Biopsy Question - Use for Anything

[GwithHepC]

Hello Everyone:

I just had my first biopsy; thankfully I didn't have any complications, but it didn't go as smoothly as I had hoped.  While being interviewed by the nurse the morning of the biopsy  I looked down at my paperwork and saw next to primary diagnosis HIV and next to secondary diagnosis HCV.  Well this shocked the s**t out of me because I took an HIV test a month ago with my PCP and was told it was negative (I don't have any real risk factors).  It was repeated 2 weeks ago by the specialist because they wanted to have the results for their records.  I wasn't told the results by the specialist because the lab screwed up my blood tests a couple of times and they had to be repeated; I wasn't really worried because I knew the first test was negative.  Needless to say this concerned me greatly and I asked the nurse why my primary diagnosis was HIV.  She said she didn't know and would call the doctor and ask.  It was about a half hour before I finally saw the doctor and got an answer.  He said it was a mistake and showed me my negative test results.  For the half hour not knowing I was starting to get really freaked out.  The biopsy itself hurt a bit more than I expected.  I got the referred shoulder pain, but I also got another pain I wasn't expecting.  It was a shooting pain across my abdomen; the pain started on the right and shot straight across towards my left side.  Has anyone else had this type of pain during the biopsy?  I haven't read about it before.  

Feel free to use this post for any other questions.  Thanks!

G

[layla]

Hey that's great to hear. Glad it's over and wasn't bad. Let us know how it goes now. LL

[GwithHepC]

tikerberi:

I am so happy for you it is over and it went well.  I was thinking about you; I really empathized with the anxiety you were feeling. I am glad you posted to let us know how it went.

G

[tikerberi]

Well, I had my biopsy today.  Interesting.  All the apprehension took more energy from me than the procedure did.  Still, it didn't help that the nurse described in excruciating detail how they'd do a baseline CT first, and then they'd insert a tracking needle into my liver, and do the CT again to make sure it's aimed right, and then they'd put the biopsy needle in and suck out a piece, and then they'd do it 2 or 3 times.  It was horrible.

When it came down to it, I went in and out of the CT several times, the Doc gave me lots of lidocaine, did something (I think stuck the tracking needle in) and I went in and out of the CT some more.  The only thing I felt was pressure, as if he was pushing his hand against my ribs.  Then he told me I'd hear a click.  I knew tht was going to be it, and then I waited for the pain.  Didn't come.  Then I expected another one, or even more, but he said, "I hope you're not mad at me but...." (I got all nervous again )"..we're done."

I was stunned.  I just looked at him and said, "I could hug you."  He said he'd pass.

The worst part was laying in the recovery room for 4 hours, although the nurses were nice.  A bit of discomfort in my shoulder, and now I just feel a bit of vulnerability around my liver, but no pain.  So, it wasn't so bad after all.

My doc waits two weeks before the followup to make sure all the ducks are lined up, which will work okay for me with the holidays and school exams the following week.  I'm anxious to know the condition my liver's in.  From everything I've been told so far, that's when I will also begin treatment.

Thanks for all your support.  It's helped a lot.

tik

[layla]

Hi and welcome. Your probably gone for your biopsy already. I hope it goes well for you. Let us know how it goes. Good luck. LL

[tikerberi]

Yes, Hepper, I was being facetious about the alcohol. :)  I'm just very nervous, is all.  

Gwith and ambush, thanks for sharing your experiences and offering support.  It helps a lot.  I'm still unable to sleep tonight due to nerves about tomorrow, but I'm hanging in there.  I spoke with a friend who had primary sclerosing cholangitis and had a liver transplant a couple of years back.  He said that the worst thing about biopsies is the local anesthetic.  Funny, reminded me of the dentist where that's the worst thing also...and podiatrist I've had...and so on.  

Well, I'm going to go to bed to at least get some rest if not some sleep.  

I'll drop a note when it's over...hopefully to say it wasn't worth the angst.

Hopefully.

tik

[AK - Hepper]

I can't tell if you're just kidding about the vodka or not, but if they see that you are drinking they could put your treatment off for at least 6 months. Don't sweat the biopsy so much, just about everybody here has had at least one and we're still here.

