May 30, 2006
bone marrow biopsy
Went in to the BCCA for a bone marrow biopsy yesterday morning. Got some bloodwork done (which it looks like i’ll do pretty much every time I go in, to monitor my blood-cell levels) then went up to the top floor for the biopsy. Got the private room and gown special, and a very perky and funny nurse - said “no” to some Atavan, but got cookies and juice instead. The doctor came in about 20 minutes later, and got me to lie on my side while she started freezing the back of my left hip. The tiny needles they used for the local anesthetic were in some ways the most “painful” part of the procedure. When the big needles and bone-tunneling devices went in after, they just felt like weird intense pressure, but not painful as such. The most painful part of the whole thing was actually the bad art on the wall - someone’s brightly colored impression of dying flowers. I could sympathize with Wilde’s famous last words:
My wallpaper and I are fighting a duel to the death. One or the other of us has to go..
Despite the lack of physical pain, the experience was fairly traumatic for my body. I was sweating buckets (”I could see your fingertips sweating!” - Krista), and the digestive cookies (poorly named, in this case) and cranberry juice turned to poison in my gut, and gave me very painful indigestion for about half the day. I think I’ll try doing these kinds of things on an empty stomach going forward.
Not much residual pain from the operation. A few Tylenols and a pint of Ben and Jerry’s later and I’m right as rain.
[Listening to Oscar See Through Red Eye by Boards Of Canada]
tags: bc cancer agency, cancer, hodgkin’s lymphoma, lymphoma, oscar wilde
posted: 7:41 am
Glad to hear things went well.
I continue to send my good voodoo your way.
If you ever need a break, there is always room in Victoria.
Thanks, dude!
Love your description of the bone marrow biopsy — it definitely squared with mine (although I wasn’t even offered atavan!). It’s amazing how your body can be freaking out even as your brain is thinking, "This isn’t so painful!" Anyway, I just wanted to let you know that I’m reading along and rooting for you. Good luck tomorrow! If your experience is anything like mine, the chemo will be a breeze compared to the BMB.
Hi Sheila,
That’s great to hear. I figure, if I tell myself chemo will be a breeze, it will be.
Wow — I was expecting a similar experience to yours. It was just really bad I guess.
Any advice would be appreciated since I have to get it done again in the near future.
Don’t know what to suggest. My partner went with me and I found that having someone there supporting me was nice.