How long before surgery do they usually put the wires in?

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oceangirl654
oceangirl654 Member Posts: 217
edited January 2015 in Surgery - Before, During, and After

I am going for a lumpectomy next week and they have scheduled the two wires that will show the location of the tumor to be placed at 10am and then the surgery pre-op to start at 2:30. Won't it be painful to sit with the wires in for four hours? When you had surgery, how long before were the wires put in? Thanks for your help! Also how many hours before that did they do the photos of your lymph nodes? Mine are scheduled for 7am, all in all seeming like a lot of time sitting around nervously in the hospital. Thanks for telling me your experience and advice. Should I call to get these times changed?

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  • Annette47
    Annette47 Member Posts: 957
    edited December 2014

    It ended up being a couple of hours before for me as well (surgery got pushed back 4 hours due to an emergency case pre-empting the OR for a while). I didn't find the wire insertion to be that bad, and once they were in I didn't feel them at all, so it's not painful sitting around with them in. If I remember correctly they did the dye into the lymph nodes right before doing the wires, but it might have been right after. I know they took me down for both procedures then I came back up and waited for a while before the surgery, but I can't swear as to which procedure they did first.

    The worst part of waiting around so long for surgery was not having been able to eat breakfast (or lunch since surgery ended up being after 3 pm). I tend to get a headache without my coffee, although they were able to give me something for that.

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  • RMlulu
    RMlulu Member Posts: 1,989
    edited December 2014

    Ocean girl - come check out the Lumpectomy Lounge. Many have shared their experience...knowing helps.

    Breathe, you will do great. This site explains the procedure, your team will have you sit in a chair, numb the area, and use mamo to guide the wires. After they will place numbing cream on nipple and secure wires with bandage for your transport to the nuclear dye step. If you are anxious your Dr may prescribe pill to clam, but it is really not too bad. You will not feel the wires...I think it's more the idea of wires in chest. Durning the nuclear dye squeeze the tecs hand and when you arrive a preop ask for something to take the edge off...surgery takes about an hour, recovery is fast, and you are on your way home.

    Wear yoga pants, hoody, flip flops, comfort clothes...have some soup ready in the crock pot...and just relax at home. Stay on top of your meds the 1st 24-48 hours, but you will find that you only really need them for bedtime. Watch the arm, don't overdo, baby yourself...you will be surprise how great you feel...you did it...the haze lifts...fingers&toes crossed for clear margins&nodes.

    Until than breathe, gather up all the things that make your heart sing :D. You got this...sending alm confident thoughts and prayers...in your pocket {{{squeeze}}}

    Cindy

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  • Nancy2581
    Nancy2581 Member Posts: 1,234
    edited December 2014

    oceangirl just wanted to let you know I didn't feel the wire after it was placed either. My surgery was also delayed so I sat around for several hours until surgery. Didn't bother me but having to wait for surgery did lol

    You'll do great

    Nancy

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  • oceangirl654
    oceangirl654 Member Posts: 217
    edited December 2014

    Thanks, everyone, for telling me your experience!

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  • tgtg
    tgtg Member Posts: 266
    edited December 2014

    oceangirl--My wire was inserted about two hours before surgery, using a mammogram for placement. Didn't feel a thing, thanks to lidocaine, and never thought twice about the wires taped to my chest under the gown. Then right afterwards, the nuclear med doc injected the radioactive tracer material into the outer upper quadrant of my breast, with me still sitting in the mammo machine and still under the influence of lidocaine. Just wanted to let you know that Ruthbru's experience of getting her tracer material thru the nipple is not what always happens. If you want to know, ask your surgeon how it will be administered, but rest assured that it isn't always inserted thru the nipple.

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  • Hopeful82014
    Hopeful82014 Member Posts: 3,480
    edited December 2014

    Oceangirl, since you've got a certain amount of time to kill, you might want to be sure you have something low key but interesting to enjoy during the wait times. My go to is usually cross word puzzles but some people like to have their iPod, etc., or a magazine of their own (not the March, 2011, edition of Woodworking Magazine) or a book.

    Good luck next week!

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  • gemmafromlondon
    gemmafromlondon Member Posts: 138
    edited December 2014

    The hospital I attend usually puts the wires in the day preceding the op and post nuclear solution. Fortunately due to a mix-up mine were done on the day itself and were entirely painless. Please don't worry about this - it sure sounds scary but is absolutely nothing to worry about. Best of luck.

