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Bone Marrow Biopsy And Pain Management

Hi All..

I post this for information, sorry if it's been previously covered.

Today I visited Hospital for my first Bone Marrow Biopsy. I was advised my my SPIRIT-2 Nurse that Entenox would be available during the procedure, but also by a friend that a report he'd read of the procedure, that Morphine had been used for pain management during the procedure.

I enquired about the availability of the latter drug, and was told it wasn't suitable for pain management for a bone marrow biopsy as Morphine was only good for managing soft tissue pain and didn't handle bone pain. At this point, I wasn't told by the Nurse carrying out the procedure that Entenox would be available as an option to me. I'm generally ok with injections and blood tests, but the prospect of having bone marrow and a bone core removed from my pelvis did worry me somewhat.

After I'd had the local anaesthetic, which seemed it was going in a little too deep for comfort, I asked whether I could have Entenox, as this had been promised to me. The procedure needed stalling while an available trained Nurse was found to administer the Entenox, but this didn't take long.

Entenox made the whole procedure much more comfortable, as it took my mind off what was happening down at my Pelvis. I'd recommend it as an option for anyone facing a Bone Marrow Biopsy.

In other treatment related news, I see my Consultant on Thursday and find out what drug I'll be started off on, on the SPIRIT-2 trial. I'll keep you updated as to how I get on, and am sure I'll have questions for you :)

Hope that helped.

David.

Hi David-

Glad to hear that you were able to stay positive throughout your biopsy. It's not easy- especially when you get that sucking sensation and inner weirdness from a place you didn't know you had before!! My way through is thinking of a lovely holiday I had in Croatia, and somehow I don't remember much about the procedures...

 

Keep on trucking-

 

Adam

Hey David

Thanks for that suggestion! It's good to know that the labour pain releif Entenox is available should we want i!

A question for Sandy - do you know of anyone who has turned down the annual bmb? After all if the other results

are going in the right direction, especially the PCR do we NEED the invasive test to check the chromosome change?

Kind regards

Beth

Thanks Adam.

 

At the point of marrow / bone core excision, the Entenox really took my mind off what was going on.  Now I know what a Bone Marrow Biopsy entails, I'm much more prepared for my next one.

 

Which leads to my next question, to the forum.  Roughly when could I expect another Biopsy be taken? 3 / 6 months down the line perhaps?

 

 

David.

Hi

I've been on the Spirit 2 trial since dx last September and am on Imatinib. From the info I was given on signing up for the trial itseems as if a BMB is taken once a year . Am still waiting for my PCR results from Hammersmith - 7 weeks on Friday. I know my last PCRs taken in December with results at end Jan showed a log of 1.9% so suppose I'm moving in the right direction although I don't know what my PCRs were on dx. Next appt at local haemotology dept on May 7 so hopefuly I'll know more then.

 

best wishes

Chrissie

Reminds me of when I broke my leg in an RTA many years ago.  They gave me entenox whilst they reset the leg, but before I could get a breath from it the tube came away from the mask.  I must admit though, that as I also had a broken arm the struggle of trying to fit the mask and tube back together again did take my mind off what they were doing to my leg...

Both my BMBs so far were right next door to the labour ward where my children were born so I might see if I can sneak in and swipe the kit next time

Hi

 

Once your PCR is going in the right direction bmb are thought not to be necessary as pcr's look at 100,000 to 1,000,000 cells and a bmb only looks at 25. Hammersmith I belive dont do them routinely if your pcr is low.

 

Hope this helps.

The thought of another one makes me wince.

 

An alternative to entenox is madazalam. very good. makes you almst forget the experience.

 

Regards

Steven

I would expect you to have bone marrow taken every 3 months until your counts are really low,To my mind  this is what you should expect if your getting the best treatment ,it keeps your results in the spotlight and you will be able to track the trends in your results and your consultant will be able to adjust your treatment/drugs to suit.

Hi

I was dx in June 2008 and have had a few BMB's at Kings with a local anaesthetic, which is uncomfortable but ok until they bend the needle. (4 times). I was offered full anaesthetic but it means that you are at hospital for a much longer time. Luckily it is quite a quick procedure.  My consultant agrees that BMB's are not needed so much when your readings improve.  My last PCR/ABL test was 0.095% so I am slowly getting there.

Tony