For many ITP patients bone marrow tests are generally not required however in my case my platelet levels were dropping at a dramatic rate and there was a concern that my condition could very well not be ITP and could potentially be leukaemia (you see leukaemia and ITP have a lot of similarities with obviously leukaemia being more ruthless out of the two). Therefor my doctor suggested it was better to be safe than sorry and booked me in for a bone marrow biopsy.
I have one word for this experience #traumatic
From the moment you hear the word leukaemia the world all of a sudden begins to slow down. One minute you think you are battling ITP and you already are in fight mode then next minute you are in “what if mode”. It’s a very scary thought. From my experience I can only advise not to jump to conclusions (it’s takes you places you never want to go and causes unnecessary worry). All you need to focus on is getting past the first obstacle – the bone marrow biopsy.
For the test I took my support with me (mum, dad and husband) they all kept me in good spirits whilst I waited in the cancer ward. This was very much needed especially when you’re confronted with a room full of cancer patients (the suffering they are experiencing is brutal, you can feel their pain just by looking at them. Every time they move they look as though they ache). Having my family by my side also helped with transport there was no way I would have been able to get home alone after the deed was done.
Unfortunately when it is time do the test you can only take one person in with you. Choose this person wisely as the procedure can make even the strongest queasy. Luckily for me my back was turned so I didn’t get to physically see what was happening however even with the magic green whistle (pain relief) I did feel it. I cannot explain the pain all I can say is it’s kind of like giving birth – you get through the pain and you forget it after a while. My dad held my hand and kept me calm, told me to breathe and then almost passed out on me. He went a very oddly green colour and we had to wait in the room long after the procedure for him to get his sea legs back. Still to this day almost 2 years on (every now and then) it’s like I get memory pains exactly where the bone biopsy took place (super weird).
After it’s all done a couple of days not moving is required – the drugs will keep you a little drowsy and its best not to be driving.
For me I was lucky to find out that my test results for leukaemia were negative and that in fact I do have ITP. I suppose in a way this whole experience enlighten me to realise that things could be worse and maybe having ITP wasn’t so bad.