Category 3 on the Annoying Scale

[annathepiper]

Apparently, I wasn't allowed to have that MRI-guided biopsy today.

Things started out well enough. Got to the hospital on time, got settled in as before in the MRI room, and this time even with extra pillows and things to try to make me as comfortable as possible and not stress my lower back too much. Doing the initial scans to try to figure out where the needle would have to go in went okay.

But when they rolled me out of the machine to numb me up and poke the actual catheter into me, I started having problems. My left knee started getting cranky about the angle at which it was settled. And I don't think the doctor numbed me up enough, because I felt her do something that actively hurt for a second or two--that must have been when she made the poke to go in.

All of a sudden, I started feeling nauseous. I went from telling them "I feel sick" to "I REALLY need to sit up", and the next thing I knew, they'd gotten me sitting up and the MRI tech dude (Steve, the same guy who'd done my MRI before) had a pan under my mouth and I was going BLARGH three or four times. I wiped my mouth as best I could, and after that, they helped me onto a gurney and got my legs up onto some pillows to get them higher than my head. They gave me some O2. And then they rolled me into the nearby exam room to have me lie quietly for a bit, while they rearranged the game plan.

I heard Dr. Carlson tossing around the term "vasovagal response". I had no earthly idea what this meant, so I had the nurse spell that out for me so I could come home and look it up--though from what she was telling me and from what I'm seeing online, it essentially means "I was about to faint". Goody. I'm not sure what the hell happened, whether it was some weird reaction I was having to the numbing agent, whether they weren't using enough of the numbing agent, whether they had me at a bad angle on the table (what with my left knee starting to hurt and all), whether it was just my system stressing out and going I HAVE HAD ENOUGH OF THIS NOW THANK YOU, or all of the above. Regardless, it's extremely irritating and I'm rather disgusted with myself.

As a result of all this, the procedure had to be completely aborted. Initially they decided to reschedule me for next week, but then bumped it up Fuckoff Early in the Morning this coming Wednesday, on the grounds that Dr. Towbin is waiting for the results of this before he makes the call on what he's going to do next, and well, cancer diagnosis so we really need to get this dealt with kthxbye. They will be consulting with Dr. Towbin to discuss whether it's advisable to give me a relaxant of some sort before they try this again. I'll be good with that, if that's what it takes.

Till then, I need to keep a teeny tiny ice pack on the dressing where they poked me; fortunately, the teeny tiny ice pack fits right into my bra. And I need to not do any heavy lifting, and generally take it easy, while I'm being cranky at this in general. This is not helping me get this whole situation done and dealt with. Grr.

Comments

[prettyshrub.livejournal.com]

Well nuts to that!

I hope it goes better on Wed.

[rosepurr.livejournal.com]

Boo! Sorry, sweetie. :(

[genkitty.livejournal.com]

Erf. That sucks, a lot.

Hopefully, next go-round, you'll receive some Versed -- it didn't do anything for me, but for most people it results in lovely relaxation, followed by sedation and no memory of what happened after the needle prick. It's an extremely common pre-op drug. Also, they could IV you and feed you some anti-nausea meds beforehand.

I hope the next go-round proceeds without a hitch. *hug*

[firni.livejournal.com]

I second the comment above me. Ask for some Versed and some anti-nausea drugs. My needle biopsy was done with ultrasound instead of MRI, but I doped myself up with Xanax beforehand because OMG NEEDLE.

Note:
Common triggers of vasovagal syncope include standing for long periods, dehydration, the sight of blood, coughing, urination, having a bowel movement and emotional distress.

HELLO EMOTIONAL DISTRESS, GO AWAY PLZ THX BAI

[emmacrew.livejournal.com]

What a bother!

My father-in-law has vasovagal incidents when he has to sit uncomfortably for long times. He'll feel sick with just enough warning to get a receptacle before throwing up, then pass out cold. When you're a an 80-odd year old man on an airplane, this flips people out -- they think "heart attack!" and spring into action, which makes it all worse since it's really an annoyance rather than a danger as long as he doesn't bash his head when he faints.

At least they took good care of you and got things rescheduled quickly, even if it is at a horrible time of day. Here's hoping it goes better Wednesday.

[emmacrew.livejournal.com]

We got Pip some Versed when he needed stitches on his face, and he chilled right out. Then he asked to go to the restroom, which was luckily right next to the room he was in, but we nearly had a fall that would have needed more stitches because he was soooo loopy.

[flashfire.livejournal.com]

Ugh. Complications like that suck.

At least you have an excuse to make others wait on you hand and foot a little more.

[wildshadowstar.livejournal.com]

Hopefully things will better next time.

As always, my thoughts are with you and Dara.

