Are you on the bone marrow/organ donation registry?

Xiney

and what are your reasons for being on it/not on it?

I'm on the bone marrow register - the chances are slim I'll ever be picked because it's a pretty specific set of markers they look for, but because I'm not Irish by blood I thought I'd better get on the register because I'm sure I have some markers that the general Irish population don't. It carries some risk if you donate, and it's quite painful... but it's life saving and that's more important, imo.

As far as organ donation goes, I've made my husband aware that should anything happen to me that I want to have my organs given to people who need them (if they're of any use) but I haven't done anything further than that. I'm actually not aware of any formal registry in Ireland.

Edit: I just want to add that if you're not on either register because you don't meet the requirements then you don't have to say what those requirements are if you don't want to, of course!

princess-lala

Im an organ doner - My family know I will give anything that is worth anything except my eyes. I wanna keep those.

Not the bone marrow donation though, how do you register for that? I know it was a long hard search a few years ago when my uncle needed bone marrow.

Xiney

I registered for the bone marrow thingy (forget the actual name) through the Irish Blood Transfusion Service.

Clare Bear

Yes my family know I want to give away all my organs, everything. I'm not on the bone marrow register because to be honest I don't know much about it but I will look in to it.

Piste

There isn't an actual organ donation registry here in Ireland, there are organ donor cards, but really your organs can only be donated if your next of kin consents, so they can override the card, which is a pity I think.

I considered the bone marrow registry, but it's a pretty big decision to make, it is basically an operation with all the risks that go along with it. Lately I've been swinging towards going on the register however.

cruizer101

I'd never heard of Bone marrow donation before, i did a quick google, here is the people responsible. Although there seems to be a bit more info about it here .

Seems you can sign up at same time as donating blood.

According to second link is done under general anesthetic and may cause some discomfort, just wondering when you says is very painful Xiney, do you know people who have done it as it does sound fairy invasive so I would expect more than bit of discomfort.

SarahJ

princess-lala wrote: »

Im an organ doner - My family know I will give anything that is worth anything except my eyes. I wanna keep those.

I was just gona mention that I dont get why people keep their eyes if they are willing to give heart, lungs etc, why are eyes so special to keep?

I have a donor card, they can take anything and everything if it means saving a life / giving people a new lease of life.
Someone said to me once 'Oh I won't give my eyes because I want to be able to find my way to Heaven'. Don't want to offend any but....please.

Jessibelle

SarahJ wrote: »

I was just gona mention that I dont get why people keep their eyes if they are willing to give heart, lungs etc, why are eyes so special to keep?

Because some people feel internal organs are just organs/muscles etc but eyes are a more personable identifiable thing maybe??
I'm not allowed donate, cause of medication I take, if I did give blood it would be exceptionally dangerous for any organ donor recipient to be given my blood, even after treatment seemingly. I carry a card and a medi-proviso statement outlining details of the medication but am not sure they'd be viable for someone else after my death. I'd also give everything except my eyes, but thats mainly cause my eyesight is so messed up I wouldn't will that on anyone:o

Carsinian Thau

I am an organ donor so I can donate anything bar my pancreas (it doesn't work properly). Of course, seeing as they can't use my blood, they mightn't be able to use my organs, but I'd like to at least give them the option.

I'm not on the bone marrow register but that's because I'm reasonable certain that they couldn't use it anyway. Also, I do have some back problems so that precludes me based on their own requirements.

Xiney

cruizer101 wrote: »

just wondering when you says is very painful Xiney, do you know people who have done it as it does sound fairy invasive so I would expect more than bit of discomfort.

I don't know anyone who's ever given bone marrow, but I know they take it out of your hip bone and I know that's gotta hurt!

Still, if it saves someone from dying from cancer, it's worth it - the pain will go away.

rainbow kirby

Um... when this was on my subscribed forums list as the most recent post in tLL, the thread title shows up as "Are you on the bone..." :pac:

In answer to the question - I've got an organ donor card, but am not on the bone marrow registry. I probably should put my name onto it though.

