Sunny Sea

Hello again everyone,
I’m sorry it’s been so long since my last post. I’ve just started to feel somewhat like myself again. I had some issues post-op and stayed pretty heavily medicated until last week (then it was TAX CRUNCH). Maybe i should have done my taxes on meds…. I’m sure i could have gotten a better return that way, lol.
My surgery went well. You’re right, the scars are impressive. Even though i knew what to expect, seeing them the first time was something else.
I had to go back to the ER the night of the surgery. Percocet apparently does nothing for nerve pain. Not sure what happened but after i was home, i tried to reposition my arm. I had this sudden sharp pain in the back of my upper arm (not near either of the surgical sites) then the skin over that area went numb. I assumed i had just moved wrong and tried to reposition my arm again with the same result but slightly lower. I quit trying to move my arm and looked over my post op instructions to see if they said anything about this. nothing. my husband called the doctor and of course gets the “if this is an emergency, call 911” pre recorded message. About that time, and for no apparent reason, it felt like someone plowed the back of my arm with a burning hot razor from shoulder to elbow and the entire back of my arm felt like it had been injected with lidocane — skin went completely numb. UNfortunatey the burning hot razor was still there with absolutely no apparent way to make it stop. Long story short, i managed to scare the living crap out of my entire family (screaming like a banshee tends to do that) and I got to meet the wonderful staff at the local ER ….after passing out and having a blood pressure of 150/130. It took IV meds to get the pain back under control — dilaudid is great stuff. The next 4 days consisted of taking pain meds, sleeping, waking up, and taking meds again.
The skin over my triceps is still numb but the nerve pain is not nearly as intense as it had been and I’ve found that when it gets bad, direct pressure & ice packs help. I’ve lost some range of motion in my shoulder and my wrist. The doc says he didn’t go into muscle so any loss of movement should improve as the skin stretches out. Nevertheless, i’ll be starting physical therapy to get things moving again as soon as possible. If it wasnt my dominant arm, i probably wouldnt worry about it, but there’s enough of a change that daily activities are difficult.
All that being what it is, i’ll take it. I got my biopsy report back and the lymph nodes and wide excision were all free of cancer! I wish that meant i’d never have to think about cancer again, but i know that isnt the case.
No one really said when i was supposed to schedule my next dermatology appointment. Will a melanoma specialist do regular skin checks or should i be doing those with my dermatologist?? With a history of melanoma, what criteria do they use for determining what moles to remove? Do they remove them for having a single sign of cancer or do they wait for them to look more suspicious? just wondering because i have several large moles, a few that are multicolored, and others with irregular boarders. Is ONE sign enough for biopsy now or will they wait until they look more suspicious?
I cant help but feel that i’m just getting a reprieve from this battle. I had 3 moles checked, one was normal, one atypical, and one melanoma…..and there are many many many more. Will i always feel like there’s more melanoma that hasnt been detected?

I hope that all of you are doing well and that none of you were affected by all the recent tornadoes.

Hugs & best wishes

Hello again everyone,
I’m sorry it’s been so long since my last post. I’ve just started to feel somewhat like myself again. I had some issues post-op and stayed pretty heavily medicated until last week (then it was TAX CRUNCH). Maybe i should have done my taxes on meds…. I’m sure i could have gotten a better return that way, lol.
My surgery went well. You’re right, the scars are impressive. Even though i knew what to expect, seeing them the first time was something else.
I had to go back to the ER the night of the surgery. Percocet apparently does nothing for nerve pain. Not sure what happened but after i was home, i tried to reposition my arm. I had this sudden sharp pain in the back of my upper arm (not near either of the surgical sites) then the skin over that area went numb. I assumed i had just moved wrong and tried to reposition my arm again with the same result but slightly lower. I quit trying to move my arm and looked over my post op instructions to see if they said anything about this. nothing. my husband called the doctor and of course gets the “if this is an emergency, call 911” pre recorded message. About that time, and for no apparent reason, it felt like someone plowed the back of my arm with a burning hot razor from shoulder to elbow and the entire back of my arm felt like it had been injected with lidocane — skin went completely numb. UNfortunatey the burning hot razor was still there with absolutely no apparent way to make it stop. Long story short, i managed to scare the living crap out of my entire family (screaming like a banshee tends to do that) and I got to meet the wonderful staff at the local ER ….after passing out and having a blood pressure of 150/130. It took IV meds to get the pain back under control — dilaudid is great stuff. The next 4 days consisted of taking pain meds, sleeping, waking up, and taking meds again.
The skin over my triceps is still numb but the nerve pain is not nearly as intense as it had been and I’ve found that when it gets bad, direct pressure & ice packs help. I’ve lost some range of motion in my shoulder and my wrist. The doc says he didn’t go into muscle so any loss of movement should improve as the skin stretches out. Nevertheless, i’ll be starting physical therapy to get things moving again as soon as possible. If it wasnt my dominant arm, i probably wouldnt worry about it, but there’s enough of a change that daily activities are difficult.
All that being what it is, i’ll take it. I got my biopsy report back and the lymph nodes and wide excision were all free of cancer! I wish that meant i’d never have to think about cancer again, but i know that isnt the case.
No one really said when i was supposed to schedule my next dermatology appointment. Will a melanoma specialist do regular skin checks or should i be doing those with my dermatologist?? With a history of melanoma, what criteria do they use for determining what moles to remove? Do they remove them for having a single sign of cancer or do they wait for them to look more suspicious? just wondering because i have several large moles, a few that are multicolored, and others with irregular boarders. Is ONE sign enough for biopsy now or will they wait until they look more suspicious?
I cant help but feel that i’m just getting a reprieve from this battle. I had 3 moles checked, one was normal, one atypical, and one melanoma…..and there are many many many more. Will i always feel like there’s more melanoma that hasnt been detected?

