Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
General health

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

Black line on thumbnail

180 replies

ImmortalityMyDarlings · 12/02/2018 13:27

I've already booked the GP appointment as I'm getting another issue checked out. I thought this was a pen mark but it's not. I was merely curious about it when I googled but noted skin melanoma is associated with black lines like these. I haven't hit it recently to cause trauma and it doesn't hurt.

Erm - anyone else had this?

Black line on thumbnail
OP posts:
Original poster
ImmortalityMyDarlings · 20/06/2018 00:11

I don’t know if anyone is interested in the update but I feel like sharing. Feel kind of odd and a bit crap.

So I had two consultant dermatologists look at the thumb today. They took photos of it. Used a dermoscope. Confirmed it was a mole (rather than a splinter haemorrhage or a vitamin deficiency). The difficulty with a mole under the nail is that it’s not as easy to work out if it’s malignant or not. But they said that because it was black that that was concerning. And that it had darkened and widened a tad since I first posted here. But it’s still quite narrow, they said. And I’m young too. Only way to find out is to biopsy. I’m speaking with a plastic surgeon in a few days. The procedure is apparently horrible.

But I really mean it when I say thank you to those of you here who pushed me to get a second opinion. I’d rather lose my nail or even my thumb than my life.

OP posts:
Davros · 20/06/2018 10:27

I am interested because I have something similar. Rheumatologist took a photo of it to show dermatologist as they have joint clinic. Now I'm waiting to find out if anything hung further needs to be done

Trooperslane2 · 20/06/2018 10:30

Keep pushing ImmortalityMyDarlings

Biopsy does sound yuck and I've had an amnio which wasn't much craic

Could they put you under? Anything better than worrying.

Thanks for updating.

DownUdderer · 20/06/2018 10:43

I’m glad you’re pursuing this op. You’ll be in my thoughts.

Slightlyjaded · 20/06/2018 10:44

Immortality I am so so glad that you are dealing with it and that people are taking it seriously. Hopefully it's something else, and that your breast lump is a cyst as the nurse thought.

Either way, the GP from your initial consult needs to be spoken to. It's just not ok for him to have been so dismissive when clearly there was need for further investigation. I know you have a lot on your plate and that this won't be your priority, but whilst I am not in any way litigiously minded, I DO think we have a responsibility to let Doctor's know when they have got things wrong - for the sake of the next patient. Something for another day though...

Fingers and toes crossed for you.

Slightlyjaded · 20/06/2018 10:46

Sorry - clearly you've had the results from the breast biopsy by now. I am hoping/assuming that this was all clear Flowers

Original poster
ImmortalityMyDarlings · 20/06/2018 11:24

Aye - my breast lump was fine, just some kind of benign inflammation, not a cyst (like the first GP exclaimed...!)

I have an anxiety disorder so I dealt with that quite badly because I didn’t believe the first GP that it was nothing, and didn’t really talk to anyone about having to have the biopsy unexpectedly. I am going to take a better approach to this thumb. Already had DP with me at the hospital this time. And I’ve even told my mum which I never do. Last night I got kind of tearful and it was nice to be able to say so to my mum.

I can’t believe I have to weigh up butchering my sodding thumb to see whether or not I have something wrong with me. And I can’t believe I have to have a second biopsy this year either. I hope the plastic surgeon will be helpful. Does anyone have tips for asking questions about things like this?

Davros - I really hope it’s nothing for you. Flowers I have read that these nail lines can relate to autoimmune issues and as soon as you see the dermo they’ll look and work out whether it’s a mole or something else.

OP posts:
Davros · 20/06/2018 12:13

Thanks immortality Thanksfor you too. I think autoimmune issues (Scleroderma in my case) are connected to many things. Best of luck with your potential biopsy, sounds foul

UndomesticHousewife · 20/06/2018 12:19

Good luck hope it goes ok with your thumb.
My dd had this and I freaked out but it was caused by her chemotherapy drugs (for another cancer) and it went away.
It can be caused by other things but you must always get it checked.

MrsEricBana · 20/06/2018 12:34

Hi Immortality, thanks for updating. I have been thinking about you. Very, very glad that the breast lump was ok and very glad that they are looking properly at the nail thing though hopefully it'll be nothing to worry about. On your behalf I have googled how they do the biopsy and it'll be like a small thumb op with a good whack of local anaesthetic in your hand then a bit of recovery with it strapped up in that the nail will need to regrow. Not ideal but nothing in the grand scheme of checking you're ok. Don't worry, they are on it. Well done for chasing it up and not just leaving it. Please let us know how you get on Flowers.

MrsEricBana · 20/06/2018 12:41

(In terms of what to ask the plastic surgeon it is things like will the nail regrow normally, will there be scarring, will you be able to use hand normally straight afterwards etc but the site I read said that done properly there will be no issues)

Original poster
ImmortalityMyDarlings · 20/06/2018 13:51

MrsEric - thank you so so much. I took once glance at google images and chucked my phone down. I really appreciate it.

OP posts:
MrsEricBana · 20/06/2018 15:55

Aww, I knew you would google. Don't worry, if she/he is a plastic surgeon they'll do it beautifully and you'll get a definitive diagnosis. A relation had exactly this which I how I know a little about it and it didn't turn out to be anything bad.

