Are you a bone marrow/blood stem cell donator?
March 14, 2010 12:38 PM Subscribe
Have you ever donated bone marrow or blood stem cells?
Do you have personal experience with donating bone marrow or blood stem cells through the national registry? Did the experience match up with the information given to you by the donor registry? Any first-hand positive or negative experiences would be appreciated! (Please note that I'm not asking for information about walk-in blood donation)
Do you have personal experience with donating bone marrow or blood stem cells through the national registry? Did the experience match up with the information given to you by the donor registry? Any first-hand positive or negative experiences would be appreciated! (Please note that I'm not asking for information about walk-in blood donation)
I was involved in a research study where I had to have apheresis once a week. A little tired, but otherwise, no big deal.
posted by bolognius maximus at 1:45 PM on March 14, 2010
posted by bolognius maximus at 1:45 PM on March 14, 2010
I donated blood stem cells through the national bone marrow registry about 4 years ago, and the experience pretty closely matched the information they gave me. As part of an experiment they were conducting I agreed for them to choose between an actual bone marrow donation or a PBSC donation, and they chose the PBSC donation. Lots of medical testing beforehand, then they flew me up to Seattle for the actual donation. For 4 or 5 days I went in for daily injections of filgrastim, which might have made me feel a bit tired (or I might have been feeling a bit tired anyway, hard to tell). Then 2 days of collection at about 2 hours per day. I was back home and back at work the next day. I'd compare the whole thing to giving blood 2 days in a row with some forced down time -- bring a book or a movie player with headphones. I'd do it again without hesitation.
A friend of mine did an actual bone marrow donation, and she said it was pretty painless.
More information in the responses to this question, or feel free to MeMail me.
posted by Killick at 1:49 PM on March 14, 2010
A friend of mine did an actual bone marrow donation, and she said it was pretty painless.
More information in the responses to this question, or feel free to MeMail me.
posted by Killick at 1:49 PM on March 14, 2010
I have had some experience with this. I am a medical doctor and have been involved in co-ordinationg stem cell donations as well as having donated platelets myself. Based on my experience of being involved in every step of the donation with several donors and interviewing them about their experiences after the procedure I can say that Killick's experience is pretty much representative of most such procedures. Almost all donors would recommend a close family member to donate and would donate again if the need arose.
One caveat that may only be valid in a small number of donors is the experience of a central line. A small number of male donors and a slightly larger number of female donors need a central line (in your neck vein) for this procedure which, depending upon the donor's experience, can make the procedure seem more traumatic than it should be.
posted by london302 at 2:48 PM on March 14, 2010
One caveat that may only be valid in a small number of donors is the experience of a central line. A small number of male donors and a slightly larger number of female donors need a central line (in your neck vein) for this procedure which, depending upon the donor's experience, can make the procedure seem more traumatic than it should be.
posted by london302 at 2:48 PM on March 14, 2010
I've donated platelets a zillion times and aside from the needles (which make some people recoil) it's OK. I think the idea of the help you're providing to someone else helps donors get through it, but that's just conjecture.
I've been in the registry for years, since they came to college and swabbed anyone willing -- which, being Boston College, was like 80% Irish/Italian Catholic kids from Massachusetts and New York!
posted by wenestvedt at 11:22 AM on March 15, 2010
I've been in the registry for years, since they came to college and swabbed anyone willing -- which, being Boston College, was like 80% Irish/Italian Catholic kids from Massachusetts and New York!
posted by wenestvedt at 11:22 AM on March 15, 2010
Hi. I donated bone marrow under general anaesthesia. Issues you will want to consider is work out what age the recipient is. If a child then then the likely volume of marrow is small. If an adult then expect to donate a larger amount. The difference is that with a large amount you will be more anaemic after. I donated 2000ml - was a bit tired and noticed the difference pedalling up hills a week later.
I think the info they give you is accurate and comprehensive. It is a bit sore but then you're not the one with leukamia needing a transplant. Hard to complain.
FWIW I'm an anaesthetist - anaesthesiologist if you aren't in my time zone and I chose a GA cos I know how safe that is - but feel less confident with my knowledge of safety of G-CSF.
Any how good luck with the process - you will be doing a good thing
posted by steve3001 at 11:34 AM on March 19, 2010
I think the info they give you is accurate and comprehensive. It is a bit sore but then you're not the one with leukamia needing a transplant. Hard to complain.
FWIW I'm an anaesthetist - anaesthesiologist if you aren't in my time zone and I chose a GA cos I know how safe that is - but feel less confident with my knowledge of safety of G-CSF.
Any how good luck with the process - you will be doing a good thing
posted by steve3001 at 11:34 AM on March 19, 2010
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posted by ClaudiaCenter at 1:25 PM on March 14, 2010