I hope that all of you are doing well and that none of you were affected by all the recent tornadoes.

Hugs & best wishes

Thanks for the information Janner.  I feel like I've gotten better & more complete information here than i have from my doctors.  Good idea about the pictures.  I'll have to get my hubby to take some pics for me so I can keep track.   The moles that dont present the "classic" signs are the ones that worry me.  I've heard a lot of stories about people who had to argue with their doctors to get biopsies done & then had them turn out to be cancerous.  I suppose I'll eventually relax about all this.  I'm really glad to have found this forum..   

Sunny

Thanks for the information Janner.  I feel like I've gotten better & more complete information here than i have from my doctors.  Good idea about the pictures.  I'll have to get my hubby to take some pics for me so I can keep track.   The moles that dont present the "classic" signs are the ones that worry me.  I've heard a lot of stories about people who had to argue with their doctors to get biopsies done & then had them turn out to be cancerous.  I suppose I'll eventually relax about all this.  I'm really glad to have found this forum..   

Sunny

Thanks for the encouragement, C. 

Keep fighting, you give me hope. 

Thanks for the encouragement, C. 

Keep fighting, you give me hope. 

Hi Dian,

The doc told me the scar would be about 3 inches long and will go pretty much all the way across my arm.  Not worried about the scar itself, wondering more about the contour of my arm with that much tissue removed.    I know smaller excisions tend to get the "dog ears" on either end of the eliptical incision and it looks like a "bite" has been taken out from the middle.   My arm still looks pretty weird from the first excision and that one was only about 1" long. 

Thanks for the reassurance that the pain from the SNB will not last too horribly long.   It does seem like they'd find a better way to do that.  With all the pain meds available, people just shouldnt have to hurt as a part of medical treatment. 

I will definitely keep you posted.  

good luck to you too. 

Hi Dian,

The doc told me the scar would be about 3 inches long and will go pretty much all the way across my arm.  Not worried about the scar itself, wondering more about the contour of my arm with that much tissue removed.    I know smaller excisions tend to get the "dog ears" on either end of the eliptical incision and it looks like a "bite" has been taken out from the middle.   My arm still looks pretty weird from the first excision and that one was only about 1" long. 

Thanks for the reassurance that the pain from the SNB will not last too horribly long.   It does seem like they'd find a better way to do that.  With all the pain meds available, people just shouldnt have to hurt as a part of medical treatment. 

I will definitely keep you posted.  

good luck to you too. 

Hey Janner,

Thanks for your input.    A year seems so far off right now.  I know I'll get there, i just hate waiting for anything….patience is a virtue (but it's one i've never possessed). 

Good to know that the early stage scans are usually negative.  I still plan to ask my doc for one at my next visit.  If i dont, i'll constantly  worry that something is lurking.  

The additional info about spindle cells was helpful  and it did ease my mind a little. 

Wishing you much health & happiness.

Hey Janner,

Thanks for your input.    A year seems so far off right now.  I know I'll get there, i just hate waiting for anything….patience is a virtue (but it's one i've never possessed). 

