Anybody here ever donate blood?

Lust4Life

Just curious.
My hubby had a totally freaky virus mess up his system last winter and needed 2 transfusions and 7 pints of blood. He's fine now (crosses self quickly!).
He can no longer donnate blood, but I can and do.
Being on the other end of it has given me an even greater appreciation for it.
I just donated again yesterday.

Due to Mad Cow desiese, they won't take donors in US who have been to the UK in the past year. Wild, huh?

Just wonder how many other folks here donate.

L4L

Doomspell

I haven't donated but I've needed it. I would of course donate especially after needing their services but you have to be over 21 down here, which is really weird seeing as its 18 everywhere else!

Heyes

Havent donated YET, but most definately will be. Its something i keep meaning to do, which im sure most are the same, just gotta go and do it now :rolleyes:

kizzyr

I do on a farily regular basis but I have to say I hate it. The actual giving of the blood is fine and I have no problem with the needle or any of that stuff but due to the fact that I have low blood pressure at the best of times I always get really light headed and or faint after they've taken what they need.

Kooli

I used to give blood fairly regularly and luckily enough I never found it difficult and it never had any bad effects on me, and I love how everyone's so nice in that place and they give you so much food afterwards!! And free parking!

But alas, now I can never donate EVER again, because I've lived in Africa! NEVER AGAIN in my whole life!! How crazy is that? I know there are reasons for those rules, but they should take into account that if a person was a regular donator before then they can be pretty sure the person isn't just doing it to get their blood tested.

Dave!

Heyes wrote:

Havent donated YET, but most definately will be. Its something i keep meaning to do, which im sure most are the same, just gotta go and do it now :rolleyes:

Hey, just wondering, if someone from the blood transfusion service (or whatever the official body is called) knocked on your door and you could donate the blood there and then, do you think you would? They'd have all the appropriate identification and stuff, so it couldn't be just some vampire sneaking around trying to get his next fix

Thanks

I don't donate blood cos I'm on long-term anti-biotics, but I will do when I'm able to.

faceman

Kooli wrote:

But alas, now I can never donate EVER again, because I've lived in Africa! NEVER AGAIN in my whole life!! How crazy is that? I know there are reasons for those rules, but they should take into account that if a person was a regular donator before then they can be pretty sure the person isn't just doing it to get their blood tested.

i lived in africa too and i remember being told couldnt give blood. however recently i read in their leaflet when they came-a-knockin in work trying to round up donators, that the africa rule only applied for 2 years. Odd. although in fairness i havent been there in years so i think my risk of having malaria, ebola, yellow fever or aids is zero!

Archeron

Yeah, I donate regularly. My last one was donation 12. Same as above, my mum and dad have needed blood in recent times, so its especially great when you see first hand the great help it gives.

Ruu_Old

Lust4Life wrote:

Just curious.
My hubby had a totally freaky virus mess up his system last winter and needed 2 transfusions and 7 pints of blood. He's fine now (crosses self quickly!).
He can no longer donnate blood, but I can and do.
Being on the other end of it has given me an even greater appreciation for it.
I just donated again yesterday.

Due to Mad Cow desiese, they won't take donors in US who have been to the UK in the past year. Wild, huh?

Just wonder how many other folks here donate.

L4L

Yep when I moved here (US) last year I wanted to go in and donate (hadnt done before) and they told me I couldnt donate because I had lived in the UK and "southern Ireland" It could take years for that to be changed so even though I want to donate, I probably wont be anytime soon.

Cutie18Ireland

I would love to be able to give blood to people in need of it but I can't after getting a transfusion a few years back. I needed 5 pints and i've always appreciated.

Oral Slang

I've never donated blood but keep meaning to.. I work in a hospital & recently gave it for research, so guess that counts for donating to an extent.

I find it weird though, that they don't "come a knocking" as faceman put it, in the hospital. If it was pushed more, I would get up off my backside more & give blood, but I never hear it mentioned, apart from on radio! There should be more drives for blood.

eiretamicha

Before I moved to Scotland, I regularly donated blood.

When I came back to the States, they told me I couldn't donate blood ever again because I lived in areas where Mad Cow Disease potentially could have infected my food supply. But I'm vegetarian; I don't eat meat! They didn't care.

Now I'm wondering, however, if I would be able to donate blood in Ireland when my husband and I move back. Does anyone know if that's possible? I mean, would I have to be a citizen there to donate, or would I be able to donate evern though I'd be just a permanent resident?

Heyes

DaveMcG wrote:

Hey, just wondering, if someone from the blood transfusion service (or whatever the official body is called) knocked on your door and you could donate the blood there and then, do you think you would? They'd have all the appropriate identification and stuff, so it couldn't be just some vampire sneaking around trying to get his next fix

Thanks

I don't donate blood cos I'm on long-term anti-biotics, but I will do when I'm able to.

If im honest i would be less inclined, there is so many people floating around claiming to be something there not, i would prefer to go to the actual blood donation premises where things are clean, coshur and 100%.

Dave!

ah right there's my plan out the window!

Ruu_Old

eiretamicha wrote:

Before I moved to Scotland, I regularly donated blood.

When I came back to the States, they told me I couldn't donate blood ever again because I lived in areas where Mad Cow Disease potentially could have infected my food supply. But I'm vegetarian; I don't eat meat! They didn't care.

