Anyone ever been a bone marrow donor?

[SleepyJess]

DS2 just crawled up to an hour ago and gave me a mangled piece of paper that apparently came in yesterday's post (MUST be more organised!!).. and it turned out to be a letter from the Blood Service re the fact that I put myself on to the British Bone Marrow Register a few years ago.

Preliminary results have shown me as a possible match for a patient needing a bone marrow transplant. The blurb in the enclosed leaflet indicated that at this stage there is a one in ten chance of being actually selected. I have to call someone tomorrow to arrange a blood test.

Obviously I will do so.. after all nobody MADE me put myself on the register (although my mum had a real go at me at the time, LOL!).. and this is somebody's life we are talking about (and the possibility of me saving it!).. but I would be lying if I said the prospect of actually being selected is not very scary! There are two possible ways of being asked to donate bone marrow.. one involves a general anaesthetic and a needle a syringe into the hip being used to remove stem cells... and the other, an injection for 4 days (to increase number of circulating stem cells) and then you are connected to a machine (well one arm is) while the stem cells are removed and the blood is replaced in your other arm (! but at least no GA!)

I have never had a GA before. I have been a blood donor since I was 18. (Am 34 now.)

Has anyone else ever donated bone marrow? Was the experience fairly ok??!

SJ x

*should say "DS2 crawled up to me..."

Sorry I cannot help you but would like to wish you all the best and hope it turns out well.

I've had GA before, and it wasn't a pleasant experience in my case. BUT, that is just me. LOTS of peeps are fine w/it.

I can tell you from my husband's point of view, who has had to have it the other way round. He needed bone marrow, but his own. But, the first procedure you mentioned, he had a local anaesthetic, not general, so was worse for him, I would say. It may hurt a bit after, but obviously not during, as you are anaesthetised.

The second procedure will be more long and boring more than anything, and you will be very well looked after, and will be laid on a bed during the procedure. My hubby got to watch videos! HTH

bless you for being on the regester!

Dh has a match in his brother, thank god.

I'd be on it myself, but I am too old!

Thanks SS. Hope DH is ok now. Yes am of course also interested to hear info from anyone who knows any else's experience.

Too old MB?! Are you over 60??!

when I APPROACHED THEM AGES AGO YOU HAD TO BE UNDER 40?

has this now changed?

Well the leaflet here says .. ah yes... you have to be between 18 & 44 and have registered before your 44th birthday.. but that you can remain on the register until your 60th birthday. I hadn't read it properly, sorry. Is that any good for you?

if i pull my finfer out between now and june!

Or even your finger?

Well, he's not ok yet (see my other thread about radiotherapy), but it's going well. So I think you are fantastic for being a donor.

Sorry SS... will read. xx

SleepySuzy, (my cyber sister !) (((hugs)) to you and DH. I hope the radiotherapy goes well. By most accounts I think it is much less of a big deal than chemo (my friend who is 30 and recovering from breast cancer has had both.) Thinking of you.

SJ x

lmao at cybersister, and thanks for your kind thoughts x

hi sleepy, i was a bone marrow doner on the list for about 15years, got called up once to have bloody taken and like you i felt pleased that i might be the chosen one to help someone but also petrified. my blood wasnt a match anyway, so all that worry

Least I know it's normal to be this nervous 7up thanks! :)

how amazing!!!

you could be the difference between life and death to someone and they don't even know

would love to match to someone

(had a GA .. no sweat)

Thanks Twiglett. :) Blood donors are also the difference between life and death to hundreds of people every day. :)

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