Faith

WRT eye donation, they only take the corneas, right? It's not like Minority Report where you whole eyeball is donated.

I'd like to donate my organs, but I've never given any thought to marrow donation tbh.

SarahJ

Faith wrote: »

WRT eye donation, they only take the corneas, right? It's not like Minority Report where you whole eyeball is donated.

I'd like to donate my organs, but I've never given any thought to marrow donation tbh.

That's what I heard, its only a certain bit of your eye they take, not the hole ball. Not like we'd have much use for them when we're gone

ztoical

Have organ card and next of kin knows to donate whatever is needed...chances are alot of my organs would not be used due to family history etc The % of donated organs they can use is actual very slim but better to have the option. Have put body down to be donated to science when I go. Might as well be of some use training next round of doctors.

Not down for bone marrow cus honestly just not in the country enough right now.

Jessibelle

Faith wrote: »

WRT eye donation, they only take the corneas, right?

Yes. I got to observe this as part of a work experience deal once and it's such a delicate procedure it's amazing! It looks like a wee bit of clear jelly when it's out.:eek:

jokettle

My organ donor card snapped in 2 the other week, I'm finding it really difficult to find a replacement! Don't they usually have them in pharmacies?

I've told my parents, boyfriend and friends that I want to be a donor, but my mum is quite squeamish and if anything did happen to me I honestly don't knkow if she'd be able to give her consent. She'd want to respect my wishes but I just don't know if she could bring herself to do that...

CathyMoran

Not on either - am a cancer survivor, also a type 1 diabetic so I do not fill the criteria.

Miss Lockhart

I have an organ donor card and have told my family I will come back to haunt them if they overrule my wishes.

I am not eligible to donate blood due to medication so I'm not sure about bone marrow.

My cousin donated bone marrow and she seemed to be in a lot of pain after, but did not regret it and recovered very quickly.

WesternNight

Yes to organ donation, no to bone marrow since I wasn't aware there was such a thing. Figured the organ donation one covered everything there was to cover.

I'd be the same about the eyes though...I have no problem with anything else...but for some reason the thought of anyone going anywhere near my eyes freaks me out. I know it won't matter to me at that stage, but it's still something that would make me uncomfortable.

amacachi

jokettle wrote: »

My organ donor card snapped in 2 the other week, I'm finding it really difficult to find a replacement! Don't they usually have them in pharmacies?

I've told my parents, boyfriend and friends that I want to be a donor, but my mum is quite squeamish and if anything did happen to me I honestly don't knkow if she'd be able to give her consent. She'd want to respect my wishes but I just don't know if she could bring herself to do that...

Having the card is pointless, completely down to your next of kin as to whether or not your organs will be taken.

sam34

i want to donate my organs if possible

used donate blood but can no longer do so due to a medical condition, and could not now donate bone marrow for the same reason

Stench Blossoms

I ordered a doner card about a month ago online and part of the form was 'Message'. I wrote don't take my eyes, convinced myself it was going to be on the card. :rolleyes:

I never thought of donating marrow. I was under the assumption that it was only useful to someone with the same genes as you.

I'd defiantly donate it to a family member but considering the pain I'm not sure about donating it to anyone else.

The Big Red Button

I registered for the bone marrow list the first time I gave blood.

Having sat with a close family member when his bone marrow was taken, I'm well aware of how painful the procedure is, and I have to admit that the wimp in me sort of hopes I'll never be called to donate.

However, I also sat with the same family member for several weeks in hospital when, following an intensive bout of chemo to essentially kill off his immune system, that same bone marrow (except all new and improved thanks to the magic of medicine!) was put back into him. What he went through then was much, much more prolonged and a million times more painful than the bone marrow donation, and it took him much longer to recover from it.

He was given a five year prognosis when he was diagnosed with almost-always terminal cancer eight years ago; he's not only still alive, he has a fantastic quality of life - now, you'd never know there was anything wrong with him. If I was offered the chance to do that for someone else out there, I don't see how I could refuse.

