Recovery???

I had a WLE with skin graft I’m July. I didn’t have a SLNB but my donor site was in my groin so I did have 2 wounds. Where is your wle bring done? Mine was on my lower leg so and I had a boot and wound vac due to the graft. Plus crutches so that I didn’t put any weight on it. I think you’ll feel fine for getting out and about but you might need someone to help you and a place to elevate if it’s on a lower extremity.

Hope that helps and best of luck 🙂

I had a WLE with skin graft I’m July. I didn’t have a SLNB but my donor site was in my groin so I did have 2 wounds. Where is your wle bring done? Mine was on my lower leg so and I had a boot and wound vac due to the graft. Plus crutches so that I didn’t put any weight on it. I think you’ll feel fine for getting out and about but you might need someone to help you and a place to elevate if it’s on a lower extremity.

Hope that helps and best of luck 🙂

I had a WLE with skin graft I’m July. I didn’t have a SLNB but my donor site was in my groin so I did have 2 wounds. Where is your wle bring done? Mine was on my lower leg so and I had a boot and wound vac due to the graft. Plus crutches so that I didn’t put any weight on it. I think you’ll feel fine for getting out and about but you might need someone to help you and a place to elevate if it’s on a lower extremity.

Hope that helps and best of luck 🙂

Hi,

It would be difficult to say. Think your melanoma was on your back. So will probably drain to your axilla but maybe both if central. The wle takes a deeper margin the bigger,/deeper the lesion and extends from both sides to make it easier to pull the edges together and maintain a good skin contour without puckering etc.  If the wle would be under your bra straps this could be painful / irritating. You might want to ditch your bra and swap to a soft vest top with a bit of Lycra for support.

What are you like on pain thresholds ? Can you fix to watch him compete from a chair or would you be standing on the sidelines ? 

My wle throbbed like hell and was quite painful when the local wore off .. I even stopped to buy ice to calm it down on the way home but this was on my thigh.. I am overweight and there was plenty of flesh to pull together. They took more tissue than I anticipated from a small thin melanoma.

You might want to get some painkillers in your system before the procedure and keep them topped up so that you don't let it get out of hand .. But everyone is different and it will depend on a number of factors.. Including how much you want to grit your teeth to go to the competition. ..but sometimes we just have to admit it sucks and that it isn't wise to risk the incision opening up by driving too soon if the skin is tight etc

Sorry that it depends is not a great answer. I hope you breeze through the procedure but would keep in mind that depending on how tight the stitches are it may not be worth the risk of putting too much strain on the incision and having it opening up .

All the best for tomorrow 

Deb

Hi,

It would be difficult to say. Think your melanoma was on your back. So will probably drain to your axilla but maybe both if central. The wle takes a deeper margin the bigger,/deeper the lesion and extends from both sides to make it easier to pull the edges together and maintain a good skin contour without puckering etc.  If the wle would be under your bra straps this could be painful / irritating. You might want to ditch your bra and swap to a soft vest top with a bit of Lycra for support.

What are you like on pain thresholds ? Can you fix to watch him compete from a chair or would you be standing on the sidelines ? 

My wle throbbed like hell and was quite painful when the local wore off .. I even stopped to buy ice to calm it down on the way home but this was on my thigh.. I am overweight and there was plenty of flesh to pull together. They took more tissue than I anticipated from a small thin melanoma.

You might want to get some painkillers in your system before the procedure and keep them topped up so that you don't let it get out of hand .. But everyone is different and it will depend on a number of factors.. Including how much you want to grit your teeth to go to the competition. ..but sometimes we just have to admit it sucks and that it isn't wise to risk the incision opening up by driving too soon if the skin is tight etc

Sorry that it depends is not a great answer. I hope you breeze through the procedure but would keep in mind that depending on how tight the stitches are it may not be worth the risk of putting too much strain on the incision and having it opening up .

