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Complication from WLE
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Complication from WLE

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Complication from WLE

  • Post
    • September 18, 2011 at 7:05 pm
    NicoleinVA
    Participant

      Hello,

      I had a WLE and SLNB on 8/11; thankfully the SLNB was clear and at the beginning everything healed very well.  The WLE was done on my lower left outer calf.  They were able to close w/o skin graft and first three weeks all did well.

      Hello,

      I had a WLE and SLNB on 8/11; thankfully the SLNB was clear and at the beginning everything healed very well.  The WLE was done on my lower left outer calf.  They were able to close w/o skin graft and first three weeks all did well.

      The incision on my leg re-opened in the middle two weeks ago and I'm told it will have to heal from the inside out.  I just finished up a 2 week dose of Keflex for minor infection and keep in wrapped.  I clean w/soap & water 2-3 times/day and first was using thick coat of bacatracin and now have been given saline solution.  I clean, soak gauze pad w/solution and re-wrap, doing this 2 -3 times/day.

      Has anyone experienced anything like this and if so, do you have any advice?  I go back to derm in 2 weeks for another skin check and have to have at least 2 moles removed.  I'm hoping to recover from this surgery before I start w/more stiches.

      Thanks for any advice you can offer. 

    Viewing 5 reply threads
    • Replies
        • September 18, 2011 at 7:57 pm
        MichaelFL
        Participant

          Perhaps discuss a wound vac.

            • September 18, 2011 at 8:52 pm
            Vermont_Donna
            Participant

              Hi,

              I have had major wound healing issues (see my profile)….I am diabetic (type two) and also had an isolated limb perfusion which just really compromises the healing in my lower leg as the blood supply via small capillaries, etc was totally disrupted several years ago…I had two wider excisions that opened up after the stitches were removed and thye have takedn about 14 months to heal over….yours wont be so long I am sure! Dont use peroxide to clean the wound, as this washes away all bacteria, even the good ones. I only used soap and water in the shower then applied clean gauze, and paper tape, eventually even tape was not good for my skin and I used a mesh or cotton "sleeve" I slid my leg through to hold the bandages in place. I have used some other doctor recommended products as needed over the long time I was dealing with this…so let me know if you have other questions…

              Vermont_Donna, stage 3a, NED

              • September 18, 2011 at 8:52 pm
              Vermont_Donna
              Participant

                Hi,

                I have had major wound healing issues (see my profile)….I am diabetic (type two) and also had an isolated limb perfusion which just really compromises the healing in my lower leg as the blood supply via small capillaries, etc was totally disrupted several years ago…I had two wider excisions that opened up after the stitches were removed and thye have takedn about 14 months to heal over….yours wont be so long I am sure! Dont use peroxide to clean the wound, as this washes away all bacteria, even the good ones. I only used soap and water in the shower then applied clean gauze, and paper tape, eventually even tape was not good for my skin and I used a mesh or cotton "sleeve" I slid my leg through to hold the bandages in place. I have used some other doctor recommended products as needed over the long time I was dealing with this…so let me know if you have other questions…

                Vermont_Donna, stage 3a, NED

              • September 18, 2011 at 7:57 pm
              MichaelFL
              Participant

                Perhaps discuss a wound vac.

                • September 18, 2011 at 10:03 pm
                jax2007gxp
                Participant

                  I developed PG (pyoderma granulosum) following my WLE, which caused ulcerations to open up at and near the original incision.  One piece of advice, be careful how tightly you wrap the area.  The specialist I saw noticed the indentations in my leg from the wrap.  She actually had me stop wrapping it altogether.  Her explanation was that the wrap can impede good circulation to the area which can prolong healing.

                  Good luck with the healing and your upcoming procedures!

                  Jacki

                  • September 18, 2011 at 10:03 pm
                  jax2007gxp
                  Participant

                    I developed PG (pyoderma granulosum) following my WLE, which caused ulcerations to open up at and near the original incision.  One piece of advice, be careful how tightly you wrap the area.  The specialist I saw noticed the indentations in my leg from the wrap.  She actually had me stop wrapping it altogether.  Her explanation was that the wrap can impede good circulation to the area which can prolong healing.

                    Good luck with the healing and your upcoming procedures!

                    Jacki

                    • September 18, 2011 at 10:03 pm
                    dian in spokane
                    Participant

                      yes, I had the same problem with one of my wide excisions back in 03. it really bugged me too, cuz the surgeon did such a pretty job that I thought it was going to be invisible. I recommend a martini!

                      You just have to do what they tell you to. With mine, it took a while to heal, but eventually it did. I ended up with what might have been a nice thin scar turning into a big, ugly, spread out scar. But..it's just a dang scar, so better than a lot of things.

                      Good news on your SNB though, and hopefully the rest of your recovery will go more smoothly, and your derm will find nothing but peaches and cream on your next exam. And by next year that scar will just be a reminder to you of how lucky you are to have dodged a bullet.

                      Good luck!

                      dian

                        • September 22, 2011 at 2:15 am
                        NicoleinVA
                        Participant

                          Thanks for the great advice.  I've been keeping it very tightly wrapped; I'll stop that now.

                          Also, what is a wound vac?

                          Thanks again for these responses; I was starting to feel like I was the only one that had a problem like this.

                          • September 22, 2011 at 2:15 am
                          NicoleinVA
                          Participant

                            Thanks for the great advice.  I've been keeping it very tightly wrapped; I'll stop that now.

                            Also, what is a wound vac?

                            Thanks again for these responses; I was starting to feel like I was the only one that had a problem like this.

                          • September 18, 2011 at 10:03 pm
                          dian in spokane
                          Participant

                            yes, I had the same problem with one of my wide excisions back in 03. it really bugged me too, cuz the surgeon did such a pretty job that I thought it was going to be invisible. I recommend a martini!

                            You just have to do what they tell you to. With mine, it took a while to heal, but eventually it did. I ended up with what might have been a nice thin scar turning into a big, ugly, spread out scar. But..it's just a dang scar, so better than a lot of things.

                            Good news on your SNB though, and hopefully the rest of your recovery will go more smoothly, and your derm will find nothing but peaches and cream on your next exam. And by next year that scar will just be a reminder to you of how lucky you are to have dodged a bullet.

                            Good luck!

                            dian

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