What was your experience with bone marrow biopsy?

As long as I don't see the instruments in any procedure, I can go somewhere else in my head. That's also my approach to dental procedures. My BMB was done w Xanax and Lidocaine. Nothing terrible, all jabs felt momentary. Over in 10 minutes. But some people report bad pain. Everyo e is diff.

My experience was the best possible. I arrived, was put in a gown, and given a sedative. I woke up with a wad of gauze on my hip. I did not feel the procedure at all. When I got on my feet to go home, the only thing different was it felt like someone had knuckle punched me on my hip. It was felt for about four days.
Having been misdiagnosed originally, the bone marrow exam revealed an accurate diagnosis. Multiple tests were sent off but the diagnosis came from the pathologist’s microscopic analysis. The other tests were more for staging my myelofibrosis. Luckily for me, my only mutation was of JAK2 which was confirmed with the bone marrow.
Ask if you can have a sedative. If not, seek a place that does.

bmarkable. Your message will go to the end. Hopefully someone will give you an answer to that question.

As to the drug, I see Reblozyl is given to treat anemia in adults with certain blood disorders.
Summary. Danazol is a synthetic steroid and pituitary gonadotropin inhibitor used in the treatment of endometriosis and symptomatic treatment of severe pain and tenderness associated with benign fibrocystic breasts.

What are you being given the Danazol for?
From my experience and what i have read, I know some drugs are used for a number of conditions.

Sorry, but I find it difficult to know how to enter the discussion without just replying to one post. Could the Coordinator tell us?
My question is: has anyone had significant improvement from DANAZOL tablets or a new injection I have been given:
REBLOZYL, for myelofibrosis? Thanks.

I fully believe it is the skill and attention of the one doing the test. I had mine 60 years ago with only the local used at the time (they mentioned red soap). Of course I did not know in advance what was going to happen so apprehension did not play a role. Maybe they took more care since mine was done in a children's hospital. That was long before the assembly line approach to BMB. If I ever need a second one, I will make sure whoever does it meets the standard set 60 years ago.

gardening junkie- I bet they have for sure. For me, the instruments to get both samples look ancient. It is the skill of the PA i think that made mine less painful. Lidocane 1%. Your CLL is story is what many wish for. God's grace.
I hope it lays dormant for a long, long time.

I'm happy for those who report little or no pain- times have changed it seems. I'm glad people are educated and have a choice of sedative or local pain treatments.
My BMB was 24 years ago and I still remember the incredible pain, deep and hurtful. I was I told I would be given something that would help with pain and also make me forget, clearly it didn't work. Back in those days I never asked the names of the medicines or had the internet for research. Believe me I have learned to my homework about doctors, diseases and treatment.
You could compare this pain to natural childbirth, which I had. I thought I was pretty tough. When you have a BMB and that horse syringe goes into the bone it was pretty close to the same intensity as natural childbirth, it just doesn't last as long.
On the bright side, even with a positive diagnosis of Chronic Lymphcytic Leukemia, CLL, how can I complain? After smoulding with this disease for 15 years with blood counts worsening, surprising my doctors and myself, without any treament I had a spontaneous regression and have had normal lymphocytes and blood counts for the last 10 years. I'm told there is no cure for CLL, even if it regresses a BMB could find it dormant in the marrow. Yet, I'll pass on that as long as my blood counts are normal.

Hi @tamara, I want to add my welcome along with @pmm. I’m so glad you found us too. Connect is a wonderful forum where you can talk with so many other members who share your similar diagnosis of Essential Thrombocythemia. You’re not alone here!

I’d like to invite you over to this discussion where you’ll meet @janemac @nohrt4me @pumpkin1 @1995victoria and the others…
Essential Thrombocythemia https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/essential-thrombocythemia-26a26f/

Feel free to pop into the discussion with any questions you might have. More ET discussions can be found by typing ET or Essential Thrombocythemia into the search box on top.

Is your next appointment to discuss the results of the biopsy?

I have an appointment in a little over a week. I have already been diagnosed with ET with JAK2 V617F mutation. I am negative for BCR ABL1. My hematologist has started me on Aspirin and wants to start me on Hydroxyurea. I asked to wait to start it for a few weeks until I started the Aspirin as I suffer from GERD already. So this may make things more difficult as I have not been able to tolerate Aspirin in the past.
I am relieved to find this web page as I was feeling very alone in my diagnosis.

My husband has had three bone marrow biopsies in the last year. We insist on sedation, as he had two done years ago with only local anesthetic and it was much too painful. Never again.