[Nikkitalcal]

Bone marrow biopsy with conscious sedation - options?

by Nikkitalcal on Sat Aug 02, 2014 9:50 pm

Just wondering if anyone here has gone to a clinic or doctor other than than their usual to have a bone marrow biopsy done with conscious sedation?

My clinic here in NY absolutely refuses to give anything other than lidocaine and Ativan [lorazepam].

I've been searching the Internet and it seems some clinics a few states away offer their patients some conscious sedation, but I don't know if I can go there just for a biopsy.

So I'm just wondering if anyone has done this?

As you can imagine, I'm having a lot of anxiety over this. I know cancer hurts more than the bone marrow biopsy, but I have a low pain tolerance.

Anyway, my M-spike is 0.65 and bone scan is clean.

Thank you for your time,
Nikki

[Wayne K]

Re: Bone marrow biopsy with conscious sedation - options?

by Wayne K on Sun Aug 03, 2014 10:13 am

Mine is done at the hospital, but it is with lidocaine. I believe the problem is in the risks. Sedation is not without risks, although minor, and the pain is about 5 seconds in duration.

I don't find the pain comfortable, but I don't find it unbearable either, and the doctor that does mine always counts to 5 and that seems to help. I suppose concentrating on the count and knowing it is ending quickly has a psychological effect.

[Multibilly]

Re: Bone marrow biopsy with conscious sedation - options?

by Multibilly on Sun Aug 03, 2014 12:43 pm

There were a lot of comments regarding bone marrow biopsies recently on this thread:

"Bone marrow biopsies: Am I a wuss?", Beacon forum thread started December 13, 2013.

[Beacon Staff]

Re: Bone marrow biopsy with conscious sedation - options?

by Beacon Staff on Sun Aug 03, 2014 12:49 pm

Hi Nikki,

In addition to the link Multibilly provided (thanks Multibilly!), you also may find some useful information in this discussion,

"Where to get general anesthetic for bone marrow biopsy?", Beacon forum thread started March 26, 2014.

Also, this link will take you to all forum discussions related to bone marrow biopsies. (There are a couple of unrelated discussions in the list, but most are related to bone marrow biopsies.)

Good luck and please let us know what you find out.

[Dianem]

Re: Bone marrow biopsy with conscious sedation - options?

by Dianem on Sun Aug 03, 2014 1:04 pm

Hi - When I had a bone marrow biopsy [BMB] about 3 years ago, I thought it was very painful during the aspiration (about 5-10 seconds). They used lidocaine and after it was done there was zero pain.

Recently, I was asked to attend a BMB with a friend. She knew I had one and wanted support. Although we used the same oncology clinic, she said during her BMB she felt more pressure than pain. The only difference was mine was administered by a NP, whereas hers was done by the hemotologist.

After her procedure, I asked the doctor (has been doing BMBs for 25 years) why my friend didn't feel as much pain, and he said it may be due to a very slow aspiration procedure. My friend said she didn't understand why I experienced pain and she did not.

[wesley]

Re: Bone marrow biopsy with conscious sedation - options?

by wesley on Sun Aug 03, 2014 2:33 pm

I can second, from experience of three unsedated bmb's, that SLOW aspiration is key.

Thanks

Wesley

[Nikkitalcal]

Re: Bone marrow biopsy with conscious sedation - options?

by Nikkitalcal on Sun Aug 03, 2014 9:12 pm

Thank you all very kindly for the replies, I will read all the links. Really scared but resigning myself to it.
Nikki

[rumnting]

Re: Bone marrow biopsy with conscious sedation - options?

by rumnting on Sun Aug 03, 2014 10:38 pm

Don't resign yourself to it - call around and find a place that will offer you sedation. Why suffer? My husband has had 3 while sedated. He is alert right away, and never even remembers them doing the procedure.

[gmarv]

Re: Bone marrow biopsy with conscious sedation - options?

by gmarv on Mon Aug 04, 2014 9:54 am

Hi Nikki,

Try not to let it worry you so (easier said than done). Things are very seldom as bad as our mind makes them out to be. I have had 5 bone marrow biopsies and only 1 hurt (and it was not that bad) and, as the next one came due, I spent a lot of time worrying and then it didn't hurt much more than a blood draw.

Anyway, here's to hoping it goes well.

marvin

[Toni]

Re: Bone marrow biopsy with conscious sedation - options?

by Toni on Mon Aug 04, 2014 11:35 am

I will have my first BMB this coming Friday. When I met with the consultant she told me she could give me just the local or she could give me something else in addition (I don't remember what she offered). I told her I would probably be too anxious so I'd like the additional anesthesia, whatever that might be.

I have pain a lot due to fibromyalgia and degenerative disk/impinged root nerves, so my body is already in "high alert" mode. If the body and mind are relaxed then you can endure much more. I hope you get the anesthesia you wish and some kind of resolution so that it is not a painful experience.