WLE & SLNB - my experience so far as a plus size lady.

Hello lovely people who might be looking for this….. having now had my WLE on my outer left thigh and SLNB on my left thigh, I thought others now, and in the future, might get some benefit from me sharing my experience, not only as a larger woman, but the process in general. I have already lost a stone in weight since 8th July - stress mainly but now much healthier eating and choices. Nothing like a cancer diagnosis to give you that kick to make those changes!! 

this is a long post but I wanted to give as much detail as possible - I genuinely hope it helps! ………..

This was Completed under daycare, arrival at 7am at Royal London Hospital. Nursing staff and surgery team utterly fantastic and lovely, so kind with just the right amount of humour. Went for radioactive injection at 11am, slight prick but very very bearable. Straight in doughnut scanner with plate positioned above groin. Side arm rests added to bench I was on, pillows under knees and head. All very comfortable. Machine is quiet, no intense banging. Radiology was very quiet area as well. Actually dozed off for a bit!!! back up to ward and went down at 3pm for surgery. Came round at 5.20pm. I did have pain in my groin, not too bad, but I was very groggy!! Was given pain relief via cannula immediately but cannot remember what they told me it was. All pain gone. I had 2 nodes removed. First had a radioactive count of 2577 and the second account of 270. (I do not know what this means but will ask when my cancer nurse calls me back) Released and on my way home at 8.30pm. No pain at all. Slept for 4 hours then wide awake and felt really quite good although unbalanced. 

recovery - 5 inch incision on outer left thigh, 3 inch incision in left groin. Internal dissolvable stitches, glue and additional steri strips on thigh. 1st day - Went for 3 x 5min walks (accompanied) was very unbalanced and breathless as general anaesthetic was still working its way out of my system. No real appetite but ensured I ate every 2 hours - mainly fruit, light whole-wheat sandwiches and smoothies, plus 3 - 4 litres of water. I was totally off a cup of tea!!! The advise I had received was that extra hydration is important as the body needs water to help transport healing agents, so you need more than normal, plus it helps flush out the blue dye and GA from your system. I had blue urine for a day, that gradually faded to normal colour. 

movement was …… very cautious!! Glue really has no flexibility so I was really worried about opening up, so all getting up/down was done gingerly!! I did take paracetamol every 4 hours on the first day home as the stinging in my leg was mildly annoying. No pain in my groin incision I just felt it there. Strip wash only on that first day, used Sanex and bamboo cloths. This is where I encountered the first issue as a larger woman (size 18) as the top of my left thigh appeared to be glued to my groin so I couldn’t see if that was the scar. I had a VERY gentle feel along the glue and decided to just wash and see what happened when I was allowed to shower the next day. 

second day I took only 1 paracetamol- stinging is a good sigh of an incision healing so I wasn’t concerned and it was very manageable. My left leg was propped up on cushions or pillows, out in front. No swelling to leg or ankle at all. Movement still needed caution but my 3 walks were easier. I also began to do ankle rotations and foot flexing when sitting, along with belly breathing to encourage drainage in my poor traumatized lymph system!! I showered!! Gosh, that was bliss!! Changed dressing on thigh (none on groin) and was relieved to see no leaking, blood and it all looked very neat and tidy!

My groin and top of thigh continued to be glued together but I was able to feel this wasn’t all the way down. So I used my hands to wash that area to be as gentle as possible and also as hygienic as possible, gradually, everything did come unstuck but I let that happen naturally! 

First week continued much the same, gradually increasing walks to 15 mins. No driving allowed, so very much enjoyed being ferried to Tesco, which became a much anticipated event to simply get out! I did experience period type cramping across lower abdomen - this is a good sign that the nerves and tissue is healing and bonding. I also got back cramps, and aching leg. No painkiller needed I just monitored each day to see if the felling stayed or moved elsewhere, which they did. My cancer nurse advised the healing will move around. 

I monitored both wounds for heat, redness or leakage, which I didn’t have. Just normal body heat. By Day 3 I could gently touch both scar area with no sensation other than normal skin touch. 

had check up a week later where I was advised to ‘air’ the groin as much as possible (very hot weather was being experienced) as the glue was beginning to come away. Any drop of moisture that gets under the glue and doesn’t dry can risk infection. So, I embraced the naturalist lifestyle, albeit from the bottom down!! 

I hit a curve on day 9 when I developed a seroma in my groin. I did get upset as I initially thought it was a set back. It isn’t and it’s common. It was roughly the size of a duck egg, running from each end on the incision, under it and each side. It was uncomfortable but not painful. Lying on my front helped and often took the bulky feeling away. I had kept up the water intake (it cont’d to be very hot) so I upped my fruit intake - as many different colours as possible  by day 18, it is about the size of a chicken egg, much more pliable, and being monitored by my cancer nurse over the phone. 

And this was the second issue for me. As the seroma swelled, it began to push against my tummy and both areas became sore, this was solved by using E45 on both under tummy and the upper skin of the swelling. I avoided the glue whilst it was in place, but included the scar once clear of glue. The underwear shorts helped when out as you can tuck the material up and under. Nurses sis not suggest full briefs as they have seams which would rub the scar. When in bed and it felt sore, I used a clean bamboo cloth to tuck in place. 

All glue came away cleanly by day 14. My leg incision, which cleared of glue on day 11, did open slightly either end but very minimal bleeding. My groin incision has raised scar skin running the whole length but no additional scab forming so it did not open when the final bit of glue came off. The centre was reluctant to come away as quickly so again, following advice, I cut off lose bits of glue as they came away until I was left with half an inch on day11. This came away cleanly with a gently pull on day 14. 

by mid week 3 my energy levels are back to normal but 2 hours out is enough. Whilst the seroma is not painful, it is uncomfortable as skin rubs against it and the swelling makes skin more tender as it is stretched. I purchased underwear shorts, the type that sit across your top thigh and these so help when out. (Amazon ) They have no seams to rub against the incision, and there is enough material to tuck underneath the swelling to ease skin on skin friction. 

sleep has not been an issue. I simply wedged pillows behind me to stop me rolling onto my left side. 18 days on I can’t lie on my left side but I can now sit with my left knees raised or tucked under me. I have used E45 on the skin around both incisions but not on the scar. That starts at week 4 as scar massage 4 x day. 

emotionally, I have had heavy moments. It tends to break over me like an unexpected wave that knocks you down and has you spluttering about in a panic. I’m learning to let that happen and to some moments ride that wave and that intense emotional outpouring, and other moments to let the wave pass. I have found familiarity helps, so watched re-runs of shows. I strongly believe in writing like no one will ever read it, so my journal is regularly used and a very safe haven for every thought I have had so far on this journey. Never underestimate how much a change in environment can help your mind just to stop, and come back to the present. 

i don’t know what is coming next, and I won’t until 6th September. That is powerful reasoning when those ‘what if’ rabbit holes appear. I have read up on treatments my team have asked me to read  up on, and side effects, but they are in a box and only taken out and added to when I feel able to do that, in a calm way. I have a notebook with me at all times, as a question for my team can just pop into my head at any time. I love my iPhone’s notes section, but for something like this, it’s good old fashioned pen to paper to free up space in my mind. 

if you’ve made it this far, than you for taking the time to read my experiences. I genuinely hope this helps others.