All the best for tomorrow 

Deb

Hi,

It would be difficult to say. Think your melanoma was on your back. So will probably drain to your axilla but maybe both if central. The wle takes a deeper margin the bigger,/deeper the lesion and extends from both sides to make it easier to pull the edges together and maintain a good skin contour without puckering etc.  If the wle would be under your bra straps this could be painful / irritating. You might want to ditch your bra and swap to a soft vest top with a bit of Lycra for support.

What are you like on pain thresholds ? Can you fix to watch him compete from a chair or would you be standing on the sidelines ? 

My wle throbbed like hell and was quite painful when the local wore off .. I even stopped to buy ice to calm it down on the way home but this was on my thigh.. I am overweight and there was plenty of flesh to pull together. They took more tissue than I anticipated from a small thin melanoma.

You might want to get some painkillers in your system before the procedure and keep them topped up so that you don't let it get out of hand .. But everyone is different and it will depend on a number of factors.. Including how much you want to grit your teeth to go to the competition. ..but sometimes we just have to admit it sucks and that it isn't wise to risk the incision opening up by driving too soon if the skin is tight etc

Sorry that it depends is not a great answer. I hope you breeze through the procedure but would keep in mind that depending on how tight the stitches are it may not be worth the risk of putting too much strain on the incision and having it opening up .

All the best for tomorrow 

Deb

Mine was upper arm, SNB axilla, but I felt pretty good the next day. Not up for vigorous activity, reaching and carrying etc, but walking around was fine. You would want someone to drive you;  I think they told me no driving for 24 hours post anesthesia, and you may want to use pain reliever. My post surgery instruction said activity as tolerated. I used ibuprofen alternating with acetaminophen every 3 hours during day, and tramadol Rx at night. Soft ice packs helped too (especially under arm where SNB area gave more discomfort), you could take some in a lunch cooler or a couple instant first aid cold  packs.   You may feel better with the distraction of watching your son, than being home focused on your discomfort. 

Surgery on back may be very different though, especially if you need graft. I would seek and follow advice of surgeon, and your own feeling. 

Praying your surgery goes well, that time between now and surgery, and until biopsy results go quickly, with the best possible outcomes,

Blessings, 

Joyce

Mine was upper arm, SNB axilla, but I felt pretty good the next day. Not up for vigorous activity, reaching and carrying etc, but walking around was fine. You would want someone to drive you;  I think they told me no driving for 24 hours post anesthesia, and you may want to use pain reliever. My post surgery instruction said activity as tolerated. I used ibuprofen alternating with acetaminophen every 3 hours during day, and tramadol Rx at night. Soft ice packs helped too (especially under arm where SNB area gave more discomfort), you could take some in a lunch cooler or a couple instant first aid cold  packs.   You may feel better with the distraction of watching your son, than being home focused on your discomfort. 

Surgery on back may be very different though, especially if you need graft. I would seek and follow advice of surgeon, and your own feeling. 

Praying your surgery goes well, that time between now and surgery, and until biopsy results go quickly, with the best possible outcomes,

Blessings, 

Joyce

Mine was upper arm, SNB axilla, but I felt pretty good the next day. Not up for vigorous activity, reaching and carrying etc, but walking around was fine. You would want someone to drive you;  I think they told me no driving for 24 hours post anesthesia, and you may want to use pain reliever. My post surgery instruction said activity as tolerated. I used ibuprofen alternating with acetaminophen every 3 hours during day, and tramadol Rx at night. Soft ice packs helped too (especially under arm where SNB area gave more discomfort), you could take some in a lunch cooler or a couple instant first aid cold  packs.   You may feel better with the distraction of watching your son, than being home focused on your discomfort. 

Surgery on back may be very different though, especially if you need graft. I would seek and follow advice of surgeon, and your own feeling. 

Praying your surgery goes well, that time between now and surgery, and until biopsy results go quickly, with the best possible outcomes,

Blessings, 

Joyce