WLE and SLNB tomorrow

I had WLE 3 years ago on my upper back (left side). It was not terribly painful, I actually stopped taking the strong stuff pretty quickly because it gave me upset stomach and so I went to Tylenol and was fine with that. The thing that happened with me is either I started moving around too much too soon, or it was going to happen anyway just because of the location. . you almost can't move without stretching that area. . .so it opened up. So, while it started healing and the skin was very thin there, it eventually opened up and so I had a big hole in my back for a long time while it healed from the inside out. It didn't get infected, it didn't really hurt, and my spouse would just change the dressing on it each day. I didn't need one of those vacuum things that drain fluid or anything like that, I just let it slowly heal after it opened, and eventually after maybe couple months it finally healed up. Because of that, the scar is bigger, of course. My surgeon is a very skilled, very good surgeon (specializes in breast cancer and melanoma), but he sees this scar and just says it's not in his top 10 that he's done, that's for sure. I don't care so much about the cosmetic part. I actually have talked to one dermatologist who said when she does a WLE in that part of the back, she knows it is likely to open so she doesn't even bother to close it up, she just lets it heal from the inside out. So, try not to stretch it out too much after surgery, let it come together and heal.  I also had 2 nodes taken from under my left arm.

I had WLE 3 years ago on my upper back (left side). It was not terribly painful, I actually stopped taking the strong stuff pretty quickly because it gave me upset stomach and so I went to Tylenol and was fine with that. The thing that happened with me is either I started moving around too much too soon, or it was going to happen anyway just because of the location. . you almost can't move without stretching that area. . .so it opened up. So, while it started healing and the skin was very thin there, it eventually opened up and so I had a big hole in my back for a long time while it healed from the inside out. It didn't get infected, it didn't really hurt, and my spouse would just change the dressing on it each day. I didn't need one of those vacuum things that drain fluid or anything like that, I just let it slowly heal after it opened, and eventually after maybe couple months it finally healed up. Because of that, the scar is bigger, of course. My surgeon is a very skilled, very good surgeon (specializes in breast cancer and melanoma), but he sees this scar and just says it's not in his top 10 that he's done, that's for sure. I don't care so much about the cosmetic part. I actually have talked to one dermatologist who said when she does a WLE in that part of the back, she knows it is likely to open so she doesn't even bother to close it up, she just lets it heal from the inside out. So, try not to stretch it out too much after surgery, let it come together and heal.  I also had 2 nodes taken from under my left arm.

I had WLE 3 years ago on my upper back (left side). It was not terribly painful, I actually stopped taking the strong stuff pretty quickly because it gave me upset stomach and so I went to Tylenol and was fine with that. The thing that happened with me is either I started moving around too much too soon, or it was going to happen anyway just because of the location. . you almost can't move without stretching that area. . .so it opened up. So, while it started healing and the skin was very thin there, it eventually opened up and so I had a big hole in my back for a long time while it healed from the inside out. It didn't get infected, it didn't really hurt, and my spouse would just change the dressing on it each day. I didn't need one of those vacuum things that drain fluid or anything like that, I just let it slowly heal after it opened, and eventually after maybe couple months it finally healed up. Because of that, the scar is bigger, of course. My surgeon is a very skilled, very good surgeon (specializes in breast cancer and melanoma), but he sees this scar and just says it's not in his top 10 that he's done, that's for sure. I don't care so much about the cosmetic part. I actually have talked to one dermatologist who said when she does a WLE in that part of the back, she knows it is likely to open so she doesn't even bother to close it up, she just lets it heal from the inside out. So, try not to stretch it out too much after surgery, let it come together and heal.  I also had 2 nodes taken from under my left arm.

My MM was on my right shoulder blade just at the bra line.  SNB was in my right arm pit.  I had 2 nodes removed and were negative.  I was going to go to work the next day, but as a relief DVM, the practice owner wanted me to stay home an extra day.

I healed well.  Next day it felt like a golf ball was in my armpit.  Not sore, just felt like my shirt was wadding up under there.  I had minimal swelling.  Every person is different and the arm pit can hold a pretty good sized fluid pocket.

IMHO – plan for the worst and hope for the best.  Take the time off to heal so you don't wind up causing a bigger seroma (fluid pocket) by moving too much too early.  An ice pack several times a day post-op for the first day or so really helped.  Frozen peas (but stink when thawing), or using an ice pack that was frozen while haning over a soda can (to better fit up your arm pit) worked well.  Just don't put the ice pack directly on your skin.

The SNB injection with the technisium burned like a mother F……  Think hot molten poker with venomlike sting all together.  It didn't last long but hurts a magnitude of order worse than lidocaine.  After surgery expect smurfy blue pee due to the dye they inject during surgery.

Overall a minor surgery on the body, but messes with your mind while waiting for results.

Hugs,

Kim

My MM was on my right shoulder blade just at the bra line.  SNB was in my right arm pit.  I had 2 nodes removed and were negative.  I was going to go to work the next day, but as a relief DVM, the practice owner wanted me to stay home an extra day.

I healed well.  Next day it felt like a golf ball was in my armpit.  Not sore, just felt like my shirt was wadding up under there.  I had minimal swelling.  Every person is different and the arm pit can hold a pretty good sized fluid pocket.

IMHO – plan for the worst and hope for the best.  Take the time off to heal so you don't wind up causing a bigger seroma (fluid pocket) by moving too much too early.  An ice pack several times a day post-op for the first day or so really helped.  Frozen peas (but stink when thawing), or using an ice pack that was frozen while haning over a soda can (to better fit up your arm pit) worked well.  Just don't put the ice pack directly on your skin.

The SNB injection with the technisium burned like a mother F……  Think hot molten poker with venomlike sting all together.  It didn't last long but hurts a magnitude of order worse than lidocaine.  After surgery expect smurfy blue pee due to the dye they inject during surgery.

Overall a minor surgery on the body, but messes with your mind while waiting for results.

Hugs,

Kim

My MM was on my right shoulder blade just at the bra line.  SNB was in my right arm pit.  I had 2 nodes removed and were negative.  I was going to go to work the next day, but as a relief DVM, the practice owner wanted me to stay home an extra day.

I healed well.  Next day it felt like a golf ball was in my armpit.  Not sore, just felt like my shirt was wadding up under there.  I had minimal swelling.  Every person is different and the arm pit can hold a pretty good sized fluid pocket.

IMHO – plan for the worst and hope for the best.  Take the time off to heal so you don't wind up causing a bigger seroma (fluid pocket) by moving too much too early.  An ice pack several times a day post-op for the first day or so really helped.  Frozen peas (but stink when thawing), or using an ice pack that was frozen while haning over a soda can (to better fit up your arm pit) worked well.  Just don't put the ice pack directly on your skin.

The SNB injection with the technisium burned like a mother F……  Think hot molten poker with venomlike sting all together.  It didn't last long but hurts a magnitude of order worse than lidocaine.  After surgery expect smurfy blue pee due to the dye they inject during surgery.

Overall a minor surgery on the body, but messes with your mind while waiting for results.

Hugs,

Kim