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  • oceangirl654
    oceangirl654 Member Posts: 217
    edited December 2014

    Thanks everyone! My radioactive tracer is being injected the day before. Is that normal? It means I have to get a hotel by the hospital which is kind of annoying. And then they are taking the photos of the tracer area the next day at 7am. All sounds very inconvenient. Then I have to wait till 10am for the next thing. How was everyone else's day timed. Thanks for telling me! I'm wondering if I should ask for a better lineup!

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  • oceangirl654
    oceangirl654 Member Posts: 217
    edited December 2014

    Thanks for telling me it was not bad at all. That's good to hear!

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  • Hopeful82014
    Hopeful82014 Member Posts: 3,480
    edited December 2014

    Oceangirl, it sounds pretty inconvenient. It wouldn't hurt to explain the situation and ask if the scheduling could be tweaked.

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  • oceangirl654
    oceangirl654 Member Posts: 217
    edited December 2014

    Thanks- I called and they have moved the surgery forward to noon so that's at least a little less waiting time. They haven't told me anything at all that I need to know about surgery. Sometimes I think it's the medical profession and the way they treat you that makes this whole process the worst. You feel so helpless because no one is looking out for you. Thanks everyone for your replies! At least we have this nice website!

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  • Hopeful82014
    Hopeful82014 Member Posts: 3,480
    edited December 2014

    Oceangirl, I agree with your observation about the way the medical profession treats people. I walked out of a couple of offices asking my husband "Is it REALLY so much to ask for just a bit of compassion?" I guess that tells you the answer! I have had a very different experience with the BS I chose - her entire staff is terrific, from schedulers to MAs, etc. But don't get me started on the hospital staff!!

    I'm really glad you were able to get things pushed forward a bit. Regarding the hotel - you might check with the hospital (again) and see if they have a 'housing bureau' or similar that has negotiated rates with nearby hotels. When this is the case it can definitely save you some $$.

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  • oceangirl654
    oceangirl654 Member Posts: 217
    edited January 2015

    Thanks for telling me about the hotel.

    Yes I have really been appalled by some of the treatment by nurses and staff- what is really bad is how it drains you when it is supposed to be healing you. There have been some really nice people along the way, though, like the lady who did my MRI.

    Happy New Year!

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  • Hopeful82014
    Hopeful82014 Member Posts: 3,480
    edited January 2015
    Happy new year to you, too! It seems to me at some medical types just get jaded - to them it's just a job. Others are the essence of kindness but you never know WHAT to expect so it keeps one a bit off balance. Some of the nicest, sweetest people at the hospital have been those lowest on the totem pole, and some of the tech such as in the labs and procedure rooms. The nurses and MDs, not so much. I hope the next weeks are filled only with kindness towards you!
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  • farmerma
    farmerma Member Posts: 83
    edited January 2015

    I had surgery on 12/19. I checked in at 7:30am for an 8:00 radiology appt. They were able to insert the wire on one side using ultrasound, but the other side had to be done using mammography. This was not the most pleasant experience mostly due to the location of the tumors (inside of breast near the sternum). I sat in a chair as they positioned me, which was not easy and I had to stay compressed in the machine while the radiologist inserted the wires.

    Everyone was SO compassionate and apologized for anything that was uncomfortable.

    I then had the nuclear injection for the lymph nodes at around 10:00, had to wait til 1:00 for surgery, which was then delayed til 2:30. Long day!

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  • oceangirl654
    oceangirl654 Member Posts: 217
    edited January 2015

    Yes, Hopeful, I think the lab/MRI techs get paid a lot so they are happier! I think you're right that people in this field get jaded and just don't even realize what you are going through.

    Farmerma, your schedule sounds pretty similar to mine. Thanks for telling me about it. How are you feeling now? Are you able to do most things again, or still recovering?

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  • MoJim
    MoJim Member Posts: 34
    edited January 2015

    I was super nervous about the wire insertion also (had mine done on 11/19/14). It was a very LONG day  with getting the wires inserted & tracers injected, etc. Even tho I'm a highly anxious person, my Surgeon would not prescribe a sedative for me, so I had to "gut it out."  They did put a numbing cream on my nipple which helped w/ the discomfort.  It didn't really "hurt," but it was uncomfortable.  Breathing & praying helped me stay "still" & somewhat grounded. They will tape down the ends of the wires so they aren't poking thru your gown while you are waiting to go into surgery. This whole process started at around 8AM & my surgery was around 12:30PM.  I was on my way home by 3PM.  Six weeks out from Lumpectomy, my nipple is still rather sensitive to things like shower water, etc.  I start my Radiation next week.  Wishing you all the best!!

