On June 30 I underwent a bone marrow biopsy and aspiration. The procedure was done while lying on my hospital bed, it took about 20 minutes and was many things, none of them being pleasant.  By the following day, after analysis of the samples they had my diagnosis.

So, what is aplastic anemia?

Aplastic anemia(AA) is rare, 2 to 3 people out of every million are diagnosed. It is marked the body’s ability to no longer produce adequate amounts of blood cells.  Aplastic anemia is often idiopathic, meaning in most people a distinct cause is never established.  AA is acquired, meaning at some point your body encountered something—a chemical, radiation, a virus that triggered a lasting genetic change. Aplastic amemia (in my case) is best treated with a bone marrow transplant, it is only chance of a 100% cure.

What aplasic anemia is not:

Aplastic anemia is not cancer. It is is not physically painful.  AA is not contagious. 

Neither of these lists are completed as I evolve with this disease and experience so to will the is’s and aint’s…

 

I think it is noteworthy to add  that one of the most common questions I have received over the last week is, how painful is a bone marrow biopsy?  As I said above it is not pleasant. But when you reach the point where doctors are telling you they have no clue whats wrong with you that you want them to do whatever the have to do. The emotional drain of not knowing, of  plain fear, is far more of a hassle than any needle, even if it happens to be an exceptionally large one.

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