FNA Round 2!

I think sometimes it can help if you know what to expect and having already had one FNA I felt a bit better prepared for the next one. This time Phoebe drove me and came in with me as we had heard you could be accompanied if it was for support.  We made it to reception and the receptionist looked at Phoebe...”erm is this your...erm?” 

“Friend!” I said and immediately Phoebe was told she would have to leave. I was sent to the waiting area, the same waiting area I had sat almost 5 years ago to have my last ultrasound before Lily arrived. How time had flown and how things had changed. I felt a bit sad.

I was called through to the room “Catherine...erm...oin..erm" this was a new one, I smiled and told the nurse not to worry, she looked at me apologetically. I instantly recognised the consultant from the previous FNA, he hadn’t performed the procedure last time but had been present and he chatted to me first about why I had been sent back. He felt it was unnecessary and surgery would have been the better option. He also doubted himself completely stating that the consultant who had performed the previous FNA was the top Radiologist and if she couldn’t get any cells he didn’t feel he could. I felt slightly sorry for him now, I was rooting for this guy I wanted him to get those cells!! 

The process was the same, I felt a lot calmer...remembering not to swallow and not to hold my breath. I tried to think of Henry Cavill but instead I was distracted by thoughts of what if this didn’t work, what if I really did need surgery? We briefly stopped after the first sample had been taken, they tend to give you a breather between the first and second sample attempt thank goodness! The Nurse seemed concerned, "are you alright?” she asked “I’m OK, I think!” I said confused...had I turned grey? Was I sweating? Oh no, had I weed myself?  The Consultant who up to now had been very serious and slightly abrupt told me I was unusually quiet. “Oh really I said...no I just want to get it over and done with.” The nurse explained that normally their patients wail and cry...one lady had screamed every time the needle came near her. “well that’s a bit dramatic!” I said “It’s really not that bad!” 

“You’re so calm and quiet, it makes a change...you're being very brave!” she said smiling. I assured her I was not calm or brave at all...my heart was racing but it did make me feel slightly smug and more determined to do well on the second round! 

We were ready, the needle went in again, I was getting good at this now and I practised my deep breathing and this time tried to remember my meditation for anxiety as the consultant really jabbed the needle around, again I will point out here that it really does not hurt it's just a weird sensation that makes you wriggle a bit. Then...everything went dark!

I could only make out the silhouettes of the consultant and nurse...the lights had gone out, the screen and computers switched off and everything fell silent. We must have all been in shock because nobody moved or said a word for about 30 seconds. I didn’t even know if the needle was still in my neck. It turned out he had just removed it as the power cut out. “Thank god I had taken that out!” he said seriously and then burst out laughing. The Nurse felt her way to the door to peep outside, the whole unit had gone down. I lay there in darkness on the bed trying not to laugh and then the back up lights kicked in and a greenish tinged light filled the room.  The nurse applied pressure to my neck and then my heart started to race as an almighty pain shot through my neck and I found I had to fight to swallow. If I’d been quiet before I wasn’t now “Is this normal?” I asked “It hurts so much!” Turns out it is normal...this time he had really dug around in there and the nurse had applied strong pressure on my neck to stop the slight bleeding. He reassured me the pain would subside with some painkillers. The nurse asked me to wait outside just to be sure I was OK and provided me with water. After 15 minutes I was allowed to leave and so commenced my Thunderbird walk back to the entrance where Phoebe was waiting for me. 

Sometimes you just need that person who will take your hand and reassure you and look after you for a bit. Phoebe is that person. She sat me down, gave me a hug and fetched me a tea. I will say this, if you have an FNA in your neck and it does hurt after then get a warm drink. The tea really soothed my throat and made me feel better. Some painkillers should see it off too. All that is visible is a tiny dot where the needle went in, it really is teeny. By the time you get home you’ll feel fine, although I would recommend milking it for the rest of the evening just to be on the safe side. Absolutely no cooking, washing up or doing the kid’s bedtime. You get on that settee and you lift only the remote control! 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xoYnqvadurg#menu

I’ve included the link to my favourite meditation here. It’s for anxiety, fear and worry. It’s got me through some scary and stressful times. I like to use it when I’m flying and feeling a bit anxious but it’s been brilliant in this process too.