By now you will have realised that I try to leave nothing to chance.
I didn't look at the videos of the Vacuum Assist Biopsy. I reckoned that this would be a step too far and might stop me from going ahead with it.
I did say I was a wuss!
I checked out the problems which could arise and the complications. They seemed straight forward enough...bleeding, bruising, haematoma formation and infection.
I took Arnica, aconite and witch hazel 24 hours before the biopsy to minimise the bleeding, bruising and tissue shock. I figured that if I could minimise these then I would reduce the risk of infection and minimise the discomfort too. Everyone knows how much a bruise hurts.
I took these homeopathic remedies on the day of the biopsy and for two days after.
They had been recommended by my daughter who is a trained homeopath.
On the morning of the biopsy I also took some pretty strong pain relievers(but not Ibuprofen as this would increase the risk of bleeding).
I went off for the biopsy on my own. Himself is not a patient waiter and knowing that I could be up to 2 hours, I coulldn't have him pacing the waiting room for that length of time.
He seemed quite relieved that I wanted to go on my own.
Son in law would pick me up from the hospital on his way home from work....so that was sorted too.
I was early for my appointment and was taken into a consulting room almost immediately.
There, Rachel explained the procedure to me. She highlighted the risks and complications and took my consent.
Rachel said that the procedure could take up to an hour and three quarters and explained that this was because they would reposition me as often as necessary, take films, map the area and then do the biopsies.
Once these were taken she would again take films of the breast to make sure that the tissue they wanted to get had been taken...They would aslo take films of the tissue once it had been removed...just to be doubly sure it was the right tissue.
She asked if we should start.
If I say I was nervous it would be an understatement. I thought I would make a huge fuss, cry, weep wail and maybe even chuck in a few screams for good measure.
I told her this and she said that I was the only patient they had for that afternoon so I should 'Go for it'.
I was taken to a treatment room.
To the right of me was a very tall 'sit up and beg ' chair with a foot rest.
(what? No bed to lie down on?)
To the left of the mamogram machine was something which was the size and shape of a hostess trolley......humming and pulsating away. this had a long flexible tube on it and underneath a sterile towel I could see the hint of sharp shiny steel. I averted my gaze.
I was positioned in the chair by the assistant....a pillow was placed at my back and I was asked if I was comfortable.
They told me I needed to be as comfy as possible because for the duration of the procedure it was very important that I did not move at all.
More mammograms were done and the area of concern was mapped.
Then the local was injected...it stung a bit, but that was nothing I couldn't handle.
They waited for a few minutes to let the local work and then a little incision was made in my skin.
The trocar(something like a metal drinking straw) was inserted into the marked area.
the suction cannula was fed down the trocar (more films were taken)and the machine was turned on......ouch I grimaced a bit. the machine was turned off for a couple of minutes while more local was introduced down the trocar.
Tissue was taken, the trocar was repositioned a couple of times and after each repositioning films were taken.
I asked jokingly if these x-rays would affect my fertility.
The girls asked(jokily) if I planned on having more children....'Not if I can help it' was my reply.
I would love to say that the time passed quickly, but it would be a lie.
Eventually, it was decided that all the tissue which was a concern had been removed.
A tiny metal marker was placed at the biopsy site - just so that if I did need surgery, the surgeons knew where the tissue needed to be taken from.
If no surgery was needed then this would be my souvenir of the day(Ha!).
The tissue was taken away and x-rayed and then the biopsy area was washed out until the fluid ran clear.
The equipment was removed from my tender places and a soft dressing was held over the site and firm pressure applied.
I was told that the biopsy was complete. They offered me a cup of tea and told me that I had to wait for at least 20 minutes to make sure that the area did not start bleeding.
I was given instructions on what to do if any problems arose...and a date to go back for the results.
That was me done.
It was not a pleasant experience, but neither was it as horrific as I had thought...and I did not make a peep.(I felt very brave)
The girls said they were very impressed.
I told them they were bound to say that.
'No', they said. I had sat very still, done as I had been asked and this had made their job easier.
Prior to them having this facility they told me I would have had to go into hospital, have an anaesthetic and a surgical procedure to have this amount of tissue removed.
I was advised to take it easy and do nothing strenuous for 48 hrs.
I thanked them profusely and went to wait in the waiting area for my lift home.
I felt OK...the local was still working for me.
to be continued.
