So I've done awesome at keeping up with my Monday and Friday posts eh?  I never was good at consistency.  Fitness Fridays will be pointless for a while since I can't do any physical activity for at least two weeks.  Fun.

About two weeks ago I went to the dermatologist because I had two moles that looked funny.  One was on my arm and didn't look too weird but it had grown a lot in a short amount of time.  The other one was on my leg.  It originally looked like a small, dark beauty mark but then this orange-ish waxy blister-like thing started growing over it but never popped like a blister.  The dermatologist decided to biopsy both of them.  Good.  Then I wouldn't have to worry about them every time I looked at them.  I fully expected everything to come back normally because I don't have the typical skin type for skin cancer.  I have dark hair and eyes and olive toned skin that tans easily.  I'm good right?

The biopsy part was pretty easy.  They numb the area and take a razor blade and shave it off.  No big deal.  For some reason I passed out and thought I was gonna puke.  I'm not sure why.  Doc said it totally normal and uncontrollable but I'm not even squeamish so I thought it was weird.

The pathology report for the mole on my arm came back clear but unfortunately the one on my leg, although it wasn't cancerous, had some cells around the edges that were "concerning" and if any were left in the surrounding skin, it could turn into melanoma later.  Oh great.  I was really disappointed because this now means that I have to watch all the spots on my skin for the rest of my life.  But it wasn't cancer so that's good at least.

The doctor told me they wanted me to come back so they can remove the skin around the mole on my leg.  It would be a simple procedure... an hour would be enough time.  Ha!  What I didn't know was that "procedure" meant "surgery" and "an hour" meant the surgery would take an hour, not the whole appointment.

So I check in to my appointment.  Thank God I brought my husband.  They lead me to a room.  At this point, I still think I'm having a "procedure"... like last time.  But the room they put me in was definitely an operating room.  I looked at my husband and was like, "Uh.... this isn't like last time.  This is a little much for what I thought they were doing."  Then they start telling me about my "surgery".  There will be a resident, a senior resident, and attending, and a nurse in the room.  They will be cutting about a 5mm margin around the mole site.  "Okay, that's little," I think.  The doc starts marking up my leg and the circle they're cutting out looks huge.... slightly larger than a quarter.  The doctor is like, "It looks big but it's not that big."   At this point, I'm getting nervous, the spotty vision is starting up again and I'm getting hot.  This was not at all what I had expected.

They get me all covered,  in position, and numbed up.  Before they start, I ask for ice.  Ice helps with the passing out.  I did NOT want to pass out.  I didn't see them start because I was focused on breathing and cooling myself off but once I felt stable, I leaned up on my elbows so I could watch.  Holy crap!  It was fascinating!   My leg was wide open.  Like.... Wide open.  My whole hand would have barely covered the open part of my leg.  They had to cut the circle of skin out but then they had to cut two triangle pieces from opposite sides of the circle so that they could sew up a neat line with stitches.  So by the time they were done with all the cutting, there was a fairly large, football-shaped opening in my leg.  The doctor started snipping out little pieces of fat because it gets in the way when they sew you up.  I grabbed a piece that she cut off so I could see what it feels like.... pretty cool.  Under the fat, I could see my muscle.  I actually got to look at one of my quads.  It was awesome.  They have to separate the skin from the tissue underneath around the edges of the incision so they can easily sew the skin together.  The whole process was amazing to watch.  It was the first time that I really felt regret about not going to medical school.  That could have been me.  I could have been the one sticking my hands in peoples legs.  I could still be a nurse I guess, and get to watch doctors stick their hands in people.... not the same but still cool.

Now I'm at home.  I'm still too sore to go to work although the doc said I could go.  The incision runs right along the edge of my quad... right above the knee and it's black and blue and angry right now.  Every time I flex that muscle, it hurts.  I'm a little nervous to drive since it's my driving leg.  I can't do much.  No exercise whatsoever for at least 2 weeks and I need to keep the kids away from my lap.  Today, I'm gonna veg out on my bed, knit, and watch tv.