SuperSean11

princess-lala wrote: »

Im an organ doner - My family know I will give anything that is worth anything except my eyes. I wanna keep those.

Can I ask why you wouldn't donate your eyes? A lot of people I've talked to about organ donation have said they'd want to keep there eyes

princess-lala

SuperSean11 wrote: »

Can I ask why you wouldn't donate your eyes? A lot of people I've talked to about organ donation have said they'd want to keep there eyes

Ive always had a thing about my eyes! And if such a place as heaven does exist I want my eyes to see!

You may find it funny but its my wish, Ive always told my parents this.

Daisies

I've said to my parents I want to be an organ donor since my cousin died at 19 (I was 16) because my Nan said something that stuck a chord with me. She said "Parts of Michael are still living and he has saved 5 families from going through what we are now. Whoever got his heart, gone one big one."

I had always been a bit squeamish about donating my corneas (the clear part is what is donated not the whole eye), but after seeing the difference it made to a guy with keratoconous 2 years below me in college has made me rethink it.

Not on the bone marrow list but will look into. However considering I always feel faint after I give blood I can't imagine they'd want me

shinikins

amacachi wrote: »

Having the card is pointless, completely down to your next of kin as to whether or not your organs will be taken.

Piste wrote: »

There isn't an actual organ donation registry here in Ireland, there are organ donor cards, but really your organs can only be donated if your next of kin consents, so they can override the card, which is a pity I think.

I was reading this thread with interest as member of my family is very ill at the moment and may need a marrow transplant, when i came across the above quotes. In Ireland there is no law governing organ donation, and if a hospital needs to harvest organs they can do so without consent. After a person passes away, their body does not belong to the family, but to the Irish Government. The general public have not been made aware of this fact, and indeed i would never have known until the Organ Retention Scandal first hit. the only reason stopping hospitals from harvesting organs nowadays willynilly is a sense of modern morality, and perhaps a fear of being sued!

I'm all for organ donation, and have always told my family that i would like everything given that can be. If any of my organs can help prolong or perhaps save a life when i'm gone, then i view it as a great thing! After all when i pass, all thats left is a shell, and i want to be cremated, so keeping my body intact isn't really an issue!

solymar

I have a donor card and will give everything. My mother got a bit upset that I wanted to donate my eyes, but I'm pretty sure some other mother is upset that their child is blind, so it's an easy decision.

I'm on the bone marrow/blood/platelets donor register, but have to wait til August to get my tests cos I was in a malaria area in past 12 months. I don't know anyone who has ever donated/needed bone marrow, but I hear its painful. Still, I figure it will prepare me for child birth!! I'm mixed race, and want to contribute because if you're mixed race the chance of finding a match bone marrow donor decrease quite alot, so they can use all they can get.

entropi

I always carry my organ donor card in my wallet, my family know that I would donate everything but my eyes too (I believe the eyes are the window to the soul, so to preserve it I'd rather keep the eyes:))

I never heard about the bone marrow donations being done strangely enough! Also wanna donate blood soon, as I have future plans to get a tattoo.

chocgirl

I carry an organ donor card, always have since I was really young.

I'm not eligible for bone marrow donation at the minute but from personal experience the pain involved is greatly greatly exaggerated.

Posy

I donate blood every so often (not as often as I should!) and I have an organ donor card and have told my family I want to donate my organs. I could not donate my corneas because I had laser eye surgery but everything else is a free for all if they want it!
I'm not on the bone marrow registry, I'll ask about it the next time I give blood. How do you register for it through the IBTS? Does it take long; can you do it the same day as you give blood?

SeekUp

I'm an organ donor, always have been (in the States, you can sign up when you're 16 and a little symbol goes on your driver's license). And yes, I'd also donate my eyes, if need be. Take everything you can, I say; I won't be needing it! Besides, I want to be cremated anyway (which I shared with my dad and he was not so thrilled with my choice, but that's another story). I also regularly give blood and platelets -- well, I used to give platelets until I had a few "bad" donations and they told me that I might not want to do it anymore.

