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Started By
Message
Donating Bone Marrow
Posted on 7/10/22 at 12:23 am
Posted on 7/10/22 at 12:23 am
While in college I registered with bethematch.com and submitted a swab to see if I’d be matched with someone in need of bone marrow/stem cells. Now 15 years later I got the call that I’ve been matched with a patient. Has anyone gone through this process? Just looking for some insight.
This post was edited on 7/10/22 at 12:25 am
19
Posted on 7/10/22 at 12:23 am to TigreB77
RIP
Posted on 7/10/22 at 12:40 am to TigreB77
Bump for a thread worthy of replies.
Posted on 7/10/22 at 12:43 am to TigreB77
I have no idea but pls update this thread after you’ve donated. I registered on bethematch 15 years ago too but never been called.
Posted on 7/10/22 at 12:44 am to TigreB77
Collection Methods
To understand the potential risks of donating bone marrow, it's helpful to talk briefly about the bone marrow collection process. Bone marrow is taken (doctors call it "harvested") through a needle which is inserted into your hip. (Your bone marrow is on the inside of large bones in your body such as your hip.)
This is usually done under a general anesthetic in the operating room using sterile technique. During the procedure, approximately 2 liters of bone marrow is withdrawn. This may seem like a large amount, but it represents less than 10% of your bone marrow. It may help to know that your body makes over 20 billion blood cells in your bone marrow every day. The number of cells in your bone marrow is usually completely back to normal levels within 4 to 6 weeks, though your body can function perfectly fine in the meantime.
Generally I avoid anything with needles.
To understand the potential risks of donating bone marrow, it's helpful to talk briefly about the bone marrow collection process. Bone marrow is taken (doctors call it "harvested") through a needle which is inserted into your hip. (Your bone marrow is on the inside of large bones in your body such as your hip.)
This is usually done under a general anesthetic in the operating room using sterile technique. During the procedure, approximately 2 liters of bone marrow is withdrawn. This may seem like a large amount, but it represents less than 10% of your bone marrow. It may help to know that your body makes over 20 billion blood cells in your bone marrow every day. The number of cells in your bone marrow is usually completely back to normal levels within 4 to 6 weeks, though your body can function perfectly fine in the meantime.
Generally I avoid anything with needles.
Posted on 7/10/22 at 12:45 am to TigreB77
how much are they paying you?
Posted on 7/10/22 at 12:49 am to TigreB77
My brother did it a year ago. He said it took a lot of time because there are several procedures done before the actual donation but the surgery itself wasn’t too bad. He was back to normal about 2 days after.
Posted on 7/10/22 at 12:49 am to TigreB77
Good for you! What an amazing gift you can offer to those in need.
Posted on 7/10/22 at 12:55 am to TigreB77
The injections they give you leading up to the collection are probably to worst part. They just make you ache or feel sick. The actual procedure you are knocked out so it is probably not a big deal. I have seen people pre donation and they have seemed pretty miserable but they weren’t in any danger.
Posted on 7/10/22 at 12:59 am to TigreB77
Your post really has me thinking about many things, philosophically.
I have no insights, other than, you are have no obligation to attempt to help this stranger.
Your morals will inform your decisions.
I will pray for you.
I will not sleep for a while now, pondering myself walking in your shoes.
I have no insights, other than, you are have no obligation to attempt to help this stranger.
Your morals will inform your decisions.
I will pray for you.
I will not sleep for a while now, pondering myself walking in your shoes.
Posted on 7/10/22 at 1:13 am to TigreB77
ETA
*Stem cells not bone marrow
They try stem cells first, depending on patient, they said if it didn’t take I may be contacted for bone marrow
I did it in 2018
IIRC
First thing I had to do was additional bloodwork, they set it up somewhere local / convenient & cover everything
Once that’s done & confirmed you have more testing
They paid for me to fly to Houston, did more bloodwork, ekg, chest x ray & physical
Flew home same night
They paid for airfare & gave me Uber codes for transportation
Once everything is cleared / scheduled they ship you shots & everything needed to report back to them
1st one has to be done at a Dr or Urgent Care, friend is a nurse, she was able to turn in her license & info & was approved to give me remainder
This is also point of no return, if you back out after they are upfront that you match will likely pass
While the shots boost stem cells the match is also preparing & I think it wipes out their immune system so without transplant they die
They pay for airfare & hotel for you & someone else for the donation
They also cover food, dog boarding, child care, the vitamins they need you to take…as long as you turn in receipts (I didn’t)
They also took out a million dollar life insurance policy on me in my parents name in the event something happened
The worst part is the shots
The first couple of days are fine, then the aches start & I felt crappy but nothing awful
After that if I stood a certain way or leaned to brush my teeth I’d have this weird body spasm, it’s hard to explain but it sucked but it only happened a few times
Basically all your bones hurt & you are uncomfortable
Flew there afternoon before donation
Got up next morning, ate breakfast (they tell you to drink a lot of water) & walked to donation center
They do bloodwork, based on the amount of stem cells it tells them how long it will take
I was done in about 4 hours
I have a very high pain tolerance, she said a lot of people are in tears due to the shots
They draw out of one arm & it goes back in other
They want you to drink plenty but there is no way to pee when you can’t move one arm at all & the other is also hooked up to tubes
After you’re done they make you wait 20 minutes or so to make sure you’re ok then you leave
It was odd with the different employees coming up & saying thanks, it didn’t seem like it was a big deal until while waiting the last few minutes the lady passed by with a small igloo ice chest to go meet transport person, I guess seeing them sending it off so quickly hit me that it was important
