is donating bone marrow particularly painful? long recovery process?
Not bad at all...slight pain and no recovery time. You could donate bone marrow in the AM and play a good LAX game in the afternoon.
> is donating bone marrow particularly painful? long recovery process?
No. It does not hurt one bit: back in the '90's it was done under General Anaesthetic with an overnite stay in hospital (just to make sure you got thru the General OK).
They take a tiny FRACTION of your bone marrow: you have more than plenty and will never miss it. It regenerates in a couple weeks anyrate, so no harm done.
Why they do it under General? Who knows? Maybe it's easier
for the doctor, maybe it's because people might get freaked out at a big needle, maybe it's because it takes a while and it's easier if the donor is immobile for a wee spell. Who knows?
As best I understand, the only risks are the routine risks associated with going under with a General and then waking up. The rest is a yawn: they DO NOT cut you open and rip out parts of your body. Essentially it is ONLY a long sterile needle pushed into your hip bone. You probably will not notice the surgical wound: they will probably put a bandaid over it and that's all.
It is so trivial a procedure it is hardly worth putting a hospital gown on for. Hey, they have their reasons for wanting to keep you overnite: you gotta sleep somewhere, so it's not a big deal. They feed you anyrate, and these days hospital food is pretty good.
You are a Donor, so they treat you very well in Hospital.
Recovery? OK, you're supposed to feel a little bit stiff and sore afterward: whether that is due to anaesthesia or due to the donation or due to the usual slightly-uncomfortable hospital bed who knows? It is a fleeting thing at best and goes away quick-smart.
I say donate and save a life, if you get the opportunity. Just do it. It is lo risk and hi impact: you are unlikely to die as a result of your decision to donate. And somebody unknown to you is very likely to live as a result of your unselfish decision. That's great!
And in the extremely unlikely event that the very worst happened -- if somehow you died doing this -- I can't think of a better way to leave this life or a better reason for doing so: unconscious and reasonably comfortable, trying to save some other person's life unselfishly. God would certainly understand:
"Greater love hath no man than this..."
Given my choice, that will be my Way Out.
*DieHard*