Sentinel node biopsy tomorrow...

crb · 01-30-2014, 09:33 PM

Does anyone have any info to share about a sentinel node biopsy that I get to experience tomorrow under general anesthesia in the hospital? This was a bit of a surprise to me, as my surgeon only once mentioned doing this during the mastectomy. Now that I am doing chemo prior to surgery, she wants to take a node out first.

I was under the impression this was no big deal (only mentioned it was "out patient"), but now she says that some patients can take up to 2 weeks to get back to normal, doesn't want me driving for days to a week, and thinks I should take a few days off of work next week (I am a dentist, so not just sitting at a desk).....this is all news to me! I have a full load of patients next week, and for the next 4 days, daughter has either lacrosse practice/game each day (I am taxi driver!). In a panic, I have my mom spending the night with me since my son & hubby will be out of town for 2 days. Is she being over cautious, or is it really a tough thing to recover from?

suzan w · 01-30-2014, 10:17 PM

I had an injections the day before...in both breasts...of the dye. Sorry to say...rather unpleasant. Breasts felt swollen, quite sensitive. However...next morning I was scheduled for bilateral mastectomy. I had 2 nodes removed from left and 1 from right. Of course...I also had major surgery. The surgery and node removal left me with extreme nerve pain in both armpits. My chest was not very painful...very numb. The armpit pain was unanticipated and quite intense, lasting for weeks. My oncologist told me that this was not unusual. She also told me that nerves are cut while obtaining lymph nodes...depending on how many nodes have to be removed. Even now...8+ years out I have no feeling in either armpit. The feeling in my chest has gradually returned, somewhat.
I can only speak from my own experience...I was not ready to function fully for quite some time.
Not trying to be a bummer here...just an honest answer from someone who has been there. I wish people had been more forthcoming with with me.
I discovered this website soon after my surgery!

BonnieR · 01-30-2014, 10:50 PM

If you are having general anesthesia, then it IS a big deal! Besides, any surgery is invasive and needs recovery time I am surprised you didn't have more lead time to prepare for it
You were wise to have your mom over. And I'm guessing you will need to cancel patients. You'll be sore and recovering

Probably for most of us this is a relatively new approach, doing it prior to surgery. My nodes were done during the mastectomies. Dye injected earlier in the same day. As Susan illuded to, it is not real pleasant. A technician who was possibly 12 years old came at me and put needles into my nipples to inject the dye. No one warned me about this! I recommend taking Ativan ahead of time!
Keep the faith. Forewarned is forearmed!

jaykay · 01-31-2014, 06:55 AM

I had 2 sentinel node biopsies - one with lumpectomy, the other with my mastectomy.

The dye was not real pleasant but I didn't really feel a thing since I was under local anesthesia. I honestly didn't feel terrible. With the lumpectomy, they took 2 nodes out, both negative back then. Could barely see the scar and it didn't bother me at all. With the mastectomy, they took 4 out (2 were stuck together) and that didn't really bother me either. Of course, I had a bmx to heal from at the same time!

I would plan to take a few days off of work next week, just in case. Since you work with your hands/arms... Everyone reacts differently

Good luck

Janis

Becky · 01-31-2014, 08:11 AM

I felt the node removal gave me much more trouble than the lumpectomy but that's just me. Why didn't they just remove one or two during your masectomy? That's usually what they do.

BonnieR · 01-31-2014, 03:47 PM

Interested in how you are doing, crb
Keep the faith

snolan · 01-31-2014, 04:02 PM

I had mine done during my mastectomy, the dye thing was terriable, the Dr bent the needle on the first try and the second needle was damaged prior to using it. Then when he put it in, he said hope that works. Any surgery is going to leave you sore and you have to protect the area especially when something was removed. The nodes can be pretty deep too.

Debbie L. · 01-31-2014, 06:29 PM

Dear CRB. I think the main trouble is that as you can tell from the variety of responses, it's hard to predict how any one person will feel after SNB.

I had nodes removed several weeks prior to mastectomy, under general (but it was a very short procedure so there wasn't much anesthesia). I went home right afterwards, and I kept working (and driving). With a drain in place, work was a little awkward and uncomfortable but totally do-able (if they just take one node, you may not have a drain, anyway). Ibuprofen controlled the discomfort okay.

I think that often, the "no driving" thing is the MD covering themselves liability wise. Especially if you're not taking pain meds, I see no reason why you couldn't drive, if YOU feel like you're okay to do so.

But again, the hard part is the unpredictability. Maybe you could cancel Monday and then wait and see about Tuesday? Or give your patients a heads-up that you might be canceling?

As for why/whether to biopsy nodes now, I think the jury is still out on how best to handle that. It could be argued that unless it's going to change treatment, there's no reason to biopsy before chemo.

Good luck tomorrow, you'll be in my thoughts. Let us know how it goes, okay?

Debbie Laxague

KsGal · 02-02-2014, 05:17 AM

I also had mine done with my mastectomy. I had an injection a few hours before. And Bonnie, I know it isn't at all funny, but I had to laugh at your description of your dye injection. lol! So, I can't really assess how much of my pain was from the sentinel node biopsy, and how much was from the mastectomy and those stupid stupid drains. Gosh, those were terrible. I had seven lymph nodes removed in total only out of my left armpit. I am lucky enough that after the lymph nodes were removed, I got lymphedema! I think they want you to take it easy for a while so the stitches have time to heal without being pulled on, and if you end up with a drain you will want to be careful not to accidentally pull on it. I hope your procedure went smooth and simple, and your results were good. Prayers and positive energy headed you way. Big cyberhugs!!!

crb · 02-02-2014, 07:01 AM

I'm back! Spent most of Friday at the hospital - hubby literally kicked me to the curb (had to get daughter to school, then he was going out of town)..LOL SO thankful my mom came and spent the night with daughter and I after I got home.

Did great with the surgery/anesthesia...I have a vague recollection of a nurse mentioning morphine and then later percocet - I said YES to both

I have to say that the dye thing ahead of time was hell on earth...thankfully the rest of it was in the operating room. Only felt slightly nauseous once at home, probably from pain meds and no food.

Did great yesterday - went to daughter's lacrosse game (with my mom as a driver) and planning on going to her practice this morning. I just need to get out of the house and walk since my legs still work! Arm/shoulder is a bit sore, but only doing 1/4 of a percocet about 3/day. I know Advil would work better, but trying to be good and stay off of it for a few days. I took tomorrow off from work, and think I'll be good with a light schedule the rest of the week.

Thank you all for your wonderful replies and concern...I am so happy that I found you

Laurel · 02-02-2014, 05:51 PM

Delighted to hear that you came through so well! Bully!

BonnieR · 02-02-2014, 05:57 PM

Good for you! But, really, they need to warn us about that dye procedure. Inhumane!!
Keep the faith

suzan w · 02-03-2014, 07:31 PM

Glad you have that "little" procedure behind you. Ugh! Keep us informed as to your latest news!

Shirley · 02-04-2014, 11:03 AM

OMG, yes, please tell us about the needle injections of dye! I think we've all had experiences with the "12 year old" medical professional....some of them look like they are still in high school! I had to go to the Nuclear Medicine Dept for this procedure and thought they were joking when they told me what they were going to do! I had a sentinal node removed prior to neoadjuvant chemo and several months before unilateral mastectomy. I recall that it was actually pretty easy, and the nurse was very good at it--not too painful. I took 2 days off from work and probably could have gotten by with just one. Scheduling it for a Friday would be ideal I think, if anyone is wondering again about it. And take an Ativan if they'll let you before the dye injection!