Biopsy with sedation

I had a bone marrow biopsy with sedation.  Also an pelvic lymph node biopsy (from the back) with sedation. Cannot remember the med, but in both cases the sedation was light; not even a "twilight sleep".  So no "waking up" per se. As I recall, a topical anesthetic was also used. I had no pain during the procedures (unlike my "awake" BMB).  I preferred the sedated version because they could use a drill which is much, much quicker and eliminated the strong pressure sensation. We do vary, but I had no significant post-procedure pain.  Good luck.  

Sorry... no strong pain after wearing off but some “ discomfort/bearable pain“ only.

In my case, and sounds like Fiat's also, not asleep.  Just relaxed and not feeling it.  For reference: my first BMB was like yours; not only are my bones hard, they apparently are not flat, so the needle kept slipping.  They went in 4 times (!) but could not get a suitable sample.  The "sedated" BMB was a cake-walk in comparison.  Not even high, just zoned out.  Try to relax...

po18guy said:

I have a high resistance to sedation

In 2015, I had a colonoscopy and related biopsy of my small intestine. I was awake and aware through most of it. I felt the medical Fellow rooting around inside. I felt the nips taken out of my ileum. But, I knew the reason and purpose of it all. It did not phase me in the least. I was relating my history of T-Cell Lymphomas to the supervising physician as this occurred. He asked the sedation to be upped, so I was finally put out - probably to shut me up. But, I popped back into consiousness right outside the OR. Doctor came out and gave me a very strange look and went back in. Rather than being wheeled back to the recovery room, they let me go right there.

I found it all rather fascinating, actually.

We have had a wide range of BMB experiences !

As I was mentioning, at the end of my first consult with my Hematologist, at the end, he told my wife and I, almost as an afterthought, "Go next door with ---- and she is going to draw a bone marrow specimin."  I walked into the next room with the NP, who had a nurse's aide with her.  She said "drop your pants. This will only take a few mnutes." Then, she asked, "Do you want something for pain ?"  I thought "yes" was probably the better answer, and she got me a pill, probably a Loritab, because she told my wife to drive.   I got a little woozie, but was fully awake, and they began.   They broke in the hip plate for access, but then she said "I didn't get enough," and went back in, the same break as best I could tell.  And that was it.   I do not recall any pain the next day.

My port install and removal were both with local anesthesia, which is what most have described as how their BMBs were done.  The surgeon said for both that "I would not be asleep," but I recall nothhng from either proceedure.   My port install/removal were eventless and painless, same as my biopsy removal from under my (L ) axillary, doc said it was about a golf ball in size.

My auto accident, in which a Pontiac rolled over me, set the bar for pain for me.  Collapsed lung, flail chest, leg nearly dismembered, knee cap dangling loose in my pants leg (a "flail chest" is a condition in which, when attempting to breath, one side of the chest goes up, the other side goes down, with no net exchange of air). 

I was awake and speaking to the paramedic all the way to the ER, and then spoke with the doctor and RN, and then the surgeon called in to insert a chest tube.  So I was awake at least 30 to 45 minutes after the wreck, but they said I was dark purple.   The surgeon thrust in the chest tube on the third heave, amongst 13 rib fractures.  I was conscious the whole time, but blind for some reason. I could see the next day. (No doctor has ever been able to explain the blindness.)  That was probably my worst pain ever, but arterial blood gas draws in ICU hurt horribly also (a cath is threaded into arteries in both arms, to test blood gases on both sides of the lungs).   My month in ICU with an assortment of shunts and constant saline shots to clear the lines are probably why I so believe in IV ports.

About two weeks later, a physical therapist came in to "mobilize my shoulder."  I was still in ICU on a ventillator and could not talk.  She began dragging my arm around, and water was running down my face.  I tried to wave her off, and then wrote a note saying "Something is wrong...stop !"    Every day they took a chest xray of me in bed, to check my lung attachment, since they had been unable to get me off the ventillator.   

The ortho surgeon came in to speak to me later, and said, "Max, we discovered something on today's x-ray.  Your (R) shoulder as also broken in the accident.  We did not know it before.  It seems the physical therapist pulled your shoulder blade apart during her session.  There was no way to know this.  We are sorry."

My right shoulder grew back together about 3 inches higher than my left, a lifelong condition.  If you have watched the recent suspense series Person of Interest, the computer geek star of the series (Harold) walks and moves exactly the way I have since the wreck.  I could describe a prostate removal  and recovery, but this has run too long already.

So, to me, a BMB was like a paper cut or stubbed toe.  It's all relative,

max

I had two “double” BMBs. Each time they took samples from both hips. I had no meds but while it was by no means pleasant, neither was it an awful experience. The doctors offered meds but cautioned there is always a small but finite risk associated with anaesthesia. Probably no big deal either way. The biggest variable may well be the skill of the person performing the procedure. Good luck!