In shock

Dear Benny,

I like what Bearcub said: If you can handle a horse, you can handle BC. Will be thinking of you tomorrow. The bone scan is nothing scary, you just lie there doing nothing at all. The injection before the time I did not even feel, seriously, and I also hate needles.

Bearcub, my cat is the ninth Siamese that I've owned over the course of my life. They are just the smartest, most social and cutest ever. Mine is 4. I got her after my beautiful 11-year old Siamese princess got killed by my neighbour's dog in my own yard. I still miss her every day.

KRCornett,

You will do better to post on the '2012 Sisters' thread. There are many knowledgeable ladies there who will answer your questions. For me Tamoxifen started after surgery, chemo and rads were done. So it was the last treatment to start and will continue for five years.

In my early years as a nurse on the IV team, one of our responsibilities was to start all the pre-op IV’s using 18g catheters. Because of the large gauge size catheters we were inserting, we would use buffered Lidocaine 1% to numb the site prior to IV insertion. If the patient is allergic to Lidocaine, we would use bacteriostatic 0.9% Sodium Chloride (normal saline) instead. When we used bacteriostatic normal saline to numb the site prior to insertion, patients appeared to have the same pain less  level as those whom we have used Lidocaine on. I always wondered if it really worked as patients did not complain of pain during the insertion at all.



Then, I was told that the skin stretching with the wheal created by the intradermal injection of bacteriostatic normal saline decreased the skin surface causing less pain upon insertion. Now, there are recent articles (see suggested articles below) stating benzyl alcohol, the preservative in bacteriostatic normal saline serves as the local anesthetic, numbing the site.



At that time, it was not routine to use intradermal anesthetic prior to IV insertion, it was reserved for insertion of large gauge catheters. Today, in an effort to decrease pain and promote patient’s comfort during painful invasive procedures such as IV insertion, most hospitals and healthcare facilities routinely use intradermal anesthetics prior to IV insertion.



Nurses vary in their opinions and beliefs on the use of intradermal injections prior to IV insertions.  Even with evidence, some nurses don’t routinely offer to their patients or use intradermal anesthestic.  Aside from intradermal injections, there are several methods available to achieve this purpose, including topical creams, dermal patches and iontophresis.

Welcome KRCorett! Sorry you are here, but you are at the right place! These Ladies have helped me more than anything so far through my process. They ate a wealth of knowledge and support, good luck!

bennymuffins

Muffins, by the time you read this, you should be home and though with the procedure.  I really, really hope it ws not as bad as you anticipated.  Your nausea was, without a doubt, caused by your anxiety.

We look forward to hearing from you. 

Benny, your big fluffy orange cat sounds lovely. Give him a big hug from me! Hope that horse keeps you busy all weekend so that you can relax and not think and worry so much. Take another half an Ativan so you can sleep well. When you feel well rested you can handle things better. The scan was not so bad, and the rest will not be so bad either. It is the anticipation that is the worst, and that darn imagination! Whatever the outcome of the scans and tests, there is treatment available. These days they do amazing things, and breast cancer research has come a long way in the last ten years. You will be okay. One step at a time, breathe, enjoy your horse!

Hi Benny

Don't know if you've received your test results from last Friday yet. Also you had another test scheduled for today. Just checking in on you.

NSJ2

Benny, me too, in my thoughts. Hope all ok.

Benny last posted on September 8, three days ago. I am praying that she is okay.

I don't know how true this is or not because I haven't researched it myself yet but they say the lymph nodes are the filtering system that helps to block the spread of cancer to other organs.  I guess that was told to me to ease my mind in case they find cancer in some of my lymph nodes.

Good luck with everything.  Lots of prayers!!!

Benny,

So glad to hear from you at last! You have made a bunch of friends here who will be there for you, no matter what. Thanks so much for telling us what happened so far. Yes, the surgery sucks, but you are asleep for it. When you wake up, you will be given pain medication, and you can always ask for more if it is not effective enough. I like that 'morning' list that you made; maybe I should make one for myself too. It is a good idea. Maybe it will also be a good idea if you can get some medication for depression. The fact that you don't feel like doing anything is a telltale sign. So many women going through bc need this, especially to get over the initial stage. If you feel better emotionally, you will be better equipped to face and handle whatever treatments may be coming. Thinking of you.

Hi Benny, I've been reading all of this not knowing when to come in, but everyone is so knowledgeable there was nothing I could add but (((HUGS)))So many of us have een thru thr inger and we're still hanging around and trying to find that ringer to stop all of this. But I think we lost it. All of u'r questions will be answered and u'll know what has to be done and u'll just do it So many women here are so inspiring and follow whatever they told u--they are wonderous and everyone is more than willing. So u will finish wha is needed and ask opinions here too, they give u plenty of advie. Good luck

Benny, thank goodnes you posted !!

 We are all here , in the same boat and paddleing like mad.

 The aches and pains are normal I believe, on Saturday I had a ride on an old fashioned swing carousel at a fun fair. Don't know what made me do it, As ride came to an end I had to be helped off I had a really strange sensation in my head then procedded to throw up and couldn't walk. I managed to convince myself the cancer was now in my head. I cried like never before and reduced my darling husband to a sobbing wreck too. We all do it. Until BC I would have just blamed it on a hot sunny day and a bit of vertigo.

Regards and gentle (((((()))))) ( ps. keep away from fair grounds )