pre-surgery anxiety

Hi, Judy--

Thought I'd write and share my experience w/ surgery in August (my first hospital experience, by the way).  I had to be at the hospital at 10:30, and surgery was scheduled for 2:00.  After I got changed, I was offered a valium, which I took gratefully.  Then it was off to mammography (my family stayed in my room...close quarters in the mammo area).  There they did the wire thing--a shot in the breast to numb me up, and then the radiologist inserted the wire; didn't feel a thing.  They put a paper cup over the wire...kind of weird and funny-looking.

Back to the room for awhile, and then I was taken to nuclear medicine for the SNB mapping procedure.  I've read on this board that lots of people are given some kind of topical numbing cream, but not me.  The radiologist said he couldn't give me a numbing shot because it would interfere w/ the dye in some way.  I won't lie--I got 4 shots in the nipple and it hurt, but just briefly.

Back to the room w/ family, w/ visits from the surgeons and anesthesiologist.  Then I was escorted to surgery, and I remember nothing else until the recovery room.  I spent the night at the hospital and went home the next morning.

Re: pain afterward...I asked for a couple of pain meds during the night, but it really wasn't too bad; my surgeon had told me to keep in front of the pain, rather than wait to ask for meds.  Truthfully, I was pretty sore for about a day (the SNB site was more sore than the lumpectomy site), but nothing major.  I continued to take the pain meds for a few days, but probably could have done without them after the first day.

BTW, I peed a beautiful robins-egg blue for a couple of days from the dye. :-)

I was surprised at how quickly I felt like myself...lots of naps for a few days, but that was from the anesthesia aftereffects.  Hope this helps.  Best of luck to you!

Lynn

Judy--I had my wire localization about an hour before my lumpectomy (can't speak about the SNB because I didn't have that with LCIS)--I was numbed up very well, so it wasn't painful, but it was a lot of pressure. The hardest part was sitting so still with my head turned to the side since I have neck trouble--my neck hurt, my breast didn't! (same issue with the stereotactic core biopsy).   They brought me back to my room (where they had my husband wait) with the wire covered up loosely with gauze.  I had conscious sedation for the lumpectomy--it was great, didn't feel a thing and don't remember anything other than chatting with the doc for a moment and then waking up in recovery. I stayed there for a little while, they gave me juice and crackers, pain meds and then sent me home. I was wrapped snuggly in a chest binder which I was allowed to remove after 2 days and then shower with the steri strips on. I was in at 6:30 am, home by 2:00. I actually had very little pain.  I did take it  easy for a few days and then was back to normal activites in less than a week. Praying all goes well for you. The good news--my mom had ILC (lumpectomy, rads and tamox) and is now a survivor of 21 years with no recurrence!

I've had both procedures and this is what I can tell you:

The mind is a powerful thing.

Deep slow breathing like in meditation helped me. I also focused my thinking while it was being done ( on a favorite song, or once I memorized a poem to recall at this time, a prayer for someone , etc...)

 Pain is subjective. I was in pain sometimes with wire localization, but I knew that the feeling was temporary, would be releived once they had a placement, and was for a greater good. The sentinel node stuff gave me no trouble at all. "discomfort".

My advice is to try to take control of the " unknown " and find a focus for your thought during this stuff. I was skeptical too at first, but I assure you that this will make the process better for you!!!

Good Luck!!

Moogie