Bone Marrow Biopsy and other tests
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Forum Name: General Chat
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Topic: Bone Marrow Biopsy and other tests
Posted By: emz
Subject: Bone Marrow Biopsy and other tests
Date Posted: 09 April 2009 at 4:53pm
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Won't bore most of you with much detail as it's been an ongoing saga since January!
Basically my DS could no longer stand by himself and it was discovered early Feb he had a right hip bone infection. After 10 days on Ab's through a PICC line, he was sent home and on oral Ab's for another month. He had to come off those as his neutrofolds (sp) - ie white cell count - were dangerously low and couldn't contend with the Ab's. Weekly blood tests since then, until 3 weeks ago when we were released and just had to come back for a test the other day to make sure all was well. Well it's not. At all. Have just talked to the doc who is very concerned that his neutrofolds have gone lower than what they were at the beginning of his infection (infection has gone now and he's walking fine). They now need weekly bloods for at least another 6 weeks, to do whole lot of blood tests on Wednesday (which is always a mission) and he's also booked in for a bone marrow biopsy. I don't really know too much about them except the big needle in the back or hip and he needs an anaesthetic obviously. Does he need a general or local? He had 2 while in hospital and didn't have much trouble with the general so that's good. Has anyone been there, done that? The registrar did emphasise to me that while they were testing for cancer etc, they were not looking at that as a possibility. More possibly it's an auto-immune disease  .
As you can imagine I'm a wee bit emotional at the moment (don't think the hormones help). To make matters worse DH is only home for the next 3 weeks then he's away for 3 months. It's been a long battle and it just doesn't seem to be ending  I never once cried the whole time we were in hospital because they knew how to treat him etc but this has got me really worried
so any advice, or just words of wisdom would be fab. |
Replies:
Posted By: katie1
Date Posted: 09 April 2009 at 4:59pm
| I don't have any words of wisdom or advice but I didn't want to just read and not comment. Am sending you lots of big cyber hugs. Thinking of you heaps. Have you got good family and friend support while your DH is away? |
Posted By: my4beauties
Date Posted: 09 April 2009 at 5:14pm
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Aww hun that must be such a worry for you!!! I hope your gorgeous little man is ok!
------------- My babies: R (9),G (7), J (5) http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: Daizy
Date Posted: 09 April 2009 at 5:18pm
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Just want to send you a big cyper Hug Sorry I have no words of advice. Really hope the Drs can sort it out!
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Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 09 April 2009 at 7:35pm
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No words of wisdom here unfortunately either, but lots of hugs, we'll be thinking of you and wee Jack.
Oh no, actually, I take that back - my only words of wisdom: GOOGLE IS NOT YOUR FRIEND! I have a dreadful tendency to google things like that and you always get the worst case scenario with no context and all it does is freak me out. -------------  Maya Grace (28/02/03)
 (02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Posted By: SMoody
Date Posted: 09 April 2009 at 8:09pm
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Dont have any advice but big hugs to you and Jack and to your whole family ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: BeLoved
Date Posted: 09 April 2009 at 8:17pm
 for you and your family. I know how hard it is having DH away with one baby, so I can only imagine what it must be like with a sick baby, pregnancy and all that worry, I hope you have good family & friends to support you.------------- http://alterna-tickers.com"> 
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Posted By: floss
Date Posted: 09 April 2009 at 8:21pm
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Oh hon, I'm sorry, I don't have any advice either, but I'm thinking of you and your little guy ------------- My beautiful big girl Sienna 15.04.06 Double the trouble double the fun Noah & Lola 10/11/07 |
Posted By: Rachael21
Date Posted: 09 April 2009 at 10:18pm
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How scary for you, I don't have any advice either but will be thinking of you guys.
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Posted By: emz
Date Posted: 10 April 2009 at 1:40pm
Thanks ladies, feeling a wee bit better today but the rest of the family is now panicking (typical  )
Yeah I have great parents and a wicked grandma who are all very supportive so that's good. I feel sorry for DH though as he wants to be around for things like this but is forever away. Thanks for the hint Emma - so far I have refrained from google but I'm guessing that with Dh working Easter I'll start getting bored once all my chores are done! |
Posted By: ElfsMum
Date Posted: 10 April 2009 at 7:15pm
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I have no words of advice but from us too:( ------------- Mum to two amazing boys! |
Posted By: BusyMum2three
Date Posted: 10 April 2009 at 7:56pm
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Emz! I hope you get the answers you need soon...
xx |
Posted By: DJ
Date Posted: 11 April 2009 at 11:26am
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Oh such a stressful situation - hugs from me too.
