They did it all the day of my surgery. I think they did give me a a pill to take that morning. I want to assure you, it wasn’t painful for me. I didn’t have a sentinel node where they just take one or two, I had axillary node dissection where they took as many as they could because the dye went to the internal mammary nodes and they couldn’t decide. Because this was 18 years ago and I think technology was not quite as good at our little rural hospital, my doctor decided this was best.
I did not have any issues with healing, I am not patient with myself and the minute I was given the go ahead I started forcing my arm a little higher each day. I used grooming my horse to accomplish this, a little higher on his side each day.
There wasn’t extended pain, but there is some numbness in the area. I am very careful to avoid anything constricting that arm and I never get injections on that side or blood draws, not even blood pressure cuffs.
Are you comfortable asking for a pill to relax you before surgery? Once they get you there, you could ask for a shot.😴 Does any of this ease your fears?