[genkitty.livejournal.com]

That's what bedpans and jonnycans are for ^_-

Personally, if I need pre-op 'relaxation' again, I'll be asking for a short of Dilaudid. When it's not chewing through serious pain, I'm oh so relaxed and mellow and everything's just fiiiiiiine in the world. (I discovered this when a helpful ER doc gave me a shot for my endo pain, which was at a 6/10, and I was made utterly limp & loopy. As opposed to me being ultra-lucid, perky, and steady on my feet when it was used for post-op pain control last summer)

[tiggymalvern.livejournal.com]

Vasovagal syncope is a funny thing. I start to feel faint and dizzy if my physio presses on certain points at the top of my neck for too long. She was trying to free up some movement in one of my upper neck joints, but she had to give up. Everything else she does is fine, but she just can't play with that joint, and apparently it's not uncommon at that spot, she says 5-10% of people get that response. It's a physiological reaction that you had, not a personal weakness, so there's no need at all to get annoyed with yourself. It's just the way your body's wired up.

At least Wednesday isn't too much longer to wait, and they can anticipate any issues this time and work around them.

[avalonmissy.livejournal.com]

I had a vasovagal response to my wrist swelling up and turning blue after I sprained is this spring. Except I actually did faint. My body freaks out to swelling and the like. It'd happened a couple times before so I know the signs now. I feel nauseous, lightheaded, get weak, feel warm and then my hearing and vision start to go.

I hope your next attempt goes smoothly.

P.S.

[firni.livejournal.com]

Now you have something in common with my bratkins besides being gorgeous and smart!

[technoshaman.livejournal.com]

Aw, man, that sucks! I had something close to that happen one time when they were doing a blood draw... I got real woozy and such, not sick but real warm and just felt like I was losing it, and they brought me an icepack and sat it on my head and things were much better....

'course, that was in Atlanta; they have *much* better vampires out here.

*hugs* let's hope this works better the next time!

(And cheers for just the right sized icepack, too! It's not often things fit well like that...)

/me pulls out my Snoopy "curse you, Red Baron" icon...

[marzipan-pig.livejournal.com]

Some people get that response to blood draws, and if they are people who need their blood drawn, they just pass out, each and every time. It's a physiology thing, not a 'being chicken' thing. I'm sorry, it sounds super unpleasant! Hopefully they will be able to arrange you in a way that does not trigger it next time!

[emmacrew.livejournal.com]

A freaking out seven-year-old (or at least mine, who's autistic) doesn't get bedpans. The staff at Children's ER was great, though. They have a person whose job it is to distract the kids with stuff like songs and bubbles.

Also, when you take the stumbling kid back out to the car, all the staff people smile at you and say "Versed?"

Mmm, Dilaudid.

[annathepiper]

Here's the thing: this has never happened to me before. Ever. It's mostly annoying to me on the grounds that I don't know why the hell it happened now, as opposed to any other time when I've had my blood drawn. I don't understand it, so that's the reason it annoys me. If that makes sense. :)

But yeah, we'll see how things go on Wednesday.

[annathepiper]

The part that really annoys me about the whole situation is that I don't understand why it happened to me now as opposed to any other time when I've had my blood drawn. It's like any problem I can't easily figure out at work--if I can't figure it out, it generally irritates me. ;)

But we'll see how things go on Wednesday. If they have to knock me out to get the job done, I can deal with that. I just want this thing done and dealt with.

[annathepiper]

Thanks much! The irritating part about it for me mostly was that this hasn't ever happened to me before, so I'm just not at all sure what the hell triggered it off. I've had blood draws done before and biopsies, and didn't get nauseous before. Here's hoping it doesn't happen again.

And oof, the wrist thing sounds painful and irritating even on top of the vasovagal part.

[annathepiper]

Thanks! So do I. It's a good thing my manager is working with me on the whole medical upheaval to my schedule thing.

[annathepiper]

Thanks, so are Dara and I!

[technoshaman.livejournal.com]

I just want this thing done and dealt with.

I'm with you on that one. This waiting sucks. (And not knowing why sucks, too.)

[pinkdormouse.livejournal.com]

Not good. Hope things go better on Wednesday.

[poetry-lady.livejournal.com]

They might've hit a nerve that helped it along...

[janne.livejournal.com]

Utterly annoying, getting that far and having to bail. Much luck with the next one!

[cafiorello.livejournal.com]

So sorry, Anna! A different med, a different position...too many variables to test in too short a time. Just relax and let them take care of you next time. *hugs*

Cathy

[avalonmissy.livejournal.com]

I was actually in the drug store picking up some polysporin because I'd scraped up my hand when I fell. I'd noticed the blue and swelling on the drive over which is when I started feeling nauseous. I picked up the polysporin but then had to go sit down by the pharmacy desk which is when I passed out. Scared myself pretty good in the process and burst into tears when I came to. A woman who saw me go called over the pharmacist, who got me a glass of water and some tissues because I'd burst into tears when I came to. Somehow I'd also sprained my ankle that day. Not fun.

