So... Currently, I'm both a registered blood and organ donor. I have been contemplating on becoming a bone marrow donor, also. I wasn't all that aware of it until I saw http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2001634/Teenager-Alice-Pyne-15-bucket-list-things-dies-cancer.html in the Metro today. I'll be off to give blood on Saturday, so that's my final decision time.

There's a few things I want to know, that I couldn't really get from the wall of text on the NHS Q&A. Seems to be the only forum I'm fanatic enough to sign up to, so I'll try here.

• Could anyone tell me how long the total process is for bone marrow donation? "you will need to stay in hospital for up to 48 hours and have a period of recovery at home of up to five days." A week? Is this "5 days" only the extreme cases? Will I likely take this long? Is there much preparation before this?
  
• I have a job in manual labour. Would it be best for me to take extra time off, after these 7 days? Would I become a withered husk from the work?
  
• Will I feel weak after getting it done? When I give blood, I feel all faint and nasty, because I'm a wuss like that. Will I get the same feeling?
  
• Will I have achey bones for this week? Or is it just sore around the puncture point?
  
• Can I go to any hospital for this? I saw someone talk of having to get a train to London to donate, when I googled.
  
• Can I not donate every few months, and have them store it, similar to how they handle donated blood? It seems far more convenient this way, and I'd rather just get it over with on my own time than suddenly get drafted.

Thanks for any answers, and be sure to tell me anything else I may want to know!

I'm in England, if it matters. Liverpool, to be more precise.

My mother is a bone marrow donor, but she doesn't just go and routinely give bone marrow. First she had to go to a hospital (it may have been a specific clinic, I can't remember) and get put on the bone marrow donor list, and do a few tests. Then she just waits until someone matches her bone marrow, and that is when they draw it out.

There are two ways they draw it out. One is directly from the bone, which usually takes about an hour, and makes your arm sore and useless for about a day or two. The other way is by filtering it out of your blood for about 5 hours. Which makes you feel like you have the flu the next day. Usually they let you choose which method, but sometimes only one way works, depending on who you are.

My mother has never had to stay over night in the hospital after the donation. :shrug:

So, what's the difference between the two?

As far as I can tell, one is quicker and easier, whereas one is slower and harder. Seems pointless with my lack of knowledge.

They told my mother that with some people you can't directly draw the marrow out, I don't know why.