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 The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society BBS
 Living with non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
 Bone Marrow Biopsy
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| Author | Topic: Bone Marrow Biopsy |
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MMWife Member |
posted 12-06-2007 12:05 AM
   
My husband has the highest pain tolerance of anyone I know, and to hear him groan in pain during the BMB was HEARTBREAKING. Imagine my anger to find out there IS a more humane method, and most doctors do not use it. Dr. Alec Goldenberg in NYC invented a more humane needle that eliminates a great deal of the pain. Why is it not being used on a wide scale basis? Thats what I'm trying to find out myself. My girlfriend sees Dr. Goldenberg and she's the one who originally told me about it. According to her, the needle is an "upgrade" from the one used standarly and is simply more expensive. I'm not sure this is true, but I will tell you I will ask my husband's doctor about it the next time he orders a BMB for MY hubby. You need to be concerned if someone is not using the most state of the art equipment out there, what else are they doing that is not state of the art? I wanted to help get the word out about this, maybe someone out there has info on this or can lend some thought. Thanks for letting me vent. I don't like to see my hubby in pain, he's going through enough already!!! IP: Logged |
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BillH Member |
posted 12-06-2007 08:38 AM
quote: I also wonder if your husband received adequate pain medicine. I don't have a great deal of tolerance for pain but I can honestly say my BMB was no big deal. When they were giving me Lidocaine and asked if it was enough, I simply said no...a little more, please. IP: Logged |
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JoelP Member |
posted 12-06-2007 08:48 AM
My BMB wasn't too bad either - I think experience and care of the doctor taking the sample plays a large role in the overall procedure. The only pain I experienced was the pain that occurred when my onc "pulled" the sample and that pain lasted only a very short time, mere seconds. The lidocaine given beforehand numbed the area enough that I only felt pressure as the needle was inserted. That being said, I understand that some do have a bad experience and in no way would I want to discount someone's discomfort. Joel IP: Logged |
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AmyL4408 Member |
posted 12-06-2007 11:08 AM
My BMB was very painfull... They gave me a good shot of pain medication about 30 minutes before beginning. I was higher than a kite! But when they started drilling in to my bone, I sobered right up. I was told the Lidocane only works on the skin, fat, surface of the bone. So when they drill in to the inside of the bone, and then remove the part they need for the biopsy... There is no numbing medication to help that. IP: Logged |
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zeusydog2114 Member |
posted 12-06-2007 01:42 PM
I must have had a very skilled oncologist. I had only minimal pain meds. that I had been taking for some time. Although far from a pleasent experience I don't remember it being terribly painful, but then again it was the 2nd day after my first R-CHOP and all I could think about at the moment was trying not to throw up. Zdog IP: Logged |
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Margaret Member |
posted 12-06-2007 08:59 PM
If I ever have to have another bmb, she is going to have to knock me out. I am not going to go thru what I did the second time out. The first one I had done was painful, but not anything I couldn't handle. I had a male doing that one. Maybe it is that a man is stronger, I don't know. I know that the oncologist told me he had grown men screaming in pain and he was so proud of me for handling it. The second one I had done was done by a oncologist who probably weighs a hundred lbs. soaking wet. She gave me the Versid four different times with no effects. I think the reason it hurt as badly as it did was because something happened to the first speciman and she went right back in a second time. My previous boss from Hospice was in the room with me giving me moral support. I was hurting so bad, I was laying there bawling and moaning in great pain. I think probably the worst of my life and I have hurt before. Anyway, she was about 7 months pregnant and she got white as a piece of cotton and I thought she was going to be sick. She said later that she got nauseated watching me in so much pain. Afterwards, the oncologist said "You didn't remember any of that, did you?" I thought to myself "you don't know what you are talking about, but I said "I felt and remember every part of it." I couldn't walk for two days after that. Versid is supposed to make you forget. It didn't work with me. So, I guess my experience was the combination I mentioned above. I hope to God I never have to experience that again. Margaret IP: Logged |
