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Bone marrow donation?
Hello internet,
I come to you in a time of great indecision. My sister was recently diagnosed with aplastic anemia, which is basically bone marrow failure. There are a few treatments for this disease but only one potential cure : bone marrow transplant. As her sibling, I have a 25% chance of being a match and the hospital is going to call me to ask if I'd like to test if I'm a match. The problem, however, is that I have severe anxiety. Especially with doctors and medical procedures. The whole idea of having to have a huge needle stuck into my pelvic bone makes me nauseous. Besides all this, the odds are in the favor that I won't even be a match and my sister can try to find marrow in the registry of donors (with her being caucasian the chance of finding a donor lies somewhere between 85-90%). I'm thinking I'll tell the hospital that I don't want to test to find if I'm a match. I don't think I could live with myself if I found out that I was a match, only to back out of the procedure due to my overwhelming anxiety. Can anyone offer me any advice?
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Blocking out ones senses is something I'd never thought of and might work for some but I know how often people dwell on negative thoughts. Even tho I know better I find myself at times entertaining the worst case scenarios in my head, especially the ones that can cause me to feel fearful. So if you have that great a fear of Drs and medical procedures but are torn with wanting to help your sister if you are compatible, I think the answer might lay in seeing a hypnotist to get rid of your fear. A friend of mine used to work at a restaurant where her supervisor thought it was hilarious to jump out and spook waitresses when they were trying to carry dishes of food out to customers. ONe time it resulted in her jumping so hard and losing control of a pot of hot water in a teapot that boiling water sloshed all over her top which she luckily pulled away from her skin lessening the amount of burn. So she went to a hypnotist asking if they could help with something like this fearful response, and calm the nerves. They could. After her treatments, nothing could rattle her, the supervisor gave up after finding he could no longer spook her. So I feel it might be worth you checking into if you want to get tested and help without being terrified because that would only be torture to yourself to try without hypnotism and easily cause nightmares or such for you. Whatever you choose, do so only if you are willing even trying hypnotism. Do not do anything just because someone else suggested it. Good luck and I hope your sister gets what she needs in help, no matter from where. Blessings!!
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Hiya! Dr.D here!
Its okay. I have a very very very very very big fear of needles. And you'd think with my career I wouldn't be. But I have the fear. And now your asked to be tested. It can be very nerve racking, I know! But if you are a match, you could be saving your sisters life.
I can help, I know how you can be brave. Think about how your doing good for your sister. You love her right? this is the biggest test. To prove you do. Here is what you can do if your really really afraid. Put on a blindfold and put some headphones on. Your eliminating two sets of your senses while this happens. Your sight, and your hearing. You'll have yourself in your own thoughts. Try to avoid thinking about it. Just focus on the darkness, and the music.
I hope I helped. Good luck, and dont be afraid. You have a whole universe in your head that can distract you :-)
-Dr.D
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Answer this question. How would you feel if you allowed your anxieties to stand in the way of your sisters best chance at life by not finding out if you are a match? Your sisters very life could lie in your very bones. It is time to man up and do what needs to be done to save your sisters life. You do it in steps.
Step one: You are not the only one who has anxiety over doctors and needles. The doctors can make you very comfortable even putting you out for each procedure if need be. What is important here is you give your sister every chance for life by not eliminating the possibility that you are a match. A familiar match is better than donor as there is less chance of rejection.
Step two: IF you are a match you tell the doctors you need to be knocked out for the procedure. When you wake up you want to be pain free so as much pain medicine as you can handle should be administered while you are in the OR.
The doctors will listen to you. They want the best match for your sister and they will do everything possible to make you comfortable.
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