[GwithHepC]

tikerberi:

I understand the anxiety you are feeling having just went through it myself this week.  For every post above where it was a negative experience, there are many more that haven't posted because their biopsy went much easier than they expected.  I think for me the problem was before my biopsy was a read only positive posts about the procedure and was completely unprepared for a few things that happened, the pain across my stomach (and under my lower back on the right side) and the false hiv dx.  Had I known of the possibility of this type of pain, and that it is normal, it would not have bothered me so much. The pains I had completely stopped within an hour.  I know telling you not to worry probably won't help (didn't help me), but remember the actually biopsy is over really fast and the anxiety before hand, for many, turns out to be the worst part of it - so believe it or not, you are right now probably going through the worst part, only you can't see that yet.  Monday night you will look back at your post and say to yourself "why was I so worried."  Let us know how it goes.  And above all - DO NOT DRINK.  That is one of the worst things you could do for the hep c and the biopsy.

[Ambush]

First of all, welcome to the forum.  Sorry you have to join us, but you will find alot of information and support here.
Some people have had some bad experiences with their biopsies, but many have not.  I had no sedation and it was over with before I knew it.  Just felt like a "thump" with pressure, but no pain.  Afterwards was uncomfortable because they have you lay on a big pad on your side for awhile but no big deal. Try to stay calm and let us know how it went.  Oh, yeah, and skip the vodka........
ambush :)

[tikerberi]

Hi everyone,

I'm new.  I was diagnosed with chronic hep C recently, and go for my biopsy on Monday.  I am extremely nervous about it, and more so after reading these messages.  My doctor told me I can't be sedated because with a liver biopsy you are asked to hold your breath at one point.  They are doing it in the radiation department.  He said he'd give me something to calm me down, and actually called in to my pharmacy 1 (yes ONE) lousy .25 mg xanax that I'm to take one hour ahead of time. Can you believe he called in ONE lousy pill???  I'm 53, and my past history to the age of 30 or so, included active addiction to iv drugs.  I've also had transfusions and tattoos, so the hep c  could be from anything.  Still, I read that some of you were sedated, and can't believe my doc is so against it.  I know that with my history, one little .25 mg xanax won't do a thing to help alleviate my nerves and/or pain.   He said we can start treatment w/o the biopsy, but it would provide useful info.  I want it, but I get the heebie jeebies bigtime thinking about it.  Maybe I'll chug a pint of vodka before I go. That's where my nerves have been taking me.

T.

[garyford]

Thanks, the pain is gone now and I feel really good today. Not to scare anyone from the biopsy, the procedure was pretty painless, just the pain from laying on my side could have been helped and the nurse was not very compasionate. Good luck to everyone.

[GwithHepC]

garyford:

I am sorry you had to go through that pain with no help from the nursing staff.  It's bad enough when the pain is unavoidable, but when you can be helped and your not it is inexcusable. I hope you are feeling much better and good luck with your results!

G

[garyford]

I had my first liver biopsy today and I've had 3 biopsies on my transplanted kidney. They told me it was a piece of cake.....wrong for me. The procedure did go pretty good, but when they put me on my side, the pain shot up my shoulder and it felt like I had broken ribs all of a sudden. I couldn't breath and it was very painful for about an hour. I asked for some tylenol and the nurse wouldn't give me anything. After the pain died down, the doctor came in and was upset cause he said they should have called him and I could have had anything to ease the pain!! On this peticular case, there was alot of un-neccessary pain.

[Marlies52]

Why can't they give you percocet before the procedure?

[reposyco]

I JUST HAD A BIOPSY AND IT WAS NOT AS BAD AS I HAD THOUGHT.IT WAS INDEED ULTRASOUND GUIDED THE ONLY PAIN WAS THE STICK FROM THE NEEDLE TO NUMB THE SITE AND AFTERWARDS THE SHOULDER PAIN EVEN THOUGH IT WASN'T TO BAD BUT THEY GAVE ME PERCACET AND IN 30 MINUTES OR LESS IT WAS GONE,THOUGH I AM SORRY TO HEAR YOU ALL HAD SOME PROBLEMS I WOULD TELL SOMEONE WHO WAS GOING INTO IT ,IT'S SO BAD........DELORES,BEST WISHES TO ALL

[lackalustre]

yes i had chronic fatigue syndrome for years only to find out it was hepc in 98.      i read something in a magazine or somewheres that said a very large % of people who were previously diagnosed with chronic fatigue actually have hepatitis c.   there was no test for hepc till the early 90's.

