What was your experience with bone marrow biopsy?

I talked with my RN as my next BMB is in a few weeks. She knows the whole team that does the BMB's. She said the name of the fellow i said was a little bit tougher? She said he is using that male extra. A bit more oomph. I said yes, the female is gentle and smooth in completing this procedure. My RN says they will do sedation. I like that the hospital accommodates all of us.

That is a definite yes, It can be painful. I was off my feet for about almost 2 weeks and couldn’t lift anything. It takes a little time to heal from that biopsy.

I forgot to say that i use the site numbing, not sedation. I love the idea people can have sedation so this procedure can be done with little to no pain. I have one in a month, then 6 months and then a year, I think. Lori talked about it, but i forgot. No sense filling my head with those things I will do anyway if the doctors ask.

I have had multiple bone marrow biopsies. I have only used local anesthetic, which has worked well for me. Usually, I have other scans or tests after the biopsy, so I have not asked for sedation. I walk for a day or so like I just got off a horse - but otherwise, I am lucky to feel OK.

Counting down the time helps when getting the biopsy. I learned this from the person at Mayo who was doing the biopsy. He would count down the number of seconds each time the needle was inserted. It kept me focused on the countdown—a great distraction!

Welcome to Connect, @billyp and thank you for sharing your experience with having bone marrow biopsies. I had to chuckle with your description, “I walk for a day or so like I just got off a horse.”, yup, that pretty much sums it up!
I guess all told, I’d much rather have ridden the horse than have the biopsies. 😅

But biopsies are important and help our doctors with diagnoses and treatments. May I ask what your bone marrow biopsies were for? Have you been diagnosed with a blood cancer or blood disorder?

Have MDS … have done bone marrow biopsy with a lidocaine injection … a little uncomfortable but very tolerable… second was with a propofol… very light sedation

Both ways good … less stressful is light sedation… procedure takes more time

Hi @nbert and welcome to Connect. It’s nice to have the option for propofol with the bone marrow biopsies, isn’t it? That’s my preference from now on. Plus I like waking up to juice and Lorna Doone cookies. 😉

Since you’re new to the forum, I’d like to give you a couple of links to MDS discussions. More can be found by typing in MDS or Myelodyplastic Syndromes in the upper search bar. That will bring up all the conversations for you.

This discussion with @momz @nbadry @rrivory @honeymae and others would be a good place to begin:
Living with MDS
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/living-with-mds/
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Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS): When do you need to start treatment? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mds-2/
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MDS: How to improve my condition in watch & wait? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mds-3/

How are you doing with your MDS? Are you in treatment at this time or in an active surveillance period?

My bone marrow biopsy was yesterday. Lidocaine did a fairly good job of dulling the drilling (a few seconds of level 5 pain while she was finding the sweet spot) drilling into the bone didn't hurt and the vibration was interesting. Now I have a compression bandage that covers much of my right upper butt. It will take about a week to see if I have SMM, MM, or likely AL amyloidosis. If I were to get a tattoo it would be a barcode with my 70 yo birthday as a use-by date (every day from then is a gift). Positive attitudes are tough to keep, but important.

Hi Kay, I about choked on my morning tea with your tattoo idea! And Use By is much better than the expiration date! 😂
Wishing only good news on the BMBX! Let me know, ok?

My plasma cells from my bone marrow biopsy are 15% so the doc thinks I now have SMM. No test results yet for AL amyloidosis. He said kappa amyloidosis is rare, but it just less common than lambda amyloidosis.