Biopsy

7/17/09 Here I am again...diagnostic testing...de'javu. CT guided lung biopsy day, yeah! I go through the routine of registering at the "frequent flyer" desk. Same old questions and paper work...I suggest that the women doing my registry just shred the HIPPA form...I understand my privacy rights all too well. The familiar white paper bracelet that identifies me is gently applied to my left wrist. Then Rand and I walk hand in hand to X Ray. I sit waiting, flighty, jovial, making light of everything, flipping through magazines hap-hazardly, scared to death. Is it going to hurt? My inlaws show up and we joke back and forth about crazy stuff. What will they find? I dread what is about to happen to me. But, keep smiling to hide the fear. We are called back and I ask Rand to accompany me to the CT scan. The nurse goes over the procedure with us. Rand and I ask a couple of questions. The risks are explained and I am asked to dis-robe and don my lovely hospital frock. I ask for non skid socks...I left my socks in the car darn-it. For some reason socks make me feel more secure. Like it connects the top with the bottom and makes me complete. It's funny how you focus on little things like that when you are falling apart.

I am assisted to the CT scan, my IV is placed. "I have good veins" I announce. That is one thing I was blessed with. The nurse attempts the right antecubital, ouch! It usually doesn't hurt that bad. She tries again, crap! I start to cry. To the left to try...again, no luck and it hurts terribly. I am perplexed that she was unable to get my IV placed. She calls for another nurse and he gets it the first try with just a tinge of discomfort. Thank goodness. Now on to the next challenge.

I am asked to lay on my stomach. I am stratically positioned with my head toward the left and my arm over my head. I go through CT and a few pictures are taken and my arm readjusted. I am told that I cannot move from now on as the nurse is marking the location on my skin for the doctor. My arm keeps slipping and I finally ask the nurse to tape my arm to the pillow. I don't want to do anything to screw this up.

In walks Dr. Goodwin. He introduces himself and explains the procedure then we get started at numbing the area. It causes just a tinge of pain but nothing too bad. The procedure begins with Dr. Goodwin advancing the long needle throught the designated spot. He has diffuculty because my scapula and a rib is in the way. It becomes very painful and I begin to cry. Feeling lost, afraid and hurting. I am given something for pain and anxiety through my IV. I didn't expect it to hurt like this. The last time it didn't. But thats ok, just get a good sample. The lab standing by with their little rolling cart to recieve the specimans for slides. I feel like I am Mrs. Frankestien laying there with all the gloved and masked people with their carts and tools around me. Dr. Goodwin continues his work, retrieving sample after sample, continued pain and discomfort, a sound that I relate to of scissors snapping, "oh, there's a good sample" he announces. "Well by golly it better be" I think.

Finally, I am told that the needle is out. I am relieved but it is short lived by sudden pain radiating from my scapula to what feels like my iliac crest. I am short of breath and I ask, "is it normal for me to be feeling this, I can't breathe and am having acute and sudden pain?" Dr. Goodwin asks the nurse to again give me something for pain and anxiety, he then proceeds to re-inflate my lung and the pain subsides...I can breathe easy again.

The procedure lasted about an hour I believe. The staff was kind. The nurse even wiped my snotty nose for me as I lay there crying. She would talk to me to try to get me to focus on something other than the moment. Didn't work though. It means so much to a patient who is afraid for staff to offer kindness, gentleness and patience. Thank you Baptist Hospital West radiology and Dr. Goodwin for helping me through this challenging and frightening experience.

I am assisted off the CT and onto a gourney and rolled to recovery where I am met by my husband and in-laws. Only one person can remain...poo! My in-laws leave and Rand stays by my side. I am given some lunch, my vitals monitored and released home in an hour.

Glad thats over...now the tick tock of waiting for results once again.