Has anyone had a fine needle biopsy?

[Heavenly]

I am having one this Friday and I beyond terrified of it. I have extreme aversion and anxiety to have my neck touched at all (due to past abuse) and I am freaking out. Not to mention I've been told it's very painful. Has anyone has one that could give me some insight into how it works? The endocrinologist told me to request a prescription for a sedative from my doctor, but the problem is that I don't have one so I'll have to ask the walk-in clinic and I'm not sure if they will prescribe it for me. Without something to make me a little out of it I think I will run screaming from the room. Help!

[balancedmama]

Can you call the endocrinologist back and request to have them write the script for you? Explain the situation. If you could have someone go with you and be your "doula" for it, I think you would be okay. Do you do well with Rescue Remedy or Calms Forte etc. for anxiety?

[Mrs-Mama]

I've had two fine needle aspirations (fna's) for a lump in my breast. The first one, I opted out of the local anesthesia. I felt the poke but it was over just like that. The second one, I tried to opt out of the anesthesia but I was encouraged to get it, so I did. That time, the dr doing it put the needle in and jabbed it around a bit, and then repeated that procedure twice. Way different than my first experience, so I'm kinda glad that I got the anesthesia the second time. I felt absolutely no pain (other than the initial prick for the anesthesia) but I could feel the pressure (very mild) of her poking the needle around...and I was watching it on ultrasound, so I was more "into" what I was feeling than if I had been ignoring everything.

It took the nurses longer to get me "prepped" (cleaned off area, etc) than for the dr to do it.

Hugs!

[Heavenly]

They said there is no anesthesia for it. Yikes! Do you think EMLA cream would help? At least a bit anyways. It's over the counter here (Ontario).

[Kailey's mom]

I've had it done on my (r) breast before surgery with no sedation. Yes, it does hurt, but it's not horrible, more annoying than anything. Hugs.

[broodymama]

I had one done about 15 years ago, of the lymph node on the right side of my neck. It didn't bother me, which surprised me because I have a needle phobia and also some anxiety issues. I would definitely call and ask the endocrinologist about him/her calling in the script for a sedative for you, and ask about the EMLA cream too.

[Mrs-Mama]

Originally Posted by Heavenly

They said there is no anesthesia for it. Yikes! Do you think EMLA cream would help? At least a bit anyways. It's over the counter here (Ontario).

I'm not sure what EMLA cream is, but I bet they are a little more gentle if they know that you're feeling it. For my first procedure, the nurse originally told me that there would be no anesthesia b/c I would either feel the needle for the anesthesia or feel the needle for the procedure, so it kinda wasn't worth it. The dr offered it anyway, but I declined.

Mine were super fast both times...esp the first time (only one poke, no anesthesia). Try not to stress