@gaylea1 @contentandwell @jeanne5009
Have you requested that the lab use a smaller needle? When I am at Mayo, they use very thin needles. When I requested thin ones at my local lab, I was told that they don't 'like' to use them because they cost more. I insisted anyway! Well, now they use them all the time and it has made all the difference for me.
I don't know how much that will help pre transplant, though. But keep it in mind fro after you return home.