Bone Marrow Biopsy & Aspiration

Did they do a JAK 2 blood test? This is what happened to me before I was diagnosed with Polycythemia Vera. Most doctors will diagnose after the lab work but some insist on bone marrow biopsy. Positive JAK 2 mutation and labs can confirm. Good luck!

I had the mutation blood work as well but I don’t know how to read it as there is no values just says not provided for most items then a statement about something being 5%.
I don’t follow up with dr until end of October so no answers is stressing me out. This is definitely a learning process.
Thanks and good luck as well.

I definitely had a stressful time up to and after being diagnosed. I’ve always been healthy and just being 56 was shocked at a PV diagnosis. Once you get it figured out, you’ll deal and take time to process. My husband had a liver transplant and I was very grateful to use his oncologist/hematologist and not have to wait so long for appointments. He was booked up for four months and got me in in two weeks. Labs took a while but he called me every time. Most facilities are not like this sadly. Keep us posted. Stay positive!

I get lab results on my phone then I google them if I don’t understand them. With the mutation I couldn’t find anything. I asked the dr and she just said we will discuss all results at my follow up end of October.
How long did it take to get the results of the bone marrow biopsy?
Hope your husband is doing well and glad you were able to have his dr to turn to.

I would urge you to get back in touch with your primary care doctor about the symptoms you are experiencing. I have had five or six bone marrow biopsies, and my own experience with them was quite different. The bone marrow biopsy itself involves discomfort, but they used a lot of lidocaine, and after I knew what to expect it wasn't so bad. They offered me fentanyl in addition to the lidocaine Afterwards I had some mild soreness for a few hours but I did not have any other symptoms after that. I have never experienced leg pain or leg discomfort after a biopsy.

Good morning, @annahanna2005. I can certainly appreciate how frightening all of this is for you. Especially having tests run and then not having any follow up for a month. It also looks like you’ve recently moved. So on top of trying to find your footing in your new community, you now have a medical drama to contend with. I’m happy you found our Connect community so you don’t feel quite so alone.

If you had your bone marrow biopsy and aspiration Tuesday, it’s now Saturday. From my experience it’s too soon for all of the results to have been completed. It can take at least 7+ days to get the full panels run. There are some components of the testing which requires days to accomplish with sophisticated technology. So if the clinic isn’t able to accomplish some of the tests in-house, they will be sent out to labs such as Mayo Clinic.
Please don’t read too much into anything you’ve received so far. It can be pretty alarming to read and not understand the terminology or what it means in the context to your health. So my recommendation is to try and avoid searching with Dr Google for a diagnosis or even an interpretation.

What you can do is wait another week and then call the hematologist’s office to speak with a nurse practitioner. Make sure you convey to them that you’re experiencing new symptoms and you’re concerned. Ask if you can get in sooner or be on a cancellation list! Also, because your platelets have been increasing, if you feel unusual pain in your leg, it gets hot/sore, or things don’t feel right, have it checked to make sure you’re not experiencing any blood clots.

Were you ever told to take a baby aspirin? May I ask how high your platelet level is and your WBC? Are all your other blood values normal?

Thank you. The only pain I’m experiencing today is lower back pain. But I do get on and off so not too concerned plus not sleeping right.
No they didn’t tell me to take anything, I’ve been taking Tylenol. My platelets were in low 4’s in 2016, I had mouth cancer in 2017 and have been cleared from that, today they are 535 and just keep going up. Wbc was 11 a month ago today it’s over 12.

I chose not to do the bone marrow biopsy. The doctor did the JAK 2 and some other specific tests and said they can diagnose without it. Treatment is the same so he said no need. Many doctors push for it but maybe your labs called for it? Some people want it, not in belief either. A PV diagnosis doesn’t need it for confirmation.

Ok didn’t know that. Thanks

Bone marrow biopsy is the only way to confirm Mylofibrosis. It diagnoses what level by measuring scarring. I have had three to monitor any change in scarring. Fortunate so far…I have ET a with Jak2 and multiple genetic markers which reall confirm nothing, but the increase in number can increase risks. Currently switched fro Hydrea to Jakafi….certainly feel Less medicated…good luck
Steve