I hope these long blogs are not boring you
I didn't look at the videos of the Vacuum Assist Biopsy. I reckoned that this would be a step too far and might stop me from going ahead with it.
I did say I was a wuss!
I checked out the problems which could arise and the complications. They seemed straight forward enough...bleeding, bruising, haematoma formation and infection.
I took Arnica, aconite and witch hazel 24 hours before the biopsy to minimise the bleeding, bruising and tissue shock. I figured that if I could minimise these then I would reduce the risk of infection and minimise the discomfort too. Everyone knows how much a bruise hurts.
I took these homeopathic remedies on the day of the biopsy and for two days after.
They had been recommended by my daughter who is a trained homeopath.
On the morning of the biopsy I also took some pretty strong pain relievers(but not Ibuprofen as this would increase the risk of bleeding).
I went off for the biopsy on my own. Himself is not a patient waiter and knowing that I could be up to 2 hours, I coulldn't have him pacing the waiting room for that length of time.
He seemed quite relieved that I wanted to go on my own.
Son in law would pick me up from the hospital on his way home from work....so that was sorted too.
I was early for my appointment and was taken into a consulting room almost immediately.
There, Rachel explained the procedure to me. She highlighted the risks and complications and took my consent.
Rachel said that the procedure could take up to an hour and three quarters and explained that this was because they would reposition me as often as necessary, take films, map the area and then do the biopsies.
Once these were taken she would again take films of the breast to make sure that the tissue they wanted to get had been taken...They would aslo take films of the tissue once it had been removed...just to be doubly sure it was the right tissue.
She asked if we should start.
If I say I was nervous it would be an understatement. I thought I would make a huge fuss, cry, weep wail and maybe even chuck in a few screams for good measure.
I told her this and she said that I was the only patient they had for that afternoon so I should 'Go for it'.
I was taken to a treatment room.
To the right of me was a very tall 'sit up and beg ' chair with a foot rest.
(what? No bed to lie down on?)
To the left of the mamogram machine was something which was the size and shape of a hostess trolley......humming and pulsating away. this had a long flexible tube on it and underneath a sterile towel I could see the hint of sharp shiny steel. I averted my gaze.
I was positioned in the chair by the assistant....a pillow was placed at my back and I was asked if I was comfortable.
They told me I needed to be as comfy as possible because for the duration of the procedure it was very important that I did not move at all.
More mammograms were done and the area of concern was mapped.
Then the local was injected...it stung a bit, but that was nothing I couldn't handle.
They waited for a few minutes to let the local work and then a little incision was made in my skin.
The trocar(something like a metal drinking straw) was inserted into the marked area.
the suction cannula was fed down the trocar (more films were taken)and the machine was turned on......ouch I grimaced a bit. the machine was turned off for a couple of minutes while more local was introduced down the trocar.
Tissue was taken, the trocar was repositioned a couple of times and after each repositioning films were taken.
I asked jokingly if these x-rays would affect my fertility.
The girls asked(jokily) if I planned on having more children....'Not if I can help it' was my reply.
I would love to say that the time passed quickly, but it would be a lie.
Eventually, it was decided that all the tissue which was a concern had been removed.
A tiny metal marker was placed at the biopsy site - just so that if I did need surgery, the surgeons knew where the tissue needed to be taken from.
If no surgery was needed then this would be my souvenir of the day(Ha!).
The tissue was taken away and x-rayed and then the biopsy area was washed out until the fluid ran clear.
The equipment was removed from my tender places and a soft dressing was held over the site and firm pressure applied.
I was told that the biopsy was complete. They offered me a cup of tea and told me that I had to wait for at least 20 minutes to make sure that the area did not start bleeding.
I was given instructions on what to do if any problems arose...and a date to go back for the results.
That was me done.
It was not a pleasant experience, but neither was it as horrific as I had thought...and I did not make a peep.(I felt very brave)
The girls said they were very impressed.
I told them they were bound to say that.
'No', they said. I had sat very still, done as I had been asked and this had made their job easier.
Prior to them having this facility they told me I would have had to go into hospital, have an anaesthetic and a surgical procedure to have this amount of tissue removed.
I was advised to take it easy and do nothing strenuous for 48 hrs.
I thanked them profusely and went to wait in the waiting area for my lift home.
I felt OK...the local was still working for me.
to be continued.
I hope these long blogs are not boring you
