Breast ultrasound and biopsy

I think I posted something here sometime back about a problem I had when I went with my wife to have a breast ultrasound. I thought it was cleared up but it came up again and this time it got ugly. She went in for a recheck of a nodule in her right breast and I went in with her with the approval of the ultrasound tech. She went and got the radiologist when she was done and the fun started. This women was a bitch and got in my face telling me that I could not be there because I might fall over something. I did not back down since I was a paramedic for 20 years and mouthy doctors did not impress me. She no sooner finished than she turned and fell over the stretcher my wife was on. She was really mad by then and yelled at the techs to make changes on the ultrasound until she finally said your wife needs a biopsy and we will call you.

Well no way was that going to go by the wayside so I filed a complaint and she finally got fired. I was upset we decided to go to a different hospital and see how things went. I called in and made the appointment and talked to this lady who told me she would be our breast navigator and would be with us thru out the who thing. I told her I wanted to be with my wife and she told me it would not be a problem. I was not sure but figured give it a shot. When we arrived she met us and took us to the room and had my wife remove her top and bra and put on a robe. The tech and the doctor came in and soon had the ultrasound of the area up on the screen. He told us it was a benign adenoma and rather than keep fooling with it lets take it out. My wife and I agreed and he told me that he had no problem with me staying. We watched as they prepped the necessary equipment and drew up the lidocaine in the syringe. The tech scrubbed my wifes breast and we watched as the doctor picked up the syringe and quickly injected the lidocaine in to her breast. We could see the needle move about on the ultrasound screen and when I asked my wife she told me she did not feel any pain at all. I found out later they used a 21 ga needle and they buffered the lidocaine with bicarb so it does not burn. I then watches as he used a scaple blade to make a small incision and then inserted a larger needle biopsy device. We watched it move to the area and then when he pushed a button you could see it remove the adenoma. He moved the needle around until it all disappeared. He then inserted a wire device in the machine and implanted a tag so the area could be found again. She then went over and had a quick mammogram to make sure of the tags location and came back with some steri strips, a small bandage and an ice pack. She told me she felt no pain during the whole thing only some pressure. If you guys can you should always go with them during these things and if someone objects do not back down. It also is better not to be pacing or worrying outside and not being with them.

I have no problem if one family member stays for sutures. If they sit down so they won't faint. Sometimes a procedure is difficult and would be traumatic for the family. I then ask them to wait outside. One must weigh the comfort which can be given against the possible distress they may feel. I always let parents in the room when I perform procedures but for lumbar punctures and intubation I generally prefer to have them out briefly. I have had many family members faint and injure themselves. That just makes more work for me. If they are disruptive I ask them to wait outside.

I do agree on it being a case by case issue. I was a paramedic for 20 years and I know some people can not handle the things we are used to seeing and the doctor even asked me to sit down which I had no problem with.I respected his wishes since he was more than generous with me.