Anyone donated bone marrow ?

[recall]

What was it like ?

I really want to do it.

The first stage is a blood test to test compatibilities. If you are compatible you will have lots of blood tests and scans to test matching.

By registering you might never be called on but it is worth being on the list.

If suitable, when the timing is right, you will be given medication that boosts your marrow so that it increases enough to give a good donation. The medication is given for about five days before and can cause severe aching pains.

Stem cell donations take the blood out of you, spin what you need and put back in what it doesnt want.

Bone Marrow donations means they take parts of the bone from different bits of your body and usually involves an overnight stay.

As long as you are healthy recovery will be quick.

But is is definitely worth doing. Stem cell/marrow donations save lives and too many people die because they cant get a match. Ethic minories suffer the worse because there are fewer people to donate from around the world.

I am currently recovering from a transplant for treatment of leukemia. Without it my life expectancy was very limited I would have died very quickly so I will always be grateful to my donor.

There is a lot of info on the web that explains all this in detail which might be more helpful.

Well done for considering it

Yeah, I don't know why I want to do it, I just feel compelled to help. My family will be cross because I have 3 little kids, and making myself feel crap for a few days will have a direct impact on them all.

Just asked DH as I was typing this and he was a bit But I really want to help families who are needing help, I think why not, I have nothing to loose.
He said wait until the children are a couple of years older, but I am going to go on the register and set the wheels in motion, it might take a while until it is all ready. He has just said that he wants to do it too.

Was your donor someone off the list ? or was it someone you knew ?

First I have to be a blood donor, which I have just registered to do. They may not have me because I have factor 5 lyden

I've been on the register for 20 years and got called for extra tests once, but have not donated - you have to be matched, you don't just donate and stick it in the bank like giving blood. Going on the list doesn't mean you will get called.

DH did it about 3 years ago - he donated stem cells. We have a young family and it was all fine - he wasn't really out of action at all, and went back to work 2 days after (not the day after as we were travelling back from London, otherwise he'd have been in).

Do you usually go to London when the time comes ?

I live in Devon.

It's different these days from when I donated (it was removed surgically and it hurt quite a lot). These days you take drugs which push the bone marrow into your blood and they harvest it that way - which feels like having flu apparently but it's only a couple of days. Usually you do donate in London if you have it done the new way. IIRC they pay for someone to spend the time with you though in the hospital (my friend donated at the London Clinic which is a swish private hospital).

Great, I love London.

I haven't, but my friend's sister has. Her workplace refused to let her have time off (illegal with dr's cert, but still did it) and mde her take annual leave to recover.

you need to do it for expat in scotlands DD. she is battling leukemia and needs a bone marrow transplant to save her life.

Can't now - got MS
Not wishing to teach grandmother to suck eggs; but churches are a good place to start- you can ask a lot of people in a short time

She can have mine !!! I wish there was a quick way to see if I was a match I have to do it when I give blood which is in March.

Anthony Nolan have on youtube. I've been on the register for about ten years now, still haven't been matched to anyone, but I'd be so happy if I was. I do know a lovely little girl whose life was saved by a transplant, what a fantastic feeling it would be to be a part of that .