BW I'm sorry you're facing having a procedure which you find so anxiety-provoking. You absolutely should tell your dr about the level of anxiety you are experiencing, as it is a legitimate reason for the procedure to be done under sedation if that is what is necessary. FWIW I've had a bone marrow biopsy which is routinely performed at some treatment centres under only a local, but at my hospital a sedation is considered the minimum standard of care. So it could be that the liver biopsies are routinely available under sedation somewhere near you, and if it's not you should be able to request it any way. No doctor wants their patients to be distressed.
DP has had a liver biopsy. He had local anaesthetic. The did an ultrasound and he felt a bit of pushing and pressure but no actual pain. He was ok to walk afterwards and they just got him to hang around for a bit to make sure he was ok. I'm pretty sure it hurt a bit afterwards but he had aggressive lymphoma all through his system and it particularly liked his liver so he was already in pain from that - it was the size of a football and was hurting every time he coughed or moved in particular ways so that doesn't really apply to you.
Sorry. That's probably not helpful for you. I do agree with MD and others, if you are feeling that anxious about it, I would definitely be demanding full sedation. DP didn't have that option because his breathing was so compromised they weren't willing to take that risk so it was either local or go under a full general. I know your situations are really different but I'd be happy to ask him anything you particularly wanted to know about the procedure. I don't think it took very long - maybe 20 minutes? It's the waiting beforehand that was worse.
I hope you can come up with a plan you feel somewhat comfortable with.
I've assisted with lots BW but never had one. Lots of Sydney specialists will only do it with light sedation, so I totally agree with the others about telling him and requesting it. If you can't talk about it with him, maybe print out what you have typed and let him read it?
I have no advice huni but I do know what its like with a lot of health problems. iv got a stent in my kidney and iv got to go back in to have more surgery to try and remove my kidney stones, he said this might not solve or be causing the problem with my kidneys. iv got a few other things but iv learnt to expect the unexpected with everything. (my surgeon said they went in and were unprepared for how complicated it was. (story of my life!!) lol.
huni we are all here for you huni and if you want to talk you know im here.
huge hugs xox
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I hope you can come up with a plan you feel somewhat comfortable with.
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