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R0ger Member |
posted 12-10-2007 09:09 PM
Everyone's tolerance for pain is different. many other factor's influence one's tolerance, stress, fear, fatigue, anxiety etc can be major causative factors for increased pain. Mybe, and i'm just playing devil's advocate here, but maybe your presence during the bmb intimidated the doctor and he wasn't on his game? Maybe in your desire to be supportive and protect your husband is disrupting other person's energy fields? Could happen. I would not want an audience for a bmb any more than I would for a rectal exam. Dig? IP: Logged |
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MrJenny1979 Member |
posted 12-10-2007 10:03 PM
Well I have some good news for the future. According to WebMD, they will be able to gather the results from a simple blood test. http://www.webmd.com/video/bone-marrow-blood-test I hope this is true! IP: Logged |
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jesslk Member |
posted 12-10-2007 11:28 PM
For my first BMB I insisted that they knock me out completely and it was no big deal. When I went for the second opinion the doc at MSK did it right then and there with no medicine at all - NEVER AGAIN!!! I just don't know why I would ever put myself throught that when there are other options available. Give me a Vicodin at the very least!  Jess IP: Logged |
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GaryGallant Member |
posted 12-16-2007 08:25 PM
Mine was done at Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto. It was not so bad. Sure it hurt, but only for several seconds. I would not hesitate to do it again. I understand that some doctors are more experienced than others, and there are different techniques. I got a good one. IP: Logged |
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joyandherboys Member |
posted 12-17-2007 07:12 AM
I have had 3 in a 5 month span, with only a local and though it was NOT comfortable and I certaintly don't see myself jumping up to offer to get another one, they were not unbearable. Something I have heard is that the more skilled Docs can do them with almsot no pain, I have been told countless times that my Doc is so wonderful at them. Also, the mosre you have done the worse it is. My third one was much more uncomfortable then my first one. Then again, the first one was much more difficult to get done he said and the third one (which came back clean for lymphoma) was easy as pie for him to do. So maybe the amount of Lymphoma in the marrow has something to do with it? IP: Logged |
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barlee2005 Member |
posted 12-17-2007 08:34 PM
Well I don't belong on this site because I had AML, but since I've had many BMAs I'll chime in anyway. I have always insisted on lots of drugs with BMAs because I'm a namby-pamby when it comes to pain. Why should a cancer patient have to deal with any more than they are already dealing with from the disease if there is an alternative? Sometimes I had to be quite assertive because it is much easier for them to schedule these when you don't need to coordinate with the anesthesia crew. I'm somewhat of a pain in the you-know-what but I don't really care. As for the new procedure on the video, please post if you hear any more about this. I see my onc tomorrow and want to make sure he's well aware of it. Thanks for the heads up. IP: Logged |
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bb50 Member |
posted 12-17-2007 08:46 PM
When I had my first (and only) bmb, I was an inpatient already,and had an IV in place. The hematologist came in my room and told me they wanted to do the BMB, I looked at her in horror, and she reached in her pocket and showed me two vials of versed (midazolam) - halleluliah! I was absolutely snowed, and didn't feel a thing! I had my friend (who works in the hospital) come up to my room, we did the BMB right there and then, and that was that. I think my nurse was more nervous than me at the amount of versed I was given - but hey, whatever works! If I ever need another one, I'll be asking for the Versed cocktail again - Take Good Care - Bev 
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Jenny1979 Member |
posted 12-20-2007 06:19 AM
I never want to experience a BMB again in my life but I know I'll have to. Next time I'm going to insist they put me to sleep during it. IP: Logged |
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Jez Member |
posted 12-20-2007 03:38 PM
Mine wasn't so much painful, it was more odd. I think she hit a nerve, as I had a sensation that I had wet myself, and I was horrified, but it was just a sensation. Very weird, sort of like going to the dentist, but in an entirely different area altogether. IP: Logged |
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Jenny1979 Member |
posted 12-23-2007 07:09 AM
The wetting myself feeling is my favorite part of the CT Scan I giggle.
