Probable forehead flap in a week’s time, how to prepare?

Love the idea that you might go out to scare the world.  Wish I had had the confidence!  Important to chat with the consultant after so glad you got that.  Your bandaging sounds very different to mine which was  mini Egyptian mummy with no antibiotic ointment.  

Thanks Harlyn , I feel pretty good considering.  Just a slight headache where the forehead flap is twisted by my eyebrow.  I am not taking painkillers because I think they make me feel off colour.  I have a stuffy nose and dry throat from breathing through my mouth.  But overall not as miserable as having a heavy cold.  The most annoying thing is that I keep getting blood oozing around the edges and trickling down and it’s a very annoying tickle.  And I’m restricted in movement to avoid bending over or bumping my face.  

I have had two hip replacements in the last 4 years so I have learnt that I just have to be patient, let time pass while body repairs itself.  This is harder in some ways because with a new hip, you have got rid of the arthritis pain and disability and can look forward to an improved life once recovery is over.  With a BCC, it’s all just to get rid of a pesky little spot that wasn’t bothering me.   But it would have got a lot worse so I shall think about how bad things could have got without treatment.

Hi lucky lass

So glad you've had your surgery and you can now recover.

I think your attitude and strength are quite inspirational considering the surgery that you've had done.

So many people think these skin cancers are nothing but surgery for these things really shows that's not the case.

Please keep us posted on your progress 

Hello friends.

You were so right about the anticipation being the worst of it.   I’m nearly through day 2 of recovery and feeling a lot better today.  I was able to get out for a stroll in the garden, daffodils coming out and spring in the air despite a chilly day.  I had a play with my puppy using a lure on a strap toy, and even managed to feed her using a reacher from my hip op recoveries to lift and lower her food bowl.  My husband continues to do the walkies and the all important clean up role .  I tease him that my medical advice says no poo pickups for at least5 years after surgery.

 I was a bit concerned about the amount of blood trickle yesterday.  I now look far worse than any of the images I googled when I first heard about forehead flaps, because the whole length from hairline to lip is a black mass of congealed blood.  I look like the victim of a machete attack.  I emailed the surgeon a selfie for reassurance and got a reply within an hour, which is good service, to say it “that it looks fine, normal, and to be expected.“. Which is reassuring, though a bit of me thinks, well, what you expected maybe, not me!  The trickle is much reduced today and the relocated skin over my nose is a pinker shade than its original grey, so I feel confident that the blood supply is going where it should.

I also emailed my MOHs surgery doctor because when he took a photo of the hole to send to the reconstruction surgeon, I asked for a copy and he didn’t want to give it to me.  I explained that it would help me to know that my flap, which I couldn’t avoid seeing, was a necessary step given the damage from the cancer.  He sent me the photo and I thanked him and said, truthfully, that it wasn’t as bad as I had imagined (lying with your eyes shut feeling nothing but hearing little scraping noises it is easy to imagine half a nose has disappeared) and it was helpful to see the photo.  He emailed back to say “

I fully appreciate that the forehead flap is a very big ordeal - but well done for having the bravery to put your trust in us and go through with it all.

Please do not hesitate to get in touch if I can assist at any stage.”.  What a nice man!  

Thanks for the update.  Great to hear that you have bounced back so quickly x

Day 4 of recovery.  Sooo bored, sigh, still a lot of days to get through, but never mind, keep ticking them off. 

The trickle of blood is much less.  I suppose I should have expected significant amounts given that the nurses gave me about a dozen packets of 5 gauze sheets!  I’ve still got a few left, but I have also used a lot of tissues.  The stiffness and discomfort around my face are better.  On the other hand, my ear is sorer. 

I am going to follow a suggestion on here to put Vaseline (from a nice new jar) on the scabs that aren’t close to the stitches to try to soften and remove some of the gunk.  I am glad I took a selfie as soon as I came round from the op and got my phone back in the ward.  Because it shows very clearly where all the stitches etc are.  So I know that it is safe to disturb the black mass that has since appeared over my right eye, it is just where leaking blood has pooled and dried while I slept.

  I’m also following a suggestion on here to take a photo every day to see progress.  I’m looking at them now, can’t see a lot of change but I might be a bit brighter eyed this morning than yesterday.  No sign of black eyes which some people have mentioned developing a few days post op.

Oh look, lunchtime already!  Onwards and upwards!

Day 5.  Or looking at it another way, it’s now exactly a week since I was leaving the pre op tests in tears and dreading MOHS that evening.  Lots of progress since then!

This morning I managed to peel off the softened forehead scab without getting near the stitches.  A big black glob came away, about the size of a pound coin.  I haven’t had such enjoyment from a patch of dried blood since I was ten years old with grazed knees.  My photo today looks better as a result, but worse because my eyes are very bloodshot and puffy.  Too little sleep, too much reading without my glasses, and too many tears.  Not just self pity, though some of that.  I am emotionally labile, wonderful word, and anything can set me off.  So far I am only 4 articles in to my daily paper and two articles have already had me tearing up.  An independent bookstore rescued by the kindness of strangers, and a picture of the Queen’s pony at her funeral.  (The Queen’s funeral, pony is fine, groom has been made a knight.)

Everything you are going through is completely normal.  I forgot how emotional I was. Rememeber crying when I met a friend in town who didn't know about my problems and I took my mask off to show her.  Her reaction was brilliant but I just sobbed. I hadn't had the 2nd one done then.  A friend came to the door with flowers when I'd had stitches out and her first words were "Omg isn't it a mess" that really did me a power of good.  Yes it was a mess but didn't really want anyone to tell me it was  Onwards and upwards and you will be fine, just takes time and sometimes we don't do patience. xx

Hi lucky lass

You're doing amazingly well and there's nothing wrong in crying.  I cried the whole time I was in the hospital including the first time I met the surgeon.

I think the independent bookstore you mentioned is not too far from where I live?

Don't get me started on the queens pony. It was heart breaking. And her dogs. I still think about them so I'm happy to read that the little pony is fine.

We'll done for being so stoic although you probably don't feel it you certainly come across as brave.

Your profile is interesting too 

Hi Harlyn

I had that too. My wound was quite large and left open to heal by secondary intention.

Someone saw the hole as I was changing the dressing and went on about how awful my nose looked.

Seriously, we don't need comments like that art such a vulnerable time