I have not had a BMB, but plenty of other procedures. It sounds like they must be using some form of anesthesia other than a local. Others have reported just jumping on a bus and going home. One fellow walked. I imagine this is your choice. While I have not had a BMB, I would personally rather opt for some light anesthesia as it can be uncomfortable. This is a minor and very low risk procedure. The hole in your hip bone is small and recovery is usually no big deal.
What is a bigger deal is the skill of the person performing the BMB. This matters not just in terms of your level of discomfort, but also for the quality of the sample obtained. Suggest checking on who will be performing the procedure. This is the main issue my hematologist warned me about for when I do need to do a BMB.
Hang in there at get-r-done. Have confidence that things will go well and you will get the information you are seeking.
I had BMB. I don't have easy transport for Dr appts so not driving is a problem. As Hunter says, you're likely getting a stronger anesthetic. I had just novacain shots during the procedure. Mostly ok, except for one part. I think if he had poured it on heavier it might have helped. As Hunter says and we've seen in posts here, Dr skill is important. If you have good solution for the transport, stronger anesthesia is a fine idea.
BMB is usually not frequent if you get one. But many practitioners do suggest having it at Dx. If you seem to be progressing in the future it can be helpful to confirm details here. It looks at the shape and appearance of your marrow, fibrosis, quantity and shape of cells etc among many things.
Some of the details we get in BMB and detailed mutation studies are for future use as they learn more about what this info means. For example interferon in certain cases can reduce fibrosis, and that would be nice to know if they find any fibrosis at Dx and you were to get INF treatment.
Sorry for abbreviation, Dx is diagnosis. You may see some others here Rx prescription, Tx treatment. I use Dr for doctor. There's others too I think.
2.41 is very low allele, but also unusually precise. Is that in fact 2.41%? You're right that is your allele at Dx. But most of us start many years earlier with some allele before the disease shows up. It can go higher with time. But see below.
It can go as high as almost 100%, (yours is not likely to go anywhere near that high) I have about 19%. You may want to discuss with your Dr about INF (interferon), especially if you are younger. INF can reduce allele and in your case it could be you get that allele even lower to make your MPN if not go away at least be very reduced. But your Dr may suggest just watching your condition with no special treatments.
The other Jak 2 is exon 12, and it is not common. There are no other typical jak2 types for MPN I know of. There is CALR AND MPL and none at all (triple negative)
Be sure to ask your Dr about next generation genetic test, you want to know any other mutations you might have, esp as your Jak2 is so low.
I was on a bone marrow biopsy twice. The first time from the sternum and the second time on the lower back.It’s nothing so scary, and doctors will certainly get a closer look at what exactly is going on with the bone marrow and make the right diagnosis.
An anesthetic for pain is certainly recommended, but they know that in the hospital, they have their own procedure, usually a cream or a spray at the site. It’s not too painful and it’s over quickly. After that, for a couple of days, you feel a little pain at the site of the sting, but nothing is so terrible. It is good to order a taxy or ask someone to pick you up. Although the second time I drove back alone, a short break after the procedure, I thought I could always leave the car, go home by taxi and return the next day to pick up the car, but it was not necessary, I was completely OK afterwards. Don't think about holes in the bone, a minimal bone sample, just for the microskope.
As for recurrence, for me now these 5 years there was no need to repeat the biopsy. And you may have to do it again someday, but it’s certainly not that soon.
Inverter, I had my bone biopsy a couple of months ago. I had a wonderful doctor that did the biopsy and he was very calm and reassuring. Told me everything he was going to do and explained there would be a little stinging. They would not give me anesthesia but deadened with lidocaine. During the procedure I had a sharp pain go down my leg but it lasted just a second. From the time the procedure began, including the lidocaine took me about 45 minutes. I had my daughter take me but found I could have driven home with no problems. I wish you well with your procedure today.
As it happens, I had one this morning! I am in hospital but the process is the same. With the local anaesthetic, it is uncomfortable rather than painful, but gas and air can help. For me, the aching afterwards has been worse so make sure you have plenty of pain relief ready.
When I had my first one in 2001, they used to give sedation but sadly not any more.
I don't know why you've been told not to eat or drink beforehand or not to drive afterwards.
Including this morning's I have had five in my life and the anticipation is always worse than the actual experience.
I had my first BMB yesterday! I was terrified - but I can honestly say I was ok some discomfort when they took the samples but as long as they take the time for the anaesthesia to set in - I feel sore at the moment but nothing that I can’t handle with no pain relief - Here in the UK they allow you to drive so I’m not sure if they will be using something different in terms of pain relief for you - but tbh I didn’t want to drive after and didn’t feel like driving.
I have had a liver biopsy too about 2 years ago and it was very painful so I was so scared that it would be worse - I explained my concerns with the doctor and he was very understanding.
Thanks to everyone, I appreciate a lot having real experience to make me mentally ready.
Honestly I don’t trust much healthcare in Australia , since I’m here I’ve been trough with appendicitis surgery where firstly they ignored for 6 hours at hospital and then after surgery was no information between doctors and me and nurse . I woke up and nurse bring me food and told me to eat … while just after I was vomiting almost straight away , and the doctor arrived to check me made clear I wasn’t allowed to eat and make the meal disappear. Also when I checked online , the food they gived to me , was exactly what should be avoided when have appendicitis surgery .
Same bad experience when I got ulnar fracture, they ignored the fracture , was need surgery straigh away because the fracture was little bit not in line in one side , then after 5-6 hours thinking maybe you need surgery , then they said don’t need surgery . And then they even removed the plaster at first check up after 2 weeks and they didn’t put new one said wasn’t necessary , at second check up at 6 weeks my arm was clearly become bending , and they said I need 4 weeks and by that time my ulnar was like banana, and they again said need another 4 weeks and then I stop listening theyre crazy way treat patients and I had to go private what assess immediately the situation as bad and the only way to fix was break the bone and put back straight . All of this because no one really cared about my health , a simple fracture what should be healed for 6 weeks , lead to 2 years to fix the problem with some extra problem caused by the variation of ulnar to my wrist .
Sorry if I been off topic , but this make clear idea why I worry a lot about health care system here . Maybe they told me to not eat or drink because for some mri is like that and the one worked at booking , maybe have no idea, and just apply standard advice to anything , or maybe is they’re system , I don’t know . That’s why help me really a lot have real experiences knowledge to know exactly wha it’s going on , because I always worry they could forget or miss something. By the way is first time I’m going to that hospital and I hope will be much better of the one I been previously.
I had a bone marrow biopsy a couple of years ago, and although I was very anxious, I was lucky with the practitioner and only had a local anaesthetic and gas and air and I was fine afterwards. Good luck.
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