Bone marrow biopsy doesn't hurt... if you don't remember.

The oncologist needed to know if the cancer was in my bones or not.  The fact that he even needed to know was a little scary for me because my great grandmother died of bone cancer.  I know that something like that jumping two generations was slim, but nevertheless it was still worrisome.  I was able to get right in and scheduled for a bone marrow biopsy.  Of course everyone had to let me know that bone marrow biopsies really hurt… a lot.  The idea of having a needle stabbed hard enough into my bone to pierce through to the spongy center and draw out the marrow just made me so excited to go through with it.

Renée and I arrived at the hospital and waited about five minutes for the elevator in the parking structure to show up and take us down one floor.  We gave up and walked down the flight of stairs, it took us twenty seconds.  We got inside and were led to my bed and changed into my gown.  We were later met by my mom who was able to sneak right in because she wore her scrubs and blended well.

When it came time to start they transported me to the room where the biopsy was to take place.  I had to say goodbye to my wife and mom while they waited out in the waiting room.  It was pretty cool looking at the setup they had.  There was a CAT-scan machine and I was to lie on the table; I guess they took images with it while it was going on.  The reason I say “I guess” is because there are images and as soon as I laid down on my stomach I was out with whatever they used.  Then as soon as I closed my eyes they were telling me that I needed to turn over onto the other bed so they could transport me back... I thought I was going to get to nap or something.  But nope, it was done.  I tried to think of what happened, all I could recall was a distant dream that I wasn’t even sure I had or not.  It was of me feeling or hearing a crunch and saying “Aahh, aahh, you got it, that’s it.”  Was that from them hitting bone then pushing through or was it just a dream?  But it didn’t hurt.

Notice the needle poke in all the way and pull out... Then it comes back in all its fury. 

Just in case I am not able

to describe my wife again

here is a picture of her,

as well as my daughter for safety measures.

Anyways I thought I was totally awake, I was able to roll to the other bed and recognize that the transporter was going to take me back.  On our way past the waiting room I said my wife was there.  He asked what she looked like but for the life of me I could not describe her at all, because she was standing right in front of me and I was so confused why he would ask that when she was standing right in front of him… All I could muster was “that’s her.”  She and my mom followed us back to the area where I was to wait till I was able to leave.

I was starving.  They offered a sandwich that they had on the ready just in case I couldn’t wait.  I waited and was rewarded for my patients with a hamburger, soup, salad, and a cookie.  Hospital food never tasted so good.