Day of Biopsy and MORE Squishing

February 12-14, 2026

My workday ended at 5am on Thursday, February 12th and I printed out FMLA paperwork and my disability specific paperwork for the insurance company. While it turns out I didn’t need to take the time as the morning was a whirlwind. 

I checked in with the Nurse Practitioner’s office and had paperwork to fill out. Frankly I was irked by the paperwork as it was EXACTLY the same stuff that the receptionist just verified in EPIC/MyChart. And then I was irked because I waited for what seemed like a long time but I guess I was just early to the appointment. Or, most likely, I was just stressed!

I changed into the same “gown” as my prior appointments and waited for the NP. When she arrived she, of course, had the images and radiology reports and knew the full history but she briefly went over some basic questions relating to first menses and menopause status. 

I have a hormonal IUD so I haven’t had a period since I had that placed, and replaced, beginning in 2009.

Since I was “gowned” she moved me to the exam table and asked me to open the gown. She then must have realized that my son was right behind me because she questioned if I was OK with him there. Yes, yes please! He is my emotional support person and if he’s OK there, then I’m OK with him there too. He was looking out the window at the harvested field anyway. It was a nice view looking out, but cold when actually out. She fondled me for a while and I thought about asking her if she was a pianist because it just seems so methodical and calming somehow. When she was done she said I could get dressed and head downstairs.

As I was changing I told my son that it was just stupid to change as I’d be putting on the same freaking “gown” downstairs to which he said he was thinking the same thing. When I was halfway dressed – I skipped the bra – I got out my water and Xanax and Ultram and treated myself to one of each. 

On the elevator down to the “Breast Center” I asked my son what time it was and it was only 9:05AM. My biopsy was scheduled for 9:30 so I thought I’d have to wait 20-25 minutes for my appointment which should be enough time for the medication to work. I needn’t have worried. I checked in, went to the bathroom, and was called back within maybe 7 minutes. 

I was led to the same locker room, told to change from the waist up into a front tie shirt – the very same one that I had changed into upstairs to meet with the NP – and wait in the same waiting room as just the a few days ago. Man, I was “in my head”; I couldn’t look at anyone and my leg was shaking.

What felt like an hour but in reality was a few minutes, a nurse led me back to a different room than either of the two I visited on Monday. Though this room had an ultrasound machine and bed, it was smaller and set up differently than Monday’s ultrasound room. The nurse asked me for informed consent and took my heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen saturation. I had to laugh because, well, they’re shoving various needles into my breast and taking chunks out of Mel – the name I’ve given the mass. Though my blood pressure is high, it’s not nearly as high as I’d expected.

The nurse confirmed which breast they needed to biopsy and had me take that arm out of the gown before I lay down on the bed. The same ultrasound tech from Monday came into the room and basically copy and pasted the procedure from Monday into Thursday – not literally, but she did take (I’m presuming) the very same readings and measurements. When she was finished she looped my gown back over my breast and then turned the bed around so that the radiologist was in position for biopsy.  

Thankfully, about that time, the Xanax started working, and by the time the radiologist came in the room and reconfirmed everything, I was as comfortable as a person waiting for needles to be shoved in their breast could get.

The radiologist did ANOTHER ultrasound and confirmed Mel’s position before prepping the machine and my skin. My breast was again uncovered and my arm positioned over my head and drapes were placed covering my nipple, underarm, and bottom and side of my breast only leaving enough area for the ultrasound probe and space to insert the needles.

I don’t know if it was just my position, Mel’s position, or the dominant hand of the radiologist but I was able to watch everything as it was happening on the ultrasound screen. Yes, I felt a pinch when the first needle went into the breast with Lidocaine but that was about it until the second specimen was taken. I felt pain and they injected more Lidocaine and that was the end of the pain. 

Watching the procedure was very interesting and the hollow core needle doesn’t get pushed into the breast so much as it’s somehow spring controlled and “shoots” through the mass. I was able to watch it in real-time and I think that was the most interesting part of the whole procedure. 

When I worked at the hospital, it was brand new and they had cameras in every room so I was able to watch A LOT of surgery. Being able to watch my procedure was a unique experience but I also think it helped me disassociate some. Oh, as a side note, the whole thing from the point of view of the ultrasound probe is in my patient portal on MyChart to see as well!

Through the procedure the RN, Interventional Radiology Doc, and the ultrasound tech, and I all carried on conversations. For as medicated as I was with the Xanax, this also relaxed me. Other than the, “you’ll hear a click” warning me of an actual core biopsy being taken, it was a pretty normal encounter. I really liked all three of the clinicians in the room and they were on top of making sure I was comfortable and understanding what was happening at every step.

The very last thing they did was drop a heart shaped marker. I didn’t know that was what they were doing but I don’t think it shows up on ultrasound. When doing my research I was under the impression it was an actual “clip” as that is even what MyChart says but evidentially it’s not.

Once the doctor de-gowned, the ultrasound tech held FIRM pressure on the area of biopsy and after several minutes, the RN took over holding FIRM pressure. I read that this is to control any bleeding that may be happening in the breast tissue.(https://wcinyp.org) You will likely receive printed instructions with your health systems logo. 

I was then led to yet another mammogram room where I was positioned, squished twice, and then taken back to the room where the biopsy took place. From what I’ve read, the last mammogram was to ensure placement of the heart-shaped “clip” that they injected last and the machine is a low pressure machine so while still squished, it isn’t like the screening or diagnostic mammograms.

When I returned to the procedure room, the RN then bound my chest in a very VERY long elastic wrap and advised to keep it on for 24 hours. Your procedure may be different as I expected it to need to stay for 48 hours. This almost comically long bandage had the added advantage of holding my ice packs! The nurse tucked one into the wraps for me before I put on my shirt and advised me to ice for 15 minutes each hour for the rest of the day. 

Showering would have to wait for 24 hours and I was told not to soak the area for a week to 10 days. I kept the wrap on for 48 hours anyway as it was a good holder for the ice packs that I kept rotating out. It wasn’t until late afternoon on the 3rd day that I noticed some bruising. I initially thought that I was having a reaction to the adhesive from the tape holding the gauze on the puncture or “nick” site, but realized it was bruising. Honestly, I thought the bruising would be worse but because of Mel’s position, my arm kept rubbing or resting on that area which caused near constant discomfort. 

What I found that helped was a good fitting COTTON front closure bra. I had purchased a multipack larger than I needed to account for any swelling, but my normal band size compressed more and relieved the discomfort and then Tylenol controlled any residual swelling. 

Very little besides healing was accomplished after the biopsy. I probably could have done a semi-normal routine, and potentially even worked Friday, but I didn’t know so I wanted to be sure that I had ample time to recover before heading back to work.