[Micro2]

Has anyone heard of chronic fatigue syndrome as it relates to hep C ?

[nurse12hr]

My husband had sedation for the biopsy, and he said it wasn't too bad.

We had problems on the ride home, though.  Once in the car, he lit up a cigarette (no longer smokes, this happened a long time ago).  About 5 minutes later, he was very quiet, I looked over at him and he was white as a ghost and non-responsive (and had dropped his cig which was burning a hole in my upholstery to boot).  Pulled over and tried to see what was wrong--he was sweating like a pig and totally unconscious.  Had to call 911 and they brought him right back to the hosp--where they were at first afraid he was bleeding internally from the biopsy.

Turns out he just had a vagal incident, probably from smoking and the sedation.  He got some iv fluid and was fine.  

But the actual biopsy went great--word to the wise, don't smoke right after!

[GwithHepC]

Thanks.  Although I am sorry you had any pain during the biopsy, it helps to know someone else experienced the same thing.

[Tallblonde]

Yes, I had the same pain across the stomach that you had.  Glad to hear you're feeling better.

Susan

[GwithHepC]

Susan:

Thank you; I actually am feeling better.  I was worried maybe something else was hit, but that fear has subsided with time. The only pain I have now is a pulled muscle in my back on the same side of the biopsy; I think I was sleeping in an awkward position because I was aware of the incision (which is really small.) It was not being prepared for the possibility of that particular type of pain that made it worse for me.  Was yours the same across the stomach?

Majneni:

Thanks for the advise.  If I have to do it again, I will ask for a sedative before hand.  It was amazing how tired I was afterwards considering I didn't have any sedatives.  Maybe it was the stress, but when I got home all I did was sleep.

[Tallblonde]

They did practically knock me out for my biopsy, but I had to insist on that (they didn't offer it).  They administered a strong sedative through an IV.  I think it was similar to the "conscious sedation" they use for colonoscopies:  They needed me to be awake to respond to instructions like: "take a deep breath and hold it."  I must have followed such instructions just fine, but I actually have very little memory of the procedure.  I was in la-la land the whole time.
I urge you to schedule another biospy (you're due for one!) and insist, like I did, on the sedation.  The procedure was a piece of cake; the pain came afterwards, but the peace of mind it gave me was worth it to know the condition of my liver.

Susan

[GwithHepC]

I sorry you had such a bad experience.  I was reading that they can sometimes knock you out for the procedure.  My daughter's pediatrician said they would put her out.  I think they prefer you to be awake because they want to do the biopsy after you exhale and while you are holding your breath.  But knocking you out is doable.  Maybe you should ask your doctor about it.  I have been reading about a lot of alternative noninvasive tests lately.  Hopefully they are accurate and will be available real soon.  As much as I didn't like the biopsy I would do it again. Truth be told and I hoping for those alternative tests to be released before I need another. I feel like a hypocrite because I have been telling my daughter it isn't so bad; she needs one, and I don't want her to worry beforehand.  Besides, in all likelihood she will have a completely different experience.  The shooting pain was a really quick pain, but intense for the short period of time it did last.   The doctor told me the worst part was the injection of the anesthetic and the biopsy itself would be painless or feel like a bit of pressure and I might get the referred shoulder pain, so I was totally off guard for the shooting pain. The other discomfort subsided completely within the first hour with no medication.

[MajNeni]

I sympathize with you over the agony of that half hour.  I'm glad it turned out to be a mistake.
Awfully sorry your biopsy itself was so painful.  For anyone with a biopsy in your future: many of us vets recommend asking for drugs to kill pain - and drugs to calm you - BEFORE THEY START.  Also, ask for an ultrasound guided biopsy; they seem to go smoother than ones that are just eyeballed.
Maj Neni

[Tallblonde]

Wow, I'm sorry you had to go through such an ordeal prior to your biopsy.  Regarding the pain you asked about...I experienced something very similar when I had my first biopsy one month ago.  I remember at the time thinking there must be something wrong (especially when it persisted for several days).  But within a week I was competely pain-free and back to normal (whatever that is, anymore).  If you're really worried about, you probably should call your GI.  Hope you're feeling better soon.

Susan