So, the surgery center contacted me. My surgery is scheduled for Monday 30th. It's outpatient thankfully, though I'll be given IV sedation so I'll be out of it for a while and won't be able to drive. From what I understand so far, there will be sutures, and I might need to wear a patch for 24 hours, but my vision won't be impaired while I heal. I won't look great for a while (the glasses I wear magnify my eyes so it's going to look even worse than it is!!) there may well be some bruising, but no lasting damage. The surgeon is a cosmetic/reconstructive surgeon too, so he's hopeful that my eye won't look any different than the other one. He says I might not even lose any lashes! I wish I didn't have to wait till the end of the month. I want it done already. I'm nervous, but trying not to be.
I hope it all goes well for you Ronni. There is no smiley for giving you a cyber hug, so here is the next best thing: ((((((((((((((((((((hugs))))))))))))))))) I sent you a hug to go with my prayers for a speedy recovery for you.
Hoping everything will turn out well but little prayers go out your way to be sure. Pray for your peacefulness in the next 15 days. Sleep well and take care not to be by others that are sick.
My appointment with the skin specialist was yesterday. The bad news is he found a spot! The good news is that it's just the one. It's a rather large mole-looking thing on my inside upper thigh close to my butt. When he asked me how long it had been there, I was shocked! I thought I knew my body well, but I have zero recollection of ever having anything like that there. He didn't do a biopsy. Given that I can't remember having it before, and the way that it looks, he was concerned it might be a melanoma, so he scheduled me for surgery to have it removed completely and he'll biopsy it then. There's no downside to removing it even if it's not cancerous, because it looks like it's going to keep growing. He's a very conservative sort, and would rather be sure than sorry. It was kind of weird being examined from head to foot with a magnifying glass! He paid very close attention to the moles and such I have on my body, and asked a gazillion questions, and then had his tech take photos of me, pretty much everywhere, plus extra close ups of the areas that he wanted to keep a close eye on, like the mole on my back and under my arm, a couple of spots on my face, etc. He said the images were just for comparison purposes, because he wants to see me again in 6 months and probably 6 months after that, (presuming I still have insurance then. ) so that he can do those comparisons. He said he can't see anything on my scalp that would be causing the itching. He gave me a sample size of Topicort desoximetasone topical spray, and told me to use it a couple times a week. He said if that doesn't clear it up, and it continues to be an annoying problem, his next suggestion would be to stop coloring my hair. Ugh. You'd think will all the amazing and miraculous medical advancements, they'd also have been able to come up with a more flattering gown! My eye surgery is on Monday. I'm getting nervous. The surgery center called me yesterday to remind me of the pre-op instructions, and to touch on the post-op ones, though I'll also get a package of information about that when the surgery's over. Sounds like it's going to be a more prolonged recovery than I'd bargained for, in terms of the eye care and various activity restrictions (can't drive for at least 48 hours, possibly longer, because of temporarily compromised vision, no lifting, no exercise for a week etc.) I think they're being overly cautious, but still. I wasn't expecting a lot of that.
Wish me luck y’all. I'm leaving in a little while for surgery, to get the cancerous growth on my lower lid removed. I’m a little freaked out, and it would help me a whole bunch to know that you’re all sending good and positive thoughts or prayers my way that the surgery goes flawlessly and that they get it all.
Hi Ronni....Breathe deep. I just took my FIL (again) this Spring to have his cancer removed and his eye fixed up post surgery, by the plastic surgeon. It has taken a few months for it to get back to normal, but that is better than the alternative. This isn't the first for him and I doubt the last...we just keep on and on and on. Just keep taking care of yourself. no one else can do that for you. We will be thinking of you and keeping you in my prayers.
Keeping you in my prayers Ronni. Somehow, I thought you already had the 2d surgery on your eyelid. I hope and pray ALL of it goes well for you, and that they get any and all cancer. (((((hugs))))) to you also.
Thank you all so much! It was a more extensive surgery than the Doctor was expecting, but regardless, he got all the cancer! He had to remove about 80% of my lower lid, and then take skin from the side of my eye to compensate. I go back in 10 days for the suture removal and at that point he'll evaluate what kind of reconstructive surgery he'll need to do, if any. I sure don't look pretty.......but then again, I didn't to start with. There's a photo well below this text, but if you're squeamish don't look.....it's graphic. However for those who are like me, and get very curious and clinical about this kind of thing, I though I'd include it. And now I'm going to take my good drugs and go sleep for a while! . . . . . . . . . . .