GobblersKnob · 20/06/2018 16:20

I know it's not the same, but my dd had the end of her finger and nail pulverised (and I don't use that word lightly) when someone dropped a bowling ball on it (her hand was resting on another ball).

Four year later and she has a slightly wider fingertip and nail, and a bit of a scar but you wouldn't know unless you were looking.

The plastic surgeon had to rebuild her finger and reconstruct her nail bed, it was astonishing what they did, I honestly though she's just loose the end, it was just pulp.

Anyhoo, point being, if they can get that result after severe trauma, then while your procedure might be shitty, there is every chance it will grow back to near normality after the plastic surgery.

As a fellow anxiety sufferer I really hope things go well for you.

Original poster
ImmortalityMyDarlings · 29/06/2018 18:12

Met with a team of plastic surgeons (PS) and consultant dermatologists a few days ago. Was told beforehand that the point was they would talk me through my options. Started out okay, was just me, DP and a really nice female PS who was just taking my history. I told her I have anxiety (just when answering questions about any medication I was on). Then this bumbling male PS came in with two work experience kids, not even med students. The room we were in was so tiny. I had four people now peering at my now darker and wider-lined thumb and the male PS was talking very fast about the biopsy as if I had already decided to have it. It reminded me of when bad lawyers just assume their client knows everything about the court process. Sigh. I kept trying to ask him questions to which he gave answers unrelated to the question like: “How conclusive is the biopsy? What are the chances of there being no clarity?” (I wanted to know how worthwhile such a biopsy would be as had read mixed medical journals on the diagnostic success rates) to which he repeated how the physical side of the procedure would be carried out. I repeated the question and others a few more times and got quite tearful because he just wasn’t listening and the female doc, fully aware that the male doc was useless, said to me quietly and kindly, once he’s gone you can ask me anything. Before I got that chance though a third doctor strolled in, seemed to be the head dermatologist, and he said “oh yes you’re the one we were talking about at that meeting the other day and yes you must have the biopsy”. Great. They then took more details, circled the word urgent on the forms and now I’m awaiting a date for the procedure in a few weeks. I got some time with the female doctor again who apologised about the PS with terrible communication skills. She was reassuring which helped. Anyway not much fun and hope it doesn’t continue that way.

OP posts:
Original poster
ImmortalityMyDarlings · 29/06/2018 18:13

Gobblers - that’s so helpful Flowers thank you

OP posts:
Slightlyjaded · 29/06/2018 19:53

I'm sorry you encountered a doctor like this. There is a certain breed who seem to operate with a mixture of arrogance - so caught up in the 'procedure' that they forget you are a human.

I was once taken to hospital with a horrendous pain in my head and strange vision (I have migraines - it wasn't this). Bloods indicated something was wrong and I was sent for an urgent brain scan - the implication being clot/tumour. Obviously I was worried sick and me, my parents and DH were waiting on tenterhooks for the result. I was kept in and the next night at about 9pm a different doctor was doing rounds and I missed him whilst I was in the loo. The NEXT night, yet another doctor was doing rounds and when he got to my bed, I asked when they'd have the results of my scan.

"Oh, he said, they were fine - we saw that almost immediately", When I pointed out that me and my family had been worrying ourselves stupid for nearly 72 hours, he became really apologetic and kind of noted that he, like many doctors, was shit at communication and empathy.

Make sure, going forward, that you insist on being given answers as you need them.

And sorry to digress but I felt cross for you. Good luck OP.

MrsJumbo · 09/07/2018 22:18

How're you getting on OP?

Original poster
ImmortalityMyDarlings · 10/07/2018 19:38

I’ve got a date now set for the surgical biopsy. My mum is coming with me. DP painted my nails for me. We were joking about making the most of the ten I’ve got right now. Feeling fine, for now. Thanks for checking in Smile

OP posts:
Slightlyjaded · 16/07/2018 22:54

Good luck *Immortality. At least you will have answers soon.

Original poster
ImmortalityMyDarlings · 23/07/2018 13:27

Got the surgery tomorrow. Going to play my piano as much as I can tonight.

OP posts:
Rememory · 23/07/2018 13:37

Good luck x

BackToTheFuschia7 · 23/07/2018 13:40

Good luck immortality and hope everything goes well tomorrow. Great that you have your DP and Mum for support.

Slightlyjaded · 23/07/2018 15:36

Good luck

Hopefully you'll be back on the piano in no time

Original poster
ImmortalityMyDarlings · 24/07/2018 10:10

Can’t wait to play piano and do anything on a computer with this bad boy.Grin

Surgery was weird. I was all covered up and they painted my hand and arm with pink water like on tv. Local anaesthetic to the base of my thumb. Not pleasant but if you’ve had your teeth done it’s as bearable as that, but a more prickly feeling. Welled up feeling like a balloon. Also put tourneqet (sp?) on the base to stop the blood flow. Procedure was to roll the nail off like a “tin of sardines” said the PS to the junior doc. The anaesthetist was so lovely which helped.
Under the nail itself was a black mark, about 4mm at the base. They had to dig that out too for further biopsy when they found it underneath. Then had stitches. Took about 10-15 mins total. Relieved it’s over.

One week I return for re-dressing. Two week urgent histology turnaround and chat with another Dr. About to talk to another doctor.

OP posts: