# Ask the (soon-to-be) Bone Marrow Doner. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 30, 2004, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-soon-to-be-bone-marrow-doner/277348 "2004-11-30T17:05:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![nocturnal\_tick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3d9bf3/32.png) [@nocturnal\_tick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nocturnal_tick)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-soon-to-be-bone-marrow-doner/277348/1 "2004-11-30T17:05:14Z")
Just in case you didn’t know I volunteering to be placed on the National Bone Marrow Register. About a month ago I was asked to come for some type-testing to check my compatibility to a patient. Well I’ve just had a phone call telling me they would like for me to make my donation a few days before Christmas. Yay! 😃 (I guess.) So here’s your chance to ask some questions, which I will be hapy to ask the doctor when I go for a consultation next weekend. Are there any burning questions on bone marrow donation? Maybe you’d like to ask me a question about the events leading up to this? ---
**Author:** ![lno](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a8b319/32.png) [@lno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lno)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-soon-to-be-bone-marrow-doner/277348/2 "2004-11-30T17:12:42Z")
Lucky so-and-so. I was called last June because I was a preliminary match, but after I went in for further typing, they never called me back. I wanted to donate and soak up the accolades, darnit. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-soon-to-be-bone-marrow-doner/277348/3 "2004-11-30T17:16:48Z")
No questions, but congratulations! ---
**Author:** ![Motorgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@Motorgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motorgirl)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-soon-to-be-bone-marrow-doner/277348/4 "2004-11-30T17:21:07Z")
What is involved in the testing? Both the initial testing and the compatibility checking. Does it hurt? ---
**Author:** ![One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/838e76/32.png) [@One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/One_And_Only_Wanderers)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-soon-to-be-bone-marrow-doner/277348/5 "2004-11-30T17:23:04Z")
Initial testing and compatibility testing is done via a blood sample - so no pain at all. I never passed the second compatibility test so thats as far as my experience goes ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-soon-to-be-bone-marrow-doner/277348/6 "2004-11-30T17:39:25Z")
I just got put on the registry this past summer. How long were you on? Is this the first match you’ve had? Are they taking your marrow or doing the blood thing that looks like apheresis? And after you’ve done it, I really want to know if it hurts. ---
**Author:** ![nocturnal\_tick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3d9bf3/32.png) [@nocturnal\_tick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nocturnal_tick)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-soon-to-be-bone-marrow-doner/277348/7 "2004-11-30T18:00:46Z")
> [@Motorgirl](#): > > What is involved in the testing? Both the initial testing and the compatibility checking. > > Does it hurt? They take a number of blood samples, like **OaOW** has said. The initial testing was taken during a blood donation, just the little tube full. The compatibility stage was a bit more. I was meant to have 4 samples but they took 6 because of a short supply of the larger tubes. Each sample is colour coded for different tests. I hurts as much as any blood donation. One prick and that’s it. 😉 > [@amarinth](#): > > How long were you on? Is this the first match you’ve had? Are they taking your marrow or doing the blood thing that looks like apheresis? And after you’ve done it, I really want to know if it hurts. I’ve been on the list since February. It is my first match so I guess I’m pretty lucky. The co-ordinator has told me I am doing the apheresis thing, which is when they pump me full of drugs for a week then drain my blood. (Maybe a little over over-the-top). I did want to do the day in hospital and I’ll ask if I can. That way it’s all over, and although I’ll be sore, I’ll be home for the holidays so there is the family to help me recover. As for the hurting are you asking from a worried sense or a deep rooted sado-masochism? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![catsix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e19b73/32.png) [@catsix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/catsix)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-soon-to-be-bone-marrow-doner/277348/8 "2004-11-30T18:07:12Z")
Is it true that you can only donate marrow once in your life? ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-soon-to-be-bone-marrow-doner/277348/9 "2004-11-30T18:09:20Z")
