VIN3 local excision recovery

This is all really helpful. I had unplanned surgery on Monday last week. I've been off work since, I was doing ok till Thursday when I woke up in the night burning, it was then I realised I was scratching my operated area, Friday infection kicked in and couldn't sit down at all. I've now got antibiotics but I'm wondering if I should leave work for another week, as I sit all day and think my wounds would be best left to air slightly instead of sitting on them for 8 hours a day. Thoughts?

I'm so sorry I've only just seen this, I'm afraid I've got no advice as I'm still awaiting my surgery, how are you doing? What did you decide to do about work? 

Lauz32, I sure hope your infection is under control now and so sorry that you had to go through that after being brought in to the unexpected surgery in the first place. Did you end up taking another week off work? I probably would have. 

Please keep us updated as we are all thinking of you.

Lisa

Hi hope you are ok and op is alright today? :-) 

Hi LottieMK. I have been thinking of you but didn't feel I should bother you today in case you felt worse than me! I feel surprisingly good, all things considered, although I'm not sure if that's because I'm just happy to be alive! Glad to hear you've come out the other end too and I hope you are okay. My op has left me with a lot of stitches and I still seem to be bleeding quite a lot, which is a bit concerning, (I'm walking like John Wayne but a lot slower!). Very sore too and sitting down is more uncomfortable than standing up. Are you finding this? I've been advised not to take codeine, (which works as the best painkiller for me), but it can make you constipated and this is not good for the stitches). I'm very tired now, I think mostly due to the anxiety / build up to the 'big day' but I can say that the wide local excision I've had today has felt very similar to a biopsy, just a bigger or longer procedure with a lot more stitches. Anyway, I shall be taking the rest of this week off to lie down, catch up on some sleep and make sure I don't pull the stitches. I've been told full recovery is likely to be about 6 - 8 weeks and, in the meantime the skin they've cut away will be sent off for analysis. Please let me know how you are feeling. 

Hi good to hear from you, I'm really glad you are ok, yes I am feeling very relieved it's done, they have sent mine off as well an have said 6 weeks for results.

I'm pretty sore but ok, they gave me codeine in hospital and I've just taken some paracetamol, it feels odd numb yet sore! I'm bleeding a little as well but not too bad now, I'm not sure how many stitches and I'm not brave enough to look but they took 4cm×4cm area so less than they had put in my original notes. Lieing on the sofa seems to be best position so far, something I very rarely get to do with 2 children, going to make the most of it while I can!!

Take care, hope you get some sleep tonight and keep in touch.x

Hi LottieMK. I just wondered how you were getting on with your 'wound'? I naively thought mine would be relatively pain free by now, (despite only being three days post op) but a stitch at one end looks and feels as though it's been pulled very tight and this is making sitting extremely difficult and uncomfortable. I'm also wary of stretching my legs apart to reach something or bend down. How are you doing? I have self certified sick from work but would need a doctors note after this Sunday so I hope I'm feeling better able to sit by then. 

Hi Aitchstressed, sorry to hear you are uncomfortable and struggling sitting, mine is definitely easing but still pretty sore, I still can't sit upright and also struggling bending over, however do feel bit better this afternoon now laxatives have kicked in (sorry!), I didn't have a very good night last night and frustrated by my lack of being able to do much, sorry moan, moan, moan!! 

I phoned my GP earlier, my boss has said I can take 2 weeks off, so I'll self cert for this week and the GP has said he will write me a note for next week, although I am hoping I will be doing more working from home rather than sitting (lying) around by then.

Hope you improve soon and swiftly. 

Hi how are you doing? I'm now on antibiotics cause got infection :-( still really hurts, I'm definitely off work next week.

Hi LottieMK, I'm so sorry to hear that. 

I'm just very swollen and sore, which is still making sitting virtually impossible. I've now also begun the itchy stage so have got to be careful not to scratch at night. I've been signed off work until next Thursday. I'm hoping the stitches may have dissolved by then, making the pain slightly more bearable when sitting.

I really hope things start feeling better in the longer term because, right now I feel much worse than I did before and the sores still appear to be in the same place as they were prior to the op. Good luck and please keep in touch.

x