It may be Monday, but the clinic was still as busy as ever. Starting off with many new patients, most were there just for abnormal blood counts, which mainly resulted in anemia or iron deficiency. We then went and saw some follow up patients, and saw a young lady of 24 years who had just had a pancreas transplant for pancreatitis. She is also diabetic and has stomach issues. Her doctors sent her to the clinic because they were worried she might be anemic. I was surprised how many patients came into the clinic and did not have an issue at all. The checkups were quick and easy.
The main excitement of the day was a bone marrow biopsy I got to see. Now, I’ve never been one to get queasy at the sight of blood or needles, but this procedure kinda got me. The doctor first started off with some numbing medicine, but the needle was so deep that it was tapping on the pelvic bones. She let me feel the place where the biopsy would be taken, the flat bones in the lower back, and she then proceeded to take out a ginormous hollow needle to take the biopsy with. The needle was twisted into the bone, going all the way through to the marrow in the middle, and then was aspirated to retrieve the liquid marrow. At the end, she also took out the piece of bone she went through, and it basically looked like a little tube of bone. I was shocked at how easily she was able to go through the bone, because I always thought there had to be drills or hard tools involved. It was definitely an experience I won’t forget.
Fun Facts:
- You know if a biopsy sample is good if there are sand-like particles in the blood.
- Sometimes when people age, their bones become like Swiss cheese with holes and the biopsy needle just crunches the bone when going through.
- According to the nurses, men always faint at the clinic, but women never do.
- Radiation is dangerous because the radiation affects anything behind, in front of, or around the targeted area, resulting in organ damage sometimes.