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Very anxious about bone marrow biopsy

Posted by tamlyn74 @tamlyn74, Jun 4 10:14pm

My doctor recently diagnosed me with ET. My platelets on 6/2 were 1189. I have to go back in two weeks for labs and another checkup. He said we will discuss bone marrow biopsy. What can I expect when procedure is being performed?

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golferpat47 | @golferpat47 | 4 days ago

I have had two with freezing in the fresh part of my hip. Both biopsies were not painful just a little discomfort when they went in the bone.
I am having a third one soon and not worried at all!

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tamlyn74 | @tamlyn74 | 2 days ago
In reply to @hanya "Hello friends! I have PV WHICH TURNED INTO MF !! Had three BMB BIOPSIES ALL IN..." + (show)
@hanya

Hello friends!
I have PV WHICH TURNED INTO MF !! Had three BMB
BIOPSIES ALL IN doctors offices!! They used a large needle to remove bone and bone marrow!! The third
Biopsy was very painful!!
Need a forth BMB BUT delaying because I know how bad it will be ! I am taking JAKAFI FOR ABOUT A YEAR !! My numbers are all in RED LOW !! Anemic so fatigued always !
My doctors did not use a drill ! Only large double needle!! When time comes and I must have another BMB I will go to interventional radiology
It will cost more but I cannot have any other way
Hate to say this ! But the pain was excruciating!!
Friends ! Ask good questions before any invasive procedure! GOOD LUCK TO ALL!! 💕

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How do you cope with the tiredness? I am struggling. Can barely make through the day.

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dottie47 | @dottie47 | 1 day ago
In reply to @sonieaml "I have had 3 BMB and each one wasn’t bad. The first was done right in..." + (show)
@sonieaml

I have had 3 BMB and each one wasn’t bad. The first was done right in my hospital bed when I was diagnosed! They loaded my hip with lidocane numbing agent. The sound of the drill was more disturbing than the procedure itself!
The 2nd one was also done with local numbing in my hip. The 3rd was done in a surgery center under light sedation. With all 3 I had only pressure sensation and some tingling. My experience has been
The folks who do BMB do them all the time and are skilled technicians. If your MD orders a BMB I hope your experience is similar to mine.

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Agree 💯 it was actually horrifying to me! I didn't know we could request with our Dr to be fully sedated I was under the impression that I would be so I wasn't too happy. The worst was sound of the drill and smell of the flesh and the pressure they had to keep telling me to stay still so not sure if they didn't give me enough lidocaine or what but it's was not a pleasant experience for me at all .

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2 replies
dottie47 | @dottie47 | 1 day ago

I suggest you tell your Dr before the procedure if you want to be fully sedated instead of twilight depending on how you think you can handle it. I was under the Impression I would be fully sedated until the day of the procedure when they told me I needed to tell my Dr that before the procedure so I was stuck having to do twilight. I have horrible anxiety that's why I was hoping i would be fully sedated. The worst part is hearing the drill and not sure if it's cause they didn't give me enough lidocaine or what but I could feel a lot of pressure and was a bit uncomfortable for me . But yeah if you aren't sure how you would handle the procedure tell you're Dr before the surgery date you want to be fully sedated rather than twilight. Best wishes 🙏

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sonieaml | @sonieaml | 1 day ago
In reply to @dottie47 "Agree 💯 it was actually horrifying to me! I didn't know we could request with our..." + (show)
@dottie47

Agree 💯 it was actually horrifying to me! I didn't know we could request with our Dr to be fully sedated I was under the impression that I would be so I wasn't too happy. The worst was sound of the drill and smell of the flesh and the pressure they had to keep telling me to stay still so not sure if they didn't give me enough lidocaine or what but it's was not a pleasant experience for me at all .

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I am sorry your experience was so horrible. Do make certain your care team is aware so IF you have to have another BMB they can make the appropriate arrangements. Best wishes to you.

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njwrstlr | @njwrstlr | 16 hours ago
In reply to @dottie47 "Agree 💯 it was actually horrifying to me! I didn't know we could request with our..." + (show)
@dottie47

Agree 💯 it was actually horrifying to me! I didn't know we could request with our Dr to be fully sedated I was under the impression that I would be so I wasn't too happy. The worst was sound of the drill and smell of the flesh and the pressure they had to keep telling me to stay still so not sure if they didn't give me enough lidocaine or what but it's was not a pleasant experience for me at all .

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I have had that bone marrow biopsy done . You definitely need the sedation. I cant imagine the pain if you did not have sedation. My insurance covered the sedation(anesthesia) but later they tried to get me to pay the bill for that . My insurance was supposed to pay for everything regarding the procedure so united healthcare contacted me to contact them and they paid the entire bill. But, that area where they took my bone marrow sample from me was sore for about two weeks after .

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1 reply
dottie47 | @dottie47 | 2 hours ago
In reply to @njwrstlr "I have had that bone marrow biopsy done . You definitely need the sedation. I cant..." + (show)
@njwrstlr

I have had that bone marrow biopsy done . You definitely need the sedation. I cant imagine the pain if you did not have sedation. My insurance covered the sedation(anesthesia) but later they tried to get me to pay the bill for that . My insurance was supposed to pay for everything regarding the procedure so united healthcare contacted me to contact them and they paid the entire bill. But, that area where they took my bone marrow sample from me was sore for about two weeks after .

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Yeah they took it from my spine it was horrible but didn't want to scare the original posted 😂 I hope you are doing well now 🙏

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