[peregrine-ek.livejournal.com]

You poor thing.

{{ Hugs }}

[stickmaker.livejournal.com]

I had similar symptoms once, before having a nerve induction test. Got really dizzy, breathless and light-headed, with a trace of nausea. The technician canceled the test and told me I needed to see a psychiatrist. Which didn't make any sense to me; I'd had several of these tests before with no problems. Instead, I went to my regular doctor at that time. Only I didn't get to see her. The receptionist, when she heard my symptoms, told me I was the third person in that day with them, that it was an intestinal virus and there was nothing I could do about it but go home, lie down and rest.

Take that, technician.

Anyway, just check to make sure there wasn't some underlying cause for symptoms triggered or exacerbated by mild stress. Such as a gut upset from bacteria, yeast or some food sensitivity. And I recommend Bonine (meclizine hydrochloride) to head off nausea. Just keep in mind it takes about an hour to start working.

*Hugs*

[mojave-wolf.livejournal.com]

Just adding to the general sympathy and well-wishes for next time . . .

[annathepiper]

*hugs* Aw, thank you. :)

[annathepiper]

Oh geez, how awful that must have been. But I'm glad that lady and the pharmacist were there to help you out!

[annathepiper]

*snugs* Thanks. My surgeon decided to prescribe some Ativan for me to take tonight before I go to bed, and again when I get up in the morning, before I show up for Biopsy Take Two. This should be interesting. I expect to have no brain whatsoever tomorrow!

[annathepiper]

Deeply annoying indeed. Thanks though!

[annathepiper]

Yeah, I suspect it was "poking me in the boobie" that did it.

[annathepiper]

Thank you! Here's hoping.

Re: numinstances ++1 on vasovagal stuff

[annathepiper]

Wow, fainting from a specific kind of eyedrops? o.O That had to have been vexing.

But thank you for the shaking of fists! Hopefully tomorrow will go better.

[annathepiper]

*hug!* Thanks. As it happens, I've been prescribed two tablets of Ativan, one to take when I go to bed tonight and the other when I get up in the morning to head out to Biopsy Take Two. We'll see how that treats me.

[annathepiper]

They've prescribed some Ativan for me, one tablet to take when I go to bed tonight and the other when I get up in the morning, to head out to the procedure. We'll see how that treats me. But I'll keep Versed in mind in case this ever comes up again! Thanks.

[annathepiper]

Ugh, yeah, I can see that being a real bother for your father-in-law.

But thanks! Here's hoping, indeed. They've given me some Ativan to take tonight and tomorrow; we'll see how that treats me. I expect to have no brain to speak of for most of the day, though. ;P

[annathepiper]

Indeed, it was full of suck! But heh. We'll see how loopy I wind up being tomorrow. They've given me some Ativan I have to take before bed tonight and again when I get up in the morning; I expect to have no brain to speak of at all. Joy!

[annathepiper]

Thank you very much. :) Here's hoping, indeed!

[annathepiper]

I get now that it was a physiological response, yeah; most of my annoyance was coming from not understanding what exactly happened. I get cranky that way if I'm working with a computer problem I don't get, either. ;)

And they've given me some Ativan to take tonight and tomorrow when I get up to go to Biopsy Take Two; we'll see how that treats me.

Re: P.S.

[annathepiper]

Heh, aw gosh. Thank you. ;)

[annathepiper]

In-DEED! :)

[annathepiper]

I think my gut's a lot more stable than yours is, in general. ;) I don't typically have food sensitivity issues; really, I think at this point that it was just "poking me in the boobie and not having numbed me up enough first" was what did it. 'Cause, I mean, well, ow.

They've prescribed Ativan for me, as I mentioned in passing on the MUSH; I'm supposed to take one of those tonight before I go to bed and another when I get up in the morning. We'll see what that does for me, as well as not eating anything much right before they go to work on me. Which ought to help.

[annathepiper]

Thank you very much. :)

[tiggymalvern.livejournal.com]

most of my annoyance was coming from not understanding what exactly happened.

I can get that. Things I don't understand annoy me too, I need to know how the entire world works. Especially as it relates to me!

[annathepiper]

Exactly! The whole "WHY DON'T I KNOW THIS? I'M SUPPOSED TO BE SMART" thing. ;)

[ssha.livejournal.com]

I understand this 100%. Add to that my general obsession with needing to know everything about everything (which also leads to my nosiness). One advantage I had during my brain thing was knowing and understanding the medical speak. It set me at ease quite a bit more, I think, than if they had been babbling away around me all the time and I wasn't able to understand most or all of what they were saying.

If you have questions about medical terminology and such, feel free to poke me. It was my best subject in school.