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 39-year-old member asked:
Dr. Joey Bluhmanswered
Surgery 19 years experience
Alcoholics: Alcohol is the leading cause of cirrhosis or liver failure. Hepatitis or liver infection with hepatitis c is probably 2nd. There is also an increasi... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 35-year-old male asked:
Dr. Joey Bluhmanswered
Surgery 19 years experience
Possibly: If all the fibers were to get cut or removed you would not have a cremasteric reflex. Sometimes the muscle may heal back together and i would guess t... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A female asked:
Dr. Joey Bluhmanswered
Surgery 19 years experience
No: I have not heard or read anything about gluten allergies causing internal hemmorhoids. People with gluten allergy typically have problems with nausea... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 20-year-old male asked:
Dr. Joey Bluhmanswered
Surgery 19 years experience
Many things: Your symptoms could be multiple problems. You should seek medical attention. The possibilities include but are not limited to gastritis, gallbladder... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 39-year-old female asked:
Dr. Joey Bluhmanswered
Surgery 19 years experience
Wide Range: Gallbladder symptoms can last from a a few minutes to persistent symptoms until the gallbladder is removed. Symptoms can also vary widely and the sev... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 34-year-old female asked:
Dr. Joey Bluhmanswered
Surgery 19 years experience
Yes: An ultrasound of your gallbladder. If already done and your symptoms sound like gallbladder issues, i would obtain a hida scan which is a nuclear me... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 38-year-old female asked:
Dr. Joey Bluhmanswered
Surgery 19 years experience
No: Losing the weight will not fix the hernia, but if the hernia is causing symptoms, the symptoms may go away with loss of the weight.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 22-year-old female asked:
Dr. Joey Bluhmanswered
Surgery 19 years experience
You sound sick: You should be seen by a doctor. Your description paints a picture to me that you are very sick. The pain on your liver could be hepatits, gallbladde... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 59-year-old female asked:
Dr. Joey Bluhmanswered
Surgery 19 years experience
Possibly: A femoral hernia could compress on the femoral vein and cause some swelling of the same leg.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 18-year-old male asked:
Dr. Joey Bluhmanswered
Surgery 19 years experience
Anything: Most patients can eat anything after their gallbladder is removed. A very rare problem is post-cholecystectomy syndrome where patients will have diar... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 27-year-old female asked:
Dr. Joey Bluhmanswered
Surgery 19 years experience
Abdominal muscles: Usually the left and right rectus muscle are cut as well as the anterior and posterior transverse muscles along the right rib cage. Muscle tends to h... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 27-year-old female asked:
Dr. Joey Bluhmanswered
Surgery 19 years experience
Not always a problem: Gallstones can cause a variety of symptoms. Many people have them and don't know it. So yes, you can have them and never experience problems. That ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 33-year-old female asked:
Dr. Joey Bluhmanswered
Surgery 19 years experience
It is safe: Anethesia is safe for healthy patients. I often tell patients that is more dangerous for you to drive than to undergo anethesia. Patients placed un... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 19-year-old female asked:
Dr. Joey Bluhmanswered
Surgery 19 years experience
Go to your surgeon: I don't know what units you mean by bilirubin of 80 but an elevated bilirubin after gallbladder surgery would be concerning for a biliary obstruction ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 62-year-old female asked:
Dr. Joey Bluhmanswered
Surgery 19 years experience
Complicated Question: A bmi of 29 without comorbid conditions is not an indication for gastric bypass. That being said your bmi may have some contribution to why your niss... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 25-year-old female asked:
Dr. Joey Bluhmanswered
Surgery 19 years experience
Lifestyle change: Don't use gimmick diets, change your life. Regular exercise 3-4 times per week where you exercise doing aerobic activity for 30-60 minutes. Always c... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. Joey Bluhmanswered
Surgery 19 years experience
Nothing: There is not medicine to dissolve gallstones naturally. In fact, if there were such a medicine, i would be cautious in its use, as breaking up a ston... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 31-year-old female asked:
