Next time someone says something negative,insulting or just plain stupid,you can say... codswallop!
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Next time someone says something negative,insulting or just plain stupid,you can say... codswallop!
Good response! I couldn't spread the "love" so soon after having given it to you so recently!Quote:
Originally Posted by redhed35
I don't know anyone personally, Clough. I know of patients who have had skin grafts, but mainly my experience with patients with skin grafts was while I was a student. I did work medical/surgical for a couple years and some of those patients had skin grafts. There are different types of skin grafts. Did your doctor give you any literature to read while you are waiting?
The skin graft generally creates another 'wound', and of course the area the graft is moved to has to be watched carefully for signs of healing or tissue death. Usually some antibiotic cream will need to be applied three times a day till healing is complete.
I stayed away from burn patients, who are the patients most often to receive a skin graft. So my experience is very limited in that area. I could never tolerate the suffering of a burn patient while I was a student, so I avoided working with many patients who had skin grafts.
You sound in good form.Quote:
Originally Posted by Clough
Good.
No, I wasn't given any literature to read. Although, I do really trust this doctor. I know that he's one of the best in this area. I also know him on a professional as well as personal basis.Quote:
Originally Posted by thisisit
Perhaps I've already read enough things though...
Thanks!
You were in my thoughts all day - I think you find a Physician you trust (which you have done), someone with a good reputation (if not a great reputation), someone YOU can work with (my sister's Doctor isn't necessarily someone I can work with) and then you count on prayers and good luck and just plain "thank God I caught this now."
You are doing all the right things - but you already know that.
There used to be a John Wayne Skin Cancer study which was very comprehensive, came out with comprehensive (printed) results - most helpful in times like you are going through. I don't know if it's still an active study, still around.
I'm glad that you were thinking about me, Judy! That means a lot to me! It's much appreciated!
The doctor wants to excise things all the way down to the bone! He also wants to make a skin graft. That will be skin that will come off my chest area.
Any other moral and emotional support will be much appreciated here!
Thanks!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Clough
How about "thank goodness you caught it in time" and you will have a whole lot of people praying for you?
Sounds like a real shock - I can't imagine hearing these words BUT I do know that the medical profession really does perform miracles. You want it removed and you want to make sure it does not come back and this appears to be the only way. Sometimes coming to terms with a shocker like this is the worst part. Sounds like you're staying strong and working your way through this. I trust you have some personal support? That means a lot.
I really do have a sense that we are all family here and pulling for each other so you can get some comfort in knowing that people whose faces you wouldn't even recognize are pulling for you.
Please keep us informed - I wish I had magical words but I don't but I hope I've "said" something that comforts you.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Clough
I'm glad that you were thinking about me, Judy! That means a lot to me! It's much appreciated!
The doctor wants to excise things all the way down to the bone! He also wants to make a skin graft. That will be skin that will come off my chest area.
Any other moral and emotional support will be much appreciated here!
Thanks!
I've already written this previously, might have been on this thread or on another - don't really remember. But, it's so nice to know that I'm not alone!Quote:
Originally Posted by JudyKayTee
Thank you so much for your support!
Update:
Went to see the surgeon last week. All he did was look at it and said that he was 99% sure that it is basil cell carcinoma.
I'm having surgery at one of the local hospitals, this coming Thursday at 7:30 A.M. Need to be there by 6:30 A.M.
I would appreciate thoughts and prayers!
Thanks!
I was just thinking of you. You can count on me. I'm very sure your surgeon is right! I'll be sending you lots of positive, healing energy :)
Would you please share with me how things went with the procedures that you've already had, thisisit?
Thanks!
Awww, just seeing this Cloughy... please keep us posted and you're not a pansy- you're human. It's OK to be scared; we all are at some point in our lives. It takes a strong person to admit it.
Hang in there!
