If anyone comes to this forum, the way I did, before completing all of the tests surrounding MGUS and multiple myeloma, you may be worried about having a bone marrow biopsy. Only a few weeks ago, I didn't even know what it was, only that it sounded dreadful. When my hematologist broached the subject, I interrupted to say "we can cross that bridge when we come to it". (My father always said that to me when he felt that I was getting ahead of myself.)
Well, we came to that bridge last week and I had made a HUGE mistake on the way there. Once the appointment had been made, I felt my anxiety about having a bone marrow biopsy going off the chart. I knew that I needed to "put my big girl panties on" and face my fears. I thought a little research might help better prepare me for the inevitable. Knowledge is power, isn't It? So, I read a lot of descriptions of the procedure, read the forum posts here, and then somehow ended up watching a YouTube video of a doctor doing the procedure.
I offer the following caveat: DO NOT watch the YouTube video prior to the procedure!
Foolish me. The end result was to gin up even more unnecessary fear. By the time the procedure came around, I was truly terrified. I had considered cancelling my appointment altogether. After forcing my husband to watch the YouTube video, he said he would understand if I wanted to cancel. After sleeping on it, I realized that I need to be a cooperative patient. I may need to turn to those people for help someday and I want to maintain a good relationship. It would also be worse for me to put it off and live with dreading it cropping up at every future appointment.
The reassurance: There was NOTHING to fear.
I was embarrassed by how I had ginned up so much fear in myself over nothing. It was definitely uncomfortable, definitely not unbearable. Even with some minor difficulty obtaining part of the sample, the procedure still ranked rather low on a scale of one to ten. It is not on my list of things I want to do again. Hopefully I won't have to. If there is a next time, I'll know that it is simply uncomfortable. It looks far worse than it feels. Don't look!
Forums
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kap12 - Name: Kristine
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself (IgA MGUS)
- When were you/they diagnosed?: September 2016
Re: Bone marrow biopsy - videos cause unnecessary fear
Yes, they can be something that one does not look forward to! Congrats on getting it done. Something like "Feel the fear, but do it anyway". My last one (of many) had me falling asleep during the procedure! The doctors had never experienced that before!
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GaryH - Name: GaryH
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Nov./97
- Age at diagnosis: 44
Re: Bone marrow biopsy - videos cause unnecessary fear
I've had 4 bone marrow biopsies, the first two without conscious sedation, and the last 2 with conscious sedation. One of the non-conscious sedation biopsies was very painful, the other one no so much.
If I have a choice, I will always have the conscious sedation, because they're less painful and I worry less leading up to them. For anyone dreading their next bone marrow biopsy, I suggest asking for the conscious sedation.
If I have a choice, I will always have the conscious sedation, because they're less painful and I worry less leading up to them. For anyone dreading their next bone marrow biopsy, I suggest asking for the conscious sedation.
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DallasGG - Name: Kent
- Who do you know with myeloma?: myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 6/20/2013
- Age at diagnosis: 56
Re: Bone marrow biopsy - videos cause unnecessary fear
I read your post a day or two ago and took great comfort in it because I have been stewing over my upcoming bone marrow biopsy. I had it this morning and you are correct. It was uncomfortable but not unbearable. I will say my nurse practitioner gave me a butt load of lidocaine!
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twoswyfts - Name: Judie
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Oct 4, 2016
- Age at diagnosis: 61
Re: Bone marrow biopsy - videos cause unnecessary fear
Hello,
I would also mention that, like many people, even though I have no problem in visiting the dentist, I would still not wish to watch a video of somebody having fillings or extractions carried out. Watching such things would definitely not help me with my next dental appointment! Even when it comes to simple blood tests, and I must have had hundreds, I never look. It is good enough for me that the nurse is watching what she is doing. So I would strongly agree. Do not give yourself this extra stress by watching videos.
Best Wishes,
Victor L
I would also mention that, like many people, even though I have no problem in visiting the dentist, I would still not wish to watch a video of somebody having fillings or extractions carried out. Watching such things would definitely not help me with my next dental appointment! Even when it comes to simple blood tests, and I must have had hundreds, I never look. It is good enough for me that the nurse is watching what she is doing. So I would strongly agree. Do not give yourself this extra stress by watching videos.
Best Wishes,
Victor L
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Victor L - Name: Victor L
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 2012
- Age at diagnosis: 58
Re: Bone marrow biopsy - videos cause unnecessary fear
I was just thinking ...
I had done this to myself over an arterial blood draw, something I had to do as part of the pre-stem cell transplant workup.
Having, by then, had two bone marrow biopsies, and a bunch of other painful procedures, I was expecting horror. I had been told that this sort of thing hurts like crazy (my father was horrified that I was going to have to 'go through it'; I managed to forget that my father has a thing about needles of any sort).
