Done!
I got bounced, but I’ll pass the information on.
–Cliffy
My self-testing kit is on the way!
I signed up. 
I signed up the other day and am waiting for my testing kit.
I had a bone marrow punch done… oh… about 15 years ago or so, so I’m certainly not up on current technology. I don’t mind saying: IT HURT LIKE HELL. Ever since that day, I’ve wondered when they would come up with a better way of doing that particular test. I’m glad to hear they’re at least talking about nerve blocks.
MamaZappa, are you saying the punch is done under GA? 'Cause they made a huge deal out of the fact that it’s impossible to do under anesthesia, and I assure you I was wide-ass-awake through the whole thing.
By punch, do you mean a biopsy? if so, I can’t comment on whether that can be done under anesthesia. I’ve certainly heard they are pretty horrible. Why on EARTH couldn’t they use anesthesia for that??? (there may be reasons, but HOLY OG that sounds far more brutal than it has to be).
I was referring the actually donation / extraction (when actual marrow is taken, vs the stem cell harvest). For that, they do give anesthesia:
http://www.marrow.org/DONOR/When_You_re_Asked_to_Donate_fo/Donation_FAQs/index.html
I signed up to be a donor a year ago, and I heard about it here from a thread like this. I had to pay the $62 though.
Looks like they still hate gay people. I’ll try again in ten years…
I understand the process. The Registry ought to be fronting the testing costs and then dispersing those costs across all recipients. Their not doing so really hurts their ability to fill out their database. Things like testing costs are what fund raisers are for.
Oh, well in that case, I guess it’s because of a cash-flow issue.
It’s not clear to me if The Marrow Foundation is autonomous from, or really just another name for, the National Marrow Donor Program, but they get 4 stars from Charity Navigator. And they do fundraisers, and also collect money on their site. They just don’t get enough money.
I don’t know if there are laws about what they can charge hospitals for the marrow (probably not, but I don’t know). I figure they know the business better than me, though. Maybe you’re right. Maybe they could charge more for the marrow for the patients.
A huge thank-you to all of you who signed up or tried to!
I have been registered for almost 20 years now.
A few years ago, I got a letter, letting me know I was a potential match, was I still interested? I got a battery of tests, was deemed a close enough match and was barely got my travel itinerary quickly follwed by the news by intended match had succumbed to his Non-Hogkins lynphoma.
I was scheduled to receive one shot a day for 5 or 6 days (I forget), then have the apheresis. My Doctor warned they might go for a vein in my neck over one in my arm as the ones in my arm tend to roll, and I was told to expect to be completely bedridden the entire time, about 8 hours.
The patient’s doctors choose the method of donation, best suited for the intended donor and I had no say in which I wanted, but they were very upfront and clear and I was free to back out of the procedure if I chose.
I still wanted to do it and I still wonder about the man with whom I was so closely matched, and his family.
I got tested almost 20 years ago and did manage to track down that they still had my record, and updated all my contact info. I’m ready!
We had a drive last month at work and I got signed up then. As I told the lady, “I’m already signed up as an organ donor, but this is a chance to help someone while I’m still alive.”
A fascinating, if frustrating, story.
How long did the battery of tests take? How long was it between the initial contact and the decision to let you donate?
I think you posted about this when it occurred, yes? Thank you for trying to save that man’s life. It’s sad that he died before you could.
Received the kit in today’s mail, which arrived as I was eating a sloppy joe. Guess I better wait a while before doing a cheek swab – suspect either the tomato sauce or the spices might confuse the issue. 
I’ve been thinking about doing this for about a month, and was surprised to discover a couple of days ago that they’re waving the fee.
By nerve block do you mean an epidural? I really don’t like the idea of having an epidural for any reason, so that worries me a little.
The link that MamaZappa gave upthread in response to my comment states that about 75% of the bone marrow extractions are done under general anesthesia, which would leave the remaining 25% being done under regional anesthesia- epidurals, IOW. I would think that if it came down to it, the docs would honor a request to go for general rather than regional (I would certainly push for such a thing for myself- epidurals make me uber-nervous for a variety of reasons).
The link also says that most donations are done as blood stem cells rather than marrow, so it may turn out to be a moot point.
MamaZappa, thanks for the response. I assume, based on that link, that the biopsy is still done sans anesthesia. They told me the reasons for it, and I’m pretty sure I ‘cognitively’ understood at the time, but when you end up on the table with four people holding you down, everything changes. :eek:
My kit arrived yesterday as well (unfortunately I wasn’t eating a sloppy joe- so jealous), and has been completed, sealed, and will be mailed back tomorrow. Crossing fingers that it helps someone out there!
I’ve had epidurals (for both kids’ deliveries) and they didn’t work too well (not to mention I have lingering discomfort around where the injection is made, likely due to the first one being botched). I’d opt for general also.