Has Anyone Ever Had a Bone Marrow Bisophy?

[disneyworld!]

could you please let me know what you go thru? where is it done? is it painful? any info would be helpful...thanks

 

[Doc and Family]

Never had one, but did a few while in medical school.

They are usually done in an area known as the iliac crest--in the upper part of the buttocks you can feel a bone-the iliac.

They do hurt--sedation is given and maybe even anesthesia, but they are uncomfortable--sorry about that.

If enough local is given and if they use concsious sedation, it won't be unbearable, but it will be sore when it is over, although I've been told it doesn't last too terribly long.

It doesn't take too long, actually, just a few minutes.

Good Luck and PD!

 

[TEENEE]

I haven't had it done myself but my dd has. She was 6 y/o when it was done. They gave her something to relax her, she was not asleep and something so that she would not remember any of the procedure. She was scared, and didn't like the idea of being held down. They took the marrow with a needle and put a bandaid on it. She did not have any bruising or pain. I expected the area to be tender for a few days but she never complained and believe me she would have let us know if she was in any pain at all. I don't know if it's the same for an adult. I hope so, for your sake. Good luck.

 

[disneyworld!]

My Dr mentioned it being done in the Pelvic area? Is this right? wrong? or am I just zoning everything she said to me out?

 

[BabyTigger99]

I, unfortunately, had to have one done. I won't beat around the bush, it hurt like H-E-double hockey sticks!! Mine was done on the left side of my lower back, right near the tushie. What they do (this is coming from my DH, who was in the room with me) is they make a small incision. Then, they keep giving you injections of lidocaine so you can't feel what is going on. They would start working, and if I told them I could feel something, they would give another injection of lidocaine. Apparently, they were cutting with a razor to see if I could feel it. Once they get where they need to be, they start drilling. Feels like a corkscrew sensation. The absolute worst part, where I actually screamed, was when they actually suck out the bone marrow. It is due to the negative pressure in the bone, and it hurts terribly. I had to keep it covered for a few days, and eventually the pain went away, however, I have said if I ever need another, I will need to be put under for them to do it.

Good luck with it! If I may ask, what are you having it done for?

 

[disneyworld!]

thanks both for posting......
this is something I have been keeping a secret about. but there is something wrong with my blood, they have run umteen tests and my white blood count has tripledin the past 3 weeks, I am tiered all the time, I cannot function at all right. I feel sick. and this has been for months. any clues?
Dr just put me on prescription Iron today.....that is very low

 

[BabyTigger99]

I hope everything works out okay. Keep us posted.

 

[Bob Slydell]

DW had one -- according to her, BabyTigger99's explanation is pretty much dead on. Good luck and I hope they find out what they need to from it.

 

[nativetxn]

I just said a quick prayer that the biopsy has a good result. I've never had one, so I can't offer advice.

{{{HUGS}}} sweetie.

Katholyn

 

[chrissyk]

My mom had this done because she was so anemic that they needed to check her bone marrow. She had it taken out of her pelvis/leg area I think. She said that it hurt a lot

 

[shelbyjosh]

My mom had one when she was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma. That was one of the only appts. that I could not attend with her. She said it wasn't that bad and just had a Band-aid on it afterwards. Maybe they gave her triple doses of lidocaine??? She also had one a little over a year ago because she was starting an experimental drug and that was one of the things (among all the CTs, bloodwork, etc) that she had to do. I don't remember her complaining about that one either.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

My DH used to donate his bone marrow for research. He had it done several times using both of his ileac crests during each procedure. He didn't think it was too bad (but he has got a high pain tolerance ). If I recall they said you can numb the skin but not the bone, that's why you feel it. I don't think they do it routinely but you could always ask for conscious sedation - where they put you to sleep - heck, they do it for colonoscopies!

Good Luck.