Bone marrow biopsy

[Sepsur]

Good morning everyone,

I just wanted to report that I received a completely & I mean completely painless BMB this morning. I thought Emma was still administering the local anaesthetic 🤣🤣🤣.

It confirms to me the importance of being treated by specialist nurses & medical teams.

I was given a BMB at my local hospital 3 yrs ago which went on for 45mins, was agony & deeply unpleasant so much so that it traumatised me.

After a 90 day stay in ICU, 2yrs before this, I’d like to think I could endure all manner of unpleasantness & discomfort - today proves that many of aftermaths of these procedures are dependent upon the competence of those administering them.

[JigFettler Volunteer]

Good to hear from you! Yes, indeed good to share good news / reassuring stuff.

Jig

[Sepsur in reply to JigFettler]

😊

[Justasheet1]

Congrats Sep, if anyone deserves a break it’s you.

[Sepsur in reply to Justasheet1]

😊

[cajunjeff]

Good report Sepsur. Considering you are a well known beekeeper, can you tell us how many bmb’s you have had, how many bee stings you have had and how they compare? Where is the worst g rated spot to get stung in your opinion? 🐝🐝 I think we can all imagine the x rated spot where we would prefer bees not visit. 😇

[Sepsur in reply to cajunjeff]

🤣🤣 - to be honest having your lungs suctioned in ICU is horrible, lumbar punctures are horrible but they all paled to insignificance in light of that one BMB experience. A ‘thorough’ colonoscopy isn’t fun, nor is an endoscopy for that matter - I wasn’t sedated for either & the gas and air was a no no because I felt like I was paralytically drunk.

I’ve had a skin biopsy taken from my face, 4 chest/lung biopsies & several biopsies on my stomach - all of which were disconcerting.

The most painful bee-sting was on the end of my thumb, although last week, I must have caught one in the folds of my suit. She stung me through my suit & clothes in the crook of my arm - followed by at least 50 more - right in the same spot. They feel a bit like a nasty nettle sting which wears off fairly quick - especially if you smear the area with honey. What is more annoying is that they itch like hell for about a week after.

My neutrophils & white cell blood count was slightly elevated today from this onslaught ( we all surmised).

Edit - I’ve had 4 BMBs knowingly - 1 or 2 when I was in a coma.

I’ve got one hive that always stings the beejesus out of me - so I tend to go in there with armour plating - it’s a bad year for wasps which is pissing them off rightly - so probably 100 + stings. They feel the same as a badly taken blood sample

[Dago12345 in reply to Sepsur]

My bmb was okay I’ve had two so far. I have bees too and this time of year they get a little nasty! Keep up the good work on them.

[GMa27]

So glad you had better experience. I had 3 & never felt anything. I hate hearing the stories of torture some endure as you did in the past. And good for you to be brave enough to try it again after what you went thru. 🙏💕

[Sepsur in reply to GMa27]

🤣🤣 - I don’t think I had much choice - trial protocol

[GMa27 in reply to Sepsur]

Awww you still deserve a medal ! 💪🥇

[Hidden]

Well said!

[Sepsur in reply to Hidden]

🙏

[studebaker]

I am very happy for you and keeping everything crossed for uMRD results.WELL DESERVED 🤞🏻🤗

How are you feeling theses days Miles?

Dana

[Sepsur in reply to studebaker]

Pretty much back to my old self thank you 😊 how are you?

[studebaker in reply to Sepsur]

I am still in the faze of Rituximab, which I finish in November and Venetoclax in February 2023. Plans are developing for celebration 🎉 This time, the treatment seems to be working and there is a hope for long remission 🙏🏻Actually, my heart failure is giving me more trouble than CLL/SLL.

Enjoy your “old self” and stay safe Miles 🤗

Dana

[Sepsur in reply to studebaker]

Thank you 🥰

[Ghounds]

Pleased to hear you had a good experience Miles, you must have been dreading it after your horrible previous experience. Fingers well and truly crossed for UMRD!