    Hugs, Maureen

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  • Hopeful82014
    Hopeful82014 Member Posts: 3,480
    edited January 2015

    Hi, Maureen - just want to wish you the best as you start radiation next week. I hope it thoroughly knocks out any stray tumor cells. Take care.

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  • oceangirl654
    oceangirl654 Member Posts: 217
    edited January 2015

    I hope everything goes well with the radiation treatment. Thanks for telling me your experience. It made it sound bearable.

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  • oceangirl654
    oceangirl654 Member Posts: 217
    edited January 2015

    Hi Maureen, One question- how far ahead of time did you put the numbing cream on? My surgeon would not prescribe it to me, but the nuclear medicine center said they could put some on me but I'd have to wait for it to take effect, or else I could come earlier in the day and they'd give me some. How long do you think one needs to wait with it on before the procedure? Thanks so much for letting me know! I was calling and calling about this today!

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  • oceangirl654
    oceangirl654 Member Posts: 217
    edited January 2015

    Hopeful, Were you able to get treated without surgery? I was just looking at the notes under your message. Thanks for letting me know!

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  • Hopeful82014
    Hopeful82014 Member Posts: 3,480
    edited January 2015

    Hi, Oceangirl - No, I will have a lx. eventually - probably mid-April. I'm doing 6 months Femara prior to surgery (rather than chemotherapy before surgery) in the hope of clearing my malignant node.

    We tested the tumor after a month on Femara and the proliferation rate (Ki-67) had dropped like a stone, indicating a good response. With luck the nodes will be clear by the time I have surgery, meaning only sentinel node biopsy rather than full dissection and, probably, no chemo after surgery, just radiation. I'm shadowing a trial for this protocol and am happy with the approach. It's used a lot in Europe, not so much here.

    I hope all goes well with your surgery, including the wire placement, etc. I cannot believe your surgeon wouldn't prescribe Emla for you; that just seems barbaric. Good luck with it anyway. Ask if you can take an ativan or something similar that a.m. - ativan can be taken under the tongue, I'm told, rather than needing water for swallowing. .

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  • cookiegal
    cookiegal Member Posts: 3,296
    edited January 2015

    OMG I was so freaked out about this. I even bought a stick on bra to put on my good boob while I sat and waited. The idea of sitting in public in the waiting room braless with the wire sounded so dehumanizing.

    So anyhow--

    I had a remarkably difficult wire insertion. I needed a second dose of anesthetic. Part of the problem is my MRI showed a second tumor that wasn't there.

    Anyway it took so freakishly long by time they got it done, they were ready for my surgery. I think I waited with the wire less than 10 minutes.

    By the way the tracer shot which everyone told me would be the worst, not that bad.

    I realize it is not the happiest story, but I put a lot of worry into something that was a non issue.

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  • oceangirl654
    oceangirl654 Member Posts: 217
    edited January 2015

    Hi Cath, I'm so glad the 2nd recision worked out. You must have felt so relieved. I'm hoping with all those suspicious spots in the MRI that my incision will have clear margins. What made you decide to have radiation in the end?

    Hi Hopeful, That sounds like a wonderful trial that you're a part of. What a great idea to try to avoid the dissection. That will be way worth it. Did you have to live in a big city to be part of that?

    Hi Cookiegal, That sounds awful. The things we have to go through! You must be glad it's over. I will be so happy when this is all a distant memory and I have a new life.

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  • oceangirl654
    oceangirl654 Member Posts: 217
    edited January 2015

    p.s. Hopeful, I know- isn't it weird my surgeon wouldn't prescribe that? When they say no to something like that, they should at least give you a really good reason. Otherwise it just feels like they have no compassion.

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  • Hopeful82014
    Hopeful82014 Member Posts: 3,480
    edited January 2015
    Hi, Oceangirl. - I hope everything went ok with the wire localization, etc. I know you were nervous about that - and who wouldn't be, since experiences vary SO much?

    In regard to the trial I'm in: No, I'm in a mid-size city, not a large one. We do have a medical school and a cancer research center here. However, I think that anyone from the region could probably take part in the trial if they could get referred to it, meet the dx guidelines, and would be able to get to town for 3 visits. If you wNt more info, feel free to PM me.
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