Today was blood work, radiation, and the bone marrow biopsy…I was terrified this morning…The radiation techs noticed I was really quiet and out of it and I said that I would not be o.k. until this biopsy was OVER…below is a (yet another googled) picture of the procedure…The reason for this test is to see how far the lymphoma has spread, it helps in diagnosing the type…
He numbed both sides of my lower back/butt area…it was two big ‘bee stings’…after waiting for the area to numb he started the actual extraction of the bone marrow…after gently tapping and wiggling the needle into my bone…he described what I would feel as a ‘lighting bolt of pain’ when he sucked the marrow out…he said it would only be two or three seconds and that anyone can handle that because it has to be done…and he was right…it was a lightening bolt of pain and in the end, it was bearable…
After the figurative and literal sucking I got really hot…I mean I started sweating, it felt like the temperature went up 150 degrees in the room, and then I threw-up…and felt SO much better after…the Dr. said that getting really hot was normal and the nurse said I probably threw up because I was nervous…The nurse was great and fanned me for like 10 min while he finished taking some core samples and getting the needle out of my bone…The entire time I just focused on trying to relax and have even-breathing…
They said I did great and the Dr. prefers how I did above patients that scream and cry…I prefer to get really quite and go to a little place in my head…
Afterward I had to lay in the office for 30 minutes to monitor where they stuck me and then I was able to go home…it has now been 7 hours and I am still not in any discomfort or pain so I am pleasantly surprised by that…
Tomorrow morning bright and early we will be seeing the oncologist to get the results of my neck biopsies from last week and that is when we should be getting the for sure diagnosis of cancer…they have been saying it is cancer and they are treating it like cancer and I am starting chemotherapy like it is cancer so I am expecting to hear it is cancer…I will be VERY angry if they did this bone marrow biopsy today and it wasn’t cancer…I have no reason to think it will be anything but cancer…it fits…
My mom will of course be at the oncologist appointment with me as will my two aunts Linda and Salome…They are coming up from Evansville at 7:00 their time to be there to hear anything mom and I might miss…
Sorry if this was a little too descriptive, I am using this blog I guess as a way to both inform those who care about what is going on as well as a way for me to remember and chronicle what is has happened…
One of my on-line friends, Robyn suggested I reward myself with a Dr. Pepper following my procedure…I did…and it was GOOD!
Church yesterday was really good and I plan on writing a bit about that in a separate post…possibly tonight, we shall see…
After the figurative and literal sucking I got really hot…I mean I started sweating, it felt like the temperature went up 150 degrees in the room, and then I threw-up…and felt SO much better after…the Dr. said that getting really hot was normal and the nurse said I probably threw up because I was nervous…The nurse was great and fanned me for like 10 min while he finished taking some core samples and getting the needle out of my bone…The entire time I just focused on trying to relax and have even-breathing…
They said I did great and the Dr. prefers how I did above patients that scream and cry…I prefer to get really quite and go to a little place in my head…
Afterward I had to lay in the office for 30 minutes to monitor where they stuck me and then I was able to go home…it has now been 7 hours and I am still not in any discomfort or pain so I am pleasantly surprised by that…
Tomorrow morning bright and early we will be seeing the oncologist to get the results of my neck biopsies from last week and that is when we should be getting the for sure diagnosis of cancer…they have been saying it is cancer and they are treating it like cancer and I am starting chemotherapy like it is cancer so I am expecting to hear it is cancer…I will be VERY angry if they did this bone marrow biopsy today and it wasn’t cancer…I have no reason to think it will be anything but cancer…it fits…
My mom will of course be at the oncologist appointment with me as will my two aunts Linda and Salome…They are coming up from Evansville at 7:00 their time to be there to hear anything mom and I might miss…
Sorry if this was a little too descriptive, I am using this blog I guess as a way to both inform those who care about what is going on as well as a way for me to remember and chronicle what is has happened…
One of my on-line friends, Robyn suggested I reward myself with a Dr. Pepper following my procedure…I did…and it was GOOD!
Church yesterday was really good and I plan on writing a bit about that in a separate post…possibly tonight, we shall see…
Robin said...Hugs! I thought about you lots today. I hope it was okay that I was with you in spirit today. I'll be with you tomorrow, too. Little mail going out to you in the morning, too.
Let me know if you need anything. I'm a PM away on SB...
Big hugs! Hang in there.
Amy {Design Intervention} said...It's not too graphic April - - it's reality and we want to share in your burden with you, so share away and we will be here for you!!
Amy Brewer said...It's your journey and I'm glad that you share, so those of us who live far away can still be there. Although I wish that I could be there with you and just give you a big hug! Know that we love you and are praying with you!
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