Sentinel Node Injections - My Experience & Recommendations

[Guest guest]

Hello group!

My surgery is bright and early tomorrow morning. My doctor does the

sentinel node injections the day before, which is today. I had mine

done a couple of hours ago.

Now, I know there has been a lot of discussion here on the pain

involved. I do not want to take away from that, because it IS painful.

For me, however, it wasn't nearly as bad as labor and delivery. Funny

thing is that before I had the injections I compared the experience to a

particular rollercoaster ride at a theme park in northern Ohio. I'd

been told that the pain for each injection lasts about five seconds.

Well, five seconds times four injections equals 20 seconds of agony,

which also happens to be the same total time of the Top Thrill Dragster

at Cedar Point. That is one ride I would NEVER want to ride, yet is

over in 20 seconds. I had sentinel node injections in each breast, so,

in my mind, I had to ride that ride twice. Now, on to my experience...

First, the radiology department didn't have my script. So, I had to

wait an additional 30 minutes. Then they only had a script for one

breast. I found out Friday that I was getting both breasts done. So,

the masochist that I am, I told them that I need to have both breasts

done. More phone calls, and voila, the right script. For some reason

we were near the end of some half life measurement, so had to get the

injections in " soon. "

If you remember I asked about using Lidoderm patches to help with

the pain. I did an experiment. Last night I put a patch on one breast

and none on the other. I found that the pain in the breast that had had

the patch was a LITTLE less than the other one. I won't be doing this

again, but if I had to do it again I would use the patches.

The radiologist wanted to " count " to prepare me for each injection.

I don't do well with " counting, " so I told him not to do so. The

breast care specialist (head of support group) was there to hold my

hands. I did my Bradley breathing (deep, slow, belly breathing) and had

a conversation with those present. I got through it. Sure it was no

fun, but, for me, the risk and setup of sedation would not have been

worth it. A few minutes after sitting up I was good to go.

One thing that about SNI that hasn't been mentioned here is that of

breast massage afterwards. I need to massage the front of my breasts

every hour until bedtime. It's supposed to help get the radioactive

stuff into the lymph system better.

-Frances

--

-Frances Bartels *** ki0dz@... (((#))) ^ ^

http://www.qsl.net/ki0dz Central Ohio | ^ - ^

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[Guest guest]

Frances,

I will keep you in my prayers for your surgery.

Hugs

nne

Breast Cancer Patients Soul Mates for Life

http://www.geocities.com/chucky5741/breastcancerpatients.html

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Sentinel Node Injections - My Experience &

Recommendations

Hello group!

My surgery is bright and early tomorrow morning. My doctor does the

sentinel node injections the day before, which is today. I had mine

done a couple of hours ago.

Now, I know there has been a lot of discussion here on the pain

involved. I do not want to take away from that, because it IS painful.

For me, however, it wasn't nearly as bad as labor and delivery. Funny

thing is that before I had the injections I compared the experience to a

particular rollercoaster ride at a theme park in northern Ohio. I'd

been told that the pain for each injection lasts about five seconds.

Well, five seconds times four injections equals 20 seconds of agony,

which also happens to be the same total time of the Top Thrill Dragster

at Cedar Point. That is one ride I would NEVER want to ride, yet is

over in 20 seconds. I had sentinel node injections in each breast, so,

in my mind, I had to ride that ride twice. Now, on to my experience...

First, the radiology department didn't have my script. So, I had to

wait an additional 30 minutes. Then they only had a script for one

breast. I found out Friday that I was getting both breasts done. So,

the masochist that I am, I told them that I need to have both breasts

done. More phone calls, and voila, the right script. For some reason

we were near the end of some half life measurement, so had to get the

injections in " soon. "

If you remember I asked about using Lidoderm patches to help with

the pain. I did an experiment. Last night I put a patch on one breast

and none on the other. I found that the pain in the breast that had had

the patch was a LITTLE less than the other one. I won't be doing this

again, but if I had to do it again I would use the patches.

