Post Skin Biobsy Horribleness

[Jamima]

I had a skin biopsy yesterday using local anaesthetic, standard skin puncture and a couple of stitches. I actually felt quite well after the procedure but feel like I've been run over by a truck today. I took 5mg of hydrocortisone about an hour ago and now feel slightly better. Is adrenal output taxed on such a small procedure?

[Topsy33]

Hi Jamima,

I can sympathise with you. It may have been called a minor procedure but it is nevertheless an assault on the immune system and your adrenals.

Your body would have interpreted the event as a potential threat and you possibly already challenged immune system has mobilised its defences, including inflammation and probably raising your stress hormones too.

With luck, the response will settle down in a few days but any concerns you have should be conveyed to the organisation that carried out the procedure and/or a message to your GP.

[Jamima in reply to Topsy33]

Many thanks, that's really helpful.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

A while ago, April, I had a skin biopsy and removal of some tissue. Not that big - but required five stitches.

This was the first operation of any type - other than dental and the odd stitch.

I felt more or less as expected for the eleven days from the actual procedure to stitch removal. A bit delicate but OK. The nurse was pleasant and I have no doubt she did the removal just fine. Since then, it has been horrible. In the hours immediately after, indeed, starting more like half an hour later, I felt as if I had been hit by a truck (metaphorically)!

And in the time since then, it has been uncomfortable.

Had a GP appointment just as a general appointment about thyroid prescription and she had a look. It does all look fine. She called it neuralgia. But certainly doesn't feel fine. Even now - three months later.

I don't know of having any adrenal issues. Wouldn't anything like that be more likely when it was being done and shortly after?

Just replying in case it helps to know you are not the only one! But I have no answers, and no understanding of what has happened.

[Jamima in reply to helvella]

Thank you helvella, it’s reassuring to hear of others’ experiences, albeit not much fun for them. Today is the day after and I’m just exhausted, I know when I wake what the day will be like as my morning cortisol is low, this morning I really struggle to wake from a very deep sleep, I’ve been struggling all day and gave up at 2pm and headed to the sofa, deep sleep again until now. I’m struggling with a new NDT prescription anyway, but I’m pretty sure this is cortisol as HC alleviates it. All I can do is monitor it and continue with the NDT but it’s a relief that I’m not the only one.

[posthinking01]

Yes especially if you have not specified adrenalaline free anaesthetic - I am having same done in 5th August and have been told to double my steroid for 2 days !

[Jamima in reply to posthinking01]

Thank you, that might explain why I felt so good immediately after.

[posthinking01]

Hi forgot - even at dentist you MUST say adrenaline free injections ! I have adrenal insufficiency and even hot and cold weather affects my adrenals and I have to up my steroids to compensate !

[Obsdian in reply to posthinking01]

Interesting you say this. I am struggling a lot with hot or even just slightly warm water these days.

[posthinking01 in reply to Obsdian]

If you are a thyroid patient you don't need so much thyroxine in my opinion (and others) in the hot weather- especially if you are overheating which is a sign you might have too much - then in the Winter I can if symptoms are showing - increase my thyroid hormone to accommodate my thyroid needing to work harder to keep me warm etc. I find it easier because I am on liquid thyroid hormone due to lactose intolerance but might be more difficult with tablets.

[Jamima in reply to posthinking01]

I've thankfully not had many problems with my teeth but the last time I had a local at the dentist I was flying for hours afterwards, I didn't know why at the time as it was a number of years ago and before this 'journey'. I've not been diagnosed with an adrenal problem but tests show I run low all day.

[posthinking01]

Are you on thyroid hormone may I ask?

[Jamima in reply to posthinking01]

Yes, I'm currently using 1.5 armour and struggling with that too.

[posthinking01 in reply to Jamima]

You shouldn't be crashing as you are - I had that and it was awful - so I know where you are coming from - if you can't wake in the morning readily then it sounds like low cortisol - it is worth remembering or at least it works with me - if I have an increase in my thyroid hormone then I have to up my steroid to compensate for the uptake in energy from the metabolic. Perhaps have a word with your medical team. Hope you feel better soon.

[Jamima in reply to posthinking01]

Thank you, I agree, I have an update mid august so I'll hopefully get some answers then.

[serenfach]

After my kidney was removed, they took the adrenal gland too without permission. Apparently it "was easier". Anyway my remaining adrenal gland used to fire up all the time, and I learned there were two ways to shut it up, so to speak. One was to walk and walk and walk and the other was told to me by an old nurse. I cannot recommend the second way but it may be worth a try - a nip of brandy. It did work. She said that is why people in shock used to be given a nip as they knew it worked.

Even now, years later, if I get a shock, I get exhaused for ages. Just passing on what worked for me.

[posthinking01 in reply to serenfach]

Hi wow so interesting - what symptoms did you get when it ‘fired’ up ?

[serenfach in reply to posthinking01]

The feeling of impending doom, jittery and cross for no reason. I had been given a "not breeding any more" labrador who was very fat at the time. That lab was slim and fit within weeks with all the walking we did. Shame my legs dont work like that now!

[Jamima in reply to serenfach]

I know those feeling really well.

[posthinking01 in reply to serenfach]

Yes that is an adrenal issue especially the impending doom - I have had Sepsis twice and when I got the impending doom I think I am going to die I knew how serious it was. Not a lot is understood about these amazing glands and everyone thinks that the heart is the emotional part of the body when it is actually the adrenal glands - if you think about it - every emotion we feel will affects the adrenals - whether that be a happy event or stressful. I always know when I have a adrenal/kidney issue too when I get extra cross and jittery ! Thank you for posting this.

