welcome to hematology

Last week I started the last rotation of my internship! Hooray!

My last area happens to be hematology (which I am loving by the way). In hematology, the Med Techs assist the Pathologists with bone marrow biopsies. As a student, that means that I get to go along too. On Monday, I attended my first and second biopsies. Also on Monday, I came dangerously close to passing out for the first time ever. Allow me to explain.

Here is a quick run down on bone marrow biopsies: the Pathologist cuts into your skin above the superior inferior iliac crest (essentially the back of your hip bone). He/she then twists a big needle into your bone until they are the middle of it. At that point they pull out some bone marrow, then go back in with a bigger needle in order to get a piece of the bone to look at.

Bone marrow #1: Success. I watched with no problems and everything went smoothly.

Bone marrow #2: Not quite as successful. Getting the bone marrow was no problem, it was the piece of bone that was a little more difficult. During this biopsy, I was standing right next to the doctor helping to hold the patient stationary. I got to see EVERY twist and turn that he made. After about four times of going in to try and get a piece of the bone, I started to feel a little light headed. The fifth time, it got considerably worse. When he went in for a sixth time I couldn't take it anymore. I had to quickly leave the patient's side and walk to the stool at the back of the OR. It only kept getting worse after I sat down. I felt the blood drain from my face and started to get a cold sweat. Not a good sign if I wanted to remain conscious. I decided that I needed to lie down. I got up, walked to the OR doors so that I could lie down on the floor outside of the room. Naturally, since an OR is supposed to be sterile, opening and closing of the doors is regulated. I didn't think about that little fact. At this point, black started closing in on me. Luckily, one of the OR techs saw my plight and was able to open the door in time for me to make it out without passing out. A cold, hard hospital floor has never felt as good as it did in that moment.

I thought that I had a pretty tough stomach, but apparently some things can get to me (don't worry, I will spare you of any gruesome details).

Thankfully, I was able to avoid hitting my head or dropping to the floor. And, I can still say that I have never passed out - although, I was right on the brink this time.

I will probably never live this moment down so long as I work at Utah Valley Hospital.