OK... I went to the hospital, nervous, of course. I was brave, just like you. I did not look at the doctor's instruments or the needles. I had two spots on my collar bone, one was a benign cyst, the other basal cell carcinoma. I made sure I looked away the whole time. I was injected along my collar bone near both spots. That made my skin nice and numb. The surgeon then cut out the cyst. That was harder to get out than the basal cell carcinoma. The cyst was kind of deep so there was some digging around, but all I could feel was pressure. About an inch away was the basal cell, which the surgeon cut out after the cyst. Then he stitched me up. It took a lot longer than I thought, but the surgeon just wanted to be sure he was thorough. The stitches were very irritating. They were the kind that are supposed to dissolve on their own, but they didn't. After a couple weeks I scraped the skin away from a couple knots in the stitches and pulled them out with tweezers.
I'm going to call the surgeon next week for the spot on my leg, I'm pretty sure it is basal cell carcinoma and its not going away by itself. You have inspired me stop putting it off and make the call. :)
Also, the spot on my cheek was taken care of at the dematologist's office. He just used a Q tip type thingy soaked in liquid nitrogen and burned the area on the side of my cheek. That didn't hurt much and required no special treatment.
You will probably be given drugs to make you go to sleep for your surgery, or to make you sleepy, I'm guessing.
I've been told that I will be given a local anesthetic and be awake the whole time.
He also is going to do a skin graft, taking the skin from my collar bone area.
He will be taking the stuff off my nose down to the bone.
I don't like needles. But, I guess they aren't that bad!
Well, that is lucky. You won't have to recover from anesthesia, which is a big plus on staying awake! Needles aren't bad, compared to scalpels! The thing with noses, there is not a lot of thickness as far as tissue goes, so, to be safe they have to go down to the bone... that isn't really very deep on the nose.
Well, the "count down" is here! If I haven't mentioned it already, surgery is this Thursday, at 7:30 A.M.
I would appreciate thoughts and prayers!
Thanks!
Gee, Clough, just happened on all of this now. You have already had the surgery cause this is Monday. Please let us know asap how you feel and what you are doing.
Tick
I'm pulling for you Clough, you are in my thoughts. Courage... you have courage! I'll be calling about my skin cancer in a few minutes, soon as the office opens. Thank you for sharing your courage with me!
Quote:
Originally Posted by tickle
I think the surgery is this coming Thursday, the 18th -
At any rate, Clough, you're in my thoughts and have been.
The surgery is this coming Thursday, the 18th, 7:30 A.M. I do appreciate your thoughts and concern, tickle! :)Quote:
Originally Posted by tickle
Thanks!
What was the news, thisisit? I hope and pray that it was good!Quote:
Originally Posted by thisisit
Hey, thank you for sharing your good thoughts and courage with me! :)
My luck hasn't been so good today... My surgeon retired in December, just a couple months ago. The doctor who took over his practice does not accept my insurance. My insurance company informed me that I could make an appointment with any general surgeon or dermatologist in my area and they would approve it. So far none of the doctors I've called are willing to see me on those terms. The next doctor I call, I will be making the appointment as a self pay and will say I don't have insurance. The doctors I've called so far have said they cannot charge me if I have insurance that they don't accept~ so, they've refused to give me an appointment. The worst part, for me anyway, is just making the appointment. Taking that step is the hardest for me, now it is even more difficult due to insurance issues.
What about calling your old surgeon or maybe a nurse who worked with him to see what they have to say?
I'm sorry that you're having those difficulties!
Thanks, I'm not sure what I'm going to do. All the insurance reps were busy with other customers having similar problems. I did not get a call back this afternoon. If I get a call back tomorrow, I'll ask if there is someone at the insurance company who can arrange for an appointment with a doctor's office of their choice. If they can't, then I'll call a doctor myself, one I haven't called yet, and make a self pay appointment.
I am right there with you in spirit and thoughts. You will sail right through the whole procedure and come out a winner Clough *****high five*****Quote:
Originally Posted by Clough
Tick
Thanks, tickle! :)
Does anyone have an idea as to how long the type of surgery that I'm going to have might take? Raised, bumpy area on nose that's about 3/4's of an inch long, maybe a little over 1/4 of an inch wide. Skin graft will come from collar bone.
Thanks!
