Having some bone marrow taken - I wonder if there's any truth in it when the doctor tells you that some people hardly notice the procedure at all?
I recently went to have some bone marrow taken as part of assessing the extent of the NHL and this is how things went.
The during the time in the waiting room we at first started to pass the time by reading a 1998 edition of What Caravan, but soon we were distracted by the noises coming from the room where this procedure was taking place. The middle aged gent that went in before me was screaming the place down; the poor chap was obviously having a tough time of it. The staff tried turning up the radio that was playing but it didn't work. All those in the waiting room looked at each other and all were thinking "it could be me next!"
Well it was infact me next and I was determined not to crack. With four people in the treatment room, including a couple of students who were there for the experience (their words not mine) the event was well attended.
As it turned out it was not a pleasant experience, but I suppose different people deal with it in different ways. My method was to grit my teeth and clench my buttocks at the same time, or was it the other was round? However I'm proud say I didn't scream once, and left the room with my head held high and my dignity intact.
Well I say intact - looking back now I had just spent 20 minutes bent double with my trousers at half mast in a room full of strangers!
Well...onwards and upwards!
Paul
