A whole bunch of blood tests haven't yet confirmed the ET, so at my September visit with the hematologist, she asked if I would "be okay with" a bone marrow biopsy and aspiration in that way that makes you nervous about why you wouldn't be okay with it.
So that's what I asked: "Why wouldn't I be okay with it?"
Apparently some people find the procedure painful, but the hematologist assured me that the area would be numbed and someone would be asking constantly if I felt too much pain. Then she asked if I would like to have some Ativan for the day of the procedure.
Not one to "just say no" to anything in the benzodiazapine family, I said I'd take the Ativan and she could schedule the bone marrow test.
I wore loose comfy sweat pants, having swallowed a milligram of Ativan 30 minutes prior to the appointment as prescribed. I was feeling relaxed and chatty, but not sleepy. I did have it in my head that the staff working at the cancer center must have to deal with really sad people all the time, and that I should do my best to be a good and cheerful patient for them. So possibly I was higher than I thought because being good and cheerful is not part of my usual m.o.
Anyhow, I laid face down on the table with a comfy pillow and asked the pathologist to take the sample from my left hip because I sleep on my right side (in case I still felt sore or ache-y for a couple of days).
The shot felt like a bee sting. But gotta say that that time I got stung on the tongue by a wasp that I didn't notice had fallen into my coffee cup felt a lot worse. I also felt a dull ache a couple of times as the pathologist was taking the bone marrow and bone samples, but nothing terrible.
And it was all over in about 10 minutes. My husband drove me home via the country roads while I sipped a nice latte and enjoyed the fall colors. My hip felt a little ache-y for few days, but I showered and took the bandage off in 24 hours and was back at work the next day with no complications. I did have some kind of reaction to the bandage adhesive; irritated my skin for about a week.
Unfortunately, the preliminary report I received from the lab said they couldn't tell anything from the results. I see the doc for follow up Wednesday so will find out what the next step is then.
Your experiences?
Be well!
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ET is a serious disease that requires specialist care. Discuss anything you read here with your doctor. No comments promoting "alternative" or "natural" cures (yes, this includes Rick Simpson's Oil) will be published.