Bone marrow biopsy 2 times same day : Today I did... - MPN Voice

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Bone marrow biopsy 2 times same day

Inverter profile image
28 Replies

Today I did BMB, I have been clarified why I couldn’t eat for 4 hours , was related to intravenous sedation , they offered me 2 type of sedation but I chose the strong one to make sure I wasn’t feel any discomfort.

Like many said , the procedure didn’t give me any pain.

By the way unfortunately I had to do 2 times , not sure if the doctor did mistake or if my bone marrow has something wrong.

After finished the procedure they bring me back in the normal room, and then they said me they didn’t found what they needed, and I had to go again.

After around 1 hour arrived another doctor, someone from another floor , someone in high position , arrived there only to make my bone marrow biopsy , did in other side of body and told me everything was ok this time and now waiting for the result.

Probably because of 2 sedation , on the way to go to hotel in taxi , I was very close to vomiting , I was ok for 2 hours in hospital after the procedure, but with start and stop in the traffic I was almost vomiting.

About blood test , I got new result yesterday and looks like is going worst .

Till 2 weeks ago I had only high platelet 542

Yesterday I had

HCT 0.51

RBC 6.1

Platelet 525

This test was made with 10-12 hours fasting , I can’t remember if I drink less then usually and maybe that affected the result.

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28 Replies
Hopetohelp profile image
Hopetohelp

Wow that sounds like bit of an ordeal. Hope you ok

Inverter profile image
Inverter in reply toHopetohelp

At moment I’m feel bad not sure if is for the biopsy or for the sedation.

I was feel seek during 5 km travelling in taxi , almost vomiting , then after 1 hour in the bed I was feeling good again , then I had to go to bathroom and I was ok , but the moment I pee I started feeling unwell , like dizziness , nausea, and then so badly to almost falling , I never had fainting like that in my entire life .

I checked temperature and was 35.2 and then back to 35.9 almost my normality.

Now I just feel nausea , hopefully soon I will feel better .

The hospital told me was very unusual doing 2 BMB , not sure if they removed too much liquid Or the double sedation make me feel like that .

In the discharge paper looks like in case of intravein sedation like I choosed Is advice 24 hours before driving , probably because of this sick feels and probably because I got double dose , I’m feeling worst like that

I’m so sad why we have to feel sick like that , I feel so unlucky

hunter5582 profile image
hunter5582 in reply toInverter

What you are reporting is really common with sedation. I always have then load me up on anti-nausea meds any time I go under sedation. A scopolamine patch is really helpful. There are other meds they can give you with the IV. The nausea should pass in about 12 hours or so.

We do not, of course, know what the problem was with the first BMB attempt. Your level of hydration would not have been the issue though. The skill of the person doing the procedure makes a big difference. Sounds like they bought in a more skilled doc for the second try.

Hope you are feeling better soon.

Hopetohelp profile image
Hopetohelp in reply toInverter

Probably like Hunter says it’s the sedation that made you feel sick. So hoping you feel better soon x

Cja1956 profile image
Cja1956

So sorry you had such a rough time. I never heard of having 2 BMBs in one day. would be so angry that they didn’t get it right the first time. I hope you feel better soon.

Inverter profile image
Inverter in reply toCja1956

My big worrie now is if they did mistake or if my bone marrow in that side was dry .I feel like I’m living in a nightmare, I hope to get good result next few days.

Cja1956 profile image
Cja1956 in reply toInverter

I hope so too.

EPguy profile image
EPguy in reply toInverter

So sorry for your experience. Hoping all goes well.

MaggieSylvie profile image
MaggieSylvie in reply toInverter

I don't think you have been treated very well. Two anaesthetics in one day! Too much. As for having two BMBs - well I had two but the doctor who was doing the probe looked at the sample and was able to say immediately that it was not enough and that another biopsy would need to be done. Then I was given the choice of coming back another day or having it straight away. It was so painful that there was no way I was going to experience this twice, so I said "No, go in again now while you are already there." I do not regret that. However, I had no sedative, no pain killers that I can remember, and was given no choice in that, and the thought of having another BMB at some point frightens me. The sample was of fluid and a little bit of bone. I think it was the lack of bone in the first sample that caused the inadequacy. I wonder why you had to have a second anesthetic. You would still be affected by the first one and perhaps they could have given you a local anesthetic instead of knocking you out again. Most people are a little sick after one but you had a double dose!

Inverter profile image
Inverter in reply toMaggieSylvie

Is basically same situation, the only difference my doctor was probably not confident and not sure to know what to do and he needed to speak with his superior.

That’s what wasted precious time what could avoided the second sedation.

Was Huge difference between first and second doctor, first one asked me many time to change position, with his hand touched me all the bones to exactly understand where to go , while second one been straigh forward know exactly where to go .

