01 March - Lymphoscintigraphy

This involved a trip to Hamilton and since there had been a lot of roadworks lately and traffic delays I thought I should go really really early. I had also decided since the leaflet they give you says you can drive yourself but that you can bring support if you wish, that I would drive alone and give my sister a break

I was not far away from Hamilton and had literally just thought "I haven't heard anything about my MRI so everything must be ok" when the phone rang.... Dr PC in his usual calm reassuring manner tells me that "there is still an area of concern with the left breast and after discussion with the radiologist I think it would be best to do a hook wire guided excision on the left breast as well to be absolutely sure, rather than monitor it and potentially have to have another surgery later to remove the lump" so I agreed and had to take notes of the change in cost due to slightly longer in theatre. He then asked me if I was on my way to Hamilton and was a bit shocked when I told him yes but that I had pulled over to take his call. Apparently he doesn't recall any of his other patients driving themselves. Oops! I guess this proves the point that even if you think you'll be ok, you never know when you're going to get one of those "Don't be too concerned but..." phone calls and you probably should accept your kind sister's offer to come with you [x2 both the Tauranga sisters offered repeatedly but I said No, I'll be fine!]

Anywhoo, slightly shaken but not stirred, I decided the side of the road was probably not the best place to try dealing with my medical insurance company and I kept driving.

No traffic delays,no problem finding the place and plenty of parking meant I was way too early, so with my phone battery getting into the orange zone I phoned my Insurers. Naturally they needed something in writing from my surgeon (who had told me he was about to go into surgery for the rest of the day, but gave me his email address in case there was any query from the insurance people), I asked the Insurers if they could just email him, but no I had to get him to send me something then email them. Stress levels rising I then had to send the email to Dr PC and ask him to email the quote to the insurers and cc me. I do have a smartphone but it's horrible to use for emailing. Especially if you're sitting in a car, in glaring sunshine, forgot your glasses and are starting to get mildly panicky that maybe just maybe this shit is getting serious. Email sent off successfully, a trip to the cafe for a coffee and a giant chocolate caramel slice restored my nerves.

So on to the sentinel node mapping thing. A male technician this time, which in the info leaflet they do warn you about. By this stage I figured so many people have seen my boobs already what does it matter if the medical people are male or female. Another stylish gown, another narrow platform type bed. This time 3 injections round the nipple on the right boob and THEN...............................
 "ok, now please massage the site for 5 minutes and I'll come back, hopefully the tracer will have started to move by then" so you're lying there massaging your own boob, listening to "Greatest hits" on the radio, looking at a painting on the ceiling...which is upside down. The painting I mean, not the ceiling.

Technician comes back in, "hmmm, no you'll have to massage it some more, I'll have a go"[thru the gown], then he leaves me to it to keep massaging for 10 minutes. Finally the tracer is visible and he can start taking the images. This involves xray plates being lowered down in front of your face, "turn your face to the side, keep your arm up, turn on your side, just a few more. Ok we're done, I just have to mark you." Out comes the felt tip marker and he draws a mark on my boob with dots leading to the armpit, with instructions to re-mark myself if it smudges. Then I'm given the photos to hand over to the surgeon on the day

I had to ask if the painting was upside down or is the bed normally the other way? Turns out if they're filming your right side they have to turn the bed around. Good to know, they should put that in the leaflet

Does my butt look big in this?

I checked my email once I got out, the amazing Pip in Dr PC's office had emailed his note with the extra costs and explanation to my insurers and by the time I got home the insurers had let me know it was all approved - job done!