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Surgery in Three days
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Surgery in Three days

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Surgery in Three days

  • Post
    • May 13, 2014 at 1:27 am
    rgrand
    Participant

      On Thursday I will have the melanoma removed from my foot and a skin graft. They will take the skin from a donor site on the side of my abdomen.

      They will also be doing a SLNB at the same time.

      The full thickness skin graft on the sole of my foot is about a 3" circular area.

      Has anybody undergone something similar? How long does it take to heal from this and when do you think I will be able to drive and walk on the grafted skin?

      thanks!

    Viewing 8 reply threads
    • Replies
        • May 13, 2014 at 6:02 pm
        onestitchatatime
        Participant

          I'd be interested in the response to this as well.  My husband is having an excision of a melanoma on his lower abdomen with an SLNB on May 19.

          • May 13, 2014 at 6:02 pm
          onestitchatatime
          Participant

            I'd be interested in the response to this as well.  My husband is having an excision of a melanoma on his lower abdomen with an SLNB on May 19.

            • May 13, 2014 at 6:02 pm
            onestitchatatime
            Participant

              I'd be interested in the response to this as well.  My husband is having an excision of a melanoma on his lower abdomen with an SLNB on May 19.

              • May 13, 2014 at 6:18 pm
              kpcollins31
              Participant

                I can speak to my experience with a skin graft, but mine was on my arm so I did not have to walk on it :). My graft was thickly wrapped in gauze for a few weeks and I was given instructions to be careful not to bump into things with it. I am a little fuzzy on exactly how many weeks the graft was wrapped. Aside from it being ugly, I do not remember it being painful at all. The donor site (same arm for me) was more sore which is something I have heard is common.

                If I had to guess — and that is all it would be — you probably would not be walking on this for 6-8 weeks in order to allow the graft to heal. The doctors should be able to give you a better understanding of what to expect. 

                Good luck in the surgery. Keep us posted.

                Kevin

                • May 13, 2014 at 6:18 pm
                kpcollins31
                Participant

                  I can speak to my experience with a skin graft, but mine was on my arm so I did not have to walk on it :). My graft was thickly wrapped in gauze for a few weeks and I was given instructions to be careful not to bump into things with it. I am a little fuzzy on exactly how many weeks the graft was wrapped. Aside from it being ugly, I do not remember it being painful at all. The donor site (same arm for me) was more sore which is something I have heard is common.

                  If I had to guess — and that is all it would be — you probably would not be walking on this for 6-8 weeks in order to allow the graft to heal. The doctors should be able to give you a better understanding of what to expect. 

                  Good luck in the surgery. Keep us posted.

                  Kevin

                  • May 13, 2014 at 6:18 pm
                  kpcollins31
                  Participant

                    I can speak to my experience with a skin graft, but mine was on my arm so I did not have to walk on it :). My graft was thickly wrapped in gauze for a few weeks and I was given instructions to be careful not to bump into things with it. I am a little fuzzy on exactly how many weeks the graft was wrapped. Aside from it being ugly, I do not remember it being painful at all. The donor site (same arm for me) was more sore which is something I have heard is common.

                    If I had to guess — and that is all it would be — you probably would not be walking on this for 6-8 weeks in order to allow the graft to heal. The doctors should be able to give you a better understanding of what to expect. 

                    Good luck in the surgery. Keep us posted.

                    Kevin

                    • May 14, 2014 at 3:05 pm
                    hbecker
                    Participant

                      Robert,

                         Just one thing to add – take care of the incision where the donor skin is taken from. My husband popped his stitches open by being too active (i.e., lifting things he shouldn't have) too fast after the surgery. I think he was determined to show that he was on the road to getting back to his normal life. He should have taken that road a little slower …

                         Bottom line – give your whole body time to heal.

                         Wishing you the best –

                      Hazel

                      • May 14, 2014 at 3:05 pm
                      hbecker
                      Participant

                        Robert,

                           Just one thing to add – take care of the incision where the donor skin is taken from. My husband popped his stitches open by being too active (i.e., lifting things he shouldn't have) too fast after the surgery. I think he was determined to show that he was on the road to getting back to his normal life. He should have taken that road a little slower …

                           Bottom line – give your whole body time to heal.

                           Wishing you the best –

                        Hazel

                        • May 14, 2014 at 3:05 pm
                        hbecker
                        Participant

                          Robert,

                             Just one thing to add – take care of the incision where the donor skin is taken from. My husband popped his stitches open by being too active (i.e., lifting things he shouldn't have) too fast after the surgery. I think he was determined to show that he was on the road to getting back to his normal life. He should have taken that road a little slower …

                             Bottom line – give your whole body time to heal.

                             Wishing you the best –

                          Hazel

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