Hi Libby,

sorry to know about suspected lesion. It's very natural to feel anxious and worried. Let me assure you probability of melanoma diagnosis is very low. Still lower at your age.

i had exactly similar story where I noted a black line on my toe nail which kept on growing for 6 months and my old nail is lifted. I was referred to a specialist and got it biopsied last week. Regarding biopsy, since it's on nail, it needs to be done by specialist. Injection will be painful but later procedure doesn't feel at all once Anasthesia sets in. My biopsy was done under local Anasthesia which is usually the procedure. I'm awaiting the results.
it will be good to go prepared for the biopsy and it doesn't take more than an hour.

 Let's think positive that it's less likely to be a cancerous. Another thing that reassures me is noting it early. So well done for observing it and going to your doctor. In less likely situation,  where if it is malignant, it is god to detect it early and get treated asap. Hope you speak to someone - family/ friends / GP to help you cope with anxiety and be more positive about early diagnosis.

 It is hard. 

 My best wishes for you. Hope this helps. 
kind regards,

xxxx

Thank you so much for your lovely reply. I instantly feel a little bit better. I have lots of friends and family around me but they really don't know the right words to say to me which is understandable. It's hard for someone to understand when they aren't going through it themselves. Luckily there hasn't been much change in the line since I first noticed it and I'm otherwise extremely healthy with no other symptoms. Fingers crossed all will be okay and I'm sending well wishes your way too. Please keep me updated. We're in this together xxxx

Hello libbyacart and Healing7, did you find out what the issue was in the end? I am going through the same and have a dermatologist appointment coming up in the next 2 weeks or so. Very worried as you can imagine. 

Hey I hope you don't mind me joining,

After a video popped up on TikTok (of all places) whereby a salon nail tech described how one of her clients had an unsual line on her finger I was quick to realise my partner has the same on his thumb. All information has lead to a possibly subungual melanoma and so I pushed for him to ring a doctor who asked for some photos (due to covid and no in person appointments) the doctor rang back and has since forwarded these to a dermatologist for closer inspection but could take 2/3 weeks "if they reply"!!!!! 
I have made it clear he should follow up on this and push if or a biopsy regardless as it's too specific to be fungal/trauma. 
 

I have managed to worry myself sick at the prospect of an unfavourable outcome and have since found myself here. I hope you are all doing well and wish you all the luck in your journeys with this! 
 

Xxx

Hiya Melissa,

So sorry for the late reply. How are things now? I had my biopsy results and they believe it to be melanonychia (benign pigment of the nail bed). I have a check up in about 3 months time as they are keeping a close eye it. But I was in the same position, worried sick and freightened of the biopsy, but having it done has eased so much anxiety! Like you say, he must push for it! It was about 5/6 months before I actually had the biopsy done from the initial appointment x

Hi Libby - I hope you're doing well. 
I am having my fingernail removed too (very similar story to yours) and wondered how the pain after the surgery was? I'm having it done on a Friday morning and hope to still visit family on the weekend but worried about the pain - however don't want to just sit at home feeling sorry for myself! 
And to stay distracted in the wait for the results! 
Not looking forward to this at all - uffffff! 
Thanks :) 

Hiya Emma,

Sorry to hear you are going through the same thing! I understand the anxiety. 
 

So the removal itself was absolutely fine, the needle for anaesthetic goes into your finger rather than down your nail (I'm telling you this because the thought of a needle down my nail made me sick, but you might have already known that that's not the case lol). My finger went numb really quickly, I didn't feel a thing and the surgery team were AMAZING with calming my anxiety. We were chatting about what take aways we're going to treat our selves too as it was a Friday! The whole experience of having it removed wasn't anywhere near as bad as my mind convinced me it would be. The whole thing was over within half an hour max. 
 

Now the anaesthetic did wear off almost immediately after the surgery, and my finger began to throb so make sure you take paracetamol and check with the nurses that they are happy for you to have it (should be ok). The paracetamol does help, but you really notice when it wears off so stock up and definitely take some before bed, as I often woke up because it was hurting. If paracetamol doesn't work for you, ask your pharmacist for something stronger. Keeping it elevated really helped too. 
 

I'd definitely say to pop some paracetamol and go out to distract yourself, because it helped to take my mind off the pain and the results. 
 

Sorry it's a lot, but I hope it helped!

all the best with your procedure and praying that you get positive results x

Hi Libby. Honestly I can't thank you enough for replying. You've made me feel lots better. I didn't tell my husband I had messaged because didn't want to worry him with the c word because of the website. But I've just shared your response and we both feel a sense of relief. And I cannot wait to see my nephew the day after! Although I don't think picking him up and spinning him will happen as much as I want! ♥️♥️♥️

Hello [@Healing7]‍ 

i hope you are doing okay! 
 

I wanted to check in and see how your second biopsy went and what the results of this were. 
 

I'm about to go back in as I've had similar to you in which the nail grew back after the biopsy, but has increased in width. I just wanted to check whether it was scaring from the biopsy or obviously something more serious.

Just horrible when you think you're through it all and then you're hit with the possiblity of going through it again. Trying to stay open minded and positive though! 
 

please let me know how you got on.

all the best. Libby

Hey [@emma_es]‍ 

Just wanted to message to check how you were doing as I know how worrying it can be.

have you had your biopsy yet?

please let me know how you got on if you did.

take care,

libby

Hey Libby - thank you so so much. Means so much that you followed up

I had it done on the 19th. The local was definitely the worst part - ugh! But then no pain at all. The doc had to go further down as more cells pigmented so put stitches in which I felt tug a bit. Been really happy the pain to be honest, all manageable with paracetamol and ibruprofen. Oh and holding an ice pack at the base of my finger worked a dream! I mean it wasn't pain free but better than I though. Had two dressing changes... it's quite unsightly haha but all for a reason hey. 

I've got an appointment to go in on 23rd Dec. Spent the first 5 days or so post op feeling very pessimistic and negative. But now I'm in a much more pragmatic, let's see what happens mood. Silly things still creep in and make me nervous but I'm definitely more on the what will be, will be side. 

We shall see! 

Hope everything is well with you? x

Hello,

thank you for getting back to me!

I'm so glad the pain was okay for you. I wanted to tell you every detail of my procedure because it's so easy for our minds to convince us that it'll be horrendous and although it's not the most pleasant experience, it's now where near as bad as we expect! So I hope my post helped you. 
 

I have all my fingers crossed for you that all is okay. Please update me to let me know. 
 

I'm okay, a little bit nervous, as the line has grown back with my nail and changed slightly, so going in in a couple of weeks to have it looked at. Just praying I don't have to go through it all again, but like you say what will be will be!

all the best,

libby

Hello,

thank you for getting back to me!

I'm so glad the pain was okay for you. I wanted to tell you every detail of my procedure because it's so easy for our minds to convince us that it'll be horrendous and although it's not the most pleasant experience, it's now where near as bad as we expect! So I hope my post helped you. 
 

I have all my fingers crossed for you that all is okay. Please update me to let me know. 
 

I'm okay, a little bit nervous, as the line has grown back with my nail and changed slightly, so going in in a couple of weeks to have it looked at. Just praying I don't have to go through it all again, but like you say what will be will be!

all the best,

libby