Also the first one is giving me pain while walking while the second one I feel like is already healed .

I can confirm is huge difference between a good and a bad doctor in BMB.

For me was a must doing BMB thst day , firstly because remanding was delaying probably of 2 weeks, and i want know as soon as possible what’s is going on inside me, secondly I’m in long distance relationship and covid keep me and my partner apart for Over 2 years and finally end of may I’m going to see her again and choosing between health or her was a sad situation, on top of that I have to drive 2 hours and take hotel and that’s why not worth comeback home without result , was a mast and when they asked me I said straigh away yes!

By the way about second sedation was my error , the good doctor didn’t wanna do and told me we can do without, they started like that , but I was feeling everything and I got scare and while first time was totally painless , I asked if they could sedation me again, and he looked me wrong like a dad what cannot say no to a child and then he agree … probably because everything happened during procedure otherwise if he would know before I wanted sedation , probably he was going to let me know the risk as well of 2 sedation.

Basically i been weak to doing without sedation but if first doctor was doing well, the second sedation wasn’t needed, by the way better the send the better doctor because if he was going doing again and again wouldn’t found anything, by now I would having lot of nightmares why they couldn’t find and I would have to do again another day.

Piperpeeps profile image
Piperpeeps

I hope you feel better soon. I’m sorry to hear they had to do BMB twice! Yikes!

Barbiebreath profile image
Barbiebreath

Wishing you well. Take it slow and easy today.

katiewalsh profile image
katiewalsh

Hi. Try & relax & don’t worry. It’s possible that nothing is wrong. My BMB was done by someone without as much experience so that may be all the problem was. Its too bad you didn’t get any anti-nausea medicine. Please don’t leave your hotel room until you feel normal. And if you keep feeling sick please call your clinic or doctor. BMB & MPNS can make us very anxious at different stages which makes us feel worse. Don’t worry about your blood test scores right now. Wait for your doctor to tell you how you are. But remember to let us know how you are please. Take care. Katie

katiewalsh profile image
katiewalsh

I think it’s best when people are really anxious to not cause more anxiety if possible. I saw this with respect.

Inverter profile image
Inverter

I’m back to hospital because I was feeling too bad , I called ambulance and after 1 hour they told me if taxi would be fine and taxi arrived after another hour waiting .

Basically I called at 7 pm and hospital is only 5km far and took me 2 hours .

Then I had to stay till 10 am waiting in the chair in the waiting room.

They didn’t even provide no food or water in emergency waiting room.

Luckily I bring some water and some fruits.

Then finally when they accepted me this morning after over 13 hours waiting, they started take care of me , they give me 2 injections of ondansetron but didn’t work , the nausea still there , as soon i eat or drink something I feel vomiting , dizziness, tired for around 2 hours.

My biggest worry is still about BMB, yesterday I was too scared to say , but second attempt when the doctor said they found what they was looking for, showed me a container with liquid inside , but was clear not red like blood like I see in every video or pictures of BMB.

The hardest part is this nausea what cannot go away even is been already 24 hours post sedation and waiting for the result.

I have appointment on Wednesday and I really hope to get good news and accept this situation in one of the best scenarios as possible.

BlastedKnees profile image
BlastedKnees in reply toInverter

yesterday I was too scared to say , but second attempt when the doctor said they found what they was looking for, showed me a container with liquid inside , but was clear not red like blood like I see in every video or pictures of BMB

They probably showed you a core sample, which is the bone marrow itself not the fluid in the marrow. The core sample is in a clear fluid - I think this is how it looks regardless of the condition of the bone marrow.

My advice is to relax and let the doctors do the analysis. There’s nothing you can control, so let it be and don’t cause yourself a lot of stress. I know it’s easy to say and hard to do, but try doing something that keeps your mind off the BMB.

EPguy profile image
EPguy in reply toInverter

As Blasted Knees says, the clear liquid has your marrow sample in the liquid. The nurse shown mine to me after the procedure. It means they did get what they needed, which is good.

Hope to hear your results Wednesday.

Inverter profile image
Inverter in reply toEPguy

Omg , thanks for both of you , this is removing from my head a lot of bad thinking till the day of result.

Yes I saw the clear liquid in one container similar the one of urine test , already close and they said exactly they found what needed.

What made me scare was see different from everyone, comparing that clear liquid to the red liquid see in the syringe.

Knowing what they showed me is common to be like that, is something what is changing everything in my mind and feel I still have lot of hope.

By the way the nausea looks like is gone since yesterday night .

Lasted around 36 hours , probably I have to accept my body is weaker then what is used to be and take more time to fight problems and recovery.