The way I see it, it takes almost no time at all for me to donate blood, so to do something that's not a sacrifice at all to me but could save someone's life, well . . . it's a pretty simple decision for me. Regarding my organs, again, it's not as if I'm going to get any use out of them if I'm in such a state that it's even a possibility of my organs being harvested, so why wouldn't I want to give them in order to give someone else a shot at life? I don't think I've ever had doubts about it.

I've never been a bone marrow donor though . . . I think I've always been scared to do it. But then I read this:

"Blood and bone marrow donation provides blood stem cells for transplantation. In the past, all donors had to undergo surgery to draw bone marrow containing blood stem cells from the hipbones. Today, however, it's more common to collect blood stem cells directly from the blood. This is called peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) donation. Blood stem cells can also be collected from umbilical cord blood at birth. However, only a small amount of blood can be retrieved from the umbilical cord, so this type of transplant is generally reserved for children and small adults."

Sounds like maybe I could get on board with that! I'll definitely definitely look more into it.

SarahBeep!

I'm a complete and utter coward. I had memingitis as a child and had to have loads of injections and blood tests and to this day I still lose it at the though of anything even touching that area of my arm. I really am trying to get over it but I think it'll take me a while yet. I usually convince at least 5 people to go whenever they visit our area though.

I've carried an organ donor card since I was 13 or 14. I can't remember how but I must have seen something on telly or in the paper about organ donation but I made sure I got a card asap. My parents both give blood and both carry a donor card. I was got into good habits from a young age thankfully.

In regerd to the 'eyes' debate, I'd have no problem letting them take my eyes. When I pass on I know that I don't need to see a breeze to feel it on my skin or to hear music. I've seen so many beautiful things and I'm only 18, I could never deny anyone the chance to see some of the things I've seen. Wherever I end up after I'm gone, if there's something there I need to see then I'll be given the ability to see.
They can take whatever they want from my body, that's why I have the card if my death can give someone the chance at life I could never deny them that chance.
I know people who're waiting on organs and to see them...it chances your perspective on a lot of things.

Malari

I had never thought about the bone marrow registry. I can't give blood, so don't know if I would qualify.

I haven't marked anything on my driving license as being an organ donor. I think I'll leave it up to my next of kin to decide. I have a feeling that pressure could be put on them if I was a donor card holder. I don't know, but I spoke to an aquaintance, who is a surgeon, and he says that it can happen that pressure is put on next of kin if there's a better chance of the donor recipient surviving than the donor, following an operation.

I don't know, I just feel like it's not really my decision. Like a funeral. I'm gone (or virtually gone), so...choice is not in my hands.

SuperSean11

Just wondering if someone has recieved a donated organ. Lives a full and healthy life then dies from old age can that organ be given to someone else again?

Jessibelle

SuperSean11 wrote: »

Just wondering if someone has recieved a donated organ. Lives a full and healthy life then dies from old age can that organ be given to someone else again?

Not as far as I know (stand to be corrected) but I've always been told in hospitals the organ goes to one individual and is effectively buried with them after the end of their natural life, as by that stage the donated organ will have completed a natural life span and maybe be beginning to show signs of wear n tear itself. I don't know what happens in the incidence of a young transplant death though I'd assume they wouldn't re-use again cause of the drugs etc the recipient may have been on?

Lynnsie

SuperSean11 wrote: »

Just wondering if someone has recieved a donated organ. Lives a full and healthy life then dies from old age can that organ be given to someone else again?

As far as I know this is generally not possible as donated organs "age" quite quickly because they can be weakened by the recipient's immune system rejecting the organ and the anti-rejection medication.

I give blood regularly and have a donor card. My family know my wishes and would definitely donate my organs if they had to make the choice, my father died while waiting for a transplant so as a family we know what a difference it can make.

Das Kitty

I signed up for the bone marrow register years back, I don't think I'm elligible anymore having been pregnant.

