Tag Archives for biopsy

tomorrow

tomorrow

it’s all set – i pre-registered by phone (with ‘winnie’) on tuesday. i just got off the phone with ‘mitzi’, the surgical nurse, this morning. mitzi had a battery of health questions for me, covering seemingly any conceivable disease or disorder: “any heart disease, any glaucoma, any diabetes…how much do you weigh?” my favorite: “any female problems?”. does fighting with my girlfriend count? no actually – leanne is quite my guardian angel in this, and has gifted and project-managed me quite well. all that’s left for me is to show up.

  1. 10:30 am: show up at 3698 california
  2. register and dole out insurance card at the desk downstairs
  3. get sent to the third floor
  4. wait
  5. 11:30 am: needle-localization. get mammogrammed and get needles inserted for dr grissom to target (eve said they look like guitar strings…)
  6. wait some more
  7. at some point, get administered monitored anesthesia
  8. 1:30 pm: surgery with dr grissom
  9. 2 or 2:30 or so: get rolled all woozy in a wheelchair to leanne, mom, and dad who then prop me up, take me home, and carry me up three flights of stairs!
  10. afterwards:
    • start with clear liquids, crackers, or toast if you
      are nauseated- but i’m already craving a burrito just
      thinking about starving myself overnight
    • darvocet is the most commonly prescribed medication
    • you can expect some bruising and swelling around
      your incision and sometimes involving distant parts of the breast
      or chest – use an ice pack on and off
    • the outer gauze dressing may be removed 24-48 hours
      after biopsy. leave on the steristrip (small white tape strip) in
      place for 7-10 days; it may be removed then or left to fall off
    • occasionally patients are wrapped with an ace wrap to
      help decrease bruising and swelling – this may be removed after
      24-48 hours
    • after the (outer) dressing is removed, you may shower
      and get the incision wet, but don’t get in a tub for 10 days
    • pathology reports should be ready by next tuesday –
      friday at the latest

and that does it. everyone is saying ‘keep calm’, or ‘the anesthesia is the worst’, or ‘the waiting is hardest’; perhaps because i’ve never gone through it, i don’t have any anticipatory dread, and i’m feeling just fine. the whole thing seems like it should be a big medical experiment for me. i might as well remain naive as long as i can. besides, i rode my bike to work today and onto the train, so i feel a bit like i’ve gone on a trip to a foreign country.

suggestions for the weekend (thank you, abbe!)

suggestions for the weekend (thank you, abbe!)

  • buy crushed ice (it molds better to shape of breast for icing painful spots) and ziplock bags
  • wear a loose button-up shirt on friday — easier to put on after surgery
  • sometimes the nurses/doctors/etc will give information about “most patients” which might not apply for women with large breasts so ask if there are things to keep in mind for large breasts (such as stitches stretching from weight)
  • nurses/doctors might urge you to leave earlier than you feel ready, but you don’t have to leave if feeling dizzy or nauseous from the anesthesia — suggest … sticking around in the hospital bed til you feel well enough to walk up all those stairs to get home
  • “take the wheelchair!” says abbe
  • if incision is under breast and weight of breast makes it ache, it might help to hold arm folded under breast to support it
  • might have bruises from the surgery — could ask if might be bruising
  • and notes for leanne … … respect, suggest, don’t tell or demand, and procure chocolates and cheese. yum.

voicemail from dr grissom

voicemail from dr grissom

my biopsy is in exactly a week, and i called and left several questions for dr grissom today on her voicemail. she called just a little bit later with all the answers i asked for — it’s all on voicemail:

  • i gave you the DCIS chapter because you never know -- there's that 10% chance that it could be, and i always think it's good to be prepared, and then it won't happen!
  • the calcifications very rarely disappear -- i've never seen them disappear actually, although it's talked about in literature
  • biopsy should not affect your mammogram in the future. sometimes you'll have a little scar tissue for awhile, but it goes away, and they can pretty well see everything again
  • you don't really need to prepare your skin
  • sports bra is pretty good, but get one that's a little loose. if possible, something that fastens in the front is easier, and just gives you a little support
  • i don't know exactly where there going to put the needles until they get there and they get it in, so i don't know where i'll put the incision exactly until we get there
  • i will call you with the results and you can tell me on the day of surgery how to get a hold of you. usually you get them in two working days, so if you're having it on friday, usually you get it on the tuesday afterwards; although pathology has been very slow -- i've had some results not come out till friday this week
  • on the day of biopsy, you're there for about four hours and you're sitting around probably for about three, so bring a book - both of you!

(yes, i left off the question about the sushi and the tissue bank – and the cancer and the breastfeeding, feeling both a little premature!).

then, dr. grissom said she’d talk to me next week and if there was any problem or more questions till then just to let her know. it’s really great to have such a responsive surgeon. leaving that list of messages on her voicemail i felt a bit silly and sheepish, but her message, which addressed all the questions, made me feel not foolish at all. that’s awesome.

i saw a little note by leanne’s side of the bed this morning to get little bendy straws for me — “so that i can get my liquids”! it’s a little odd to be expected to be an invalid!

it’s been the most decorated valentine’s day i can remember. we received valentines from everyone from my parents to delancy street movers! die familie enders sent along a lovey hand-made valentine. and leanne– leanne got me the spicy dark chocolates i craved from donnelly in santa cruz. in fact, she requested them from richard directly! jane siberry wrote with global wishes of healing and light; then there was the 50th anniversary gala for del and phyllis last night – a sweet movie and a drink afterwards with sylvia and karin. all-in-all, a great week, even if leanne and eve were looking at me as if i’m about to be devastated. i feel we’re in great hands; the world itself should be so lucky — but is left this week to rely upon duct tape and plastic.

leanne just walked in with a package decorated in glitter that says: “healing beauty for moya’s left breast”!!!