Bone Marrow Biopsy and Port

By Brad Reimer — Dec 8, 2012 7:07pm

On Wednesday the 5th this past week, we arrived at Valley Hospital at around 7am. After getting checked in and "gowning up," the nurses and others prepared me for my bone marrow biopsy (put in an IV, etc.). I hadn't fully realized that Dr. Danko is the one that personally does the bone marrow biopsy. He showed up and we visited some. He has a great sense of humor. When it was "go time" they had me turn and lay on my left side. My nurse, Lou, was in charge of sedation for the procedure. I have to say that she did her job well...I don't remember much of anything in regards to the actual procedure. Mindy was able to be in the room the whole time, and she says that at one point I told them I was in pain. Lou "increased" the sedation (I don't know how, and I don't even know what type of sedation I had), and I didn't complain again.

They say that the prep for the biopsy takes much longer than the biopsy procedure itself. The procedure only takes like 15 minutes I guess. Mindy says that Dr. Danko inserted a large (straight) needle into my upper right butt cheek/hip area. He supposedly is able to get fluid out from the center of that bone (bone marrow). Then he inserts a "corkscrew" shaped needle of some kind, and actually chips off a piece of my actual bone. As I said, I don't remember anything about it...but my right butt cheek/hip is still sore.

So, as I "woke up" from the procedure I vaguely remember talking to Mindy about various subjects (emails from friends, a phone call from her brother, etc.), but as we discussed those things that evening, it appears I was not 100% conscious at that time.

Dr. Danko had said at our appt on Tuesday that I needed to have a chemotherapy "port" inserted beneath my skin, for the chemo treatments. We wondered about doing it Wednesday...while I was already at the hospital and fasting. So, as they were prepping me for the biopsy Lou made some phone calls and we got that ordered for about noon on Wednesday.

Shortly after the biopsy, they wheeled me into another room. Mindy was not able to be with me this time. They prepped me, and before I knew it, the port was in successfully. The, "before I knew it" refers to the sedation/anesthetic they used. I literally remember nothing from that procedure at all. All I remember is going back into the room where I started, where Mindy was waiting for me. I ordered some lunch, and we waited there for an hour or so to make sure all was well. That afternoon and into that evening I didn't feel much at either site (right butt cheek/hip and right chest/shoulder), but as the night came, the numbing medication must have subsided and both sites were quite painful. All through the next day, particularly my chest/shoulder was very sore. And there is/was bruising all around the site. We have not as of yet taken off the bandage/covering, but will this evening.

Tuesday night I felt like I was starting to feel quite strong, but Wednesday took it out of me again. I am glad I have from then until the 14th without any more procedures. With the pain in my chest/shoulder, I was holding myself pretty stiff (like I was after surgery), and so I feel like I need to "stretch out," and get comfortable again. I've been doing a little of that today.

Wednesday afternoon we went to the CCNW Valley office and attended a "Chemo Class." We brought Brendan with us. We were the only ones in the class...a nurse and an assistant ran a PowerPoint and spoke with us some. The nurse, since it was just us, wanted to get us out of there and home, and so she went through the presentation VERY quickly. In retrospect, very much too fast. Luckily we were left with a copy of the presentation and various other handouts which we can review prior to next Friday. She showed us the "Chemotherapy Suite" - 10 to 15 bed/chairs spread throughout this room, with a nurse's desk area. There were a half dozen or so people receiving their treatments. A few were asleep. It was interesting to see where we will be, and imagine what we will be doing.

Yesterday we called Dr. Danko's office for clarification on a few items. One of the things we asked about was the LDH test they did on the blood they drew on Tuesday. Nurse Jennifer indicated (as far as I remember) that over 200 is when they start getting concerned, and that mine was around 170. Totally normal. That was a big relief. As you may recall from a previous update, if that level was high, it would have given me another "point" prognostically, and would have put me in the 50% range rather than the 80% range (scientifically). Grateful for that. Also, they already had preliminary results back on my bone marrow biopsy (she said that was kinda quick to have that back already...usually it takes longer) and that no cancer was found in the bone marrow, and that my marrow was otherwise normal (no anemia, etc.). Also very good.

Yet again I express...we feel incredibly blessed. We feel as if Heavenly Father's hand has guided, directed, and comforted us, and we feel very grateful for that.