I am scheduled for a bone marrow biopsy (BMB) next Tuesday and feel very nervous about the procedure. I am taking meds 30 mins before, so hopefully that will keep me calm. I am sure I am "over playing" in my head, but I have seen on here some not so good stories about it.
As long as I have medication during the procedure, is it better? Just need to know that it helps!
Thanks
Forums
Re: Bone marrow biopsy procedure - feeling nervous
Hi cslatosch,
I think people's experiences with bone marrow biopsies run the gamut from "piece of cake" to "worst thing I've ever experienced." Luckily for me, I was close to the "piece of cake" end of the spectrum. Here are the things that helped me get through it. I was very nervous, too, as I had read about how horrible the experience was for some people.
Good luck!
I think people's experiences with bone marrow biopsies run the gamut from "piece of cake" to "worst thing I've ever experienced." Luckily for me, I was close to the "piece of cake" end of the spectrum. Here are the things that helped me get through it. I was very nervous, too, as I had read about how horrible the experience was for some people.
- The skill / approach of the person doing the biopsy - My primary oncologist said beforehand that she was very generous with the local anesthesia and she wasn't kidding. Ask how much local anesthesia will be used and request that the person tell you exactly what he / she is doing as it is done. She and her assistant also talked a lot in general and I think it was on purpose; it distracted me.
- Take something like Ativan (lorazepam) to relax beforehand (have someone drive you to the procedure if you do this) - My oncologist also gave me a script for Ativan. My BMB was scheduled for early afternoon. I was a nervous wreck about this procedure, so she told me to take one dose the night before, and one before the procedure. It makes a big difference. My husband drove me to and from the procedure (I was floating a little bit and was certainly not able to drive
)
- Take a painkiller about an hour beforehand - She had me take an over the counter painkiller about an hour before the procedure. I can't remember which one it was, though.
Good luck!
-
FingersCrossed - Name: FingersCrossed
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Oct 2014 (Smoldering)
- Age at diagnosis: 44
Re: Bone marrow biopsy procedure - feeling nervous
Hi cslatosch,
I had the procedures about 7 times now. The first time I was very nervous, they gave me some pills to help calm me down. The pain wasn't as bad as I thought, just the 3 sharp pain that's last about 10 seconds each, and they talked to me thru the whole procedures so I knew what's coming. I think the noise when they're tapping the bone was what made me nervous more than anything else. After that, you might have some soreness for a few days.
Good luck
I had the procedures about 7 times now. The first time I was very nervous, they gave me some pills to help calm me down. The pain wasn't as bad as I thought, just the 3 sharp pain that's last about 10 seconds each, and they talked to me thru the whole procedures so I knew what's coming. I think the noise when they're tapping the bone was what made me nervous more than anything else. After that, you might have some soreness for a few days.
Good luck
-
Kaew
Re: Bone marrow biopsy procedure - feeling nervous
Thank you for your responses. I truly appreciate them and will tell myself it will be ok. Thanks again!
Re: Bone marrow biopsy procedure - feeling nervous
Our facility automatically provides conscious sedation. I wouldn't do it any other way. I remember the procedure, but not the pain.
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Toni - Name: Toni
- Who do you know with myeloma?: self - MGUS
- When were you/they diagnosed?: April 2014
- Age at diagnosis: 51
Re: Bone marrow biopsy procedure - feeling nervous
I just had my 17th bone marrow biopsy – am now 13 years since diagnosis, and have had 2 transplants (2004 and 2009) – and like every other one, the anticipation is always worse than the actual event. Not that they are pleasant, or walks in the park, but in the end it's not as bad as I feared it would be.
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allenbonslett - Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 12/2003
- Age at diagnosis: 43
Re: Bone marrow biopsy procedure - feeling nervous
I was nervous too with my first one, but who would not be? I have had about 5 now and, while I do give it some thought if I am going to have one, I do not dwell on it. It is going to hurt, but should not be the worst pain of your life.
There is the brief burning and sharp pain when the first local anesthesia is injected, much like at the dental office. I find that the drilling into the bone is not that bad, but it certainly feels a bit weird and unsettling to feel someone drilling into you bone, I can sense the pressure and vibration of the drill.
After that, much depends on whether they are going to do just a biopsy, which is taking out a small core sample removed with a large gauge needle-like device, or if they are going to do an aspiration, which is taking out a larger sample like drawing it out with a syringe type device, which hurts more. I found when they draw out an aspiration sample is when the pain is the sharpest, but it last only briefly, for about 5 to 10 seconds, and there is not much the anesthesia or any pain killer I take ahead of time seems to do for that.
Once they are done, I found I have little or no pain at all, and I drive myself home. I, too, have read about others having a really bad experience, and for others it was a piece of cake. Like others, I think a lot depends on the technique and experience of who is doing the procedure. There is also variation in how stoic or how much pain people can tolerate. I keep thinking about how the information the biopsy can provide is very important and there is a good reason for doing all this.
It is probably a good idea to wear some sort of sweat or track pants with an elastic waistband. Then you can keep them on and simply pull the waistband down while you lie on your stomach to expose your lower back and pelvis easily, without having to undo a belt, buttons, or zipper. And, when they are done, they can just clean up, put the small bandage over the hole, and then lift the waistband back up. It kind of feels like your entire rear end is exposed, but it is not.
Lying on your stomach facing the wall is good, as then you cannot see what all is going on, which is probably a good thing if you do not like the sight of blood or the drill. There could be a table set up with lots of glass pathology slides where they smear the aspiration sample on them. They should keep that out of your sight. Just look ahead and listen to them talk with you. That is how they do it at my doctor’s office. I suppose others may put you in a gown.
