surgical biopsy FRIDAY general or twilight anesthesia?

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teesa2you
teesa2you Member Posts: 89
edited June 2014 in High Risk for Breast Cancer

I am having a surgical biopsy to remove a 4 cm nodule. First it was diagnosed as a fibroadenoma during a core biopsy back in 2011. It has continued to grow and they want to rule out phyllodes tumor of the breast. They are taking it out plus getting a margin. I was told I would be under general anesthesia. I don't tolerate it very well in my experience with past surgeries. But then I won't be under for hours either. I am wondering about twilight anesthesia and if it would be better. Part of me wants to just wake up and have it all done, the other part hates the idea of going under and recovering. I am worried I will stop breathing if put under twilight as general you get intubated. Thoughts anyone? My surgery is Friday!

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  • doxie
    doxie Member Posts: 1,455
    edited May 2013

    Sorry you have to undergo this.  Hopefully this will be a benign finding.  

    I have had both, general twice for BC surgery and twilight for port surgery.  I'm not aware that I had a breathing tube inserted for the generals.  At least I had no side effects afterwards.  I would run this by your surgeon.  My surgical biopsy took well under an hour.  Depending on where yours is located, it may be quick surgery too.  

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  • leaf
    leaf Member Posts: 8,188
    edited May 2013

    Some people don't have a choice for their anesthesia - in other words, some people are frail or have weak cardiovascular or kidney conditions, or other conditions I don't know about.

    But other people get a choice- so if you have a choice that's good!

    I've had both (though my generals were not for breast issues.)  Whether or not you have general or twilight, you should have an anesthesiologist involved.  I've never had problems when an anesthesiologist was involved.  I know I had a breathing tube for at least two of my general anesthesias.  I think it took me longer to recover from general anesthesia - like several days or a week just to get the anesthesia out of my system.  On my first  surgery with general anesthesia, I couldn't turn my head without feeling like the world was spinning around, however, I was very able to walk 5 miles on fairly level ground.  (I wasn't allowed to drive though.)  Once I had a slight sore throat with a general, but that's all. 

    Doxie is right -my breast excision was quick too - under an hour.  For many of my surgeries, the anesthesiologist let me decide whether I wanted a general or twilight.  After having experienced both, I usually say either one. 

    However, I have a much worse time when an anesthesiologist was NOT involved.  Thank goodness for anesthesiologists!

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  • Wren44
    Wren44 Member Posts: 8,585
    edited May 2013

    I had twilight for lumpectomy, general for mastectomy. No after effects at all from the twilight. I was nauseated after the general. It was nice to be able to go home right away. I agree about an anesthesiologist doing whichever.

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  • teesa2you
    teesa2you Member Posts: 89
    edited May 2013

    yes, an anesthesiologist will be present to administer medication. I have a history of medical issues that involved surgery. But I was under general for hours. I was off work on leave so did not have to worry about going back after a few days. I am going back to work tuesday. I hope that I will be able to drive and get all that anesthesia out of my system. Mother's day is sunday and I will be recovering. Do you feel anything with twilight? Are you awake and just drugged? I had twilight years ago for cerebral angiogram. I don't remember what the recovery was like  or much about it since it was so long ago.

    I am praying everything is B9.

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  • doxie
    doxie Member Posts: 1,455
    edited May 2013

    When I had twilight I was aware of what was going on.  For the port placement, since it took longer, I was more under.  When it was taken out I remember thinking more of leaves glittering in the light than the surgery.  You could say I was in a nice place.  

    Hope everything is B9 also.

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  • leaf
    leaf Member Posts: 8,188
    edited May 2013

    With twilight ( for my breast excision), every time I said Uhhhhh (this was NOT expressing pain; it was expressing 'Where am I, what is going on?')- I got another slug of propofol.  I didn't have any pain for either twilight or general.

    Whether you get twilight or general, I'd be shocked if you'd be able to drive home alone right after.  I had someone drive me home about 2-3 hours after twilight, and went to work 24 hours later.   If I did it over again, I'd probably wait one extra day.

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