Lumpectomy and removal of sentinel nodes upcoming. So so pleased it will be soon but also it seems terrifying. I am not sure why as I was not this afraid when I last had a general 12 years ago to repair a shattered ankle. I was prescribed 2 weeks worth of zopiclone (as I knew i would get really bad rebound insomnia from quitting thc gummies as instructed to by pre op), and I still don’t sleep brilliantly on them. Tried to go without for 3 nights here and there since, and I wake up every 10 minutes and only manage around 3 hours altogether. Got to be in at 7.30am for the operation so I definitely won’t pop a zopiclone the night before as I will be far too groggy. I am just looking forward to waking up after the surgery even though I know i will still have recovery, radiotherapy and potentially chemo and or another operation if they don’t get it all. It really is quite the journey. Big hugs and love and strength to all my fellow travellers. I just needed to vent
Hi @hathawaycat , I had the same op . I was a mess leading up to it and needed Valium from my GP I was awake from 3am every night with unpleasant thoughts swirling round in my head .
When I woke up after my op ,I got an overwhelming feeling of relief that the cancer had been removed and I slept well for the first time in a month .
Hi @Jill1998 thanks for the reply. Fast learning that breast cancer really is only a thing that only fellow travellers truly understand. Its really good to be able to read other’s experiences and share my own. Looking forward to that feeling of relief in around 48 hours (and hope hopefully a brilliant natural sleep). Got my isotope injection tomorrow, only found out yesterday will be in my nipple am so not looking forward to that xx
Yes, not the most pleasant thing to have done injection in nipple ,it stings a bit but over in a few seconds .
And yes only people who’ve been through this can really understand .
Good luck for your op.
Just hopped on to suggest a sleep spray. I’ve used one since the start of COVID and it really helps me. I use this Works one but there’s many others out there.
Thank you on both counts. I’ll give it a try xx
Hey @hathawaycat
Great news on getting your date for surgery. On my surgery date I’d already previously been under general anaesthetic five times and was still nervous about not waking up! Spoiler alert, I did. 
I’m a fellow light sleeper and find it difficult to fall asleep without first reading for a while then when I start to feel relaxed enough that I might nod off, I pop a true crime podcast on to fall asleep to. I rarely sleep straight through the night but don’t let it worry me if I wake up and just repeat the previous steps until I nod off again. I find being concerned about not being able to sleep is the biggest cause of me not being able to sleep!
Good luck for your injection tomorrow. It stings a bit but not for long. Just don’t forget to breathe. 
All the best. x
Hi @mssteel . Thank you so much for your reply and your kind words. I will definitely be looking away and just will concentrate on breathing deeply! Feel I’ve been lucky with the speed of surgery, diagnosis confirmed 12th May, surgery 4th june :). I’ve not been at work 6 weeks now, so if I don’t sleep I can stay in bed if I want and I don’t have to do anything specific in the day. My fella has been my rock, and he always picks up the slack if I need him to. How are you? Xx
I meant to say, have you tried unintentional AMSR, I’m a big fan. Doesn’t work for everyone but might be worth a shot. I love this lady, she has a gorgeous accent - makes me feel like I’m on holiday https://youtu.be/1goJdIDh8sU?si=mptB57ckuQAE14xL
That’s so great you’ve got a good man @hathawaycat and it sounds like your team are on the ball.
I had a rocky road for about a month but things have settled down a bit now. I’m on my new treatment and just taking life at it comes at the moment. Thank you so much for asking. x
Hi @boobtube1
Thank you for your reply
I will try the you tube suggestion 
So sorry to hear its been a rough month, really glad things are a bit calmer now.
I have been coping surprisingly well until yesterday, but two very weepy and frightened periods yesterday and another one this morning when I found out my mum has a cold so can’t come and be with me. Its all just felt very real and frightening. Can’t wait until this time tomorrow when first (and hopefully biggest) hurdle number 1 will be over with
Xx
Good luck tomorrow
All the best for today @hathawaycat! x
Hi @hathawaycat, I have the same op coming up on the 9th June. I have invasive ductal and invasive lobular cancer, a 3cm mixed cancer mass. I have been having anxiety and panic attacks since diagnosis on 26/5. I am 70 and it was found on my mammogram. I could not feel anything. I feel fit and healthy so this has shocked me to the core. This is my first time on here and reading some of the comments makes me feel better. I am having a Magseed tomorrow which I am terrified of because my biopsy and marker insertion were excruciatingly painful despite them saying I wouldn’t feel anything as I had a local anaesthetic. I feel so alone right now and have been resisting help but realise I need it. I didn’t want to talk about my diagnosis as it would make it real. I believe that only someone going through or recovered from breast cancer can really understand how we are feeling. I thank god I found this forum thank you for all being such a support for each other. 
@bea5 Sending love. None of us wants to be here but we can be here for each other. Don’t go through this alone xx
Good luck! Hope all goes well and you can use all the great advice already given. I find a podcast with a calm voice helps to settle me to sleep, some of the Giles Brandreth Rosebud interviews have been useful!
It is stressful but by the time my I had my op I was so desperate for my treatment to start that I found I was strangely calm on the day. My op was brought forward I had to have a wire put in (no time for an magseed) and the isotope injection on the day. Neither are pleasant but they are manageable. Most importantly have a longish dressing gown and slippers as I had to be wheeled round the hospital for these procedures and sit in the normal waiting rooms with my hospital gown and compression stockings on!
All the best xx
That’s the thing isn’t it? We don’t feel sick when we get the diagnosis. It doesn’t feel real.
My Magseed wasn’t as bad as the biopsy but do tell the radiographers that you found the previous procedure painful so they can adjust the local anaesthetic.
Also consider taking some painkillers before you go as a top up.
I hope you have a nicer experience and plan a wee treat for afterwards x
Hi lovely ladies @whataloadof @boobtube1 @mssteel @bea5 @bluetit11 @Jill1998 . I’ve come round now and so far so good, apart from pain and woozyness. @whataloadof I’m so sorry to hear you are going through this. Like you i have always been very fit. Don’t go through this alone, it is a very difficult and life changing event. Let any friends and relatives you have support you, and of course all of us on here. I highly recommend asking the gp for sertraline or something similar. I was a nervous and anxious wreck until they got me on it. All the best for your op xx
Oh that’s good to hear . Hopefully you will be back in your own home by teatime . If you are travelling home by car a cushion or pillow is helpful to put across you boob to stop the seatbelt pressing on your wound .
That’s great news. My advice for the pain is take paracetamol and ibuprofen if you can as per the packet for at least 3 days. Try and overlap them a bit so the only time you have no pain relief is when you wake up.