Bone Marrow Biopsy Warning

[tinhuvielartanis]

**PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT**

If you ever find yourself in the situation of needing to get a bone marrow biopsy to try to find out what's going on with your blood, demand that you be anesthestised prior to the procedure. Aunt Tudi has withstood more pain than I can possibly imagine in a lifetime, but what the doctor did to her yesterday left her crying like a baby. Only afterward did we learn she had the option of anesthetic. Why doctors don't offer that up front is beyond me, but I'm telling you now, don't let your doctor perform this procedure without being knocked out.

I'm a total ninny when it comes to pain, so I already know what my choice would be, should I ever face the health complications Aunt Tudi has been facing these past few weeks. Keep your damn 20-foot-long needle to yourself unless it's full of drugs that will put me to sleep.

I'm only now getting over the experience so that I can write about it...and I wasn't the one the doctor tortured!

That is all.

Comments

[rheyamorgaine.livejournal.com]

OMG. I always always ask about anesthetic. I'm a complete wimp when it comes to doctor induced owch. Sometimes it gets me looked at oddly (as in, you want drugs for that? I'm so sorry she had to go through that :( I hope she is resting comfortably now and that the results come up good and this doctor nightmare can be over soon for her.

[tinhuviel.livejournal.com]

Thanks, sweetheart. She's done nothing but sleep so far this morning and that's exactly what I'm gonna encourage her to do today.

[miintikwa.livejournal.com]

OMG, poor Tudi!!! And poor you! *hugs to you both*

[tinhuviel.livejournal.com]

::hugs you back:: thank you, dahlin'.

[brujah.livejournal.com]

Vicious fucking bastards should've gave her the option prior to ever touching her.

[tinhuviel.livejournal.com]

That's pretty much what the nurse said, but you know how doctors are. Either "you'll feel a little pressure, a little discomfort, or a little pinch," and then they they try to rip your head off with their teeth.

[theafaye.livejournal.com]

I have heard that it's a phenominally painful procedure. I am stunned that she wasn't offered anaesthetic. It does no good to let her know that AFTER the fact.

I am pretty disgusted with the doctor that thought that that was OK. My sympathies are with both of you because it is also incredibly hard to watch the one you love suffer.

[tinhuviel.livejournal.com]

This is typical American medical practice, so I think you'd be pretty disgusted 95% of the time if you were over here.

[theafaye.livejournal.com]

I am unsurprised, given what I know about birthing practises. But still shocked, given how America is touted as being so advanced.

[tinhuviel.livejournal.com]

pfffff....hahahahhaa!

[qt3-14159.livejournal.com]

Give her hugs from me...as soon as it's safe to do without hurting her. And ::hugs:: for you too.

[tinhuviel.livejournal.com]

I sure will and, thank you! :)

[dr-nebula.livejournal.com]

Bastards.

When it comes to describing levels of 'pain', most doctors are even better liars than the parasites in Washington.

[tinhuviel.livejournal.com]

You can say that again. I remember when the doctor told me I'd feel a little pressure when he pulled the drainage tube out of my knee with my first surgery. He then proceeded to suck my soul out through my knee cap.

[es-skysurfer.livejournal.com]

Oh no, poor Tudi! I thought it was SOP to use anasthetic for a procedure like that, apparently not.. that is just shocking!!

Thinking of both of you... *hugs*

[tinhuviel.livejournal.com]

Nope. According to the doc, some patients find the procedure unbearable while others don't feel a thing. According to the nurse, all patients are freaked out.

[sapphirescarlet.livejournal.com]

Dear GAWD. How horrifying. My aunt had her hip bone broken when she had bone marrow removed. There's just no easy way to endure that sort of thing, but it's unconscionable not to at least offer a twilight-inducing cocktail.

[tinhuviel.livejournal.com]

From what the nurse said, it's never offered, you have to ask for it. Ain't that about a bitch?

[sapphirescarlet.livejournal.com]

It is indeed. Bitch is a mild word for it.

[acook.livejournal.com]

WHAT THE FUCK MAN.
I don't even have anything useful to add.
JUST WHAT THE FUCK MAN. THAT AIN'T RIGHT.
Hugs and kisses to Tudi for living through that.

[tinhuviel.livejournal.com]

Thank you muchlies. You pretty much have summed up my thoughts on the situation, trust me. 0_o

[ladyana5.livejournal.com]

By the gods...that is just fucking inhuman. What's up with these morons? Sorry she had to go through that, hon. Unbelievable.

[tinhuviel.livejournal.com]

Just goes to show how truly close we still are to the medical practices of the Dark Ages.

[ladyana5.livejournal.com]

I hate to say it, but I know what it is. Anesthetic can have complications and it makes the procedure take longer and, of course, the doctors just want to hurry the hell up and get it done, with as few issues as possible. Of course, the patient trusts the doctor to know what's best, so they don't even bother to ask for it. What I don't see is how a thrashing, screaming patient is less of a health risk!

[tinhuviel.livejournal.com]

The American medical experience leaves a lot to be desire, to be sure.