My last surgery was in March 2019 for ulnar surgery and I didn’t have any nausea, that’s what make me feel bad this time , a nausea what wasn’t go away and comparing to few years ago I felt like this is not me and maybe is something else . By the way looks like the nausea problem should be over , soon I will go out hospital and I hope nausea will not comeback

EPguy profile image
EPguy in reply toInverter

So good news you're feeling better.

The marrow sample looks like a tiny, pale, tree root in the liquid. It's not that easy to see in the bottle, but your Dr seems to have got it quite well.

I agree on the anesthesia, I've had many operations, and the waking up experience is different each time.

Scaredy_cat profile image
Scaredy_cat

This sounds horrible. When I've had bmb I've not had sedation and am now really pleased at that choice. The last time I had to have 2 because of the degree of fibrosis. It was painful but transitory and I'm a proper wimp so if you have to have another consider drug free.

Inverter profile image
Inverter in reply toScaredy_cat

Did you get you too 2 BMB in row ?They actually wanted do the second one without sedation but I asked , because first one I didn’t feel anything at all and I just thinked worked so well why change way … I didn’t think about consequences even because I had 4 surgery with general anestethyin my life and never I had any problems .

By the way my worry maybe is not the sedation but my stomach , sedation maybe just make mor evident .

The Hospital is not intentioned In doing anything because for them is because of sedation , but now is already been around 30

Hours since sedation

I’m feeling very tired , feel like I need sleep , then I try to sleep and feel I’m not enough tired to sleep , I feel I’m hungry but then eat one small piece and feel I can’t eat anymore even I’m still hungry .

Still feel nausea and dizziness , worst feel I have so far my body is giving all contrasting signal

Scaredy_cat profile image
Scaredy_cat

The doctor couldn't get anything out of the first attempt so tried a few minutes later

Inverter profile image
Inverter in reply toScaredy_cat

I think same what happened to me, the difference the doctor before take action wanted to talk to his superior, because to me they said done , made me feel everything was done as expected. Then they bring me to the room , and I see suspicious talking, I heard my name 3 times and only at that time they told me wasn’t successful, and then I had to wait some more expert doctor arriving , probably took 1 hour between first and second biopsy.

Too many thinks make me feel I have MF I’m already preparing for the worst and my best wish and pray are to receive good news on Wednesday

Inverter profile image
Inverter

About blood test I cannot remember the old one and I don’t have here with me , but basically was only platelet higher.

Last blood test what my gp asked me to do was a more complete blood test and I had to fasting and the result comeback little bit scary considering I’m jak 2 positive

Was

HCT 0.51

RBC 6.1

Platelet 525

While the morning before BMB still fasting but less hours then previous test

HCT 0.47

RBC 5.57

Platelet 370

After BMB ashen I back sick to hospital

HCT 0.46

RBC 5.54

Platelets 410

And high white cell 12.9 my body probably was sick because sedation ( usually I’m between 6-10)

The day after when I got fluid

Injected in the vein (one package)after few hours they took blood again and was

HCT 0.43

RBC 5.18

Platelet 345

Basically looks like the level of hydration have huge impact on my blood, when I fasting I also drink less and my HCT, RBC and platelet go higher .

If I have lot of fluid inside , looks like the blood test is quite good, I think

Canbrit profile image
Canbrit

My husband had to have a BMB when he was first diagnosed with PV to get a baseline. They had to do it 5 times! It was a cancer teaching hospital. They told us the younger you are, the harder it it is to “snap” the core sample as the bones are stronger. In older people the bone is more brittle and easier to remove the core. I don’t know your age but perhaps this is why they had to attempt it twice. My husband said it was one of the most painful things he has had done. I was in the room and I was in tears just watching! My husband was not sedated and did not have any nausea or sickness.

Inverter profile image
Inverter in reply toCanbrit

I didn’t know for young people was harder to found , I’m 32 and I suppose I should be considered young for BMB.

I was thinking a younger person should be more full of bone marrow compared to and older person, knowing now for younger could be hard to found , make me feel better about the first attempt gone wrong.

Canbrit profile image
Canbrit

It’s not that it’s harder to find, it’s harder to snap the sample from the bone, if that makes sense. They use a hollow like drill and drill into the bone and then try to do a quick snap. You are very young so your bones would be stronger and harder for the doctor to break the sample from the rest of the bone. … my husband was in his 40s at the time and that’s what they told him. I wouldn’t worry at all about that 🤗

Inverter profile image
Inverter

Bone marrow test update .

I didn’t got any report yet but only a call from the hemathologist where he said looks like is something there to check for the future, but at moment we don’t have to do anything , just aspirin.

By the way first BMB clearly the first doctor messed up , the second biopsy after 1 day wasn’t feel anything, the first hole i still feel pain . Also when I removed the dressing the good biopsy was clean the bad biopsy was blood .

By the way I’ll open new thread to explain current situation

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