Nuclear dye injection

It's too late to be able to help you, and for that I'm sorry, my surgeon gave me a prescription for Local Emla cream to get through the SNB injection, you slather a large amount around the entire circumference of the areola and then place saran wrap over it so it doesnt rub off, applying it as far prior to the injection as possible, take the saran wrap off as you are on the nuclear med table, I wont say I didnt feel my injections , I did, but the pain level was totally bearable and tolerable, the nurse who was with me told me how some women sob during the procedure.....everyone should have access to the Emla cream !

jan

I agree with you Ruth - I had no numbing creme - and when I asked, they said I couldn't have any analgesics at all because it might interfere with the test. The pain was sky-high, out-of-this world, shriekingly unbelievable.........fortunately the mind forgets pain like that when time passes, except in the most academic way. It was just one more insult my body had to endure - but not the worse. The worse, for me, was the "ambush" I received when I developed hospital acquired MRSA............but I won't go into it - even an "academic" memory of that pain brings out so much anger - anger that I will definitely channel into making sure there is accountability to what happened to me.

I have to agree, I was not at all prepared for the pain of this injection. (although the doctor did say "this is going to hurt some"-- I should have known that that meant it was going to kill!!). Luckily the intense pain only lasted probably less than 30 seconds, but it is something I will never forget, and I've had plenty of other painful procedures!

I had it done this past July and did not need any numbing medicine. They felt like little bee stings or what one would get if they were being tested for allergies. I was totally amazed-- so maybe it has to do with the radiologist that is doing the procedure. He just went under the skin and not deeper, Maybe that was teh reason for not having alot of discomfort.

Me, too--the pain was quick and intense, but tolerable in the grand scheme of BC indignities.

The injection was right at the edge of the areola, which is a hugely sensitve area of course.  On me, it was a very shallow injection--kind of like a TB test (it made a bleb).

The rad tech was kind of funny about it.  She got me all ready, and she prepped the site, and as she was getting near the skin with the needle, she said, "Now this is going to hurt a little...".  But once the needle was in, she said, "I mean, it's going to hurt A LOT!".

By then, of course, I was stuck like a dead bug in an insect collection, and there was nothing I could do but lie very, very still.  She kept saying, "I'm sorry ... I'm so sorry ... I know this hurts, but it will only hurt for a little while...".  She said there was an anesthetic in the syringe that would make it quit hurting eventually, and she was right (I think).  She massaged the site gently, saying it would help soothe the pain.  By the time she left to go back to her picture-taking station, the pain was gone, except for a very mild burning feeling.

So, for me it was like a wasp sting in a very sensitive location.   I was stung in the face by a bald hornet once, and I gotta say, that was way worse than this was.  I've also had kidney stones, and this nuclear dye injection did not come close to that pain either.  Even my mastectomy hurt worse than this--my chest hurt like I'd been kicked by a horse.  The nurses would not give me the Percocet my surgeon had ordered for post-op pain.  It was a classic failure to communicate; and only the troupe of docs that came through the next morning were able to fix it.

I guess it's all a matter of perspective.  Hey, if they had told us ahead of time how much it was going to hurt, do you suppose any of us would have shown up?  (I like the EMLA cream idea.)

otter 

I had NO clue what they were going to do, so when that needle came at my nipple I wasn't sure what was going on! I think in my case ignorance was bliss and it was over before I could think too much more about it! I am kind of glad I didn't know before hand otherwise I would have just panicked and like Otter said, may not have shown up!

Incredible pain.  The doctor who did the injection had the gall to tell me it would only hurt a little  and he didn't give numbing injections.  Then while the tears were streaming down my face told me it wasn't "that bad". Ticked my DH off badly. 

Then when I was rolled into the pre-op area my surgeon came in.  I told him that every doctor who gave that test or ordered it done should be required to go through it at least once.  He laughed and said "well, guys have to have prostate tests"  I told him that wasn't even close to the same thing and my anesthesiologist (a female) backed me up big time.  My surgeon was excellent but needed much better bedside compassion. Comparing the nipple injection to a prostate exam!

Hi all -

Boy! My lumpectomy and SNB are scheduled for this Friday and my BS called in a prescription for the Emla cream, which I am picking up tomorrow (since my pharmacy had to order it - and it costs $44.00, so the darn thing better work!)

Revkat - NO Xanax at all?  I have read where some people have taken Xanax prior to that procedure -I was wondering myself if it would exacerbate the general anesthesia - but some have responded that it did not - my surgery is scheduled for 1pm and SNB at 9:15 am - I have already asked my BS about this and she said I could take Xanax after the surgery is over.

Has anyone else taken a Xanax before this procedure to calm them down, with no repercussions afterwards?

Hi, kamico -

Thanks for responding.  Actually Ativan is very similar to Xanax so that is encouraging.  I definitely will check with my surgeon again - it is so apparent that each dr has a different idea about these things!  Thanks again and take care - Maria

I am so sorry for those who had just a terrible pain with the injection.  Mine was not too bad....I was given a local.

I really like the idea of giving people the EMLA cream before hand but I also think since it does not work on everyone that you should also be given the option of the local.

I was asleep for mine. From the sounds of these experiences, I'm glad I was. I wasn't even given a choice. My BS told me that is the way she does it with all her patients.

They gave me something in the IV, I was wheeled into the nuclear room, and that was it. I didn't wake up until after the mx. If the shot is that painful, why don't they knock everyone out? I just don't understand sometimes.

I was fully awake for mine and yes it hurt like HELL, but I was warned and it was explained to me that numbing meds would interfer with things.....like with the others here it only hurt for a few moments....

I think each one of us has our own pain tolerancy levels and the SNB was the closest Ive ever been to my limits!!!!!

Maria... Just for comparison's sake... I thought the MRI-guided biopsy was worse than the nuclear dye.  And... I didn't have EMLA or a local for it.  I won't lie and say it didn't hurt but you've already been through the worst of the "awake procedures"... IMHO.

Michele 

PS. I took 1/2 a xanax the morning before my procedure (at ~7am).  However, my nuclear dye procedure wasn't 'till 11am so the xanax was long gone by then. 

Hi, Michele -

Well, I'm taking my Xanax at 5:00 a.m. and the procedure is at 9:15 so I should be ok - and thanks for sharing your opinion that the MRI guided biopsy was actually worse than the nuclear dye procedure - I am feeling better about it already - and you didn't have Emla or a local!

Joy - OUCH!!!!  I would have grabbed that can of spray and sprayed it in his face!  How insensitive!  I would have cried, too.  Heck, I would have screamed!

Really - can't they conduct this procedure in a more humane manner?

Thanks, rdrake0 for your good wishes!

And thanks for starting this rant!  About time someone addressed it!

Your SNB experience sounds so similar to my MRI guided biopsy experience (which I documented in detail elsewhere on this board) - well, if we can survive this, we can survive anything!

Take care -

Maria