Good luck for in the morning, Clough! This evening, you should do something soothing and relaxing, something you enjoy. Treat yourself with your most enjoyable relaxing *whatever it is that soothes you. Maybe record some of your fav music to take along in the morning. You could keep your eyes closed and listen to your favorite music while the good doctor does his magic?
This is Ash Wednesday, so tonight, I'll be going to church. That will help.Quote:
Originally Posted by thisisit
Thank you so much for your suggestions! They're great! :) I hadn't even really given any thought to doing something relaxing! It's just the way that I am...
Clough, We are praying for you down here.
Go do something that you enjoy to ease your mind.
Let us know how it goes.
God bless you.
Well, bless your heart, jmjoseph! It's much appreciated!Quote:
Originally Posted by jmjoseph
God Bless You, Too!
Thanks! :)
Hello Again, Friends! :)
Well, the surgery was a success and not really as bad as I thought it would be. The initial shots in my nose didn't really hurt all that much, but the shots above my right eye below my eyebrow did really hurt!
I really don't know why I was so afraid...
It all worked out fine and I also wasn't a basket case! Just need to get through the healing process now.
Everything extracted was basil cell carcinoma and would appear to have been completely removed. Halleluia!
The whole procedure took about two hours and forty-five minutes. That was with waiting for reports from the lab three times, as to whether the edges were clear of cancer or not.
I could hear the surgeon scraping on the bone of my nose!
I tried to open my eyes a number of times. However, they were covered in blood, so I gave up on that until the end.
I have this cotton balls "thing" on the top of my nose that makes me look like a cyborg, cyclops or maybe even a pirate!
Arghhhh maties!! https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/../ima...es/biggrin.gif
The cotton balls are held together with sutures and would appear to function as a clamp for the skin graft. Makes it look like a big spider is also there!
It's impairing my vision. I do need to be able to play. Have requested from the person who'll be selecting the hymns for Sunday to choose those that are easy to read as well as play.
One concern that I have right now, is that there is still blood flowing down the right side of my face occasionally. Is this normal?
Thanks!
Hi Clough, how long ago was your surgery finished? Are you still getting trickles of blood down your cheek? I'm so glad everything went as well as it did. I cringe reading the part where you could hear the surgeon scraping bone! Eeeek:eek: It sounds like you had some cutting very close to your eye, it is possible that your eye could be tearing a lot and that is mixing with small amount of blood making it seem like you have active bleeding. The main bleeding should be stopped by now. Have you been on aspirin or blood thinning medicine?
One bright side: For a while, at least, you'll be reminded that you have a nose with all the bandages.
It wasn't so bad, was it?
It was finished at about 10:15 this morning.Quote:
Originally Posted by thisisit
Yes, I'm still getting, I will say, a stream of blood down my cheek.
Part of the cutting was right by the right eye. No real gap there!
A retired nurse friend of mine who was there meantioned the tearing thing. That could be what it is concerning the blood flow.
No, I've not been on aspirin or any sort of blood thinning medication.
I really do appreaciate your concern!
Thanks!
Yes, it wasn't so bad as I thought that it would be! The surgeon did go out a couple of times to meet with my kids and a friend who were waiting for me. He did mention to them both times about how much I moaned.Quote:
Originally Posted by KeepItSimpleStupid
He mentioned that to me in the operating room about my moaning and that he just needed to do his work.
I reminded him, that he did this thing all the time, but that some of us have never done it.
We also joked around a lot...
Thanks!
I believe that the prayers really worked!Quote:
Originally Posted by jmjoseph
I've not been that calm, ever, for any procedure that I've had done!
Thanks!
Something to keep in mind: just a tiny little bit of blood mixed with water/tears looks like a lot of blood. If you think it is actively bleeding, can you apply light but firm and gentle pressure over the area you believe is bleeding. If it gets worse, call the doctor's office. He should have an after hours answering service who can have him give you a call.
I don't dare to apply any pressure at this point. I really don't know about everything that's underneath the cotton balls.Quote:
Originally Posted by thisisit
Don't really want to disturb anything.
Yes, I agree. A tiny bit of blood mixed with tears can look like a lot of blood.
I will call him if things get worse.
Thanks!
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