Sentinel lymph node biopsy

Hi Flamingo and a very warm welcome to our corner of the online community.

Although I've had a sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) it wasn't in my groin so my experience probably wouldn't be very useful. However, there are lots of people in the group who have had a SLNB in their groin and I've 'tagged' the most recent posters, sarafyn and Doulou , into my reply in the hope that they'll pop on and share their experiences with you.

Wishing you all the best

Anne

Thank you Latchbrook. I m getting quite nervous about the whole procedure. I know it's probably quite straight forward but hospitals make me a nervous wreck. 

I was very nervous too, mainly as I'd never had a general anaesthetic before. However all the nursing and theatre staff were excellent at putting me at my ease and looking after me.

I'm happy to share my experience with you but mine was in my armpit rather than my groin.

Hi Flamingo  - I had a SLNB in both my groin and armpit at the same time as my WLE, and have to say I don't remember any serious issues with it at all. The area was sore and uncomfortable for a little while afterwards, but it didn't stop my normal day-to-day activities. I can't comment on how it would impact more active things as my WLE was on my back which limited mobility, and the WLE also dehisced when the clips came out which also set me back. But The SLNB sites seemed to be fine after a couple of weeks, if still a little sore.

Thank you Tochee & Latchbrook. This has somewhat put my mind at ease. I know I am lucky with it  being on a limb as it usually the only involves 1 SLNB. I just want to have it over with now. I really struggle with anything to do with hospitals, so really struggling with the thought of this.

I work with young children and following initial mole removal, a child at work banged into my tight & reopened my stitches. So I do not intend to return to work until it is healed properly this time. I think it might be worth it for the sake of an extra week. 

Hi Flamingo

My husband had this done last Wednesday. His wle was on his thigh, so his slnb was from the groin. He's been fine, not too much pain, hes managed on paracetamol and ibuprofen. Hospital gave him oramorph to bring home but he hasn't needed it. He's been signed off work for 2 weeks and told to rest the first week then start doing a bit more the 2nd. 

I did get him a wedged cushion from Amazon to keep his leg higher than his groin (not sure where i read that tbh) and hes had no trouble at all. 

Just shout if I can help further xx

Thank you Caggles. I had the 2 procedures a week ago today. I've been doing good. I am off for another week too, more because of my job than anything else but I am glad, as I find everything tires me out. Plus I felt I needed a bit of head space. 

Sometimes I think, we enter into this, shellshocked from the news & going from one appointment to the other & we don't have time to stop & deal with all the emotions that come with it.

I wish your husband a speedy recovery & all good news

Ahhh im glad all went well, and i hope you get good results xx

Yea, feeling nervous about that. It's a long wait - 4 to 6 weeks.... 

I think maybe I'm hyper sensitive to everything because we just went through 2 years with my husbands prostate cancer diagnosis. Only 6 months after  him finally getting an 'all clear - for now' I got my diagnosis. We just felt we were returning to normality & recovering from all this when my diagnosis hit us.