[tattybogle in reply to serenfach]

must admit , a homeopathic amount of brandy is my 'go to' for ... all sorts of things . eg . if i get travel sickness, it works a treat (as a passenger obviously ... rather harder to sanction this if driving , but then who get's travel sick whilst driving ? )

[Jamima in reply to serenfach]

Thank you, I've noticed that a nip of malt whisky does the same thing, but ye know, how many nips is ok and first thing in the morning doesn't really look good.... I'm also exhausted for ages after a shock and do walk a lot (don't have a car) but if I walk too much, I crash next day.

[tattybogle in reply to Jamima]

"first thing in the morning doesn't really look good".

lol ..... put it an a Bach's Rescue Remedy bottle...... that looks very healthy .

i crash badly after arguments / shocks / fear ... and also after some medical procedures , but not others , haven't worked out 'which ones are which' yet ....felt blooomin marvelous after a General Anaesthetic which i gather is not normal.

i'm due to have some biopsy 'orribleness of my own in 3 wks time (with a local) . i am expecting i might crash afterwards /next day ... so am making arrangements for one of my 'staff' (child)to drive me home. ....... seriously considering having 'rather more than a homeopathic amount' of brandy BEFORE i go in, biopsy is only tiny , but it involves having a scalpel about 2 mm away from my eyeball ,.... somewhat terrified.

[Jamima in reply to tattybogle]

Good thinking on the Bach's - I can see you've been here before! Yes, I avoid arguments/shocks etc as much as I can now, just can't deal with it. I hope it all goes well for your biopsy, I'm away to get some brandy..

[Sparklingsunshine in reply to tattybogle]

You saying that just reminded me I used to live next door to a really horrible man who always had an axe to grind, he waited until my husband went to work ( what a big man) and then came round and had a go about anything and everything. I was on my own with two small children.

After he'd left I used to feel like my legs were jelly, I was shaking and I felt utterly exhausted. I've got much better at being assertive but direct confrontation or sudden shocks still make me feel physically weak and drained. Its very odd.

[Jamima in reply to Sparklingsunshine]

Ditto.

[Mistydeb01 in reply to tattybogle]

I felt absolutely fantastic after general anaesthetic as well. Had so much energy I was practically bouncing and felt so much better than I had for a decade (ME/CFS dx). Even the nurse who brought me back to the ward looked at me weird as I went from the recovery trolly to the bed - on hands and knees lol. I thought it might have been the oxygen, but not sure.

[posthinking01 in reply to Mistydeb01]

You were given an adrenaline based anaesthetic which kicked your adrenals which shows they are low !

[Mistydeb01 in reply to posthinking01]

Interesting, I’ve never really thought about me being low. I need to check it out and see if I have symptoms of it. Thks

[tattybogle in reply to Mistydeb01]

yes they do look at you like you funny don't they ... when i insisted i was fine to stand up and go to the loo myself if they would just take the drip out of my arm first ... the surgeon looked equally befuddled when i saw him a couple of hours later ... by which time i was dressed and itching to be let out ......anyone would think i had two heads they way they were looking at me. Shame we can't repeat the feeling more often , but having an op every week would be a bit drastic. lol

[Mistydeb01 in reply to tattybogle]

lol, def a bit drastic, although I’m curious if the same would happen again. I also went to the loo walking as well and yes ‘the two heads’ thing was def real for me too. I was the last surgery of the day for my surgeon so I didn’t see him before I left later that night.

[arTistapple]

Many years ago a good friend of mine with dogs told me that when dogs have any kind of procedure, they just find a comfortable spot and lay there, sometimes for many days. They get up for food and go back to lie down again. They know exactly how to respond and work their way back to health. We don’t seem to understand that.

Also I was fascinated watching birds in the garden earlier in the week and how industrious they were for long periods just searching around for food.

That’s something else many of us humans don’t think is our job. I very much would prefer getting my food served up to me, rather than planning/shopping/preparing etc etc.

All the above is much worse when hypo because so much depends on it.

[Jamima in reply to arTistapple]

Thank you, I think you're absolutely right, and often think back to the old convalescent hospitals where patients were often placed for weeks after surgery. We're now expected to leave just days after. I'm slowly learning to repair and recover although it's a hard lesson for someone who's used to keeping all the plates spinning.

[Pmb57]

Thank you for telling us about your experience and I hope you feel better soon. I’m having a biopsy done on Wednesday (on my leg) and am feeling apprehensive about it. I’ve been told by my dentist as I’m levo he has to allow more time for the local anaesthetic to take effect 🤷‍♀️. I’ve had root canal work done under local anaesthetic without any problems and I had my wisdom teeth out under a general anaesthetic and didn’t have any complications either.

[Jamima in reply to Pmb57]

Thank you, I hope it goes smoothly for you, the procedure really was a breeze, so please be reassured on that, but I now know that anaesthesia definitely affects me in a way it didn’t used to.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Pmb57]

For me, my biopsy was on my left hip area - so pretty much leg! - and the procedure itself was fine.

I did have very slight remnant feeling at one end - but he checked before he did anything and injected a bit more anaesthetic. From then on, nothing.

It took longer to heal than I had expected. Six weeks until the remaining scab fell off. And it had been uncomfortable (but not painful). I ended up using a silicone scar treatment which might have helped - possibly should have started that sooner!

I also took photographs throughout as it enabled me to check progress. (I'll not be posting them. ) Despite the angle being very awkward.