Ok I am not asking for med advice, just a question...
My 81 year old grandmother informed me she was having a bone marrow test done next week---I asked why and of course she didnt know, Grandpa was put on the phone and he said becuase she was anemic her hgb was 8.--said she has been low for a couple of years like in the 10 range--OK so those sound like acurate numbers for being anemic..I asked if she had been given a blood transfusion---"blankty blank--no"..ok...has she been given iron? "marge---do you take iron?"--no.....
since that conversation was not going well, I then called my aunt, who sometimes goes to the Drs with them...she said it was because Gmas sed rate was low...grandma has arthritis, so I thought sed rate would be elevated, not low, but aunt says it is low....apparently no one in the family really knows why gma was asked to have this test, and no one seems to be aware of how painful this is going to be....and well who am I to inform them? only a nurse right??/ no, in thier mind of course I am still a kid, who happens to be 37 years old...and has 4 kids of her own.
I am really against invasive test on elderly---she may very well be anemic. But does she really need a bone marrow test done???
My Aunts are telling me not to make a big deal out of this and dont tell her how painful this may be, cause it will make her nervouse---picture the classic italian maryter--that is my grandma---
So what do you guys know about bone marrow test/anemia and low sed rate??? I know my information is limited, --but if you had to guess, what do you think they are testing for?? when I think of bone marrow test I think of leukemia. but i am sure there are other things too...
I am anMA at a Oncology Clinic. The Dr. is probably trying to see if the anemia is being cause by a disfunctin in the bone marrow.
As I tell our patients, it is painful but only lasts a few minutes and will ache like you were kicked in the butty for a day or two.
Biopsy and donor/transplant are 2 very different things. Bx is done with only local in the Dr. office and only takes about 1/2 ounce of bome marrow liquid and a small bone sample.
Donor transplant is usually in a hospital under general andtakes pints at a time.
I would go with you Gma and ask lots of questions for your and her education.
I am anMA at a Oncology Clinic. The Dr. is probably trying to see if the anemia is being cause by a disfunctin in the bone marrow.
As I tell our patients, it is painful but only lasts a few minutes and will ache like you were kicked in the butty for a day or two.
Biopsy and donor/transplant are 2 very different things. Bx is done with only local in the Dr. office and only takes about 1/2 ounce of bome marrow liquid and a small bone sample.
Donor transplant is usually in a hospital under general andtakes pints at a time.
I would go with you Gma and ask lots of questions for your and her education.
Some docs get the stem cells peripherally - the donor takes leukine and neupogen injections for a week or so, then has a pheresis catheter put in place and the stem cells are collected through the peripheral blood stream. It's an out patient procedure - at least it was when I worked adult heme/onc a few years back.
In patients who have biopsies are usually given some IV meds (ativan and morphine), but it is done strictly under local anesthesia at an outpatient setting.
The transplant itself runs into a central line like a blood transfusion. Nothing but supportive meds for control of side effects - no anesthesia.
A SED rate that is low can indicate many kinds of blood disorders, but it cannot really tell you which one. The best way to tell is a bone marrow aspirate. It is bascially the best way to diagnosis iron deficiency anemia. At 81 I'm not sure what they hope to accomplish in the long run, but it might be the best way to decide on any treatment for her. At the same time, if she isn't having symptoms......well, it's her call. It's a hard thing for an 81 year old to go through. She could ask for IV sedation. We do it all the time. Best of luck to you all.
I agree with you - it does hurt more than childbirth. In the hospital, we pre-medicate for it, but I had mine done at the oncologist's office.
To the OP, I hope that you find answers soon, but rather than googling and getting yourself scared silly, why not ask your Grandparents if you can come along? FWIW, knowing what her white cell and platelet count could be more helpful than a sed rate.
Blee
I was an in-patient at the hospital, and was pre-medicatd. Perhaps that was the difference. I also went through childbirth, which in my experience was far far far worse. I had no idea they did bone marrow biopsies as outpatient procedure without being medicated. I could not imagine!!!! Wow. Sorry you had to go through that. Now THAT is awfull!!!!
Yep, bone marrow biopsy, with local anaesthetic to "numb" the area.....a one in a million experience...nEVER to be repeated by my hip bone!
I guess if one had it done under a GA, or even with sedation, it might well be less traumatic. I do hope this is the route chosen for your wee granma, if the procedure goes ahead. She may have a more compasionate Doctor, who will take her age into consideration, before subjecting her to pain. Again, hope she does ok, hope it all works out in her favour, that the testing, if she has it done, actually shows someting that can be treated in a positive way for her! Best of luck, let us know how she gets on!
prowlingMA
226 Posts
I am anMA at a Oncology Clinic. The Dr. is probably trying to see if the anemia is being cause by a disfunctin in the bone marrow.
As I tell our patients, it is painful but only lasts a few minutes and will ache like you were kicked in the butty for a day or two.
Biopsy and donor/transplant are 2 very different things. Bx is done with only local in the Dr. office and only takes about 1/2 ounce of bome marrow liquid and a small bone sample.
Donor transplant is usually in a hospital under general andtakes pints at a time.
I would go with you Gma and ask lots of questions for your and her education.