Am I in denial?

Hi!  Stay positive and remember your friends and family are in shock and being over-protective.

I had the sentinel node biopsy and didn't find it painful and it was done the night before the mastectomy surgery.

Your radar is up and you've got your protective armour on and if you stay positive and listen and take in the advice of the medical team you can deal with family and friends much better.

Take care

Christine xx

Sorry you have to go through this. Everyone is different and reacts in different ways. I switched back and forth from being scared and panicky to being resigned and calm, but some members of my family (especially my mum) took it much harder than I did. I start chemo the day you have your surgery and I am much calmer and ok with it than I was with my surgery. 

Friends also ask me is there anything they can do to help. I am a do-it-myself kinda girl. I don't really need any help, I just have to get through it. But I know it makes my friends feel better if they can feel they are helping, so I am mindful to include them in some way. e.g. getting one of them to sew me some buffs for when I lose my hair etc.

For me the SNB was very painful but I got through it. Not everyone finds it painful - most people I speak to say their SNB didn't hurt so I think I must have been unlucky. It helped me to count to 30. The pain only lasts a very short time so counting helped me to know when it would start to recede. I also pumped my hands and took deep breathes which seemed to help. Once its over you soon forget about it.

All the best for the 16th! I'll be thinking of you. Keep in touch and let us know how you get on.

Nadine

Had SNB on Monday with the needle. Was expecting needle to be very painful but was very minor compared to core biopsy needle. The whole procedure was not bad at all and lying getting xrays before the operation was very relaxing part of the day. Needle must be very fine and thus can hardly feel it. 

We all cope differently and do whatever needs to be done to get through this.  Whatever works for you is 'normal'.

I had my lymphoscintography the day before my surgery and for me the injection wasn't painful.  There was a bit of waiting after the injection (time to go away and have a coffee) and then scanning until the sentinel node was located.  The staff were thoughtful and kind.

I hope this helps set your mind at rest about the injection.  All the best for your surgery.

Doll

Being positive is great. I was the same. I had my initial diagnosis breakdown but then it was like lets get on with the job of getting better. I found family took it worse than i did. They were treating me like i was sick but i didnt feel sick so i told them to get a grip. You may find that friends might not how to deal with it and stay away. I had this happen with some of my closest friends. 

Stay positive.

Maryrose 

Lol ,some of my friends told each other there was something wrong with me because I wasn't crying and I didn't want people smothering me. My sister in law would constantly pat me or rub my back and I wanted to punch her out.you just keep going after all it's about you!

That's so good to hear Adean.  I've been feeling like I'm in denial or something.   People are asking me what they can do to help me and I'm like " I don't need any help ... It's not that big a deal".  So, I've been getting a few weird looks 

No your not we all deal with it differently, I was like you I remember going for surgery and I was singing and laughing my husband told me to stop it, I just wanted to get that bastard out of my body and I was so strong with everything, I think I realised quite a while after and I fell in a bit of a heap, but it was more the fact I was not invincible as I used to be.and it is a bit of a whirl wind to wait till the quiet time comes you may feel different. Regards adean