Ultrasound guided biopsy

I've had a couple. They numb you with freezing (if you've ever had dental work it's like that. you feel a small pinch and then it just goes numb quickly). They will arrange you comfortably with pillows and bolsters as necessary. You can choose to look at the monitor or don't. Similarly, you can look down or just close your eyes and if you're really tense, you could bring an earbud and play some music from your phone. Sometimes they need you to lift your arm over your head and that might be the most uncomfortable part of it as you have to be in that position for about 15 -20 mins. There's usually the dr & at least 1 nurse in the room.

If they're using the special tool that grabs a core sample, my dr showed me how it worked and the sound it makes. It honestly sounds liked a staple gun and you don't want to flinch when it goes off cause you'll move. So mine warned me each time she was going to deploy it. I didn't feel anything other than sometimes a bit of pushing on my ribcage but it was not painful. Then they gave me an icepack to put in my bra and that was it. I went grocery shopping on the way home. It felt sore and bruised feeling about 2-4 hr later but otc tylenol took care of it & i just kept putting the soft gel icepacks in the bra for comfort for the rest of the day. I did bruise with both of mine but it was just a cosmetic thing, didn't really hurt.

preferably don't take advil or aspirin or anything like that before or after because it increases bleeding. I drove myself to & from both biopsies but if you're going to need ativan or something like that then you'll want a driver.

good luck tomorrow Sam!

I stopped and bought groceries on my way home from mine. No big deal. I could have gone back to work.

The hole from the biopsy is small. It doesn't need a suture or anything and it stops bleeding on the surface quickly (there's more bleeding inside, hence the bruise). I don't think sweating will be problematic. I'd just wrap ice packs in clean flannel and shove them in there - it will feel nice in the heat

Here is a downloadable PDF guide to US guided breast biopsy.