Needle phobia - advoidin FNA - worried as hell :S

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Hello all,

This is my 1st post.

I am 22, lost my mam to breast cancer (secondary that travelled to her lungs) 3 year ago, she first got breast cancer for the 1st time when she was 30. About 6month ago i found a lump in my left breast, and ended up been referred to get it checked out due my family history etc. They did an examination, and agreed there was a lump, and then an ultrasound scan (prob due to me been younger). They then said they wanted to do FNA. I have a huge phobia of needles, and they left me sat in a waiting room for 2hrs before finally calling me in to do the FNA - by which point i was past myself and a mess. In the end they didn’t do the procedure as my body was shaking to much, and i couldn’t calm myself down, and told me to go back a month later to see how things where.

To cut the story short, i’ve been back twice since my 1st appointment, once in aug, and then last friday (30th Oct). Both times they have again advised me to go through with the FNA. I know i should just go through with this procedure and it’s probably nothing to worry about, but i cant control my fear/reaction when i am actually in the doctors room - i shake, and no control over my body, and black out at times. The doctor has now told me to go back to see him in 4months, which to me seems like a life time, and too long to wait. The anxiety of not knowing what this lump is making me ill, and i feel like am going round in circles. I’ve tried to talk to friends/family members about my problem, but they all love me and worry too much to understand the phobia part of it, and its caused a lot of arguments, as obviously they just want me to get the FNA done, and to make sure its nothing to worry about.

I understand that I am only 22 years old, and the likelihood of it been anything bad is slim, however as I said above my mam did get breast cancer at 30, which is also young.

At the moment I am much more aware of my lump as it tends to feel like a dull burning, and not sure if this is a good or a bad thing.

Any advice would be much appreciated. For example I often wonder how much they would have been able to tell from the scan alone? And are the just wanting to do the FNA as routine, or should I be worried by the fact they do want to do an FNA?

Sorry for the length of this message, am just so upset, confused, and at war with myself and this stupid phobia :frowning:

Thank you.
x

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Hi Sophie

I understand that this must be a worrying time for you and your phobia is bound to be adding to your anxiety.

It may help if you speak to one of our helpline nurses. They can offer support and information or may just help by listening to your concerns.

Do give them a ring if you can.

The number is 0808 800 6000.

Kind regards

Louise
Facilitator

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Hi Sophie

Has anyone suggested taking a tranquilizer such as diazepam before the procedure? The reason I suggest this is a few years ago I needed an MRI scan but I am claustrophobic and there was no way I could get on the scanner, I had a huge panic attack. They suggested I visit my doctor and he gave me some diazepam. I took a tablet the night before the scan then one when I got up and I got on the scanner with a big smile on my face! I still felt a bit anxious but the anxiety was well under control. I can’t believe I did it.

I know what you mean about family getting annoyed with you. My husband wasn’t very sympathetic when I couldn’t go through with the first scan because he knew I needed to have the scan to find out what was the matter with me (also he isn’t claustrophobic so he couldn’t understand why I couldn’t do it).

In the long term maybe you could try to overcome the phobia with hypnotherapy but this could be a solution for the short term. It might be worth visiting your gp to discuss it.

Lots of love and good luck
Margaret xx

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Thank you for your quick responses.

I am at work so cant respond much at the moment, however i have thought about trying to get sedated, or trying to take some drugs to calm me down, but then it means i need some1 else to come to the hospital with me to drive etc, as i’l be out of it!

Will have to get the issue resoloved somehow or i am going to go insane with worry!

Its nice to know other people also have fears etc… My family are making me feel so silly and childish, but its so out of my control :(.

Thanks again.
x

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Hi Sophie, I agree with Margaret about the Diazapam. I am no longer phobic about needles but when I was your age I was. More recently I too needed a Scan and I too hate confined spaces. I didn’t loose sleep over it but an hour before my scan I took a tranquilizer and it made a huge difference. Your GP or the hospital should be able to supply you with some, and take one the night before to if you think yu won’t sleep. Because it upsets you so much why not talk to a Breast Care Nurse at the hospital and she may be able to suggest something as I am sure you are not the first person to feel like this. Perhaps you could ask if they could sedate you in any other way. It would be worth asking. You are NOT being a wimp. If I could sit beside you and hold your hand through this I would. An ultrasound scan is very good at detecting things especially in young women as their breast are more dense. That is why Mammograms are not so successful at detecting anything in younger women. If you were my daughter ( and I have 2) I would not take you to the Gp but would make an appointment with the hospital and talk you through this with the experts. Do you have someone close (who doesn’t cause you stress) that could go with you and hold your hand. Please contact the hospital and see if they can help you through this wee blip. Thinking about you, love Val XX

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Another thing that is worrying me slightly is that i now dont seem to have a defined lump a such - when i 1st went to get it checked out it was a definate lump, then its seem to change over time, and its more just abnormal tissie, with what feels like a lump or somthing in the middle.

And i think my main worry is that the doctor doesnt do the FNA in the correct area, as he didnt want to do it with an ultrasound, but he also didnt seem sure exatly where the problem was in my breast… So sticking the needle in anywhere isnt going to help? Or will anywhere bring up effected cells if there is any? So confused, i feel like they dont have time to sit and talk to me at my appointments, and are quite dismissive due to my age :frowning:

Its tricky with me been so young i think, coz my breasts are lumpy/odd anyway, and change a lot… but u know when u inside yourself that something isnt quite right… And i think i am the best judge of that.

I dono, i think i may pop back to my GP and disucss my concerns in full with them, i.e. my needle phobia, and everything else. - Although that isnt going to slove the problem i know! I just feel silly ringing up and booking another hospital appointment, when they have told me to go back in 4 months, and i wont complie with their tests anyways :frowning:

Ahh someone come any shake me!

Sorry about the long message.

And thank you all for the advice, so nice to be able to talk to some people that understand.

xx

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You definately need to get it sorted out even though you are fearful the more you leave it the more fearful you will become not less. When i went for my fna i was aslo needle phobic and very paniky i had my husband with me for support and he was great. You need to do whatever you have to to make it happen. I am now 7 months into treatment and have to inject myself daily because i got a blood clot at the beginning of chemo, i was a wreck because i felt that there was no way on God’s earth that i would be able to inject myself and yet in 7 months only twice have i not been able to do it. You are stronger than you think…you can do it. I hope it all works out okay and that the nurses on the site are able to help. xx