My only advice is to have plenty of good cries to help let out the emotion. They do a bone marrow biopsy with a local in adults, but I'm not sure in children. (Sorry that doesn't help much). I'm sure the hospital has said this already, but while your lovely boy's neutrophils are low, it might pay to keep him away from sick people (i.e. tell friends and family to stay away if unwell). All the very best ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: NewPhoenix
Date Posted: 11 April 2009 at 10:51pm
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. ------------- |
Posted By: cuppatea
Date Posted: 12 April 2009 at 8:34am
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No advice from me either, but hope it all goes well. ------------- 
 
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Posted By: My3Sons
Date Posted: 12 April 2009 at 1:01pm
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Lots of hugs and loves from our place too Emz!! ------------- Mum to Mr 10, Mr 6 and Mr 4
 
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Posted By: emz
Date Posted: 13 April 2009 at 1:56pm
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Yeah DJ they said to stay away from people that have meningitis etc lol - basically most other things kids have are viruses so they won't affect his levels.
Seems he's caught chickenpox now too (which again is a virus) but just means he's susceptible to other illnesses while he recovers from that! When it rains, it pours! |
Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 13 April 2009 at 2:01pm
LOL yeah, coz normally you'd hang out with sick people on purpose 
I hope the chickenpox passes uneventfully, you're right, it does seem when it rains, it pours. ------------- Maya Grace (28/02/03)
(02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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emz wrote:Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 13 April 2009 at 2:04pm
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I wonder if him getting chicken pox is immune-system related? I wondered the same thing when lil miss got it really early on coz she'd had a long run of viruses and bacterial infections. The doc at Starship said it was unlikely to be related coz it's viral, but the gremlins immunologist said it was possibly related to an immune deficiency as the gremlins fall in that category. ------------- Maya Grace (28/02/03)
(02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Posted By: surfergirl
Date Posted: 14 April 2009 at 9:20am
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Hi Em, Didn't want to read and run. I will be thinking of you over the next few days and weeks, if you want to have a coffee break let me know and we can meet up. E xx |
Posted By: emz
Date Posted: 14 April 2009 at 9:33am
Thanks E 
They said the same to me Emma, about how viral things wouldn't occur anymore than normal if he has an immune deficiency like at the moment. But, I'm guessing that having low immunity makes you more likely to not have the power to fight off anything that comes your way. Pox don't seem to be too bad atm (if that's what they are - he was exposed to a child who was misdiagnosed with eczema instead of pox) 13 days ago so it's about the time he would get them. Just little rash-like pimply things atm. Will just wait and get him checked at the hospital when he has his bloods done tomorrow. |
Posted By: Lea2109
Date Posted: 07 June 2009 at 10:48pm
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I'm new to the forum and am not sure if you have since posted an update or not. I know a fair bit about bone marrow biopsies and lumbar punctures and things like that as my daughter Bianca has had several of those since she was diagnosed with Leukemia in June 2007. Hers has always been under General Anaesthetic in hospital. She always seems to recover very quickly and well from these. ------------- Our blog: http://whitesinnz.blogspot.com Bianca's story: http://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=NZ&hl=en-GB&v=jFKlYEy4WAY |
Posted By: emz
Date Posted: 09 June 2009 at 10:05pm
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Hi Lea
Sorry to hear about your daughter, how is she doing now? No I have not posted an update, probably should though! The biopsy went well, Jack goes under general pretty well so that was OK. All results came back normal and they had some tests sent to Oz which came back normal also. They don't have enough info to diagnose him as a specific type of neutropaenic so he is a 'benign' neutropaenic - no known cause or cure, they think it may just right itself in time. So as of last week we have stopped our weekly blood tests and just have to go into the assessment unit for tests if he gets a fever. Best possible outcome really they wanted to continue testing for another few months but our registrar put her foot down as she could see that he was becoming traumatized (often had to have bloods without proper numbing etc as he doesn't bleed well with it on) so the potential gains weren't enough to outweigh the negative effects. He seems to be well at the moment so fingers crossed he stays that way.
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Posted By: T_Rex
Date Posted: 10 June 2009 at 9:34am
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Yay Emz, thats good to hear ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Chickaboo
Date Posted: 10 June 2009 at 8:52pm
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emz sounds positive *hugs* thought as it must of been stressful for you all ------------- http://lilypie.com">  
876 |
Posted By: BusyMum2three
Date Posted: 11 June 2009 at 6:16pm
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Emz - i have been wondering how everything is going...its sounding positive for you hun!
When you get a chance come on over to Aug Mummies, and update us on how your PG is going for you
xx |
Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 12 June 2009 at 1:32pm
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Yay Emz, I'd been wondering how Jackson was getting on. Glad to hear they have stopped the weekly blood tests, I agree, they are so traumatic for wee ones. ------------- Maya Grace (28/02/03)
(02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Posted By: Lea2109
Date Posted: 23 June 2009 at 12:40pm
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Hi Emz,
Bianca is doing very well at the moment thank you. Still treatment until September and then just check ups and things like that going forward. At the moment she is at home from school as her counts are down and she has a bit of a tummy bug, but hopefully all will be well again soon :-) Feel free to read our blog if you want. I'm glad that you won't need weekly tests anymore and that the results were clear, that is good news! ------------- Our blog: http://whitesinnz.blogspot.com Bianca's story: http://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=NZ&hl=en-GB&v=jFKlYEy4WAY |