The radiologist wanted to " count " to prepare me for each injection.

I don't do well with " counting, " so I told him not to do so. The

breast care specialist (head of support group) was there to hold my

hands. I did my Bradley breathing (deep, slow, belly breathing) and had

a conversation with those present. I got through it. Sure it was no

fun, but, for me, the risk and setup of sedation would not have been

worth it. A few minutes after sitting up I was good to go.

One thing that about SNI that hasn't been mentioned here is that of

breast massage afterwards. I need to massage the front of my breasts

every hour until bedtime. It's supposed to help get the radioactive

stuff into the lymph system better.

-Frances

--

-Frances Bartels *** ki0dz@... (((#))) ^ ^

http://www.qsl.net/ki0dz Central Ohio | ^ - ^

Watkins Products www.watkinsonline.com #092389 ------- (o o)

Internet ONLY $9.99/mo. **Free accelerator** |ooOoo| >{ | }<

http://continue.to/internet ------- RRR)*

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[Guest guest]

I appreciate your perspective and hope that other women find it

helpful. I can certainly understand why some women would choose to

decline sedation, but I really believe it should be an option for any

woman who wants it.

>

> Hello group!

> My surgery is bright and early tomorrow morning. My doctor

does the

> sentinel node injections the day before, which is today. I had

mine

> done a couple of hours ago.

> Now, I know there has been a lot of discussion here on the pain

> involved. I do not want to take away from that, because it IS

painful.

> For me, however, it wasn't nearly as bad as labor and delivery.

Funny

> thing is that before I had the injections I compared the experience

to a

> particular rollercoaster ride at a theme park in northern Ohio.

I'd

> been told that the pain for each injection lasts about five

seconds.

> Well, five seconds times four injections equals 20 seconds of

agony,

> which also happens to be the same total time of the Top Thrill

Dragster

> at Cedar Point. That is one ride I would NEVER want to ride, yet

is

> over in 20 seconds. I had sentinel node injections in each breast,

so,

> in my mind, I had to ride that ride twice. Now, on to my

experience...

> First, the radiology department didn't have my script. So, I

had to

> wait an additional 30 minutes. Then they only had a script for one

> breast. I found out Friday that I was getting both breasts done.

So,

> the masochist that I am, I told them that I need to have both

breasts

> done. More phone calls, and voila, the right script. For some

reason

> we were near the end of some half life measurement, so had to get

the

> injections in " soon. "

> If you remember I asked about using Lidoderm patches to help

with

> the pain. I did an experiment. Last night I put a patch on one

breast

> and none on the other. I found that the pain in the breast that

had had

> the patch was a LITTLE less than the other one. I won't be doing

this

> again, but if I had to do it again I would use the patches.

> The radiologist wanted to " count " to prepare me for each

injection.

> I don't do well with " counting, " so I told him not to do so. The

> breast care specialist (head of support group) was there to hold

my

> hands. I did my Bradley breathing (deep, slow, belly breathing)

and had

> a conversation with those present. I got through it. Sure it was

no

> fun, but, for me, the risk and setup of sedation would not have

been

> worth it. A few minutes after sitting up I was good to go.

> One thing that about SNI that hasn't been mentioned here is

that of

> breast massage afterwards. I need to massage the front of my

breasts

> every hour until bedtime. It's supposed to help get the

radioactive

> stuff into the lymph system better.

> -Frances

> --

> -Frances Bartels *** ki0dz@... (((#))) ^ ^

> http://www.qsl.net/ki0dz Central Ohio | ^ - ^

> Watkins Products www.watkinsonline.com #092389 ------- (o o)

> Internet ONLY $9.99/mo. **Free accelerator** |ooOoo| >{ | }<

> http://continue.to/internet ------- RRR)*

>

[Guest guest]

I had my sentinental node injections about 2 hours before surgery. I

was informed by the lab tech that the radiology department did not

use any kind of topical numbing. She did say that they could use

Lidocaine but there would be four sticks under the skin and then four

dye injections. I opted just for the four dye injections since the

injections were supposed to be just under the skin anyway.

