Biopsy no fear & no aniexty & no pain

allvirgo71

konakat and barbe - very well said - Im with ya'll - BabyL as a result of your anxiety condition you come off as unclear - so if new gals are here lurking, Id hate to think of them freaking out.  I had a wireguided mammogram with an excisional biopsy. A localized anesthetic was given before the wire was inserted and hurt less than the last time I stepped on a bee. It immediately numbed the area and I felt nothing. After the wire was inserted they wheeled me over the sameday surgery clinic and put me under the twilight sleep and next thing I know, Im babbling to the aftercare nurse about how alert I think I sound. (I probably sounded drunk)  I did have an issue with nearly going into shock (but that had more to do with the twilight sleep - which is one of the dangerous side effects of being put into that type of 'sleep') Thankfully, my hubby who is an MA, Xray Tech and retired combat corpsman knew how to handle the shock and I was okay.

I also agree with the others that said it sounds like the issue is more about the under treated anxiety 'issues'. Im amazed that anyone would let themselves go untreated for any period of time, just to find an 'easier' way to do the wireguided mammo. As someone else said, medical standards exist for a reason.  If you demand that medical professionals do themammo differently (i.e. be asleep for it)  -the question I would have to ask myself is this - what have I sacrificed by having someone lower their medical standards all so that I can be less anxious? 

God forbid you have cancer BabyL, but if you do- do not waste time demanding treatment be changed just for you. Get the treatment and see your psychiatrist and channel your demands into demanding more from yourself. Learn relaxation techniques, try a new medication - your anxiety is so obvious even in your writing. If you demand more of yourself then perhaps you will see your options seem to blossom.

Im in NO WAY saying anxiety isnt an actual problem- At the age of 14 I was shot in chest at point blank range. The bullet exited out my back. I survived 2 hours without medical care. I know anxiety. Try driving down the road 20 years later and hearing a tire blow out next to you. Its freaky. Someone once told me "Act as if the light has already come" Im not a religious person-but I have clung to that statement on many occasions.

Im 38 now. My point is this BabyL, if you expect nothing of yourself and everyone else to cater to your anxieties, then you will be disappointed. Sometimes, in this life you are required to bite the bullet and tough it whether you want to or not. I hope, for your sake you dont have the big C. Good Luck.

konakat

Yikes on the bullet Allvirgo -- you're one tough cookie to have survived!!

The thing with anxiety is that it snowballs.  Something small gets worse and worse.  I've told people that an anxiety attack feels like you're on a plane a microsecond before you hit a mountain -- it's horrible. Often the anxiety is triggered by the same things, i.e., being in a room with the door closed, a restaurant, movie theater (these were some of my triggers). It's so bad that the anticipation of having to be in a room or whatever would trigger the attack and all the thoughts about being in the room would just snowball out of control.  The anticipation is just as bad and often worse than the actual event.  Does this sound familiar here? 

But I'm fine now, thanks to meds.  But I still like to be able to see the door and have my back to the wall in a restaurant but if I can't, no biggie... I urge anyone with untreated anxiety to get it taken care of and get your life back.

cookiegal

babylemp, while I think the advice to you is good, you also did what you had to do, and you did get your procedure done, and that is no small accomplishment.

So you get a lower case "good job" from me.

I have a lot of sympathy for you, I had a thread about wire insertion, I have a strange anxiety about being bra-less in a waiting room.

At my first mammo, I was bra-less in a gown for almost an hour and lead bra-less in a group through public areas of the hospital.

It felt like a mile.

Nobody else minded, but I felt like I was in a concentration camp or a chain gang.

I literally felt violated. When I walked out I was shaking and sobbing. I told my husband and friends I refused to ever be screened again.

Ultimately I waited a few weeks and went to a smaller facility near my home for my recall mammo and sonogram.

After my dx, I was going crazy about having to wait after the wire insertion, for several hours, braless in a public area. I asked the hospital to help, and no dice.

I ended up buying those evening gown sticky cups so at least there would be something on my healthy breast.

In the end they ran so behind schedule, the issue was minor, but this was what I was terrified about, not cancer, not surgery, but being braless in a gown in a waiting room .

 So yes, you should work on your anxiety,

 But I give you a lot of credit for working so hard to find a solution.  While your issues may not make a lot of sense to us, I understand sometimes fear seems like an impossible obstacle.

I still have to speak up for myself, It's not uncommon to have to wait in an exam room in a robe for a long time. I tell them I am leaving on my bra till the doctor gets to me, they look at me like I am a little weird, but whatever. 

