Bone Marrow

[A Nerd]

Today I got an email about being a bone marrow donor. I understand how they take a sample, but if I am a match what is the process involved in which to get the required amount? I don't like hospital visits and the whole thought of a complicated removal procedure frightens me. Does anyone know anything about this?

[classical_hero]

If you are a match then you are helping to save someone life. Basically bone marrow are stem cells and they are very useful in helping to repair the body from major diseases so if you can do it, I would say go for it.

[rajpoot]

They rip one of your smaller bones out, make a hole in it, then pump the marrow out. On a small payment, they replace that bone with a rod. :clown:

Seriously though, got this from wiki. It's done under anesthesia, and is quite harmless.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cb/Bone_marrow_biopsy.jpg/220px-Bone_marrow_biopsy.jpg
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bone_marrow_biopsy.jpg) Bone marrow harvest.



In the case of a bone marrow transplant, the HSC are removed from a large bone of the donor, typically the pelvis, through a large needle that reaches the center of the bone. The technique is referred to as a bone marrow harvest and is performed under general anesthesia.

[xploring]

They take a blood sample from you, same as a normal blood donation. And if they find that you are a match (from the blood sample), they stick a giant needle into your bum to take a sample of the bone marrow, at least that's what I remember from signing up years ago. Call red cross, they should be able to give you all the information you need.

[Major Robert Dump]

It is extremely painful. Extremely. This is why there are not enough donors, because the world is lacking cajones.

[Samurai Waki]

MRD has it. It's not a pleasant experience from what I've heard... which is why they usually try to match up family members first, before they ask for donors.

[Centurion1]

Aye it hurts they use a very big very thick needle in your back with no anesthesia. But you now what if i needed to do it hell I would and without a second thought. You save someones life most likely and lets be honest you aren't really losing anything like if you donate a kidney. While I may second guess donating say a kidney to a complete stranger I would have no qualms giving up marrow for a sick person in need.

But yes i heard it hurts like the devil.

[naut]

Pretty painful as to my knowledge you can't anaesthetize bone, but very noble as you could be saving someone's life and each operation on a person requiring a donation costs $0.5 million.

[A Nerd]

I honestly don't think I am that brave. Hospital stay coupled with all that painful procedure. I appreciate the info thus far, it has been very good to learn.

[Drunk Clown]

Pain is weakness that leaves the body.

[Greyblades]

That's... Just wrong in so many ways.

[Centurion1]

it can SAVE a life. that is the end of the story...... your body will just produce more marrow and you aren't going to be screwed over by giving it.

if you do not donate because you are scared of the pain...... and you were a match and that marrow was desperately needed for the sick person...... well thats their life lost.

[Drunk Clown]

I agree if pain is keeping you from it. Grow up, it's temporary pain.

[A Nerd]

I guess it wouldn't hurt to get a test kit sent to me. What is recovery like after they take the marrow out? I like to exercise.

[Centurion1]

so here's your news.


I am signed up with the match registry myself though I have never been asked to donate. I looked up some of the procedures and it appears everyone in this thread was confused. We are all tihnking of a marrow biopsy. Thats the big ass painful needle. With a donation procedure you are anesthetized, no pain.

As for recovery you are going to feel soreness in your lower back. It isnt like your giving a kidney you don't stay in the hospital for very long maybe a day tops to make sure you are okay. Then you may feel soreness in your lower back for up to three weeks. Most donors say the pain ends by three weeks.

You marrow should be replaced in 4-6 weeks (you wont notice it missing btw)

also alot of bane marrow donations are PBSC which is like an extended blood transfusion of sorts.

The worst pain your looking at is some soreness in your back (which ca be supposedly pretty sore) and tops 2-3 days in a hospital bed but probably less

[Major Robert Dump]

so here's your news.


I am signed up with the match registry myself though I have never been asked to donate. I looked up some of the procedures and it appears everyone in this thread was confused. We are all tihnking of a marrow biopsy. Thats the big ass painful needle. With a donation procedure you are anesthetized, no pain.

As for recovery you are going to feel soreness in your lower back. It isnt like your giving a kidney you don't stay in the hospital for very long maybe a day tops to make sure you are okay. Then you may feel soreness in your lower back for up to three weeks. Most donors say the pain ends by three weeks.

You marrow should be replaced in 4-6 weeks (you wont notice it missing btw)

also alot of bane marrow donations are PBSC which is like an extended blood transfusion of sorts.

The worst pain your looking at is some soreness in your back (which ca be supposedly pretty sore) and tops 2-3 days in a hospital bed but probably less

Good to know the methods are a little more humane these days. 20 years ago that was not the case, when I was a teenager, and it hurt like the devil.

[Centurion1]

I imagine that it was essentially the same practice as a biopsy now. It still is obviously and that explains the soreness but they luckily seem to have gotten rid of the pain and can anesthetize you. probably the biggest improvement in the donor industry as of yet hahaha.

[Samurai Waki]

And hey another benefit of being a donor, is that I'm sure you get a prescription for valium. :dozey:

[Major Robert Dump]

The trailer trash I donated to did not so much as send a thank you note, and he died 3 years later whilst driving drunk. He was not an organ donor, oddly enough.

[Cute Wolf]

IF bone marrow donor can only be once in a lifetime event, I suggest asking your own (extended) family first if there is some of them who has leukemic carrier gene. Better test your own compatibility with your own family members first rather than donate to some random folks and then regret when your own niece/nephew/cousin must get the donation or die.

I know that kind of story from my family in singapore, one of their uncle donate kidney (not bone marrow) for charity, and just 4 years later, his father got kidney failure and dies because there is no donor available. (humans only have 2 kidneys)

Maybe sound selfish, but you shouldn't donate something important on impulse because you never know if your family will need it later

P.S: if that was just like blood donations, then nevermind...

[Centurion1]

no that 9s the beauty of bone marrow transplants.................... your marrow comes back in 4-6 weeks. Its like donating blood. You cant do it over and over back to back but there is no reason you cannot do it again after your bodt replenishes your store of it.

[Drunk Clown]

They take less than 10 percent, so it will grow back quickly.

[Tellos Athenaios]

It's a pretty risk free operation. The after effects are much the same as from ordinary blood transfer, i.e.: people tend to need to vomit afterwards. Other than that the worst that could possibly happen is you get the new guy for whom this is his first day. He might need more than one attempt to stick the needle in properly.

On second thoughts, the worst thing that could happen is somebody forgetting to sterilise the needle properly.

[Centurion1]

It's a pretty risk free operation. The after effects are much the same as from ordinary blood transfer, i.e.: people tend to need to vomit afterwards. Other than that the worst that could possibly happen is you get the new guy for whom this is his first day. He might need more than one attempt to stick the needle in properly.

On second thoughts, the worst thing that could happen is somebody forgetting to sterilise the needle properly.

It doesnt really matter if he needs more than one attempt to stick in the needle (unlikely seeing as how its a giant honking needle and it just goes in your pelvic bone not trying to find a vein here.....) since you are under general anesthetic and cant feel a thing let alone be conscious.

[Fragony]

Am I the only one who expected 'Bone Marrow' to be about a village somewhere in the desert

[Tellos Athenaios]

Yes. But if it makes you feel better I half expected this to be about the culinary uses of bone marrow given the recent increase in food threads.

[Fragony]

Yes. But if it makes you feel better I half expected this to be about the culinary uses of bone marrow given the recent increase in food threads.

2 liers of water, 1 day in advance is best. Snap the bones if it's chicken