I had a great radiologist. The first two injections were nothing.

The third injection was a little more uncomfortable but tolerable.

It was closer to the tumor and the lesion. The fourth one---well, it

really hurt. It seemed like it took an eternity to give. My husband

was allowed to be in the room and hold my hand. I experienced a very

sharp, prolonged feeling in the spot where the third injection was

given. In the spot where I had the fourth injection I felt like I

had a weight inside the breast. Upon exam in the bathroom, I noticed

that the fourth injection was almost in the same spot as the biopsy

which had not quite healed and was still very sore. On the fourth

injection I sang at the top of my lung " Jesus Loves Me. " It really

hurt. I couldn't finish the song.

The lab tech held a very warm, almost hot cloth over my breast and

the pain subsided fairly quickly. She applied just a small amount of

pressure, too.

My husband mentioned to the radiologist about topical numbing that

the dentists use. The radiologist looked surprised and mentioned

that maybe using topical novacaine used on infants might be a good

thing to use in this procedure. Maybe this will be of help to

someone else in my area.

>

> Hello group!

> My surgery is bright and early tomorrow morning. My doctor

does the

> sentinel node injections the day before, which is today. I had

mine

> done a couple of hours ago.

> Now, I know there has been a lot of discussion here on the pain

> involved. I do not want to take away from that, because it IS

painful.

> For me, however, it wasn't nearly as bad as labor and delivery.

Funny

> thing is that before I had the injections I compared the experience

to a

> particular rollercoaster ride at a theme park in northern Ohio.

I'd

> been told that the pain for each injection lasts about five

seconds.

> Well, five seconds times four injections equals 20 seconds of

agony,

> which also happens to be the same total time of the Top Thrill

Dragster

> at Cedar Point. That is one ride I would NEVER want to ride, yet

is

> over in 20 seconds. I had sentinel node injections in each breast,

so,

> in my mind, I had to ride that ride twice. Now, on to my

experience...

> First, the radiology department didn't have my script. So, I

had to

> wait an additional 30 minutes. Then they only had a script for one

> breast. I found out Friday that I was getting both breasts done.

So,

> the masochist that I am, I told them that I need to have both

breasts

> done. More phone calls, and voila, the right script. For some

reason

> we were near the end of some half life measurement, so had to get

the

> injections in " soon. "

> If you remember I asked about using Lidoderm patches to help

with

> the pain. I did an experiment. Last night I put a patch on one

breast

> and none on the other. I found that the pain in the breast that

had had

> the patch was a LITTLE less than the other one. I won't be doing

this

> again, but if I had to do it again I would use the patches.

> The radiologist wanted to " count " to prepare me for each

injection.

> I don't do well with " counting, " so I told him not to do so. The

> breast care specialist (head of support group) was there to hold

my

> hands. I did my Bradley breathing (deep, slow, belly breathing)

and had

> a conversation with those present. I got through it. Sure it was

no

> fun, but, for me, the risk and setup of sedation would not have

been

> worth it. A few minutes after sitting up I was good to go.

> One thing that about SNI that hasn't been mentioned here is

that of

> breast massage afterwards. I need to massage the front of my

breasts

> every hour until bedtime. It's supposed to help get the

radioactive

> stuff into the lymph system better.

> -Frances

> --

> -Frances Bartels *** ki0dz@... (((#))) ^ ^

> http://www.qsl.net/ki0dz Central Ohio | ^ - ^

> Watkins Products www.watkinsonline.com #092389 ------- (o o)

> Internet ONLY $9.99/mo. **Free accelerator** |ooOoo| >{ | }<

> http://continue.to/internet ------- RRR)*

>