Good morning, I have never smoked and was diagnosed with interstitial lungs disease about 7 years ago. I was told that 50% of my lungs has scaring and very small nodules. I was informed that my resent CT shows that one of the nodules has grown in size.
I saw my consultant two weeks ago and was told they need to do biopsy. He also show me on the scan.
My problem is it will be done by CT guided under local anaesetic, because it is very risky to use GA and sedate me.
Does anyone on the site has ever had a biopsy of the lungs using local anaesetic?
The biopsy will be done on the 4th December.
I am very anxious and scared.
Thanks you
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ez2nvmorgan
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There certainly are people on here like that, not me , and they will be along shortly. The main thing now is to keep calm and trust your consultant. You have many friends here now.
hi to you please dont be scared the biopsy is very safely done l had one done 3yrs ago whilst awake an injection is done 1st to freeze the area just alittle uncomfortable 1st ..2nd one done which by this time you do not feel it ...once that is done the biopsy isdone you may feel a little tugging strange sensation but very harmless and that is all to it ..l also had 1 12 yrs ago for breast cancer ...just keep positive and take care
Hi this sounds very like the sensation I had on my kidney biopsy not any pain just pressure and a tugging feeling made me feel a little queasy that's all
I had a lung biopsy 2or 3 years ago to find out which nasties were lurking in my lungs. I was scared stiff beforehand, but the technician was very reassuring. I was given a sedative for the procedure, because I asked for one, and went to sleep but not deeply. It was all over in about 20 minutes, totally painless- no nasty aftereffects. I was able to go home that afternoon after the statutory visit to the hospital café. I hope your biopsy goes as well.
Thank you Alberta for replying. I did asked for a light sedation but I was told it will not be safe. I just can't understand stand.I am now questioning my self if there is something they know which I don't?
I will see how it goes. If I can't tolerate the pain. Then they might change their mind. Fingers crossed
I can only hope you get a man like the one who did my biopsy. His technique was so smooth-no sore nose or anything. I shouldn't worry too much about possible implications which may not actually exist. As far as I can see, hospital staff are very, very cautious about anaesthetics for people like us. If they opt for a local, they will make sure it's effective.
Just remembered: I had a mole removed under a local anaesthetic. The nurse who administered it kept injecting the magic juice and asking if I could feel anything until, after about 6 jabs, I could say no. They were very anxious not to have me writhing about in agony.
The thing to do is tell them immediately if it becomes too uncomfortable. Don’t hesitate! With a planned procedure there’s no need to be in pain in this day & age.
I had a very large umbilical hernia removed earlier this year. GA not safe & for some reason a spinal wouldn’t have worked (hernia too high up, I think). So surgeon & anaesthetist made the radical decision to do it under a local, although hadn’t done it that way before. I was anxious too! It took 1.5 hours because they did it in baby steps. They said they’d top up the anaesthetic if it became too uncomfortable. A few times it got a bit ouchy so I spoke up & they did just that. I felt very well taken care of.
Mind you, I don’t see why they can’t give you something to relax you. Something less than sedation eg a benzodiazepine. I know they worry about respiratory depression but if you tell them how anxious you are?
Thanks for your reply Jane. I think you are very brave to have such surgery with local anaesetic. I did the pre-assessment yesterday and I told the nurse all that I am very anxious. She kept saying with my illness they don't normally give sedation.
She also told me not to eat from midnight.
So, I also questioned why can't I eat and the procedure will be done under LA. Her reply was incase an emergency occurred. ???
Oh yes, that’s standard procedure, don’t worry. After all they have to be prepared for the worst-case scenario. I’m no braver than anyone else btw, but I didn’t have any choice because this hernia was just getting bigger. At times like this we just have to trust the people looking after us don’t we? Can you explain exactly what you’re scared of?
I am scared because, I was told by the consultant before that they weren't going to do a biopsy because of the fear of my lung collapsing. So last week when I saw him and he told me they discussed it in the MDT meeting and the are happy to do a biopsy. I asked him what about my lungs collapsing.
All sorts of people would be in an MDT, as the name implies, so the consensus obviously was that there’s a way of doing it which is safe for you. Presumably this tube will be used to keep your lung inflated, but if you’re not happy, or have unanswered questions, ask them. You could email the consultant’s secretary, or ask on the day, before you sign the consent form. The procedure, and any complications or risks, should be explained to you before you sign it. Remember though that there are risks associated with everything; you have to balance it with the risk of doing nothing
Thanks for your kind words of advise and encouragement.I will ask all the relevant questions on the day of the procedure. I think I am feeling less anxious with the responses of the members on the group
I haven’t had a lung biopsy but I had a mole removed on my back under local and it was pain free. I’ve also had a breast cancer biopsy which didn’t hurt but because my boob was squashed to stop me moving, that bit was very uncomfortable. You’ll be well looked after so try not to worry too much and remember to breath properly
Hi morgan, I had a lung biopsy by local anaesthetic. Was fine (the worst part was the local injections😅) but once they were done it was ok. No pain or sore nose 😊👍xxx
my husband has this condition, he was diagnosed many years ago. He had a bronchoscopy, they took samples then. It was rather like a endoscopy but it goes into the lungs. He had sedation but only light. He didn’t like it but it was done very quickly . Maybe they do things another way now now.
I have had several lung biopsies taken and have experienced both full sedation and local .
Tell your doctor of your concerns regarding your intolerance and I’m absolutely sure he/ she/it will ensure the appropriate level of throat spray will be used to aid your comfort.
I have had a few biopsies, the most recent one a temporal artery over my ear, that took an hour and had to keep very still, the worst part was the injections. It's very hard to keep calm and be still , but try to think positive, keep telling yourself this will all be over soon and I will back home recovering, once it's done it's finished. Keep us updated and good luck x
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biopsy
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