What was your experience with bone marrow biopsy?

Today I had this procedure. Sept 9th 2024, at Fred Hutch Cancer Center in Washington state.

April 2021 I received two Pfizer Covid shots. Soon after I started to get weak, lost 15 lbs (looked like a skeleton) and my platelets became elevated.

Faster forward to Nov 2022 my doctor referred me to Fred Hutch. Fred Hutch diagnosed Essential Thrombocytosis with CALR exon 9 mutation. I started Hydroxyurea 1000mg a day, then 500mg a day, and now 500 mg every other day.

My doctor wanted to verify with a bone marrow asperation/biopsy.

Here's my experience.

I arrived for my appointment and of course they have to weigh you and get your vitals. After that they draw blood, and the nurse who will do the procedure talks to you and tells you what she's going to do and why it's being done. After that you lay face down on the table and lower your pants a little and the nurse feels around on your back hip and finds the right spot. She marks it with an X while the other technician is getting the needles and containers ready for the samples. Next is a local shot to numb the area, then after a while another shot to numb inside your body. That shot gave me a little jolt because she was numbing the bone at that time. When I was numb the nurse got another needle and started doing the aspiration. After the aspiration she took tissue from the bone.

The part from numbing to end was probably around 10-15 minutes. It didn't hurt and didn't hurt last night or this morning. Going to the dentist for a filling is worse than this procedure.

PS. I'm a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, so a lot of prayer went before my procedure. If we have faith in Jesus, God promises to get you thru whatever comes your way.

I had my bone marrow biopsy and aspiration today. As I was lying on my stomach, waiting for the doctor to come in, I felt an unexpected feeling of calmness, which I was very happy about. Much to my surprise, I don't think I felt anxious at all. That's not just me putting on a brave face - I'm not the brave type.

My doctor began by prepping the area and then administering the local anesthetic. I think that was the most uncomfortable part of it all. I've certainly experienced pain far greater in the past. I winced a bit, maybe gnashed my teeth a little. My anxiety level went up. But once the anesthetic took effect, the rest of the procedure was a piece of cake. At some point, my doctor told me that he was going to count to three and by the time he reached "three", I was to take a deep breath. Again, my anxiety level jumped. I was expecting the worst when he reached "three". At "three", I sucked in a bunch of air and...nothing. I felt no pain. Some pressure, some unusual sensations, for sure, but nothing like I had feared.

From the time he administered the anesthetic to the time he removed the needle, I'd say it took no more than 10 minutes.

Getting the results in about a week.

Everyone is different. I don't think there's a right or wrong, just different. Regarding the reputation, I think my wincing, grimacing and audible distress (yes, there were sounds of audible distress - don't judge me LOL) was more because I was anticipating worse to come. Luckily, worse didn't come. But again, everyone is different and needs to do what's right for them.

My experience was like Legacyrock. I think sedation would be overdoing it and unnecessary. The whole procedure is much less than its reputation.

I had my bone marrow biopsy and aspiration today. As I was lying on my stomach, waiting for the doctor to come in, I felt an unexpected feeling of calmness, which I was very happy about. Much to my surprise, I don't think I felt anxious at all. That's not just me putting on a brave face - I'm not the brave type.

My doctor began by prepping the area and then administering the local anesthetic. I think that was the most uncomfortable part of it all. I've certainly experienced pain far greater in the past. I winced a bit, maybe gnashed my teeth a little. My anxiety level went up. But once the anesthetic took effect, the rest of the procedure was a piece of cake. At some point, my doctor told me that he was going to count to three and by the time he reached "three", I was to take a deep breath. Again, my anxiety level jumped. I was expecting the worst when he reached "three". At "three", I sucked in a bunch of air and...nothing. I felt no pain. Some pressure, some unusual sensations, for sure, but nothing like I had feared.

From the time he administered the anesthetic to the time he removed the needle, I'd say it took no more than 10 minutes.

Getting the results in about a week.

I had my bone marrow biopsy and aspiration today. As I was lying on my stomach, waiting for the doctor to come in, I felt an unexpected feeling of calmness, which I was very happy about. Much to my surprise, I don't think I felt anxious at all. That's not just me putting on a brave face - I'm not the brave type.

My doctor began by prepping the area and then administering the local anesthetic. I think that was the most uncomfortable part of it all. I've certainly experienced pain far greater in the past. I winced a bit, maybe gnashed my teeth a little. My anxiety level went up. But once the anesthetic took effect, the rest of the procedure was a piece of cake. At some point, my doctor told me that he was going to count to three and by the time he reached "three", I was to take a deep breath. Again, my anxiety level jumped. I was expecting the worst when he reached "three". At "three", I sucked in a bunch of air and...nothing. I felt no pain. Some pressure, some unusual sensations, for sure, but nothing like I had feared.

From the time he administered the anesthetic to the time he removed the needle, I'd say it took no more than 10 minutes.

Getting the results in about a week.