Post by sunshineangel on Mar 16, 2010 14:17:43 GMT -5
"Like Walking The Green Mile". That's what the head nurse said to me as she took me to the Pre-Surgery Ward. I guess it could be described as that. 
Between the Wire Localization, The Sentinel Node Mapping, and Finally Surgery, I felt as though I had been run over by a truck. But along the way, I met very heart-warming nurses, a minister who prayed for me, handsome young surgeons, and kind doctors.
I arrived at 7am, and signed in, then was taken to Pre-Op Holding Area where they gave me a gown/cap/booties. A urine test (Which took me about 15 minutes, because I was so dehydrated from my "Nothing to eat or drink after midnight", but rest assured the hours that past, my nervous bladder filled at least 6 times. After the usual questions, blood pressure, temp, etc. They had me meet with the Anesthesiologist, who explained to me that I would be getting General Ansthesia, which made my skin crawl. Being claustrophobic and unflattered by the smell of an impending gas mask, I told him that I didn't mind the IV drugs, but didn't want a gas mask put on me. He told me to mention that to them when I went into the O.R.
After he left they wheeled me down to Radiology...My Wire Localization was done by the same doctor who did my Biopsy, which I was relieved by, as he was gentle with needles. I didn't take nicely however, of having my right breast squished in a mammogram machine for the duration of the procedure. That was the most pain I felt during that procedure. I really didn't feel the pinching of the needles, or the wire going through. After the wire localization, more torture. They wheeled me down to the basement of all places, to the Nuclear Medicine Department, where I was to do my Sentinel Node Mapping. There, a lovely young doctor gave me two tiny shots, to which I didn't feel, but later felt the burning sensation of a bee sting. To which I must have squeezed my nurse's hand off for. I was later slid into this "cat scan" like machine, where the camera was placed so low to my chest, I am grateful that I was lying on my side, so that I can look out towards the wall. They took two, 6 minute films, and then wheeled me back up to the holding area. It was then that they tried to put in my IV, but failed. They decided to take me straight to O.R. and put it in there. Wheeled to the O.R. I had a staff of 8 to assist me. I had the world's sweetest nurse by my side the whole time. At first they put these massaging boots on my legs, after I was placed on the world's skinniest operating table I ever saw. As I proceeded to tell them of my fear of gas masks, they said not to worry, as they would wait until I was knocked out before they put it on me. So they gave me relaxation drugs, and then I heard them say "Sodium Penthanol" and that is all I remember seeing of the operating room. I woke up in recovery, with coughing fits, and a sore throat, mild nausea, and dizzy spells. They gave me gingerale to drink, and prescribed me Tylenol with Codeine. I finally left recovery at 3:30 PM after a very long day.
Needless to say "Home Sweet Home".
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