Having a slnb tuesday & i am frightened! I hate needles in my hand especially, i dont know what it feels like after a general anaesthetic & also the actual op?! I also have an appointment monday i think with the chemo dr & perhaps surgeon. Should i expect more bloods taken even tho ive already had my pre op? Such a wimp…god knows how chemo actually makes you feel but ive heard its bad?x
Hi Helen
I hadn’t has general anaesthetic before either but was ok. After the injection I my hand I started to feel a bit woozy then next I knew I was waking up after it was all over. If you are in pain then they give you morphine which is very good!
I did feel quite nauseous afterwards the first time but better second time. Try not to eat for a bit afterwards even though you will probably feel hungry.
Not sure if they would need bloods for chemo but maybe so.done else can tell you more about that?
Hope it goes ok for you this week.
Mary
Thank you mary for your info. xx
Hi helenstevo I had my snb same time as lumpectomy worked myself up in to right state but have to say wasnt necessary as nowhere near matched my expectations of horror! The biggest shock I had after was my boob being bright blue (only just fading now) my husband now calls me his smurfette!!! I found the physio very helpful and gained normal arm use quite quickly. IM due to start chemo soon and like you I asked bout “needles” I was told in some cases bloods are taken on day of treatment to ensure it is safe to proceed so Im now convincing myself “its better to be safe than Sorry”. good luck and best wishes xx
Hello Helenstevo,
I had a SLNB and lumpectomy on Friday last week and like you was frightened about the operation. However, unlike you I do not hate needles. I prefer not to have them but they are unavoidable when you go into hospital for surgery.
I thought if I ran through my experience on the day of my operation it may give you an idea of what to expect in respect of needles although your hospital may have a slightly different procedure. I do not want to cause you unnecessary worry but sometimes it helps if you have some idea of what may happen.
On the day of surgery (after booking in) I was taken to the X-ray department to have a radioactive injection. This helps the breast surgeon to locate the Sentinel Lymph nodes during surgery. The injection is given in your boob and is done very quickly. You just feel a slight sting.
Depending what time your operation is, some ladies have the injection the day before. My operation was in the afternoon at 4pm and therefore I had my injection approx. 12 noon to allow time for the radioactive fluid to circulate around my lymph system.
I had no further blood tests as I’d had them done at my pre-op the week before.
The second injection was in the anaesthetic room before going into the operating theatre. This is actually when they insert a cannula into a vein in your hand. Once the cannula is in place, the anaesthetic is pumped into you through the cannula.
To be honest, I was frightened at this stage because you know the operation is imminent. However, my anaesthetist was very reassuring and told me not to worry because he would look after me.
No sooner had he told me he was starting to inject the anaesthetic, within a minute I was knocked out. I didn’t feel woozy. I was looking at the clock on the wall. It didn’t even go blurred. One minute I saw it clearly, the next I was OUT like the flick of a light bulb.
You are only given the blue dye injection if the radioactive injection does not identify the sentinel lymph nodes. If you do have to have the blue dye injection you will be unconscious when they give it to you.
I didn’t need the blue dye.
Before my operation, the anaesthetist told me he would be giving me morphine and peripheral nerve blockers AFTER I had been anaesthetised. I was pleased I would not be awake for the peripheral nerve block injections as he was going to give me 3 or 4 injections in my back. Didn’t feel a thing and the peripheral nerve blockers were FANTASTIC!!! Minimal pain when I woke up and I had minimal pain each day following my operation. I was ‘Over the Moon’ that I have had hardly any pain.
I had to stay the night in hospital because I did not have anyone to look after me at my house. If you stay in hospital, then you are given an injection in your stomach to stop you getting a blood clot.
However, if you are going home after your operation then I assume you are not given one.
Try not to worry. The nurses and anaesthetist make sure you are comfortable and free of pain.
Yes, there is a little discomfort when they first insert the needle but in the bigger scheme of things there are HUGE benefits to having these injections.
If you are going home, you will only be awake for two injections.
Wishing you all the best.
Peace and Positivity,
M
Thank you so much for that. i had the surgery tuesday. it all wasnt too bad but i wasnt prepared for the pain ive had since! It was stitched on inside & glued on outer to enable it to heal quicker as they want me to start chemo asap as my tumour is growing fast. its gone black! So bruised, very swollen including my boob & under my arm. it feels very sore & tight. a pulling feeling. I go for my results thursday 7th. i also have a pre chemo appointment next week. i dont know what tests will be ran that day?! All i know is i have a huge injection thing to take with me to be inject a pellet in my stomach to help protect my fertility?! Im assuming blood tests too. but things like muga tests etc etc too were mentioned. so like i say im not sure what will happen at my pre chemo.
I have to have a lumpectomy after my 8 lots of chemo. im assuming itll be a similar op to what ive just had but minus the radio stuff injection? Is the wound just bigger? Mines about 7cm long? Is it more invasive?
I hope your healing well. Good luck with your chemo xx