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BMA

Hi All

Hope everyone is well.

I have my 2nd Bone Marrow Aspirate on Wednesday and was wondering if there are any ideas on how to make the procedure more comfortable. I have only had one so far which was on the day of diagnosis, so i'm hoping that i was so drained and emotional that day the 2nd time round it won't be as painful. I am a bit nervous also as it has been a year since my dx and i am really hoping for a good result even though i have to wait until April for any results to come back.

My last PCR was in October and was 5.5%. I hate the waiting game for the results as i'm sure we all do.

Please any advice about the BMA would be gratefully appreciated.

Thanks in advance

Naomii x

Hi Naomi,

My daughter had her first BMA last week without having a general anaesthetic (she was under a childrens hospital previously, where they give you a general).  She was in great pain afterwards and was in bed all day the day after with a high temperature.  She is very wary of having another one under local anaesthetic too. I dont know of anything that would make it any better, hopefully people will have some tips for you on here. Dawn xxx

Hi Naomi,

It really isn't a nice procedure at all! Some hospitals can offer a mild sedation, but usually it has to be requested in advance. You could ask for gas & air (entanox) tomorrow, it just takes the edge off things & makes it a bit more comfortable along with a local anesthetic around the site. I now ask for mine to be done via my sternum, but a lot of the docs don't like doing it here or aren't experienced to perform it from here either.

Good luck & let us know how you get on.

ATB

 

Hi Naomii, I know how you feel..... it can be such an unpleasant experience. When I had to endure this procedure I insisted on sedation- at HH they did it with a drug called medazolam- but as Ali has said it is something that you now have to arranged/ask for in advance.

If they are only taking an aspirate and not including a biopsy, it shouldn't be as painful, but then it depends on who is doing it and the technique they are using. I found the if I was allowed to lie on my stomach rather than crouched in the faetal posistion it was much easier for the doctor to get the 'needle' in without too much pressure- hense it was painless. This was done when I was in the US and the doctor was amazed the British doctors did not use the same technique.

I am not sure why you need a BMA? Surely your doctor could monitor by PCR now and if their were any problems then check with a BMA/B. Are you on a clinical trial?

Good luck- maybe you could ask your GP for a small dose of valium just to take the edge off?

Sandy

Hi Naomii

Good luck tomorrow.  I have only had 2 BMAs (with BMBs), one pre diagnosis in May 09, and the other at 12 months in May 2010.  As I'm doing well I no longer need them, and would definitely question any suggestion for me to have another - so hopefully if your results are good you won't need another....

Second time around I pre-arranged for sedation, having been asked a while before whether that's what I wanted.  As I have very hard bones (apparently), first time round was exhausting - and almost as much for the doctor as it was for me!  However, when it came to actually having the second one, the doctor (I think he was a registrar) persuaded me not to have sedation.  Not entirely sure why... perhaps the thought of being stuck in the hospital all day but he also suggested that having regular sedation wasn't a good idea. Not being able to discuss with my consultant at the time, it was a little hard to decide so in the end I decided to go for it without, knowing I could always change my mind.  I think the registrar probably regretted his advice as he was made to work very hard again!

That aside, I think second time around it was less bad and I got through it - maybe I knew what to expect and it wasn't quite as bad as I remembered the first time as being.

Richard 

Hello Naomi,

 I have had 7 bone marrows in my 3yrs, but not for the last 14 months. I really does depend on the person doing the procedure.

Having said that we have found that a second dose of local anesthetic, & waiting about 10 minutes before starting the procedure really helps. I didn't notice that the procedure had taken place on several occasions.

Good luck for tomorrow

Bob

Well just got back and yes it was still as painful as the first time, worsed of all i don't think they could get enough of it to test. i soooo hope they don't want me to go back for another.

Thanks for all the messages, they have stated that they will give me lorazapam or diazapam next time so i can take it prior to the BMA/B just a waiting game now until April for my results.

Thanks again guys

Nix

Hi Naomi

hope you're not feeling too groggy. I have had 4 bmbs now, the last 2 I have had sedation with and that works well for me. After a bit of a mix-up  with my bookings they did try to persuade me to have entonox, but I said I'd re-book with sedation. It does seem to vary with different doctors though...jox

Hi Jo

4 poor you, i have only had 2 as i only have them annually. They have told me that i can have lorazapam next time prior to having it, hello why did they not offer that this time. I was beginning to think i was becomming a wimp lol, i'm still a bit sore but nothing major. Just the agonising wait now until April for the results.

Hope your doing well

Take care x

Hey Naomii,

I was diagnosed 3 years ago this week and have had 4 BMA.  The first time they told me to go upstairs for a little procedure that may hurt a little. OMG the lying "£$"%£$'s.  It hurt like hell.  They never offered any pain relief.  It wasn't until my 3rd one was due someone in a Facebook group told me about liquid morphine.  I was given 10ml to drink about 10 mins before they started.  It really did the trick.  I would say it took away about 90% of the discomfort.  I did find i walked funny for about an hour afterwards and had a nice nap that afternoon which was cool.  If i need another one i am definitely getting morphine again.  I've not had a BMA since 2010 when i hit my Complete Molecular Response.  I know they need to do it for not just results but training purposes but if i don't need one i'm not having one. OUCH!  Ask about the liquid morphine.

Andy

x

Andy

Thank you for the response it made me chuckle, i remember prior to my first one they gave me a leaflet that said it was a relatively painless experience, defo lying it was excruciating and who ever wrote it obviously has never had one.

I will defo be asking about the morphine they have to give me something or i'm not having it done especially after the last one when they said that they don't think they got enough to test lol,

Thanks again

Glad you are in CMR its nice to hear

Ni x

Hey,

Ah the old 'we need some more bone marrow' line.  One time the lady said the sample was too small. The second piece was a good size, but then asked if she could take a third for students to test with.  No Way Pedro as Del Trotter would say.  I've had my pain for the day.

What level of response are you at right now?

x

Hi Andy

my last results from October were PCR 5.5% so i think im doing ok i was dx'd in Feb last year and was at 96% then so i think i'm doing good. I will get my next results end of April fingers crossed they will be even better. can you believe they ask for more i know students need to learn but bloody hell can they not find a less painful way. I have been looking at the liquid morphine you mentioned, i think its called oramorphe and i am at the ready to ask for it should i be called back for another, otherwise it will be a "No way Pedro" from me to lol.

Thanks Andy x