I am sorry you had to go though so much to find a solution, I can't imagine you are the first person to have overwhelming fears.

allvirgo71

I'm with you - which is why I generally avoid places that set me off - like walmart during peak hours - where most people hv flight responses to anxiety I tend to become veryangry I know that what I feel is irrational, but I would feel so   threatened- so much so that I'd want to fight. FLIGHT on the other hand only happens at nite- worse since dx - I can't sleep or I'll wake up and and I can't stop that snowball effect of worry becoming near hysteria. Ambien enabled me to get enough sleep so I could cope - good rest makes all the difference for me.. I have also kept working fulltime by swearing my coworkers to NOT cut me slack - it keeps me sane, and it works for me...most days. I have bad days, but I refuse to allow myself more than that. Women have survived worse things and too much emotional indulgence only puts me further down the rabbit hole..
sorry if I'm babbling-im typing on my phone as I wait 4 the 2nd half of a huge dental procedure lol -ive got a huge numb lopsided grin and am glad to get this stuff done before the mx next month..thanks konakat for sharing your experience- it can be easy toforget that everyone is different sometimes.

konakat

I remember after my lumpectomy for some reason they had to keep track how much I was peeing. I sheepishly handed over the bowl thing to the nurse and sighed about the indignity of it all.  She summed it up that all modesty is checked at the door of a hospital.  When we're in our hospital gowns were stripped down to our basic human-ness.  It's actually a great equalizer -- the big corporate exec is just as human as a regular schmuck like me in the gown. 

BabyLemp1

Let me start by thanking all you woman whether we agree to disagree or not .

my panic attacks & anxiety has & was 

 under medication & yet I still mentally could not handle it , maybe it makes me weaker then the rest i don't know .

What i do know is i admire the fact here that ever woman had a VOICE & had an Opinion , & that is what its all about .

Having the right to agree to disagree , the right to say whats on your mind & the right to feel your pain , anxiety & stresses individually , but yet all with the same identification that no one wants to have CANCER .

With saying all of this to you I am truly blessed to say I went to the doctor & my test after all of this turned out to be B9 .

I still feel compassionate on what i wrote & still need & want to say thank you for giving me the chance to hear all your voices in agreement or not with me believe it or not it still was very much appreciated .

 My prays remain with all of you woman & I want you all to know that even us woman who turn up to be B9 , we still feel very much apart of you, I can say that coming to this site has been a ritual for months & its one of great  hope & inspiration for all woman to be a part of .

God bless & thanks to all !!!!  

barbe1958

Oh Baby! Thank God for your results! God bless you and your family this season. Much love.

newday1976

And after ALL of that.Thank god you did not have cancer.I am happy for you.

In the future, if you ever need to come back to this board please remember that there are woman on here who have gone through unspeakable things, had unspeakable things done to their bodies because they had cancer.The fear and anxiety is just terrible.

Now does that feel like a wasted three months just to find someone to do it your way|? I really wish you luck in your endevours through the medical system.This could be the tip of the iceburg.I am still not quite sure how you made it through childbirth LOL! That is MY fear

cookiegal

Best Christmas gift ever!!!!

smaysings1

Baby,

I agree with konkat. I believe it is your anxiety that needs to be dealt with right away. I am worried about you! The stress from the biopsy added to the stress with the waiting is soooo hard (i am going through it right now). I myself will some days take up to 3 xanex (sp?) a day to ensure that I am not letting this thing take me down. I am not diagnosed but from talking to the amazingly strong women I have met here I know That is where your control lies. In not letting the fear and stress take you away form everything in your life that you love. I can't imagine what you children are going through. I hope that you have sought help for this problem, if you have I am sure you understand the issues with projecting. I worry that you might be doing just that.

One point I must make is that sunny was correct. What you had done was not a choice. It wasn't an option. You were given you options which sadly, were limit but they are the same ones that every woman was given. Except of course the one woman you mentioned. It's odd the I've been search for 20 mins on the web and there is no story about her that I have found yet. Case in point; if you had to contact allof those doctors, hospitals, news rooms, churches, and research on the Internet to only come up with one case study, what you had was not an option available. Period. You we're given special treatment. So the whole point of this tread is mute.

Please seek help for your anxiety. I pray that you do not have cancer. Please keep us updated as to what the results are. I have found so many friends here and now feel like they are my family. I wish the same for you. If you could calm down and try to take others opinions and recommendations, because that is why we're are here, you will find tremendous support and love here. God bless.