I'm signed up as an organ doner alright.

Wacker

Does anyone else here other than SeekUp donate platelets? I go as often as is permitted - normally every month but my iron count is frequently too low so they make me take three month breaks instead. Failing to donate really bothers me, as I get quite a bit of satisfaction out of donating. I've gone about thirty times I reckon.
To look at it in a light hearted manner, donating platelets is the best thing a twenty-something bloke can do, as it forces you to be sensible. Here's a list of some things that would preclude me donating platelets, that I probably shouldn't be doing anyway:

1. F*ck a bloke.
2. Inject smack.
3. Snort coke.
4. Go to jail.
5. Handle monkeys or their bodily fluids (WTF?!?)
6. F*ck a brasser.
7. Get a tatoo. Seriously, I'd have AC/DC across my ribcage if it weren't for the platelet donation.

With regards to donation, I'm on the marrow list (as I doubt it hurts one tenth as much as leukemia), and I'm donating all my organs. The lads can make a stew from them as far as I care.<snip>

Xiney

I asked about platelets and they only do that in Dublin, I was told.

bit of a trek for me from Galway I'm afraid.

Ickle Magoo

Gave blood and platelets regularly in the UK. Am also on the donor register & my family know if anything happens to me, I want to donate everything they can use, even my cadaver to medical science if wanted...no use to me once I'm dead. I'd far rather someone got the gift of sight or a prolonged life with their family, or gets some use out of it rather than it just getting fried.

SarahMs

I can't donate as I carry hemophilia (yep I am that rare female exception!)

As far as other stuff goes I would donate my body to who ever wanted it, although my granny did it, and it was so weird having the funeral a year after she had actually died, like it was strange at the time no closure then when we got the body back having the funeral. I know not all people do it like that but its something to consider

caprilicious

They can have all my bits when I'm gone, I'd sooner someone get use of my bits and bobs than it go to waste.
I'm on the bone marrow & platelets donation list but have never been called for either. I was able to sign up for both when I donated blood last, though they did tell me chances are I might never get called for either.

I can understand in a way why some people don't want to donate their eyes, my sister is the same.
I don't mind - they can have mine. My dad had a Corneograph years ago thanks to someone that donated theirs. He may otherwise have lost sight in that eye, I feel I should 'Pay it forward' now as I don't know when myself or my family might need a donation in the future

drBill

I've been a regular platelet donor for a good few years now and I'd have to say I actually enjoy my hour of 'quiet time' on the machine each month or so. It couldn't be easier, they send a taxi to collect me from work, hook me onto the machine for a time, then drop me back again. Couldn't be easier and you feel like a king every time, I'd recommend it to everyone!

So while I was there a few years ago I also signed up to the bone marrow donor panel as well, and so far I've been summoned twice as a potential donor but in each case the donation didn't go ahead for various reasons (further tests proved I wasn't a close enough match, recipients circumstances changed, etc).
However what a lot of people don't seem to know is that there are actually two ways of giving marrow. (I'm not a doctor, and this is from memory, so please excuse this laymans slant on it.)
(1) they simply extract the marrow. As the name suggests, they draw some marrow from your bones with a needle. It can be uncomfortable and requires a few days in hospital.
(2) they take stem cells from your blood. And this doesn't seem to be well known, it certainly was news to me. Basically this involves giving you a drug to temporarily increase your stem cell production for a week or two, followed by one or possibly two sessions on the apherisis machine to harvest the extra stem cells. Each session can be several hours long.
Easy peasy! So what's the catch? The only real catches are:
- the increased stem cell production can give you aching bones, like a mild version of the flu, but apparently paracetemol will alleviate this.
- the stem cell apherisis machine hooks up to both arms, so prepare for a couple of hours of boredom as it'll be difficult to read/use a laptop/etc.

If you're not suitable or comfortable with the actual marrow extraction process, then you can opt for the stem cell option (ok there may be other considerations driven by the patient, but in my experience so far, I've had the option to choose either). At no point is there ever any pressure on you as to which way to go.

