TA Biopsy

[survivalist]

Not a big deal. Actual operation start to finished 20 minutes I could see the clock this is exactly right.

Comparing to going to the Dentist. TA takes a bit longer but less invasive, no pain at all.

OK you have an injection but its not as invasive as a dental one.

Took a lot longer to go through all the other motions arrived 11.30am left about 4pm.

Ultra sound done to take a look at the artery done by the surgeon.

I had a good look at at that too. Looks just like a tube to me, “what are we looking for ? I see no giants in this hose pipe are they out skipping ?” By now the surgeon has probably got the feeling he's got a right laugh on his hands. So he says probably yes I don't get many positives.

Other funny bits. Just before they start operating they do this overall check standing round you in the operating theatre all looking very like thunderbird puppets in there outfits. Some with multi coloured head scarf's which is hilarious if you think of yourself as a bomb they are about to defuse.

Your name is ? Your address is, We have X ready ? Are you allergic to anything? Are you bleeding anywhere, do you have any cuts, Y in place if needed ? How much blood are we expecting ? ( answer to that one was none to negligible ) Any other concerns, OK are we all ready to proceed ? With all round yes, yes, yes from about 6 people

And then they sort of come in and defuse the bomb.

Turns out the surgeon and I both having course fishing lakes ended up the main theme of the operation chit chat. Low level chit chat is OK its how they know your OK.

He says he's got too many little ones and being something of a know all on everything / fish consultant I recommend perch and we cleared up what his reddish fish were more likely by far to be Golden Rudd than Roach.

Opp ending one of the others said we have to move him on now you cant keep him here all day and the surgeon says, but fish! the fish are important you know.

Technical side smaller incision than I thought because the surgeon pulls a little on the small artery to get a little longer length of it then ties off and cuts. Obvious when you think about it. Ties up the internal each end obviously. Probably before cutting anything I could not see that bit.

Anyway zero to negligible blood as declared before hand. The sample inspected by me and the surgeon ( in its little packet in the sample jar )

Its not as big as I thought, no hose pipe that's for sure. A bit less than the diameter of the plastic ink tube in a Biro and in the region of 34mm long 1.25 -1.5 inches.

He said it does look normal but most are negative, tests on the internals will tell later.

Closed up ie the outer stitching done by another surgeon. All this while the one that took it out and I talked everyone else board to death more about our fish.

Very end sit up again we shake hands and I quote form the book Hitch-Hikers Guide to the Universe with “So long and thanks for the fish” which went down well.

Then back to people giving you cups of tea and sandwiches and testing to see if your are still alive by finding how well you central pumping unit is going.

I'm cant be totally oblivious to stuff like this. I though I was but my BP was 150 / something !

I told myself this was very naughty, breath deeply etc next BP test 130 / 68 that more like it, calm down a bit, what a wuss!

Took 2 x 500mg parrots-eat-them-all when I go home and 5 hours later 1 X 30/500 co-codamol and one 500mg paracetamol the codeine in the co-codamol to help me sleep.

This morning fine, so TA no big deal. Would I do it again ? Probably if I though it had any useful outcome but it wouldn't.

Why I did it ? remember it is your choice.

Looked at the pros and cons

The thing that clinched it was this. I had distinct and obvious Jaw claudication on the same side of the TA on the 24 Feb and still some there on the 25th. The operation was on the 4 March this is only

5 days from the last claudication.

The claudication is a more or less a 100% indication there is something going on beyond that point in the arterial net leading to one end of this net terminating at the optic nerve.

Logically this is a punt worth a try to find the Giant cells beyond the jaw and there extent in that area. From the results little can be gained but very little was risked. The profit is we just might get a bit better handle on the severity of the GCA. That marginal gain was worth it in my mind against the low risk of problems from a TA in this one isolated case.

[SheffieldJane]

A very useful, reassuring and amusing post, thank you. I still think that you are very brave!

[Soraya_PMR]

Brilliant account. You have a great attitude. Pleased they managed to defuse you without major incident 😉

We shall await your results.

[alvertta]

Wow. What a time you had!!! When I had my biopsy on my arteries above my right and left eyes, they had me lie down on a table in the room in all my own clothes and boots. Asked me my name etc. Swabbed the area. Applied some disinfectant, surface anaesthetic and cut open both sides (ouch. That hurt once he cut through the top layer of skin) Then the surgeon and I inspected the three pieces he cut out. Tiny specks of red in two jars of liquid. Then Bye bye. Diagnosed as 100% GCA. Worth the ouch. You had a lot more fun!!!!

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Excellent report!!!! Sure you didn't work in the healthcare field...

[Marijo1951]

Well, I have to say that mine did hurt quite a lot. I remember that I was surprised that there were 2 doctors and 4 nurses for what was supposed to be a very minor procedure. One of the nurses was obviously there just so I could grip and squeeze her hand when I was hurting really badly. The anaesthetist told me that they can numb the surrounding area, but not the artery itself, because it will probably collapse and become inaccessible. Afterwards I was pleased that I'd had it done as the result was indubitably positive, so I had no nagging doubts that I'd been misdiagnosed.

[Janstr in reply to Marijo1951]

And mine did too as the local anaesetic missed one of the nerves & they had to give me more. (A friend in the medical profession said this can happen). Mine took an hour from start to end & the test came out negative, though as I had GCA symptoms was treated for it anyway. I was not pleased I had the procedure done, & would not do it again.

[Marijo1951 in reply to Janstr]

It will be so much better when ultrasound is available everywhere as a painless alternative. I think there will probably be more positive results as they can examine a larger area without being invasive. I'm sure if, like you, I hadn't had a positive result which seemed to make the whole procedure worthwhile, I'd be as unhappy about it as you seem to be.

[Omanain]

Thanks for this survivalist. I am having a TA biopsy this afternoon and your post has really put my mind at rest. Let us know if they managed to find a positive in you case.

[clieder in reply to Omanain]

Best of luck to you, too! Timely that you got to read this before going in.

[clieder]

It was almost like being there! Excellent writing. Love the chatty part and your take on its purpose. Have always thought that, too. Thanks for the detail and for including the fun parts. Will be anxious to hear the results.