Bone Marrow.

[Shadow Man]

Has anybody had experience themselves or through friends or family who have donated bone marrow. Or if from London, bone marra.

I have heard I could save a life with little pain or real effort from myself.

Any information??

Particularly weight limits (I am around 15.5-16 stone, am I still able to donate?)

[redcrx]

i cant see that weight is a factot that prevents you going on the doner list.

Heres a link with the basics on it. You complete some forms and if suitable you will then have a blood test. Then its just a case of being on the list in case anyone should ever need your help in donating bone marrow

http://www.anthonynolan.org.uk/index.php?locat ion=3.1.2

[gina32]

it also depends on your age as to whether you can donate or not

[beryllium]

Hi Shadow :)

mr B is a member of The Anthony Nolan Trust. (not sure if they'd use him now) lol....

Maybe worth taking a look with them for you though.....

[4getmenot]

I'd love to give my bone marroe, apperently doesnt hurt but you have to take quite some time of work

[daffy654]

I always wanted to be able to give blood as I am O Negative blood type(my blood type could be given to anyone whatever their type),unfortunately I was always under the minimum weight limit.Now I can't because of the medication I have to take regularly. :-(. I have no clue if there is a weight limit with bone marrow though.

[Shadow Man]

Does anybody know if you ever get to meet the patient? It is not like blood which is stored for emergencies and certainly not the personal aspect of sperm donating.

Not for some self-praising "look at me, I have saved this person's life", but it would be nice to get a Christmas card off them to see how they are doing?

Thank you for answers thus far.

[Cockney_si]

I think that in America there is a bone marrow donor register.

Heard it mentioned in programmes like House and stuff :o)

[4GS]

It doesn't hurt, I've done it but didn't meet the recipient unfortunatly,
I had to have a day off work, so the Army put me to work in the Admin Office ;-((

[bednobs]

you can meet the patient if the patient and donor so wish. However, most don't. Matched unrelated transplants have a low success rate and are usually the last most complicated and risky option. How would you feel if you donated and it didnt work? much better not to know the outcome in my opinion Also i think you are too old to go on the register

[Shadow Man]

Too old??

:-(

[Shadow Man]

I am only 34.

[rabbitygirl]

Angel12. You have given me another job to do. Have been on the A Nolan register for years and tho I know I'm too old to donate marrow it seems I've a few years on the list yet. I have to contact them with my new address I suppose, but if I'm too old for the marrow why would I still be retained on the list?? Curious. Have mentioned to my sons about going on the list in my stead.

Was asked for a blood sample prior to possible marrow donation. I am AB Rhesus neg so I thought my type would be harder to match. My doctor, who took the blood sample, looked at me as if I was quite mad and asked why I wanted to donate marrow. Obviously, I said, because it could save someones life. 'I'd think very carefully about it if I were you. They take it from your hip and it is very painful!!!'

So can we assume that the registers contain very few doctors?

[gina32]

18 to 49 is the age limits

[kyra16]

cockney...there is a register here in the US
i donated years ago...yea it hurts but its well worth it. there was a weight minimum (105lbs) n i did have to have blood work done up...
but ...like you said shadow man you can save a life