I had to be at the hospital radiology center at 7:30 a.m. and the sun was just coming up. I wasn’t really fretting about my bone marrow test until the nurse prepping me told me that I would not be sedated and would be awake for the procedure. But, she said that many people don’t remember it due to the drugs that are given. I didn’t even have to take off any of my clothes since my jeans were loose enough to just be lowered.

I was a little anxious when the nurse wheeled me into the radiology room. I laid face down on the table and the doctor came in and spoke to me (I don’t even know what kind of doctor he is, probably a radiologist). The nurse then injected what he referred to as “happy juice” into my IV (later I found out it was Versed and Fentanyl). I laid there thinking I wasn’t feeling anything. I felt the numbing injection, I felt them sterilizing the area and I felt the draping. And it all went so smoothly. I told my daughter it was a piece of cake. I was fully awake…at least I thought I was until I read the doctor’s report:

Under fluoroscopic guidance lidocaine was administered over the iliac bone and a small skin nick was made. An 11-gauge bone marrow biopsy needle was then inserted through the skin nick an advanced to the iliac bone.

A drill was then used to advance the needle approximately 1 cm into the bone. Aspirates were obtained. A final core biopsy was then taken upon removal of the needle. Hemostasis was obtained with manual pressure. A sterile bandage was then applied. The patient tolerated the procedure well with no immediate complication. Moderate sedation was utilized during this procedure. The patient received benzodiazepines and/or opioids, the dosing of which is documented in the patient’s permanent medical record.

Ok. So obviously, I wasn’t aware and/or I have no memory of any of this. Thank goodness for the happy juice.

The results were what I thought they would be. I do not have the more serious form of polycythemia. I have “secondary polycythemia,” which means it is caused by something other than my bone marrow, probably my sleep apnea or my COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, thanks to twenty-five years of smoking).

So now I’m going to have to make myself wear the mouth device for my sleep apnea—or maybe I won’t. Sigh.