Scribblings

Needle Biopsy

So I had this procedure done this afternoon and TB came along to hold my hand--except the doctor wouldn't let him in the room. It was too small!

When the doctor told me about the needle biopsy, I was thinking needle = hypodermic needle. Ha ha. I suppose if I'd known ahead of time how big this needle was I probably wouldn't have gone for it.

First came several shots of lidocaine, the stick and burn routine. Then the doctor holds up what looks like a giant caulking gun except that I realized that that was the biopsy needle! Lots of pressure and a couple of times some stinging pain as the doctor took samples from what she called "the lesion". Looking at the ultrasound screen, she said "cyst" and so I wondered which was it? She answered that while it had cyst-like qualities she couldn't come out and call it that, nor could she say one way or the other if the tissue looked okay or not. She preferred not to guess and it's better that way.

The nurse kept saying I was doing "excellent" and I wondered briefly what do other women do? Scream? Puke? I just tried to imagine I was at the beach but sometimes it was hard. There was a rather loud SNAP and then a drilling sound--it was sort of like being in a dentist'schair.I was going to ask, is it usual to take so many? But then I decided I didn't want to know.

I think my poor breast looks like Swiss cheese because she took 6 or 8 different samples. Now does that sound stupid? I really would rather just walk around in total ignorance for the next week, until the results come back. I did, however, opt not to schedule my appointment on Friday, April 13th. No way...it just gives me the heebie jeebies.

So I'm sitting here now and the lidocaine's worn off so I have stinging sensations all over. I'm not supposed to take ibuprofen until tomorrow. Well, at least Lost is on tonight.