How do they do this?

Colette37

Exactly HOW do they do the Nuclear Dye Injection the day before they do the Sentinel Node biopsy?

 I just was reading how it was a horror to have done.  What do they do with it?  I am going to have this happen and I want to make sure that I take pain medicine BEFORE I have it done if it is that painful, along with xanax to help.  I have not had surgery yet and I am planning on also having reconstruction done at the same time and I want as much info that I can before hand.  I have started chemo (Taxotere, Herceptin and Carboplatin).  They also tried putting a port in me which never worked in the first place and then I also had a severe reaction to the tape where it started making me blister on my chest.

 Thanks for the info before hand.

 Colette

deb6563

I had it done and they put a numbing medicine on your nipple area before hand.  They inject the dye into your aerola.  I had 6 shots of it.  Never felt a single needle, I lay there and watched them do the injections.

Colette37

Deb,

Thanks for the information.  I know they said that the biopsy wouldn't hurt either and I was in a lot of pain afterwords because of it.  I was not warned at ALL when I had the MRI biopsy done..although I took the initiative and took pain meds that I had BEFORE I was in the building.  The MRI tech look concerned, but the RN who put in the IV (She had breast cancer last year) understood and thought it was a good idea.  Glad I did too because I would have gotten off of the table and said enough torture if I didn't have the pain medicine on board.

 I tried looking for this information on line and I was not able to find it anywhere.

 Thank you again!

Colette

thegoodfight

Please do not stress about this procedure.   Your surgeon should have given you an rx for a lidacaine numbing cream that you put on THICKLY about an hour before.  Cover the area with saran wrap, cling wrap, etc. and then put your bra on.  they will remove the wrap before you get the needles and the needles are so thin and the procedure is so quick you will be fine.  The doctor who came in to do mine was not there more than 60 seconds and I had four needles...............it is really not too bad.    I had a great nurse who told me each needle would just be a few seconds and that made me relax instead of fearing a long procedure.   Just make sure you have the rx for the lidacaine!!!!!

Caren

PS  The xanex helps too

Anonymous

Hi Colette,

I had blisters also from tape and so now one of my allergies I list is latex.  They use paper tape on me now and there were no further problems.

Good luck.

LEB

Colette 37,

Just thought I'd let you know that my nuclear injection for my Sentinal Node Biopsy went very smooth. I had no creams, pain or anti-anxiety meds. I had 2 injections and they both felt like a momentary sting. I think that every person is very different....hopefully yours will go smoothly too! Now my port insertion was a different story....I will not get into details....I'll just say it ranks as one of the worst experiences of my life!

I also have an allergy to all adhesives including the low allergy paper tape (but not latex). Here is what I learned from an ET Nurse that I work with to reduce allergic responce when adhesives have to be used in people with adhesive allergies. I carry a FLOVENT  corticosteriod asthma inhaler (available only with a prescription) in my purse. Everytime someone has to stick something down (like when they access my port)  I hand them my handy inhaler...they look at me oddly...then I instruct them to spray a few puffs onto my skin wherever the tape will touch my skin. Have them wait about one minute then apply the tape. The tape will stick very well unlike if you used a cortisone cream. I sometimes feel a little itchy but have had no rashes,blistering or skin breakdown since using Flovent like this. Hope you find this helpful.   LE

gcpommom

I didn't have any numbing agents or pain killers, either.  What I can tell you is that although it does sting pretty bad when they inject, it only lasted for about a minute or less.  My tech waited between shots for the stinging to stop before doing the next one, although we just hurried through the last one to be done with it.  By the time I was dressed to leave, there was no pain at all.  So even if it does sting at first, it doesn't last very long.  And I am a big pain wimp, plus I hate getting shots

You can do it, and remember when it's all over, you'll be fine. 

GramE

I too am allergic to all adhesives (tape, bandaids, etc) and also scrub soap.  Tegaderm can be used and will wash off (peel off) in 4-5 days.  It leaves no residue, no blisters, no greasiness.  It has been a god send for me.  There is a liquid bandage product that dries clear, but I do not remember the name, but for small wound areas.   Ask your surgeon, alert him/her to your reaction to adhesive.    

My experience with the node dye was painful, I saw stars, but it only lasted a few minutes - 4 jabs.  If you take a pain med before, be sure to tell the doctor so they do not over dose you if you need more later.  I have sometimes said " you can get thru this with the help of modern medicine (drugs)"   -- they are there to help and - as others have said -- you CAN do it - you do not have to like it.    Hugs,   Nancy 

makingway

Okay, so they inject you with the dye, then what???? Do they take a biopsy while you're still awake?

My biopsy was more than just 'a little pressure'. I had to have more lidocaine. I sure hope they give me some for this also.

Anonymous

the dye has to kind of work its way thru your lymph system so I had to walk around - I think I had a saline drip in because I was walking the halls with one of those wheely pole things.  After about 40 minutes the tech had me go to a room with a huge machine - maybe a geiger counter or something that you lay under and they look to see if the area lights up - if it does, you are good to go.  If not, you need to wait 10 more minutes or so.  No biopsy while you are awake I promise. No cutting, just the injection and numbing shot.  In my experience it was more weird than anything else.  Now, I had a lumpectomy with wire guiding - that was the weirdest and a bit painful.  You will not have that done.