There is the brief burning and sharp pain when the first local anesthesia is injected, much like at the dental office. I find that the drilling into the bone is not that bad, but it certainly feels a bit weird and unsettling to feel someone drilling into you bone, I can sense the pressure and vibration of the drill.
After that, much depends on whether they are going to do just a biopsy, which is taking out a small core sample removed with a large gauge needle-like device, or if they are going to do an aspiration, which is taking out a larger sample like drawing it out with a syringe type device, which hurts more. I found when they draw out an aspiration sample is when the pain is the sharpest, but it last only briefly, for about 5 to 10 seconds, and there is not much the anesthesia or any pain killer I take ahead of time seems to do for that.
Once they are done, I found I have little or no pain at all, and I drive myself home. I, too, have read about others having a really bad experience, and for others it was a piece of cake. Like others, I think a lot depends on the technique and experience of who is doing the procedure. There is also variation in how stoic or how much pain people can tolerate. I keep thinking about how the information the biopsy can provide is very important and there is a good reason for doing all this.
It is probably a good idea to wear some sort of sweat or track pants with an elastic waistband. Then you can keep them on and simply pull the waistband down while you lie on your stomach to expose your lower back and pelvis easily, without having to undo a belt, buttons, or zipper. And, when they are done, they can just clean up, put the small bandage over the hole, and then lift the waistband back up. It kind of feels like your entire rear end is exposed, but it is not.
Lying on your stomach facing the wall is good, as then you cannot see what all is going on, which is probably a good thing if you do not like the sight of blood or the drill. There could be a table set up with lots of glass pathology slides where they smear the aspiration sample on them. They should keep that out of your sight. Just look ahead and listen to them talk with you. That is how they do it at my doctor’s office. I suppose others may put you in a gown.
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Eric Hofacket - Name: Eric H
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 01 April 2011
- Age at diagnosis: 44
Re: Bone marrow biopsy procedure - feeling nervous
Practice your breathing, try and relax, and soon it will be done. It's really not a problem for most.
Then, you can write newbies, and be an 'old salt', like the rest of us.
Good luck.
Then, you can write newbies, and be an 'old salt', like the rest of us.
Good luck.
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Rneb
Re: Bone marrow biopsy procedure - feeling nervous
Eric Hofacket wrote:
Eric,
Funny you should mention the placement of the slides. I was on my stomach, facing a wall, but the table with the slides was set up to my left. If I turned my head to the left, the table was easily visible. The oncologist was obviously pleased with the aspiration sample she got, as she had to show it to me: "Look at this. This is a great sample!" I actually didn't mind seeing it.
Lying on your stomach facing the wall is good, as then you cannot see what all is going on, which is probably a good thing if you do not like the sight of blood or the drill. There could be a table set up with lots of glass pathology slides where they smear the aspiration sample on them. They should keep that out of your sight. Just look ahead and listen to them talk with you. That is how they do it at my doctor’s office. I suppose others may put you in a gown.
Eric,
Funny you should mention the placement of the slides. I was on my stomach, facing a wall, but the table with the slides was set up to my left. If I turned my head to the left, the table was easily visible. The oncologist was obviously pleased with the aspiration sample she got, as she had to show it to me: "Look at this. This is a great sample!" I actually didn't mind seeing it.
-
FingersCrossed - Name: FingersCrossed
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Oct 2014 (Smoldering)
- Age at diagnosis: 44
Re: Bone marrow biopsy procedure - feeling nervous
Just wanted to throw in my 2 cents worth on the bone marrow biopsy.
So far, I have had two of them. The first one was scheduled two weeks out from a visit I had with my oncologist. I read the sheet they gave me on BMB procedures. I didn't have too much time to think about it, as they called me two days later and said we have a patient that canceled their appointment – can you come in today? I said, sure, let's just get it done.
I was asked to lie on a table that was sort of like a message table that your head would face downward, and I had a pillow that was placed under my waist area. My oncologist talked to me the whole time about any pain or discomfort. I went through it with no discomfort at all. The second BMB went the same way.
I was told by his nurse that several of his patients who had a BMB at other facilities spoke of some pain. But theire outcome was the same as mine. No Discomfort.
My oncologist explained to me that when he does the injections to numb the area, he first gives one small amount at the BMB site, then does some in a circle around the site. He then is very precise to enter the center of that circle. I never had any drugs to keep me calm during the process. Never needed them.
Hope this helps,
Castaway.
So far, I have had two of them. The first one was scheduled two weeks out from a visit I had with my oncologist. I read the sheet they gave me on BMB procedures. I didn't have too much time to think about it, as they called me two days later and said we have a patient that canceled their appointment – can you come in today? I said, sure, let's just get it done.
I was asked to lie on a table that was sort of like a message table that your head would face downward, and I had a pillow that was placed under my waist area. My oncologist talked to me the whole time about any pain or discomfort. I went through it with no discomfort at all. The second BMB went the same way.
I was told by his nurse that several of his patients who had a BMB at other facilities spoke of some pain. But theire outcome was the same as mine. No Discomfort.
My oncologist explained to me that when he does the injections to numb the area, he first gives one small amount at the BMB site, then does some in a circle around the site. He then is very precise to enter the center of that circle. I never had any drugs to keep me calm during the process. Never needed them.
Hope this helps,
Castaway.
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Castaway - Name: George
- Who do you know with myeloma?: just myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 1/24/14
- Age at diagnosis: 62
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