meds before BMB

[PamyRn]

Hey everyone
I had heard someone say they took ativan and something else before BMB and didnt feel or remember a thing…I have been getting Demerol 75 and Versed 4mg….and I have remembered 2 out of 4 biopsies…………..any thoughts on this??? I would love to find the right combination of meds so I dont remember or feel any of it…I guess Im just a weinie!! LOL
Pam

[doreen]

Pam,

I have had only one bmb and they put me all the way under with a new drug that you are up and walking around in about 10 minutes after the bmb. It was amazing. I did not feel a thing and that afternoon I did yard work which included cutting down a 20 foot pine tree!

[PamyRn]

Hey Doreen
How are You? Do you know what the drug is they gave you???
Pam

[doreen]

Hi Pam. I will call the doctor and try to find out. I am doing fine, waiting to make that big decision on when/if I should go through with the transplant. One hospital wants to wait, the other wants to do it now and I am in the middle!I’ll get back with you when I can find out what they used for the bmb.

[Suzanne]

My last BMB the nurse practitioner said there was a better and safer drug then Demerol. I don’t remember the name. I have been ok for many with just the local-but not something I look forward to.They are now giving me Ativan and oxycodone. I am not out but it takes enough of the “edge Off’ thatI don’t get so uptight about the process.

[Neil]

I realize many patients have a considerable amount of pain when getting a BMB, but I remember my first. I was more than apprehensive! The stories I heard really had me on edge.
The pathologist I had for the first one was pretty gabby. He kept the conversation going throughout the process. When he was finished I was still waiting for him to start. Just a bit of discomfort. Subsequent BMBs were done by the same pathologist and one other of his associates. In each case there was no particular discomfort. Never had any pain meds.
I can’t help but wonder if the horror stories that some patients experienced might tend to set the stage for painfor others. There is no doubt that the more “frail” patient and the older patient could have a problem. But how much is conditioning as a result of knowledge of other patients bad experiences?
Think about it.

[Terri]

Bob Does not take any pain meds, Actually his Doctor is quite Good. He is fast and Bob only has some slight discomfort after it is done and we are home. But nothing that he complains about.
Each doctor and patient is different. I know Personally Me I would be a mess they would have to knock me out to perform one.

[Bill and Mary]

I have had two BMB’s one good and one not so good. I’ve had meds for both and I remiember both – unfortunately. The last one hurt like heck and I was doped to the gills. There is a real difference in technique and I think the newer the training, the better for the patient.

[andrzej g.]

I utterly agree with Neil, though I would distinguish between more painful trephine biopsies and aspirate biopsies performed with thinner needles.
‘Frail’ patients do tend to aggravate their symptoms and retelling stories how painful the procedure is makes no good. The more one thinks and anticipates the expected pain the more severe the pain becomes.

The premedication to trephine biopsy consists mainly of:
– intravenous benzodiazepine, esp. a short lasting one, ie. midazolam 5mg (which usually lets you remain conscious but makes you forget the event),
– locally injected anesthetic (ie. lignocainum) to anesthetize the periosteum of the bone.

[PamyRn]

I think being a nurse and seeing so many BMB done at the bedside probably started me off on a bad foot. The weird thing is the very first one (the one you think would bother me the most) I did not feel, or should I say, remember. I think that the lower the platelet count the more it hurts later. I know the third one I had my platelets were 7. I went directly from the treatment table to an infusion clinic for platelets…I had the biggest hematoma…not fun. I think if it wouldnt have been Friday and it wasnt my 2wk post induction biopsy they would have waited till my platelets were up. Soon as they find me a “willing” donor, I will have to have my 5th one (two weeks before SCT). Because of the two “deferred” 10/10 donors I will start a 5/2 consolidation. The induction put me back into MDS with low blasts 3% but they dont want me going back into AML so I guess I need to do this. 6th day of induction broke out in itchy rash and now they want me to try ARA-C again..even though they think maybe thats the drug that caused the rash??? We will see. At least this time I will not be in hospital, but will wear a pump and go to clinic for the two doses of doxyrubicin….wish me luck
Pam

[Suzanne]

We are wishing you luck on every step. The consolidation round was much easier for me-no problems. Probably because my counts had been up long enoough to “clean out” the areas that would be prone to infection! Hope the same is true for you.It did take my counts a lot longer to come back up- about 6 weeks. They told me it takes longer for the marrow to recover every time they knock it down so it wasn’t a surprise.

[mamakayz]

I had a local for 2 bmbs. The technique of the doctor and level of bedside manner made all the difference to me. The first was by my local oncologist (she is an angel) with a little discomfort, the second was a cold, clinical, young uncommunicative doctor and it hurt like heck for 2 days. May passionate caregivers be with us all!!!

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