Wide excision site

[stressedoutfred]

Hi

I am seeing the practice nurse regularly but wondered if anyone has been in my position before?

I was diagnosed with malignant melanoma just after Christmas. Thankfully it was very early stage ( 0.6mm thick) and I went back 2 weeks later to have a wide excision carried out. They took roughly a 3cm circle and left it unstitched.

This was 12 weeks ago and I'm still having it dressed! I've had a lot of problems with allergies to dressings, so my skin is very sore.

The hole has finally filled in but is still not covered in skin, the skin around it is raw due to the allergy issues. My dressings are sodden within hours of changing them, again causing soreness

I just feel really fed up, I'm itching and some dressings leave me in agony . The nurses are lovely but aren't answering my questions about how much longer I need to deal with this. I'm assuming because they just don't really know.

Has anyone had to deal with this? How long were you still having it dressed?

Thanks

I have problems with dressings too and can not understand why it is apparently beyond the wit of man or the NHS to provide a hypoallergenic dressing.

Depending where the site is, can you manage without a dressing for at least some of the time?

As it's been so long, can you go back to whoever did the op and ask for help?

Thanks @timeistight , I can leave it uncovered as it's on my shin, so I try and sit with the dressing off for at least an hour a night.

I'm just so fed up, I can't see a light at the end of the tunnel . Just when we think we've found a new dressing I start reacting to it

Do they still use Manuka honey? It has been known to heal wounds when nothing else does.