Excisional Biopsy of Bi-Rad 4, 5cm mass after-care instructions

[torridpink]

I went in for an excisional biopsy this morning. Everything was as pleasant as possible. Two very odd things happened when it was time for me to leave though and I was wondering if this is normal...it seems strange to me.  When in the recovery "space" I actually REMEMBER waking up because the nurses were DRESSING ME. I couldn't even hardly walk by the time they shuffled me out the door, with NO AFTER-CARE INSTRUCTIONS!!! Is this normal? I was not at a hospital, but at a surgery center. It seems to me they should have a) waited until I was coherent enough to dress myself and b) provided me with some sort of instructions on if the bandage needs to be changed, when it comes off, how much I can lift, warning signs that could indicate something is wrong (i.e. excessive bleeding, etc). This seems to be a tad shady to me. Could you please shed some light on the subject? I don't want to call them and have a discussion with whoever is in charge, if I am being overly-dramatic.

[torridpink]

The instructions they gave me were the ones from the night before, about not eating after midnight, etc.; since I was the one under anesthesia, I am pretty sure they should have been competent enough to know what paperwork they were allowing me to leave with. This afternoon, when I went in to look if there was bruising or anything, I noticed a jet black, what appears to be a pubic hair, between my skin and the bandaging. I have blonde and hot pink hair, so I know it doesn't belong to me. When i called them to ask what the after care instructions were that i needed to know, because I realize oversights are made sometimes when there are humans involved, the said they would call me back and never did. Then, when i called them in the afternoon, after noticing the hair, I was told that they will call me tomorrow. I don't care if they are busy, I as a patient should be dealt with, especially if something was not done properly. So, tomorrow I will be delivering the hair, in a Ziploc bag to SOMEONE's desk because I am extremely bothered by the fact that they are putting me on the back burner. They made a mistake, it is now their job to do the best they can to please me, especially since I am polite while talking to them, as I understand it is the only way to have someone take me seriously. Any way you look at it, they did several very unprofessional things and now I have to take time and deal with that. I can't imagine a mystery hair can make for a sanitary operating environment. Regardless of the reason, there is no excuse! I have worked in bars and restaurants for 15 years and never had anyone complain of a hair, that's bad enough; why would I want it right next to my surgery site? It is unacceptable, period.

[Cleveland Clinic]

Dear torridpink:  The drugs used during biopsy may cause amnesia about the biopsy itself and the events immediately following.  They may have given you instructions and you do not remember and you may have appeared awake when they were helping you dress.  People often talk and sound coherent and do not remember it.  They should have given instructions in writing or to the person who would drive you home.  If not, you need to call them (the surgery center) and get the instructions.