I’m on the registration list, have been for years, but have never been called. ---
**Author:** ![Kythereia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e8c25b/32.png) [@Kythereia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kythereia)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-soon-to-be-bone-marrow-doner/277348/10 "2004-11-30T18:10:44Z")
I got nothing except: you’re a real good man, **nocturnal\_tick**. _big kiss and a large hug_ 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/838e76/32.png) [@One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/One_And_Only_Wanderers)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-soon-to-be-bone-marrow-doner/277348/11 "2004-11-30T18:11:09Z")
> [@catsix](#): > > Is it true that you can only donate marrow once in your life? On the literature I had, it said you were unlikely to be called more than once3, but you could remain on the register if you wished. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-soon-to-be-bone-marrow-doner/277348/12 "2004-11-30T18:11:10Z")
I’ve been on the list for about 10 years, but only got to second-level testing once. Guess my marrow must be too common or something. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-soon-to-be-bone-marrow-doner/277348/13 "2004-11-30T18:45:50Z")
I’ve been on the list eleven years, and have never even gotten the first phone call. ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-soon-to-be-bone-marrow-doner/277348/14 "2004-11-30T18:47:09Z")
How is the actual donation itself done? ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-soon-to-be-bone-marrow-doner/277348/15 "2004-11-30T19:07:52Z")
It is interesting this has come up. A boy at my son’s school has a rare form of anemia ( don’t know what kind) and he needs a bone marrow transplant. I know nothing about the where to go to sign up aspect of this. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_I\_Am](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e495f1/32.png) [@Sam\_I\_Am](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_I_Am)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-soon-to-be-bone-marrow-doner/277348/16 "2004-11-30T19:42:53Z")
No questions, just a big big thank-you from someone whose father has been the recipient of a donated organ 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Abbie\_Carmichael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/49beb7/32.png) [@Abbie\_Carmichael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Abbie_Carmichael)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-soon-to-be-bone-marrow-doner/277348/17 "2004-11-30T19:55:50Z")
Wow, awesome! What are the chances you can find out anything about the recipient? Where they live, age, gender, etc? ---
**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-soon-to-be-bone-marrow-doner/277348/18 "2004-11-30T20:04:05Z")
A cousin of mine donated marrow a couple years ago. I saw her 3 days after the marrow was removed and she was still in pain and discomfort. She said it felt like someone had kicked her repeatedly in the hips and legs. She had 4 incisions about 3/4 of an inch long, one on each hip and one on the back of each leg a few inches above the knee. Her compensation for the ordeal was enough for sizeable down payment on a new Dodge Dakota she wanted and she says it was worth it. The recipient of her marrow has been in remission for over a year and the docs say she should have a good long life. The recipient was only 14 at the time of the transplant. ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-soon-to-be-bone-marrow-doner/277348/19 "2004-11-30T20:06:15Z")
Not a peep since 1996, when I joined. You lucky so and so. I’ve heard it’s painful on the pelvis, but I wouldn’t have a problem doing it if it could save a life. Oh well. I’ll keep on giving blood. Best of luck tick. ---
**Author:** ![One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/838e76/32.png) [@One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/One_And_Only_Wanderers)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-soon-to-be-bone-marrow-doner/277348/20 "2004-11-30T20:07:38Z")
> [@racer72](#): > > A cousin of mine donated marrow a couple years ago. I saw her 3 days after the marrow was removed and she was still in pain and discomfort. She said it felt like someone had kicked her repeatedly in the hips and legs. She had 4 incisions about 3/4 of an inch long, one on each hip and one on the back of each leg a few inches above the knee. Her compensation for the ordeal was enough for sizeable down payment on a new Dodge Dakota she wanted and she says it was worth it. The recipient of her marrow has been in remission for over a year and the docs say she should have a good long life. The recipient was only 14 at the time of the transplant. in the UK you do it as a charitable sort of thing. You will get reasonable expenses, but that’s about it. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-soon-to-be-bone-marrow-doner/277348.md?page=2)