Dr. Joey Bluhmanswered
Surgery 19 years experience
Yes and No: The front of the stomach can usually be easily seen during gallbladder removal. The pancreas and back side of stomeach could also be seen laparoscopi... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A member asked:
Dr. Joey Bluhmanswered
Surgery 19 years experience
Not recommended: Patients can live with hernias for years and not have symptoms, however if you have a hernia large enough that it reaches your testicles, i would reco... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 37-year-old member asked:
Dr. Joey Bluhmanswered
Surgery 19 years experience
Yes: An infected wound should be opened so that the infection can drain to the surface. I recommend covering the wound but changing the dressing frequentl... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 49-year-old female asked:
Dr. Joey Bluhmanswered
Surgery 19 years experience
Hernia?: You may have a small hernia, strained rectus muscle, or other condition. See your physician for complete history of the pain, physical exam, and furt... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 45-year-old member asked:
Dr. Joey Bluhmanswered
Surgery 19 years experience
Not a complete list: Gastritis, ulcer, pancreatitis, gallbladder inflammation, stones in gallbladder, gastroenteritis, colitis, constipation, appendicitis, hernia, kidney ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 34-year-old member asked:
Dr. Joey Bluhmanswered
Surgery 19 years experience
Symptoms: Text book description: 24 hours of diffuse pain that now hurts mostly in the the right lower quadrant of the abdomen. +nausea and vomiting. +fevers
... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsAnswered >2 years agoMerged
A 27-year-old male asked:
Dr. Joey Bluhmanswered
Surgery 19 years experience
See a urologist: A urologist can possibly help to get to a diagnosis. I've never seen a patient with this specific complaint after hernia surgery, so i could only the... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 39-year-old male asked:
Dr. Joey Bluhmanswered
Surgery 19 years experience
Yes: That sounds normal. Usually sore for a week or two.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 46-year-old member asked:
Dr. Joey Bluhmanswered
Surgery 19 years experience
Possibly: Anything less than about 30% is considered abnormal. If you were having symptoms that could be attributed to your gallbladder, it would be recommende... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 43-year-old member asked:
Dr. Joey Bluhmanswered
Surgery 19 years experience
Different: Hemorroid--engorged blood hemorrhoidal blood vessel
fistula--connection between anal skin and inside your anus or rectum
fissure--skin tear.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 45-year-old member asked:
Dr. Joey Bluhmanswered
Surgery 19 years experience
You can't: There are all sorts of old wives tale remedies out there for gallbladder stone, but science shows that once a patient has symptoms from gallstones, th... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 31-year-old member asked:
Dr. Joey Bluhmanswered
Surgery 19 years experience
Yes: Mesh is the best surgical option for repair of an umbilical hernia. Hernias smaller than a centimeter can probably be repair with suture alone, but a... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 48-year-old member asked:
Dr. Joey Bluhmanswered
Surgery 19 years experience
No Proof needed: A surgeon will perform a complete history, family history, and exam to determine you risk for breast cancer. If you are at high risk for developing b... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
TestimonialsRecommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
Recommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
2
Recommendations
223
Thank you notes
HealthTap member
Mar 30, 2015
Dr. Bluhm is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
Mar 31, 2015
Dr. Bluhm is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
Thank you I thought that it could be a hital hernia. I'm seeing my md today but ty for your response. I do know the pain can be pretty bad
HealthTap member
Thank you, but my medic told me I'm too young (19) and it's better to not consider surgery cause my hernia is not so big.
HealthTap member
Thank you, your answer was very helpful! I think I already knew that but was hoping for a different answer. It
Education & Training
Medical/Graduate school
University of Texas Medical School at Houston, TX
Graduated 2004MD
Awards
Top General Surgeon , First Place, Texas - Winter
2013
HealthTap Founding Doctor
90,000 U.S. doctors in 147 specialties are here to answer your questions, provide medical advice, write prescriptions, and more.
Answer emailed
in 24 hours or less