Cording

Eileen,

Local is not that bad. I have a few medical conditions that make general really high risk for me so I fought long and hard to get them to agree to use local and some light sedation towards the end when they reached the limit of hiw Much local they could give me. 

It only hurt couple of times and I must admit that all in all I am glad I did it that way. In some weird way I get comfort from knowing what they did and I do remeber them being very thorough in ensuring they got the right node. Searching for the node was the painfull part but I honestly now feel far more reasured that they did the right thing by me :)

They are correct when they say light sedation will help you cope as you really will feel no pain with it and will be able to communicate.

I had major surgery (ovary and a large tumor removed) in 2012 with just nerve block and towards the end light sedatipn and that time after they gave me sedation I remebered nothing until they turned it off.

This time they had to use some light sedation (combination of the so called laughing gas and something else in the drip) and this time my brain stayed on the whole.time. i was very much aware and remember it all but there was no pain or discomfort. They only used it in the last 30min or so as they reached the limit of how much local can be adminstered.  I remember the sensations of being worked on and being 'sewen up' as well as of all the conversatipns arround me while looking at the weird 'dancing sheet' which was over my head (as they have to cover you completely to work on the breast).

Do not fear remembering it or being aware as honestly if anything it will reassure you they did a good job.

All the best with the procedure :)