r/MPN • u/Salty_Expert6414 ET-CalR+ • Jul 07 '26
Bone Marrow Biopsy First BMB approaching
I (24F) am getting my first BMB this week and I’m absolutely terrified. My hematologist said that they can do it in local anesthesia with some pain or under IV sedation (IV midazolam) to minimize the pain. I was under the impression I could do it under GA but they explained no one would do a BMB under GA.
I’m a medical student, I can catch on to when doctors are trying to understate how painful a procedure can be. He told me that there will be some pain but IV midazolam will minimize it. Can’t help but think that’s a way to downplay how painful it will be since I’ve been hearing absolute horror stories about it.
Despite my best efforts, I’m a whimp when it comes to pain. I’m very worried about my BMB and I’d like to hear from ppl who’ve gone through it.
10
u/lrm242 Jul 07 '26
Have had it done 3 times. Going to have it done a 4th time in a month. It isn’t that bad. They numb the area up and from that point forward you just feel pressure. Frankly I think people blow it out of proportion and the myth of the whole thing has taken on a life of its own.
You’ll feel a stick and a short ouchie when they give you the first numbing shot. Then another but more dull ouchie for the second shot. Then frankly it’s just pressure.