I just donated 1.5L of bone marrow to an unrelated recipient. AMA

marrowme · 3 months

I'm replying to you from my office. I have a desk job though. For more physical activity I would probably wait another 2-3 days.

marrowme · 3 months

It's morning now. I will edit my original post to include how I feel on day 2.

marrowme · 3 months

There is no compensation involved.

marrowme · 3 months

http://www.cumc.columbia.edu/dept/medicine/bonemarrow/bmtinfo.html

If you search for "amount" it says up to 2 quarts can be donated. 2 quarts is 1.8L

marrowme · 3 months

"The amount of bone marrow harvested depends on the size of the patient and the concentration of bone marrow cells in the donor's blood. Usually one to two quarts of marrow and blood are harvested. While this may sound like a lot, it really only represents about 2% of a person's bone marrow, which the body replaces in four weeks."

http://www.cumc.columbia.edu/dept/medicine/bonemarrow/bmtinfo.html

https://www.google.com/search?sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=2+quarts+in+liters

marrowme · 3 months

Nope. I was wheeled into the OR, put to sleep, and woke up in recovery.

marrowme · 3 months

Yes bone marrow regrows pretty quickly. Maybe a few weeks.

marrowme · 3 months

They require you to do it.

marrowme · 3 months

Yes it regrows. Apparently pretty quickly if you are healthy.

marrowme · 3 months

Truly thank you.

marrowme · 3 months

If someone I cared about needed bone marrow, I would wish someone to donate. That's all I can say.

marrowme · 3 months

I am sitting on my couch now on pain meds. Lower back is definitely sore but not intolerable. Maybe tomorrow morning it will be worse.

marrowme · 3 months

Let me contact a mod to find out what I need to prove this. I have a photo of my bandage but I guess an image of my discharge papers would be good enough.

marrowme · 3 months

I went with bone marrow which involves inserting a hollow needle into your pelvis bone and extracting bone marrow. I asked my doctors the same questions - do you need to drill into my bone? The answer is no...I think the bone is porous enough for the needle to slip right in.

marrowme · 3 months

The NMDP covers 100% of your medical fees related to donating. If something happens to you during the donation (unlikely), they would pay for everything. Also, and not to detract people from donating, there is life insurance too that covers you. I know that sounds scary but it's there.

marrowme · 3 months

My donation is international so I will likely not hear anything. That's the way it goes with international donations.

marrowme · 3 months

I think you should be fine but if you do donate you will probably want to take it easy afterwards to recuperate.

marrowme · 3 months

I am on pain meds. Throat is still sore. Back is aching. It's not a sharp pain but it is very sore.

marrowme · 3 months

The recipient's doctor decides what is best. Some doctors ask for bone marrow, others ask for PBSC. If I didn't want to donate bone marrow, my recipient's doctor also requested PBSC. I went with bone marrow because I figured there was a reason for it.

marrowme · 3 months

I just hope the recipient gets better. It's weird knowing my blood will be produced outside of my body but it doesn't bother me.

marrowme · 3 months

My goal is to answer people's questions about donating.

marrowme · 3 months

I wasn't supposed to eat anything or drink anything after midnight the night before my procedure. I think this is a general rule for all surgeries. They want to minimize nausea after anesthesia wears off. Now that I am home I can eat anything I want.

marrowme · 3 months

The paperwork is basically you committing to donating and also understanding the risks involved. As with all surgical procedures there is always risk. General anesthesia poses some risk but it's quite low nowadays. There is also a possibility for prolonged discomfort after the donation.

You may be able to donate peripheral stem cells (PBSC) which poses less risk. http://marrow.org/Registry_Members/Donation/Steps_of_Donation.aspx

marrowme · 3 months

General anesthesia is the riskiest part but apparently the odds of dying are lower than dying in a car accident. Anesthesia has come a long way and an anesthesiologist will be with you at all times during the operation and until you wake up.

marrowme · 3 months

You will be in the registry and will be contacted if you are ever a match.

marrowme

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