Donating Bone Marrow

TheminxIRL

Hi folks, just wondering if anyone can put my mind at rest more than having a personal issue.

My big brother was diagnosed with acute myloid leukemia in December and is currently undergoing treatment in St. James' hospital.

Myself and my other siblings were tested for bone marrow compatibility on the off chance that he would need a donation.

Turns out he will and I am the one who is a perfect match.

Im delighted that one of us is suitable as it doesnt mean he has to wait on a list for a match to come up but I am completely in the dark as to what exactly is involved.

I wont be meeting with the doctors until at least March/April shortly before the procedure will take place but in the mean time my mind is racing with whats going to happen.

Has anybody been through this procedure before?

Also what is the recovery time and most of all does it hurt?

Thanks

tbh

For a bone marrow donation: This is a surgical procedure. You will receive anaesthesia. The doctors use hollow needles to withdraw liquid marrow from the back of your pelvic bones. Many donors receive a transfusion of their own previously donated blood. You might feel soreness in your lower back for a few days, and your marrow will be completely replenished by your body within four to six weeks.

http://www.marrow.org/JOIN/Myths_%26_Facts_about_Marrow_Don/index.html

TheminxIRL

Thanks for the reply and the link.

Puts me somewhat at ease.

tbh

Try not to think about it until you talk to the doctors. Your mind will always picture the worst possible scenario in cases like this. Best of luck - you are doing an amazing thing, don't lose sight of that.

gerryk

Even if you're not under general, which I doubt would be the case, the level of sedation you recieve is such that you don't really care about what's going on, and thanks to nerve-blocks/epidurals etc, you definitely won't feel anything.

I had a pretty invasive procedure a few years ago, with epidural/sedation, and though I was often aware of what was going on, while drifing in and out of consciousness, I felt nothing and cared even less.

If it's a general, you'll be out like a light and when you wake will have no memory of anything, and usually be floating on a nice fluffy morphine-induced cushion of painlessness. I've had enough anaethesia over the last few years to be pretty familiar with how it works, and it's a walk in the park... almost enjoyable, if you can imagine such a thing.

Can I just add, this is a wonderful thing to do for your brother.

ibarelycare

Hey OP. My brother was diagnosed with leukemia about 8 years ago and I was his match for bonemarrow.

The procedure was carried out under general anaesthetic in St James Hospital. I was in hospital for two nights, one was the night before the operation and then the night after.

I didn't suffer much. It was more like a dull ache in my lower back after the procedure (if you're a girl, imagine period pains in your back!). I was a bit ill after leaving the hospital, but I think that was more down to the painkillers I was on. Within days the pain was practically gone and the scar cleared up very quickly too.

TBH the feeling of being able to help my brother far outweighed any pain I had. I was wheeled in to see him while my bone marrow was going into him via a drip, which was pretty amazing! He got the all clear a few months later and has been fit and healthy ever since

Best of luck to you and your brother

gerryk

ibarelycare wrote: »

TBH the feeling of being able to help my brother far outweighed any pain I had. I was wheeled in to see him while my bone marrow was going into him via a drip, which was pretty amazing! He got the all clear a few months later and has been fit and healthy ever since

This is just cool (who's cutting goddamn onions though?)