BMB and sedation ....

[Nadia T]

A mallet!!! No wonder other health care practitioners pass out when they assist or watch this. I"m glad I couldn't see what the doc was doing to get through my hard bones on my first unsedated bmb. I will for sure bring up the drill. I know what you mean, Greg. The bill for my last one was over $13,000.

[Gene_In_Va]

Thought I would put in my 2 cents worth....

I just had my 3rd BMB 4 days ago. All have been done in the HOPE Cancer Center her in Charlottesville. Basically it's a Dr's office of 4 Oncologists and 3 Nurse Practitioners.

The first two times I chose to have no sedation and only had lidocaine (sp?) to deaden the skin area above the top of my hip. Those were pretty darn painful. The first was in Oct of 2009 and 2nd in March of 2011.

This last one I decided to try sedation and was able to arrange for an IV in the top of my hand consisting of Adivan and Demeral. I didn't feel much of anything except the extraction of the aspirant, but that was only for a second. This was definitely the way to go but I haven't seen the bill yet, either.

Gene_In_Va.

[Snuuze]

A couple of things come to mind. I always have a friend with me for my BMBs, so that I have someone to talk to and distract me, and to offer a hand for me to squeeze. When I was in for my last BMB, I was told that the drills are most often reserved for larger patients (I'm 115 lbs) as they drill fast and the doctor doesn't have as much fine control over the drill. Each time I ask for sedation and am turned down. I've gotten through 6 on my own, so I guess the pathologist just thinks I enjoy those things. Wrong!