Bone Marrow donor register

[Hendrix55]

I am a blood donor at the moment, but am thinking of joining the bone marrow register too. I wondered if anyone had experience of/opinions on this? I read a leaflet that said you would need 2 days in hospital and 5 to recover and 4 days of injections beforehand if you match. I know this is nothing compared to the person who you'd be donating to, but I do not get sick pay and am soon to start a PhD. Any thoughts?

[BJJ]

I've been on the bone marrow donor register for over 10 years. Once, approx 8 years ago, I was a partial match for someone and had to undergo further blood tests (via my GP) to check if I was the closest match. As it happens I wasn't so the tests went no further.

I know that they are desperate for more donors, particularly people from minority ethnic groups. I am sure that there is a huge amount of discomfort for donors and that, if selected, it would mean a number of days off work, etc but the people you would be donating to probably don't have the luxury of a job never mind sick pay.

It is a huge committment but my guess is that if you are even thinking about it then you would be pushed to making a decision by reading the newsletters that come from the Anthony Nolan Trust. The stories they tell about donors and the people they donate to are enough to make you sign up.

Is it worth raising this with your employers? They may be prepared to pay you under the circumstances if you were ever needed to donate.

Good luck.

[CiderMonkey]

I am on the register too but my friend was actaully a match and was a donor. This is what she went through:

� Pre blood tests
� had a pint of my own blood removed & then transfused back into me after the operation
� had to give up smoking for a length of time before (6/12/24 hrs?)
� general anaesthetic
� length of time in hospital (1/2 days?)
� two scars on lower back
� two (?) weeks off of work
� a ridiculous amount of iron tablets per day (6-12?) for two weeks (?)
� Counselling
� Lower back ache for some time afterwards

Don�t forget that nowadays, I know that at least the general anaesthetic has been scrapped, and now you only spend like 4/5 hrs in hosp hooked up to a machine instead of having an operation and then you go home.

[Guinevere]

I have been giving blood for over a year now and have recently joined the bone marrow donor list too.
They send you lots of information of what exactly is involved and also ask you if you are completely sure you want to join (there is no point if you back out a later date)
They can take the marrow in 2 ways: the operation where they take it from your hips.  Or a nurse will come everyday for a few days before you go into hospital to give you injections to boost the cells in your blood.  At the hospital they hook you up to a machine that takes blood out of of 1 arm, filters all they need out of it, and puts it back in your other arm.  Which I think is utterly amazing and clever!  Then you just go home!
I have absolutely no problem with needles and have no fear of under going the operation. 
I don't have anything against people who are scared of needles/ are uncomfortable with it not being donors, as it's not for everyone.
However, I just reasoned as such things didn't bother me then I really didn't have any excuse.  Giving blood only takes me about 30mins every couple of months, and if I am a match for someone, it's only a few days/weeks out of my entire life. 

[flaming]

I know that The Anthony Nolan Trust are particularly keen on having men up to 40 on the donor register as their bone marrow stands the best chance of not being rejected by the recipient.  I read the appropriate website only recently.  I got to that easily by googling. The sort of 'time off' questions will be answered, and there is a phone number given for anybody who has further queries.