The Case Of My Armpit Lump And First Surgery
I am writing this article to share with everyone, my experience of a recent lump in my arm and my first surgery experience.I was frightened and anxious in turns while things seemed to take a turn for the worst.But now I guess that I am very lucky that it was just something minor and not one of the complicated cases, which it could have developed into.
Around the end of August this year,I got severe arm pain with a slight swelling in the armpit.I did not think anything of it,because, usually,such pain would subside in 2-3 days and the swelling would be gone.I simply attributed it to having overstrained my arm during the couple of days, I was busy organizing a birthday party.
In the first week of September,I first visited the doctor, since the swelling showed no sign of going down and the pain remained.The doctor gave a dose of antibiotics and asked to visit after 3 days to check.He said that it was most likely an infection of one of the various glands which are usually concentrated in the armpit.There seemed to be no improvement after the three days,though there was a minor relief in the pain.Hence, there followed a second visit to the doctor, where he continued a stronger dose of medicines for three more days.I was advised to leave a gap of 10 more days for the stronger medicine to take effect and vivist the doctor if the swelling had not subsided.
Unfortunately for me, the swelling developed into a more solid lump and became more painful during the waiting time.During my third visit to the doctor, he recommended that it be shown to a surgeon, since it had not responded to the antibiotics prescribed.
The surgeon pronounced it to be a "Cold Abscess" and advised to take a series of tests to determine its possible causes.I have always been on the thinner side and this is more so now, because I am incharge of running behind my active two year old daugher all the time.I did not think anything of it.However, I was asked to test for TB - Tuberculosis as well in addition to blood,sugar test and chest X-ray, as it might be a possible reason behind the lump.By the time the test results were in,I had reached an anxious state and a search in the internet had resulted in consideration of many other possible reasons such as tumour,cancer and TB as well.
The good doctor,who had referred us to the surgeon, however ruled out its possibility of being a cancer, because he stated " Since there is pain, cancer can be safely ruled out".I had also been asked to thoroughly self examine my breast, to rule out the possibility of breast cancer.
The surgeon seeing the test results concluded that since,none of the tests suggested a possibility of TB, we had to schedule a surgery to remove the lump and then send it for biopsy to determine what it possibly was.If it had been TB, a surgery would not have been possible and treatment for TB would have ensued which would have lasted for 6 months.
As a person, who has never had any serious health issues,the thought of a surgery was a very frightening one.More than the surgery, what made me sweat in turns was the thought of being administered general anaesthecia, and something being done to the body while I was not conscious.The doctor realized my state of nervousness and did not state clearly till the last minute as to whether the surgery will require local or general anaesthecia.Partially, such a decision also had to be decided by the person administering the anaesthecia depending on the patient's state of mind and the place of the surgery.
Finally,in early October, the D day was in, by that time,I had mentally adjusted to the fact that a surgery could not be avoided and the cold abscess had also formed internal puss and was painful in extreme.I had slept peacefully the day before the surgery.The surgery was scheduled for early morning and I admitted myself in the hospital by 5 AM.I had been asked not to eat or even drink water in the morning of the surgery.
Before I knew it,I was prepared for the surgery with a change of sterile clothes and the hair in the underarm was trimmed as much as possible.I was taken to the hospital theatre and just had a glimpse of the anaesthecist, who enquired if I had undergone any previous surgery and announced that it would be general anaesthecia, though for a very short time.I only remember a mask being placed over my face and inhaling a different smelling gas,while I drifted off.All the while,I was conscious of the fact that something was being done, but my mind and senses seemed to be surrounded by a dark curtain and I could only vaguely hear voices in conversation.There was no feeling of pain as I slowly drifted back to consciousness and mumbled repeated questions like " Is the surgery over?, I can see you" etc to my husband, who was present nearby.
Right now, I am writing this article, while recuperating from my minor surgery.The lump which was removed has been sent for biopsy and I will know shortly as to what it was.
I have written this article in the hope that it will serve as a directive for first timers who are going to undergo surgery.Though you will fear and feel tense during your moments before the surgery.It will be over before you know it and you may even have the opportunity to write about it, like I have.
Please feel free to give in your comments and suggestions.I look forward to reading them.
.