I had wound myself up to the point that I honestly think I would have preferred a root canal without anesthesia, and I"ve actually HAD one of those, and it's as painful as one would imagine.
But come the moment, nuttin.' Didn't even feel the needle. I've had worse experiences at my monthly blood draw, by far, and frankly? That has never bugged me any. The anticipation and fear were far worse than the actual experience.
Now, I can't say that about my two bone marrow biopsies, but everybody is different. You can't tell what the experience is going to be like until you actually have one. Now I have told my docs that I won't have another one unless I'm "not there' for it. Period.
But that's just me. There are many other multiple myeloma patients who honestly can't see what the fuss was all about!
I had done this to myself over an arterial blood draw, something I had to do as part of the pre-stem cell transplant workup.
Having, by then, had two bone marrow biopsies, and a bunch of other painful procedures, I was expecting horror. I had been told that this sort of thing hurts like crazy (my father was horrified that I was going to have to 'go through it'; I managed to forget that my father has a thing about needles of any sort).
I had wound myself up to the point that I honestly think I would have preferred a root canal without anesthesia, and I"ve actually HAD one of those, and it's as painful as one would imagine.
But come the moment, nuttin.' Didn't even feel the needle. I've had worse experiences at my monthly blood draw, by far, and frankly? That has never bugged me any. The anticipation and fear were far worse than the actual experience.
Now, I can't say that about my two bone marrow biopsies, but everybody is different. You can't tell what the experience is going to be like until you actually have one. Now I have told my docs that I won't have another one unless I'm "not there' for it. Period.
But that's just me. There are many other multiple myeloma patients who honestly can't see what the fuss was all about!
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dianaiad - Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Officially...March 2013
- Age at diagnosis: 63
Re: Bone marrow biopsy - videos cause unnecessary fear
Ok, guys. I will tell every one how I was ashamed of myself a few days ago when I had a bone biopsy done. I told the doctor I would not have it done unless I was put to sleep. Being that I had it done 9 years ago just a little numbing. So when I got to the hospital and they took me to a room to prep me, I was very angry and sat in my wheel chair, telling the nurse that I was going home. The nurse said let's talk to the doctor first.
So as I sat there waiting, I said to myself, shame on you. I told the nurse to get me ready and said to him that I would pray my way through this. I also knew how important it was for me to get it done. So by the time I got the IV in my arm the doctor came in and knew how nervous I was and said he would give me meds to make sure I didn't feel anything. The nurse at that point had already started to give me something and I didn't even have time to pray. The next thing I remember I was putting my shoes on and going home. The procedure went great.
So now if I may ask if you guys will keep me in your prayers while I wait for the results.Thanks
So as I sat there waiting, I said to myself, shame on you. I told the nurse to get me ready and said to him that I would pray my way through this. I also knew how important it was for me to get it done. So by the time I got the IV in my arm the doctor came in and knew how nervous I was and said he would give me meds to make sure I didn't feel anything. The nurse at that point had already started to give me something and I didn't even have time to pray. The next thing I remember I was putting my shoes on and going home. The procedure went great.
So now if I may ask if you guys will keep me in your prayers while I wait for the results.Thanks
Re: Bone marrow biopsy - videos cause unnecessary fear
Prayers sent!
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countrygirl - Name: Countrygirl
- Who do you know with myeloma?: IgG MGUS
- When were you/they diagnosed?: September 2016
- Age at diagnosis: 35
Re: Bone marrow biopsy - videos cause unnecessary fear
I had to laugh at this post recalling my own experience. When I was first diagnosed with MGUS in 2003, I had a bone marrow biopsy by the kindly, well regarded oncologist, and it was the most painful thing I had ever had done! But the biopsy I had in February 2016 was near to nothing - the APN said she trains doctors to do them. haha We've come a long way, baby!
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Bev6851
Re: Bone marrow biopsy - videos cause unnecessary fear
I was so nervous before my bone marrow biopsy. I have a pretty high tolerance to pain, though, so I was determined to do this. Just so happens that the APN that did the biopsy was a fellow student with my daughter and from my hometown. She was amazing! She talked to me the whole time, and of course I was given something to relax me before the procedure.
I agree! Don't watch the videos and don't search the Internet. Everybody has a difference experience with it. If someone has severe anxiety issues, they might need some sedation, but all in all, it is not that bad.
SwMorgan
I agree! Don't watch the videos and don't search the Internet. Everybody has a difference experience with it. If someone has severe anxiety issues, they might need some sedation, but all in all, it is not that bad.
SwMorgan
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swmorgan - Name: Shan
- When were you/they diagnosed?: August 2016 IgM MGUS
- Age at diagnosis: 54
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