[Sepsur in reply to Ghounds]

Thank you - it’s nice to hear them use the term ‘deep remission’.

Looking forward to ringing that bell!!!

[Ghounds in reply to Sepsur]

There won't be a dry eye in the place that day!

[Sepsur in reply to Ghounds]

😊

[Eric70]

This is so true. I have had BMB three times now, and although not exceptionally painful the last one was perfect. In fact I didn't know the procedure had been carried out. It most definitely down to the competence of the staff. The very best of luck, regards Eric.

[clladytime in reply to Eric70]

I totally agree. The worst thing for me was a blood pressure cuff that was extremely tight and stayed on my arm the whole time.

[Eric70 in reply to clladytime]

Let us hope that the only thing that troubles us is the blood pressure cuff.

[Ange324]

I'm due a bmb at some point, but im scared of the pain after having a liver biopsy. The biopsy itself was fine, it was all the needles with the anaesthetic injections to numb the area that had me crying. So many and so painful. I know it may sound childish but not having anyone's hand to hold, or to hug afterwards made it all the more traumatic for me.

[Floxxy]

I totally agree, I've had both bad and good ones. X

[RosettaClapp]

wow you were just so lucky ..when I had one last year administered by a specialist nurse, it was as painful as child birth I am due for another when my treatement finishes in March next year and I am dreading it

[Sepsur in reply to RosettaClapp]

Oh dear, yeh I’ve now had 3 which have been fine & 1 which was horrendous - it has taken me nearly 3yrs to get over the horrendous one so I feel for you. I refused to think about it until I was in the room and did plenty of yoga breathing exercises. I find spinning my foot clockwise then anti-clockwise helps whilst lounging on my side waiting for the inevitable, it forces my brain to concentrate on another part of the body. Best of luck when it happens.

[Smakwater]

I" know' right?

BNB does not have to be a military operation.

JM

[Hidden]

You've been through the procedural wringer Sepsur, Glad this time no big deal!

I haven't had any that were terribly bad, but some more stubborn than others. Whether it's the personell or luck of the draw, I don't know.

I saw my Dr yesterday and will be headed for another BMB soon.

[Sepsur in reply to Hidden]

🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻hope it brings good news

[Angie4now]

Wow! You’ve been through a lot. Praying it will turn out good. Best Angie

[Sepsur in reply to Angie4now]

🙏

[Angie4now in reply to Sepsur]

🙏🙏🙏🤗

[Hidden]

Wow...and sorry to hear all you went through previously. Well & happy wishes & prayers headed your way!!

[Gardengirl44]

Thank God. I am happy for you.

[Catnap7]

Yep I have had bad ones and good ones Might have been who was delivering but I am thinking it was more the ear plugs and timing of my Lorazepam that made

it ok

[Sepsur in reply to Catnap7]

😀😀- for me it’s definitely been the contractor - the same person was brilliant & renowned ( apparently)

Ps - ear plugs? I wasn’t aware of any sound because I was talking two to the dozen

[Catnap7 in reply to Sepsur]

On My first BMB the drill was so loud it was frightening

[Sepsur in reply to Catnap7]

Ah ok - mine wasn’t mechanical, it was done by brute force.

[Catnap7 in reply to Sepsur]

Oh no … on my first the drilling went on and on and it was loud … I got it down now👍 I’m sure there will be more in the future Best to you Catnap7

[Jacksc06]

Glad it went smoothly, I have had two in recent years, not good experiences at all. Best wishes.

[Sepsur in reply to Jacksc06]

Oh dear

[SERVrider]

Well done Miles. I've had one and was lucky that my oncology nurse/practitioner did it really well. Uncomfortable when she ran the hand-tap into the bone but that was only momentary. I didn't even know she'd done the aspiration.

[ViPOR]

I have a trial doctor that would come in early just to do my bone marrow biopsies. She is so good at it that I always want her to do it.