So to anybody considering bone marrow I'd say do it do it do it. I can't think of anything which could give so much help for so little effort or pain.

Dolbert

That's very interesting drBill, I never knew there was another way to donate bone marrow! I put myself on the register last year when giving blood after a colleague told me she had done it a few years back. She had only been on the register for 6 months before she was called, though some may never be called! She said that it was more of a discomfort than really painful and she even got 2 weeks paid leave from work to do it (IFAIK if your employer won't grant you paid leave for this, IBTS will cover any loss of earnings). I also plan to donate all of my organs if I can, I've carried a card since I was about 15. That stuff's no use to me when I'm gone!

I donate blood every three months, luckily I never feel an ill-effects from it at all and often go straight back to work after. It's a great way to keep an eye on your iron levels too. I enquired about platelet donation, and was told that my veins are quite small (can take quite a bit of arm tapping to find one!) and generally someone with more robust ones would be a better candidate! They also look for slightly higher iron levels than mine, for this reason men are generally considered better candidates for platelet donation. Since you can donate either blood or platelets regularly, but not both, I opt to donate blood as I am more suited to it.

BTW it is World Blood Donor Day tomorrow! If you have never done it, please think about heading down to your local blood donation clinic this week and have your eligibility assessed. I'm gonna try to get some colleagues to come down with me tomorrow

CathyMoran

I recieved a blood transfusion after major surgery 3 and a bit years ago - am still here and have had a child since. Am very greatful to the people who donate. My husband had also recieved blood.

rannerap

ive had an organ donation for years and years,i started giving blood a year or two back too and was considering joining the bone marrow registry,its a big big decision,im still undecided

I donate blood.
My husband knows that I would like to donate my organs but I know that if it came to it, he wouldn't go through with it.
Never even realised that you could donate bone marrow in that way. To be honest, I can't see myself signing up for that but obviously if it was a member of my own family that needed it I would be straight in there getting tested.

iguana

I'm on the UK donor register but as I don't live there at the minute I guess that's not much good. My husband and family all know that I want anything that can do good to be used, even I die in such a way that I'm useless to everyone except as a cadaver for med students to practise on I'd like that to be happen. Doctors need to learn somehow and there is a big difference between learning intellectually and actually dealing with a body. I'll be dead so it won't make any difference to me, though I strongly hope that the reason I'll be so useless is that I leave behind an old, old, old body.:D

vicecreamsundae

i have an organ doner card, but even though i've told my parents how important it is to me, i don't think they would agree with it.
if i ever marry it will be to someone who agrees with it though!

i'm terrified of needles, but decided to start donating blood a few years. they wouldn't allow me because i had gotten my ears pierced the summer beforehand. went back the following year, but while i was filling out the form, i sniffed and the nurse insisted i was too ill to donate, when i really wasn't!
i've given up trying now -besides now that i have been with a man, who has been with a man, they don't want my blood. :rolleyes:
it's dispicable in my opinion.

but i admit, the part of me that's terrified of needles is a bit relieved.

oh and as for marrow, haven't heard much about it before. again, it sounds like something i'd be a bit too much of a wuss to do unless i was asked personally for someone.

toadfly

I carry a donor card in my wallet all the time. My boyfriend and mam are both very aware that this is what I want if at all possible. My mam wasnt too happy with the idea (esp when I said my eyes could go) but think I have her convinced I know what I want!

My aunt may need a kidney transplant in the near future and I will be the first in to get tested. I have two, I need one! She was only born with one kidney, then chemo has nearly killed the other one off so will do what I can.

Havent signed up for bone marrow transplant but if I could be knocked out for it I would rather deal with the pain after than be aware of whats going on at the time. Will look into it.

Tried to give blood a few times, havent managed it yet. First time I wasnt heavy enough (used to be under 8stone, not anymore ) then twice since I have sniffles so they wouldnt let me. BF donates every three months so will go next time they are in Galway.