Good to know that the early stage scans are usually negative.  I still plan to ask my doc for one at my next visit.  If i dont, i'll constantly  worry that something is lurking.  

The additional info about spindle cells was helpful  and it did ease my mind a little. 

Wishing you much health & happiness.

Thanks Carmon,

It is frustrating that there is so much misconception about skin cancer.  As i said, i'm an RN and even with my medical background, i never considered that skin cancer could be anything more than a mild inconvenience that resulted in a scar (heaven forbid).    Getting the quick and dirty education that i did, i cant believe that there isnt more education about how dangerous this is!   

I did talk to one of my docs about the anxiety and sleeplessness.  I was put on Klonopin which (at first) knocked me out for about 10 hours.  Now, i'm not seeing much difference with it……insomnia strikes again.    I really hate taking meds anyway so, i dont know what i'm going to do about the meds.  I do have a great support group.  Now if i can just get the big picture in focus so i can get a plan and regain some sense of control……ugh. 

I will definitely keep coming back.  I was so glad to find a group like this.  I think everyone here is amazing.  Just wish we had all met for happier reasons. 

Thanks Carmon,

It is frustrating that there is so much misconception about skin cancer.  As i said, i'm an RN and even with my medical background, i never considered that skin cancer could be anything more than a mild inconvenience that resulted in a scar (heaven forbid).    Getting the quick and dirty education that i did, i cant believe that there isnt more education about how dangerous this is!   

I did talk to one of my docs about the anxiety and sleeplessness.  I was put on Klonopin which (at first) knocked me out for about 10 hours.  Now, i'm not seeing much difference with it……insomnia strikes again.    I really hate taking meds anyway so, i dont know what i'm going to do about the meds.  I do have a great support group.  Now if i can just get the big picture in focus so i can get a plan and regain some sense of control……ugh. 

I will definitely keep coming back.  I was so glad to find a group like this.  I think everyone here is amazing.  Just wish we had all met for happier reasons. 

Kim, i SO love your attitude!   I've been in need of a good laugh.  Not that ANY of this is funny, but the "blue smurf pee" got the better of me!   Also, it's good to know that the SNB will rank right up there with shoving bamboo under my fingernails.  WooHoo….fun fun fun 😛

Good that you were able to get back to work.  They're putting me out for a month.  Because the MM was about 2 inches above the wrist on my dominant hand, they're afraid that after the excision, the skin will be so tight that i could accidentally rip it back open.  They're trying to avoid a skin graft but it's going to be tight for a good while and they want the skin to have plenty of time to heal before i put any stress on it.   My right arm will be splinted and put in a sling so that i remember not to use it.  In preparation for this 30 day challenge, I've tried to practice functioning as a leftie…..it hasnt gone so well.  Brushing my teeth was a comedy of errors (my gums will never forgive me), showering was difficult at best – im thinking a jacuzzi and a bottle of Mr Bubble may be a better way to go.     I gave up hope of being "prepared" when, after several pathetic attempts, i concluded that  we need to install a bidet….immediately.   My husband was amused, i am not.   LOL.     guess my dignity will be a casualty of war.   m(__)m

Kim, i SO love your attitude!   I've been in need of a good laugh.  Not that ANY of this is funny, but the "blue smurf pee" got the better of me!   Also, it's good to know that the SNB will rank right up there with shoving bamboo under my fingernails.  WooHoo….fun fun fun 😛

Good that you were able to get back to work.  They're putting me out for a month.  Because the MM was about 2 inches above the wrist on my dominant hand, they're afraid that after the excision, the skin will be so tight that i could accidentally rip it back open.  They're trying to avoid a skin graft but it's going to be tight for a good while and they want the skin to have plenty of time to heal before i put any stress on it.   My right arm will be splinted and put in a sling so that i remember not to use it.  In preparation for this 30 day challenge, I've tried to practice functioning as a leftie…..it hasnt gone so well.  Brushing my teeth was a comedy of errors (my gums will never forgive me), showering was difficult at best – im thinking a jacuzzi and a bottle of Mr Bubble may be a better way to go.     I gave up hope of being "prepared" when, after several pathetic attempts, i concluded that  we need to install a bidet….immediately.   My husband was amused, i am not.   LOL.     guess my dignity will be a casualty of war.   m(__)m

Jerry, thanks for responding.  I'll definitely take your advice about getting a melanoma specialist…..once the SNB is done.   No point holding things up at this point. 

Oh, I'm not actually near any "sea"….I live on the east coast though.  🙂