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lisafromphilly Member |
posted 12-29-2007 05:56 PM
Had my BMB on 12/28. I was so scared from all I had read - plus, I do not do well with "procedures" of any nature. I had Lanocaine (spell?) for the local and that numbed me up good. I had taken an Ativan 1/2 hr. befor procedure. Mostly I felt pressure, and maybe a second, here and there of pain. That was it. Not what I expected, but certainly NOT something I'd want to do again. Please note that you can insist on IV conscious sedation, done in a hospital setting. My hema/onc. basically ignored my initial inquiry and follow-up calls until the night before. Then she called and said well, if you really want it, we'd have to reschedule for the hospital, anistesiologist, etc., and with the holidays, it may be a while. I said that at this point, NO, I'll just do it with the local, but made her know I was not happy about her lack of response and that this conversation should have taken place a week ago and then the IV arrangements could have been made. Just be insistant, if you truly need IV sedation. For me, it turned out OK with the local. And, get a lot of the local, as others have said. I think I had the worst week leading up to this, as I was so anxious. It was terrible. But, in the end, the procedure was bearable. We asked if my husband could be in the room; she would have allowed it if I insisted,but said that she's had some bad experiences with that in the past and preferred to have her own staff. So, that is what I did. They were all really good; I have to say that. She told me that my bones was very hard; which normally is great, but for BMB, not so great. She had to go in 2nd time to get the marrow sample, but that went quickly. Good luck to everyone. I still don't know my problem. have had low RBC and WBC for about 2 montshs (originally went to dr. for muscle cramps, and then saw rhumatologist). Am now aneimic....everything else has been OK so far. B12 was fine, ultrasound of abdomen (liver/spleen), was fine, tested negative for HIV, etc....so I hope it is not cancer. Hem/Onc said she did not think that that was going to be the problem, so I hope she is right. IP: Logged |
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robd@g! Member |
posted 12-31-2007 01:39 AM
I thought my tolerance for pain was high too, however when I had my BMB, my wife who was sitting in the waiting room heard me scream and yell. Maybe the doc was not as skilled, not sure but they will have to knock me out before I go through that again. My Lymphoma was in my left lower eye lid and I went through a biopsy where I unfortunately was awake and watched the whole thing (another terrible experience) along with radiation treatments to my eye. I handled that fine and am proud to say I am still cancer free. That BMB was a bitch! IP: Logged |
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lisafromphilly Member |
posted 12-31-2007 09:39 AM
Happy to hear you are cancer free. My results won't be in until 1/11. Hope they show no signs of cancer. Timing really stinks. My birthday is the 16th and my son's is the 20th. We are going to celebrate a week earlier, so it is not around when my results come in. Then, 2 days later, son goes back to college. Hope to send him back with good news. Then, still would need to find out why my counts are low. Actually, the day of my BMB,my white count was back in normal range.... IP: Logged |
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Laura 1221 Member |
posted 01-02-2008 02:28 PM
My question is this. When does someone have a bone marrow biopsy? By bloodwork, scans? IP: Logged |
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lisafromphilly Member |
posted 01-03-2008 03:30 AM
My BMB was done due to the fact that I have had low red and white blood counts for about 2 months and the cause had not been determined. The low counts caused anemia. My B12 was fine, my ultrasound of Abdomen, (liver, spleen, etc.), was fine, etc. So, my understanding is that they need to see if the marrow is the cause. My dr. thinks that it is being produced, but exploding somewhere ..... (I think this is acurate). IP: Logged |
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tony g Member |
posted 01-03-2008 03:50 AM
The needle wasn`t too bad for me but the feeling of having all the marrow being vacuumed out from my hip to my toes is one I certainly dont want to experience again in a hurry.....Tony IP: Logged |
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