WARNING: This entry may be too graphic for those who are sensitive to reading about medical procedures.
Let me just say that the muscle biopsy I had on Tuesday was NOT fun. In fact, I'm adding it to my list of things I never want to do again unless I absolutely have to.
Fortunately, the doctor prescribed some Ativan that I could take before my procedure so that I did not have so much anxiety.
The anesthesia that was injected into my skin felt like broken glass being shoved into my body. And that was just the anesthesia!
Once the anesthesia took effect, I did not feel the actual incision into my skin. However, they could not use anesthesia on the muscle itself because it would potentially damage or contaminate the sample. The doctor made a two-ish inch incision into the skin of my bicep and cut out a few small pieces of muscle.
As expected, the cutting of the actual muscle hurt like crazy. I couldn't move much because they had my arm strapped down. At least the procedure went pretty quickly. The doctor sewed up the incision with internal stitches that are supposed to heal with a less obvious scar.
My arm still hurts, but mostly when I move it. I'd keep writing, but I'm tired now. I've taken Tylenol with Codeine. It doesn't stop the pain, but it dulls it. I'll write more later!
Let me just say that the muscle biopsy I had on Tuesday was NOT fun. In fact, I'm adding it to my list of things I never want to do again unless I absolutely have to.
Fortunately, the doctor prescribed some Ativan that I could take before my procedure so that I did not have so much anxiety.
The anesthesia that was injected into my skin felt like broken glass being shoved into my body. And that was just the anesthesia!
Once the anesthesia took effect, I did not feel the actual incision into my skin. However, they could not use anesthesia on the muscle itself because it would potentially damage or contaminate the sample. The doctor made a two-ish inch incision into the skin of my bicep and cut out a few small pieces of muscle.
As expected, the cutting of the actual muscle hurt like crazy. I couldn't move much because they had my arm strapped down. At least the procedure went pretty quickly. The doctor sewed up the incision with internal stitches that are supposed to heal with a less obvious scar.
My arm still hurts, but mostly when I move it. I'd keep writing, but I'm tired now. I've taken Tylenol with Codeine. It doesn't stop the pain, but it dulls it. I'll write more later!
4 comments:
Oh yuck, that sounds terrible. I hope it was worth it and the results lead to some good treatment. Either way, at least you'll know. Heal quickly :)
Yes, heal quickly. Dulling is good.
This reminded me my muscle biopsy. 5 years ago already !
You will be fine in one week and hopefully you will have a diagnosis. In my case, the presence of red-ragged fibers and some COX-negative fibers confirmed my mitochondrial myopathy
Hi upnorth -- I'm not going to sugarcoat it. It was pretty awful, so I hope it's worth it, too. Thanks for the well wishes!
Hi beatrice -- Thanks for the well wishes!
Hi Luis -- I'm sorry you had to go through a muscle biopsy, too! Out of curiosity, how old were you when you had your biopsy?
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