Excessive bleeding from core biopsy. Concern?

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MandyP
MandyP Member Posts: 20
edited October 2016 in Waiting for Test Results

Not my first rodeo for an ultrasound core biopsy. I've had several. I've also had several excisional biopsies. Radial scars, papillomas, sclerosing adenosis, etc....

Basically I'm a "see you in 6 months" gal.

My last US showed something different that I've never had. Irregularly shaped, ill defined margins, poorly defined hypoechoic area, posterior acoustic shadowing. Scary words when you use Dr Google.

Had my US core biopsy on Wednesday and when the radiologist was done he was shocked at all the bleeding. The tech had to hold hard pressure on it for over 20 minutes and a pressure dressing was applied. I don't take any mediation and I haven't even had a Motrin for over 2 weeks. Today it's still oozing enough I have to change the bandage a couple times a day.

Normally I'm very calm since I've had so many procedures and while I'm not in a panic over this, it is on my mind. They said the path should be back today but I have an appt next Tuesday with my surgeon. I kind of expected him to call me today, but no. I'm an RN and we work together in the hospital and are friends outside of work as well.

Am I totally overthinking all this?

Comments

  • MelissaDallas
    MelissaDallas Member Posts: 7,268
    edited October 2016

    I think so. It happens sometimes when theyhit a blood vessel. Hematomas from core biopsies are pretty common.

    Funny story, when I had mine I didn't realize they had put the cold pack in my bra. When they took me in for the mammogram after to make sure the marker was placed, it made me bleed a little when they compressed me with the paddles. A trickle ran down my tummy, but I felt that cold "wet" feeling thing with my arm at the same time and thought I was feeling a wet saturated bandage and started to faint on them. They had to wheel me to the ultrasound room in a wheelchair because I was still wobbly

  • tatatootsie62
    tatatootsie62 Member Posts: 86
    edited October 2016

    MelissaDallas, Hi, I'm Tatatootsie62

    I had 2 core US core biopsies on 9/29/16 with no complications; however, my surgeon was

    very thorough since this was my initial diagnosis of ILC, and ordered an MRI and I'm glad

    he did. It revealed several lesions undetectable by ultrasound; they were subsequently

    biopsied a week later, 5 as a matter of fact (and came back ILC as well). That same day, not more than

    a couple of hours later, I had an ice pak on the incision site and what I thought was moisture

    and water droplets trickling from the ice pak was actually blood.....and a huge amount. When

    I stood up out of my recliner, it ran down the front of my tummy and when I lifted my clothes

    to put a towel and some pressure, it gushed. I had to be taken to our local ER; needless to

    say, I had to throw away my undergarments, my scrubs (I'm a nurse), the hand towel and the

    bath towel that were all grossly saturated with blood. I literally hemorrhaged. My son looked

    at all the trails of blood from the living room to the kitchen and into the linen closet and said

    "Mom, all you need is the dead body". It looked like a crime scene. When they say a little oozing

    can be normal and to keep pressure on the site, that's sometimes an understatement. I lost an

    estimated 200 cc's of blood.....from a breast biopsy no less; I am still changing the steri-strips

    as needed, but you would have had to see it to believe it; I still cannot get over it myself. My

    surgery is scheduled for Nov 1st; I do not take blood thinners or aspirin, but I was taking fish oil

    daily and vitamin d-3 as well; I have stopped taking them because they can thin the blood. So,

    a little fyi....if you take any additional vitamin d or fish oil, and vitamin e in addition to a multi, take

    it maybe just twice weekly if needed and be cautious gals; ibuprofen acts like aspirin and if you

    are Italian like me, go easy on the garlic and onions....they are natural blood thinners as well.

    BIG HUGS TO YOU ALL.

  • MandyP
    MandyP Member Posts: 20
    edited October 2016

    Well there's still drainage on my bandage, no way can I leave it open to air. I guess I was over thinking that some breast cancer tumors are vascular so bleeding was a bad news. This was my 5th one and I'd never had bleeding before. I didn't get a call yesterday so it looks like I'll have to find out at my appointment.

    TataTootsie62, good luck with your upcoming surgery!

  • tatatootsie62
    tatatootsie62 Member Posts: 86
    edited October 2016

    Thanks so much MandyP. I hope the results of your biopsy is good news as well. I frequent

    the "Lumpectomy Lounge" and those gals are angels from heaven I am convinced. Have

    you visited that forum?

  • MandyP
    MandyP Member Posts: 20
    edited October 2016

    No, I haven't checked out that forum, I will. Are you having a lumpectomy or mastectomy next month??

  • tatatootsie62
    tatatootsie62 Member Posts: 86
    edited October 2016

    MandyP, I am having a bilateral mastectomy with reconstruction; my pathologist, my 2 surgeons and I

    feel that it is the best and wisest choice. I cannot say that I am looking forward to it, but I am looking

    forward to ridding my body of this unwelcome "invasion" for as long a time as it may be.

  • MandyP
    MandyP Member Posts: 20
    edited October 2016

    Tatatootsie62, I agree with you 100%

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