What was your experience with bone marrow biopsy?

Hi @nbert and welcome to Connect. It’s nice to have the option for propofol with the bone marrow biopsies, isn’t it? That’s my preference from now on. Plus I like waking up to juice and Lorna Doone cookies. 😉

Since you’re new to the forum, I’d like to give you a couple of links to MDS discussions. More can be found by typing in MDS or Myelodyplastic Syndromes in the upper search bar. That will bring up all the conversations for you.

This discussion with @momz @nbadry @rrivory @honeymae and others would be a good place to begin:
Living with MDS
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/living-with-mds/
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Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS): When do you need to start treatment? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mds-2/
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MDS: How to improve my condition in watch & wait? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mds-3/

How are you doing with your MDS? Are you in treatment at this time or in an active surveillance period?

Have MDS … have done bone marrow biopsy with a lidocaine injection … a little uncomfortable but very tolerable… second was with a propofol… very light sedation

Both ways good … less stressful is light sedation… procedure takes more time

Welcome to Connect, @billyp and thank you for sharing your experience with having bone marrow biopsies. I had to chuckle with your description, “I walk for a day or so like I just got off a horse.”, yup, that pretty much sums it up!
I guess all told, I’d much rather have ridden the horse than have the biopsies. 😅

But biopsies are important and help our doctors with diagnoses and treatments. May I ask what your bone marrow biopsies were for? Have you been diagnosed with a blood cancer or blood disorder?

I have had multiple bone marrow biopsies. I have only used local anesthetic, which has worked well for me. Usually, I have other scans or tests after the biopsy, so I have not asked for sedation. I walk for a day or so like I just got off a horse - but otherwise, I am lucky to feel OK.

Counting down the time helps when getting the biopsy. I learned this from the person at Mayo who was doing the biopsy. He would count down the number of seconds each time the needle was inserted. It kept me focused on the countdown—a great distraction!

I forgot to say that i use the site numbing, not sedation. I love the idea people can have sedation so this procedure can be done with little to no pain. I have one in a month, then 6 months and then a year, I think. Lori talked about it, but i forgot. No sense filling my head with those things I will do anyway if the doctors ask.

That is a definite yes, It can be painful. I was off my feet for about almost 2 weeks and couldn’t lift anything. It takes a little time to heal from that biopsy.

I talked with my RN as my next BMB is in a few weeks. She knows the whole team that does the BMB's. She said the name of the fellow i said was a little bit tougher? She said he is using that male extra. A bit more oomph. I said yes, the female is gentle and smooth in completing this procedure. My RN says they will do sedation. I like that the hospital accommodates all of us.

I had a BMB in 2021. I was fully anesthetized. The only problem I had was the side effects of the anesthesia, which I've experienced before. There were no complications; I just felt loopy for hours after the procedure. On a good note, my oncologist placed a note in my records recommending medication that mitigates side effects. Best of everything to you in your journey.

You can ask for sedation.

I have had three BMB. The first one was fine by a make doctor no numbing and it did hurt. The other two were fine by a female oncologist who is now my doctor and she used numbing and constantly asked me if I was ok and I was. I just could feel pressure at times. But like others have said I tremble in the dentist chair. Have to take an Ativan before I go to get through it all.