Went back to hotel, napped then went out to eat
Flew home next morning
Within 2 days there was no more uncomfortable bone pain
They follow up with you weekly then monthly then yearly
I received a card from my match, she is an older woman in her 60’s
There were a few spots marked out on her card, they make sure nothing identifying gets through
At last update, about 8 months ago she is still alive
If you have questions email my username at yahoo
*Stem cells not bone marrow
They try stem cells first, depending on patient, they said if it didn’t take I may be contacted for bone marrow
I did it in 2018
IIRC
First thing I had to do was additional bloodwork, they set it up somewhere local / convenient & cover everything
Once that’s done & confirmed you have more testing
They paid for me to fly to Houston, did more bloodwork, ekg, chest x ray & physical
Flew home same night
They paid for airfare & gave me Uber codes for transportation
Once everything is cleared / scheduled they ship you shots & everything needed to report back to them
1st one has to be done at a Dr or Urgent Care, friend is a nurse, she was able to turn in her license & info & was approved to give me remainder
This is also point of no return, if you back out after they are upfront that you match will likely pass
While the shots boost stem cells the match is also preparing & I think it wipes out their immune system so without transplant they die
They pay for airfare & hotel for you & someone else for the donation
They also cover food, dog boarding, child care, the vitamins they need you to take…as long as you turn in receipts (I didn’t)
They also took out a million dollar life insurance policy on me in my parents name in the event something happened
The worst part is the shots
The first couple of days are fine, then the aches start & I felt crappy but nothing awful
After that if I stood a certain way or leaned to brush my teeth I’d have this weird body spasm, it’s hard to explain but it sucked but it only happened a few times
Basically all your bones hurt & you are uncomfortable
Flew there afternoon before donation
Got up next morning, ate breakfast (they tell you to drink a lot of water) & walked to donation center
They do bloodwork, based on the amount of stem cells it tells them how long it will take
I was done in about 4 hours
I have a very high pain tolerance, she said a lot of people are in tears due to the shots
They draw out of one arm & it goes back in other
They want you to drink plenty but there is no way to pee when you can’t move one arm at all & the other is also hooked up to tubes
After you’re done they make you wait 20 minutes or so to make sure you’re ok then you leave
It was odd with the different employees coming up & saying thanks, it didn’t seem like it was a big deal until while waiting the last few minutes the lady passed by with a small igloo ice chest to go meet transport person, I guess seeing them sending it off so quickly hit me that it was important
Went back to hotel, napped then went out to eat
Flew home next morning
Within 2 days there was no more uncomfortable bone pain
They follow up with you weekly then monthly then yearly
I received a card from my match, she is an older woman in her 60’s
There were a few spots marked out on her card, they make sure nothing identifying gets through
At last update, about 8 months ago she is still alive
If you have questions email my username at yahoo
This post was edited on 7/10/22 at 1:40 am
Posted on 7/10/22 at 1:28 am to TigreB77
I have a good friend that is currently going through a bone marrow transplant. He'll be in the hospital for the next two or three months. Dude made it through cancer once and is now doing this. He's in his 30's, sucks.
I appreciate you doing this.
I appreciate you doing this.
Posted on 7/10/22 at 6:47 am to LSUJML
quote:
lady passed by with a small igloo ice chest
How come they don’t use a yeti?
Posted on 7/10/22 at 6:54 am to TigreB77
I’ve done it. It really wasn’t bad. And I’d absolutely do it again without hesitation. How could you say no to the opportunity to save someone’s life and you’re literally the only person who can do it? I couldn’t.
Posted on 7/10/22 at 7:02 am to noonan
quote:
bone marrow transplant.
My dad had multiple myeloma in his late 60’s. Ochsner wanted to do a bone marrow transplant, but he opted for a clinical trial medicine instead based on his bone barrow. That helped, he went into remission.
Now I am wondering if in the next 20.30 years will I have to worry about this cancer. If so, can some of my bone marrow be saved for when I may need it in the future?
Posted on 7/10/22 at 7:26 am to TigreB77
No congratulations on being able to possibly save a life
Posted on 7/10/22 at 7:34 am to LSUJML
quote:
LSUJML
Maybe a dumb question but do you get paid for the donation? Aside from them covering your transportation and all.
Posted on 7/10/22 at 8:04 am to TigreB77
I did the same after a friend got leukemia about 20 years ago, never matched. I’d be happy to do it
Posted on 7/10/22 at 8:09 am to TigreB77
You have the opportunity to save someone's life, and will be proud to have done it for the rest of yours. Impact not only them but their entire family and friends.
My father died from leukemia in his 40s. He was a candidate for transplant and had a brother donor but did not get well enough to undergo the procedure. My little sister was still in elementary school. I have been a registered donor for decades but have never gotten the call.
Do it, and God bless you.
My father died from leukemia in his 40s. He was a candidate for transplant and had a brother donor but did not get well enough to undergo the procedure. My little sister was still in elementary school. I have been a registered donor for decades but have never gotten the call.
Do it, and God bless you.
Posted on 7/10/22 at 8:15 am to TigreB77
Thanks for being a donor! My sister was able to be my match but a lot of people need unrelated donors. Are you donating bone marrow or stem cells? They are often used interchangeably but the process is different. Donating bone marrow, you’ll most likely be knocked out as they actually extract from bone. Stem cells they give you some white cell booster shots and you are setup on what almost looks like a dialysis machine. The machine pulls blood from one arm takes what it needs and then sends the remaining blood back into you.
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