BabyLemp1

The story i mentioned can be found at cancerguide.org/kjessen or just go to cancer guide .org the name of her story was Karma Jessen -My Breast Biopsy: Wire Localization And Patient Empowerment .

Thanks for all your support God Bless you all !!  

smaysings1

wow I must not have read all the posts!! Baby thats awesome!!! Now take all of that patient advocacy and find out whats new with anxiety treatment! No one should have to feel the way you did through all of this. That fact that you are already being treated and it was still so bad you were worried about a heart attack is unacceptable. I am sure there is something that can help you. And let me know cuz right now I need some myself! LOL. Good luck to you and I wish you and yours only the best!

Sarah

swimangel72

I'm so happy Baby your lump was B9! Please come and visit us from time to time........keep us all in your prayers!

P.S.  Edited to add - here's a direct link to the story Baby was talking about:

http://cancerguide.org/kjessen_story.html 

CoolBreeze

I've very pleased that you were benign, babylemp.  I hope you don't ever have to do this again.  Many congratulations!

catlover1

I read about your struggle with a feeling of sisterhood. Yes I was terrified to hear about the procedure too but they threatened me that i could only have 5mgs Valium for wire localisation and they might cancel op if I had more Valium.This is in uk.I would have been happy with 15mgs Valium but they were dismissive about my fear,

I was terrified and therefore there was pain and trauma of seeing my breast impaled with a wire.Even after it was done i still woke up with the fear of the procedure

I know other women have managed well without help but yours is a different kind of courage; being true to yourself and at the same time trying to open up options for those who come after.

I hope you are going to have less trouble with the rest of your treatment.

Wishing you good things/

BabyLemp1

Hey everyone wanted to come back & check on how everyone is doing .

I read all your comments , some in agreement & some who still think I was crazy for fighting for what I believe in , which was compassion for us woman .

I want all woman here to know that after all said & done , I had my procedure done in a way that was anxiety free & stress free & pain free.

I went to a main hospital out patient surgery department , at 8:30 am I was brought in the back had my vitals& IV line started  & then meet with the anesthesiologist & my surgeon , went up stairs to the ultrasound department with the anesthesiologist , walked up there on my own no bed or wheelchair thing , my husband came as well & my sister ,meet the radiologist that would be performing the wire localization biopsy , laid on the table  the radiologist on one side & the anesthesiologist on the other side & me in the middle laying on the bed .

The radiologists found my tumor with ultra sound & then the anesthesiologist gave me meds through IV , I then had the wire placed while I was asleep , & then was brought up to the surgery department & had the tumor removed, woke up In recovery & went home .

I was home by 1:00 pm in the afternoon. 

I still believe that we need to eliminate anxiety , stress & discomfort from breast cancer biopsy procedures .I believe all patients deserve to be provide all of the options available & the education to choose which option is in their best interest .

Do you still think that you would of chose the other option , if you new there was a anxiety free , stress free & discomfort free option?

I know I did what was best for me.

God Bless all of you . 

stressedmich123

hi all i went for my scheduled stereotactic biopsy few weeks ago couldnt tolerate it as soon as they clamped my breast the pain was excruciating the nurse said i would have to be like that for 20 mins before they numbed me as they have to take pictures ect,i did ask to be sedated or put to sleep but they said no cant be done.the thing is i have ehlers danlos syndrome(connective tissue) chronic pain and scoliosis so to be hanging of the edge of a hard table with my breast clamped is excruciating for me. i have rung 3 private hospitals who have said no they do not do sedation just local numbing so i agree with babylemp we should be given a choice some people can tolerate some people cant,now they have scheduled me in for the 8th next tuesday to try again i keep explaining my conditions and why i cant tolerate i also suffer from anxiety and panic attacks but the answer is the same we dont sedate or put out for this procedure i cant understand in this day and age why we have to suffer like this its barbaric,i live in the uk so would like to know what hospital did this for you babylemp also to any disabled people reading how do they perform this procedure is it the same and how was it for you?

Salamandra

stressedmich123,

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this. This is just an idea, as I'm not familiar with the UK system at all, but my impression is that (sadly) doctors listen to other doctors a lot better than they listen to patients.

Can you talk to the doctor who follows you for your chronic pain and ask them for a referral to a doctor willing to do a biopsy under sedation, or to speak with with the surgeon directly? They may also have suggestions for dealing with the pan or the anxiety.