Pre-Op Surgery Instructions

Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy is scheduled for tomorrow at 10:30.  I thought that since my lymph nodes were not swollen that I was good, but I guess not.  The oncologist wants to do a Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy to make sure? or get more info?  about my nodes.  The sentinel nodes are the first nodes that it would travel to if it were to spread, so by looking at those the docs have a better idea if it has spread.  If I were to have the lumpectomy/mastectomy before chemo then the nodes would be removed then so I was going to have this done anyway, just now it is a little sooner.  It kindof worries me that she wants it done even though my nodes were not swollen, but better safe than sorry.  The surgeon is the one who called me and told me about this, but she also said if my nodes are clear that I will only have 2 rounds of each chemo(instead of 4 each like I am scheduled for) so that makes me feel a little better about this.

Instructions:

• No food or drink after midnight on Sunday
• arrive at the hospital at 7am
• go straight to the second floor
• I have an appointment at 8:30 with nuclear medicine (which means I get to be radioactive girl again)
• Surgery at 10:30
• Surgery lasts about 1.5hours and I'll be in recovery for about 1 hour
• Make sure and bring copay (whaa?? I didn't think about that)

So I called Member Services on Friday to find out what the copay is . . . $150 and it is payable right now.  Whaaa???  you wouldn't even have contacted me if I hadn't called!!  She got snippy and was like I called you and left a message and you didn't call back.  Those of you that know I can be calm even though I should explode, know that I calmly said "you did?"  she then looked and said oh, i guess not - you weren't on my list(because it was just scheduled on Thursday).  In my head I thought "Yeah, I know you didn't call so don't pop attitude with me" she then said I can pay on Monday, but really, could you be a little nicer - whomever is having surgery is likely not in the best mood this isn't elective surgery.

Not looking forward to the surgery, but hoping that my nodes come back squeaky clean.