Posts by stormycanyon56

tell me exactly what's on your mind? feel free to shoot me a DM too
"symptoms" is such a vague term when you're dealing with chronic WHO, it hits everything from your skin and liver to your GI tract...

Not sure about the specifics for San Diego, but check out this page—might have what you need:

They pull the bone marrow right out of your pelvic bones, just a bit above the butt🙂
you end up with a tiny little puncture scar on each side, though mine's barely even visible now. Honestly, it's no big deal. I really think every healthy person should consider being a donor... it could literally save someone's life without costing you anything at all.

I didn't even feel wiped out... just had a tiny fever that day, which they told me is totally normal. By the second day, I was feeling brand new and headed home. So yeah, you're looking at staying two nights. That little scar where they poked you? It’s basically like a tiny pimple mark. A year later, all I have are two faint spots that only I can see. Seriously, there's nothing to worry about. One professor over at Mayo Clinic who's been in the transplant game since the beginning told me that out of about 900 transplants, there hasn't been a single case of a donor having any lasting issues. Just be brave... and if you can save a life, be happy about it. It's such an amazing feeling (at least it was for me).

About two weeks out, they ran every test imaginable—blood work, chest X-rays, heart scans, EKG... they even pulled about half a liter of blood just to give back during the bone marrow harvest. The night before the transplant, you just show up at the hospital, chill out, and sleep through it. Then the actual transplant happens the next morning, takes maybe an hour tops, stay one more night, and boom, done. No painful procedures at all, and I didn't have any side effects. The only thing they had me do was take iron supplements right before and after to make sure I didn't get anemic. That was way back in the day though, so I doubt much has changed since then...

My brother dealt with aplastic anemia, so if you've got specific questions, just ask...

don't even sweat it! about a week before the actual procedure, they draw like half a liter of blood and then give it right back to you while they're doing the bone marrow biopsy. it’s done under general anesthesia too... afterward, you'll just feel some mild soreness at the site for a day or two, kind of like if you bumped yourself or got a bruise. i was a donor less than a year ago, so if you need anything else, just ask!

I gave my brother some bone marrow... if you want the lowdown on how it went, I can tell ya more