Nuclear Injection pre-surgery

Cliff I wonder too if my matters with fat,density,size of breasts. Although I understand being a man you don't necessarily have"breasts". But in all honesty my husband has bigger breasts then me..lol

I had large breasts when I was younger. I had gastric bypass and lost 150 pounds and a ton of fat,everywhere,but my breasts definitely retook the brunt. Then breast feeding 5 kids created and unhappy situation. I had a lot of excess skin,so maybe that's why it was not as painfully as others? I don't diminish someone else's discomfort,everyone's pain level and experience is very different.

Alright, I don't know who will see this thread, since the beginning is old, but I'm going to add my two cents- because I am a Nuclear Tech who has done this poor thing to numerous ladies and had it done myself 2 weeks ago the night before my surgery.

Technically, this is not a "dye", as it's not a contrast or anything else. It's a radioactive isotope with a very very small amount of radioactivity, as others have said, to detect the lymph nodes that are first feed by that area. The injections are a tiny needle and it goes into the skin layer. Our goal was to cause a "bump",or wheal, then we know it's done correctly. And I know it hurts. It depends on your pain tolerance for how much. It's like getting a TB shot- those are in the skin layer also, and are supposed to be a bump as well, but that's on your arm, not the sensitive breast. The doctors I used to work with (the last one I've done was probably in 2011) used to say they could give you a numbing shot first, but either way you'd get a shot that you would feel. It only lasts a couple minutes. And this does not cause the blue pee others talk about, that's the blue dye the doctor injects after you are out. Sometimes imaging is done, and yes, you have to wait for the isotope to get to the nodes. Nuclear Medicine is imaging based on physiology, not anatomy, so it takes time to see how the body is working. The majority of the radioactivity is done before the surgery, leaving the nodes lit up so the doctor can find them. It is so worth it to get only a few lymph nodes taken out rather than a lot and leaving lymphadema problems the entire rest of your life.

As for my personal experience on the other end- Lidocaine cream!!!! As one said, I smeared it all over my breast about 2 hrs before the procedure and covered it with saran wrap. Worked like a charm, didn't feel a thing. I'm not sure why the doctors at my institution didn't use it, maybe it wasn't out yet? My recommendation is to get some if at all possible.

It is just an injection. OK, as many as 4, but not worth putting someone out for.

I just had this done last Monday and had no EMLA cream either. Felt like as one other member said "injecting acid into my nipple". I cried, and I am a nurse! Really a very intense pain, and the radiologist kept apologizing because he said it was REALLY going to hurt.

I also used the RX strength Lidocaine cream prior to the injections-never felt a thing! The radiologist said how brave I was (never told him I used the cream prior). Why don't they just use it as standing protocol prior to these injections? We have to go thru enough without added pain!

Has anyone had a lump develop (upper/lateral areola) at one of the radioactive injection sites? Had procedure Mar. 6, 2017, now April 26, 2017. This hardened area is rectangular, about an inch long, 1/4 inch wide. It hurts, and it burns. All else has healed well. They just said to keep an eye on it. Nervous.

I sure wish I had known about the cream because those injections hurt like crazy - each one hurt more than the last. I have a very high threshold for pain but I think I had a few choice words for the radiologist. He did warn me that he was going to hurt me. Hope I don't have to ever have them again but I'll tuck the cream suggestion away just in case!

MJ

exbrnxgrl, that was me. My surgeon didn't prescribe EMLA. What he told me to get was over the counter at the pharmacy - I can't remember what it was called, but his nurse and the pharmacist both told me that it was the same thing as the 4% lidocaine version of Aspercreme and that if it were them, they'd pay $7 for the Aspercreme instead of $30 for the other stuff. I wish I could remember what it was called.

I only had the one injection. It was numbed first by a prick like the dentist uses, so not so bad. Didn't feel anything else. No pain.

I had read that the injection was going to be excruciating and for the weeks before the procedure I was sick to my stomach and terrified. I even took an anti anxiety meds prior to the procedure. They did not numb me first as they said it would interfere with the procedure. I had two injections, and I felt nothing. I had my eyes closed and didn't even know they'd given me the second injection! I couldn't believe it. I had no burning either. I actually cried in relief! I don't know if I was just lucky, but the numbing for the needle loc was worse. I just want people to know that everyone is different, and you might not have the same pain as others. Or you might be like me and have no pain.

To SweetLaughter- not sure what you mean by the injection broke, I guess those were the tech's words to make you understand the situation. I would guess she missed the skin and it got on top instead of under the skin. Doesn't happen often. Very, very small amount of radiation so nothing to worry about. But contamination on the skin could make finding the stuff inside harder. It's been week so it is long gone, nothing to worry about.

oh holy hell.

I know I am having this.

Mentally adding notes to my list. I want to be out now! Thanks for sharing.

The radioactive shots were painful, I used labor breathing techniques to get through it! The most painful part was over within a minute for each one. It does end. The pain in my arms from massaging it in for 20 minutes while laid on a skinny table was worse!

Hi all, I just had this procedure yesterday and here is some information that (hopefully) eases some minds of those of you going through it in the future. I think the disparity between those who experienced this as barbaric/awful and those who felt a “scratch” is not necessarily pain tolerance but a change in the procedure over the years. I talked with my technician about the varying responses here and she said many (not all ) hospitals have changed their approach. I had only one pinch, not several, and no saline was used (I guess that makes a big difference). It was just under the skin by the areola, like a TB skin test not an injection. It was truly just like a sharp scratch; not even as painful as the lidocaine injections before biopsy and radioactive seed implant. I did not have any topical pain medicine. This was at George Washington hospital in DC.

My nurse suggested I might do well with an ear lobe rub.  Someone asked her to rub her ear during the procedure, that she worked a vet and they did this with the pets before a painful shot and it seemed to work.  So she did and it helped according to the one who asked.  I said, why not?  What have I got to lose... So she rubbed my ear lobe, the other girl tapped on my leg and the Doctor injected the nipple.  I had pain only on the last shot and only for about 5 seconds.  I was happy.

Now, though, I've a small blackish 1" horizontal streak leaving from the top right of my nipple.  Didn't notice it in the beginning but then it was there but was a dark pink line  (the procedure was a week ago) .it's turning blackish now though.  Anyone know of any side effects like this due to this injection?  Thanks for any ideas you might have!

I was pretty shocked to see the older post (8 years) about the Nuclear injection question - and see other posts in between that had anesthesia.... I didn't go all the way to the end - but it was late 2017 when I had mine, no pain patch, no cream, and definitly no anesthesia. It was THE most painful thing I have ever experienced. For several months after the surgery I would cry when remembering the Nuclear injections. The Dr. was very kind, and also apologized all over the place. And I have wondered - Did people walking in the hall next to the room I was in (which was directly off a hallway) think someone was being murdered in there? I know I screamed like I have never screamed before. After the first one I didn't think I could possibly do three more. The Dr said he could give me break in between, or just do the remaining three quickly - I said GO! And yelled my fool head off each time. They were so nice and said "You did fine"..... LOL - I asked the nurse just before being taken back to Pre Op - "Does everyone scream like I did?" She smiled and squeezed my hand and said "No". So maybe it's just a tolerance for pain. I do admit I have a low tolerance. But that was indeed THE worst pain I have ever experianced. Makes labor seem easy - (except Labor kept going for hours and hours, so forget that comment. LOL)