Now I'm wondering, however, if I would be able to donate blood in Ireland when my husband and I move back. Does anyone know if that's possible? I mean, would I have to be a citizen there to donate, or would I be able to donate evern though I'd be just a permanent resident?

Hmph, your American blood isnt good enough for the Irish! Only joking, you might have to wait a bit Id say before donating but Im sure you will be able to do so.

Heyes

DaveMcG wrote:

ah right there's my plan out the window!

Im not saying its not a good idea, all im saying is that the public would need to have 100% confidence in it, however this would be hard to obtain given past history of so many people going around pretending to be something there not

robinph

Lust4Life wrote:

Due to Mad Cow desiese, they won't take donors in US who have been to the UK in the past year. Wild, huh?

There is an even longer 'ban' on people who spent more than six months living in the UK in giving blood in Ireland I think. Not that they would ever take my blood anyway, and I'd love to give it all away and get a new set.

Civilian_Target

Because I lived in the UK before 1995 I can't donate in Ireland, but I donate in Northern Ireland every time I'm up there and eligible.

I have a rare blood type that's compatible with pretty much everyone so I'm a pretty in-demand donor, and I don't mind giving

curiosity

With regard to all these restrictions, the IBTS are just being super careful. Who knows what new problems could occur a few years down the line?


As for me, I try to pop in every few months. Fortunately, we get time off work to donate every now and again. The Cork clinic is only a few minutes drive away. I look on donating as storing up brownie points with them upstairs

fade2black

I have alright. They're always ringing me cause I have that type of blood that can be used by anyone so is important, especially for newborn babies. It may be needed for one of you fools too when you get pissed on a saturday night and walk into a bus.

Faith

I donated for the first time last October and nearly fainted. It was grand until I got really light-headed and pale. I was kind of freaked out and weak later on that day, so that's put me off. I'd like to do it again, but I've developed a bit of an aversion.

WhiteWashMan

yes, every chance i can.

Ickle Magoo

I am a blood & platelet donor in the UK for the same reasons as fade2black (blood-type O) - but I can't give blood here as I used to live in the UK.....:(

ziggy

This post has been deleted.

Baggly

i donate platelets, which is a part of the blood used in bone marrow transplants and in the treatment of leucemia patients/children patients.

i gave my first regular donation and then agreed to be tested to see if i could give platelets. the platelet donation pool is only 300 people in dublin, and they are in high demand.

platelet donation is also less strenuous than regular donation, as you get back everything in the blood except the platelets. i do it every month and a half give or take.

i have to say, i am really impressed by the IBTS, having seen them in St. James', and locally. i have, however seen mistakes happen. my gf was donating and the nurse of 25 years experience accidentally drew from an artery instead of a vein.

even here, however, the follow up service was excellent. they got us to a hospital, got us rushed in (even tho it was just a precaution) and paid for transport/food etc.

so far, i haven't had a really bad experience with donating.

Siun

I've been told that my blood type is rareish.. I'm O negative. I'm so afraid of giving blood but I decided last year to go in my home town. My sister was with me & she's been giving for years.... I told them when I arrived that I was very nervous & if they wanted to get blood they better not wait too long... I ended up waiting for so long that my blood pressure dropped too low for them to take blood. I was really peeved cause it had taken load of courage for me to go there.. they let me wait & then didn't take it .. I haven't been back.. but I do feel guilty about it...

Tar.Aldarion

Aye I do, I really think most people should...

Baggly

Siun wrote:

I've been told that my blood type is rareish.. I'm O negative. I'm so afraid of giving blood but I decided last year to go in my home town. My sister was with me & she's been giving for years.... I told them when I arrived that I was very nervous & if they wanted to get blood they better not wait too long... I ended up waiting for so long that my blood pressure dropped too low for them to take blood. I was really peeved cause it had taken load of courage for me to go there.. they let me wait & then didn't take it .. I haven't been back.. but I do feel guilty about it...

im o neg too. go us!

Hagar

I used to donate regularly in Ireland but when I tried to donate here in France they wouldn't accept it because of the UK/Ireland ban. I just wonder how many French people involved in a car crash or whatever in Ireland would refuse to be transfused with "tainted" Irish blood?

Baggly

well there is a 99% chance it ll turn them into leprachauns, so it's understandable

InFront

I was very amused to learn that being born and having been partly broiught up in poverty ridden Karachi wasnt the reason they wouldnt take my blood... worse than that, Id lived in the UK! I can see the reason of course, just seemed a bit ironic:D
However their explanation that I might have caught the human form of mad cow disease and that they "wouldnt touch my ****ty blood with a barge pole cos its ewww"* was done in a very polite manner!

*IBTS may not have used these words exactly

Baggly

'wouldn't touch your blood with a sterile surgical pole'

Thirdfox

I'm probably an O (positive/negative) but can't donate since I've lived in England previous to 1996.

O neg is the best kind of blood because it can be used generically (in emergencies when it is impossible to check the patient's blood type) - wrong blood type transfusions will kill the patient so O negs are in great demand.

Did donate blood for a PhD thesis (body physiology research) - that counts right?

The test for prions (or whatever that causes mad cow disease) should be more cost effective than refusing people who have such rare blood groups the chance to donate... Seems like such a waste (but probably down to potential legal ramifications if someone were to be infected with CJD after a transfusion).

Oh btw, vegatarians can contract BSE too (there was a case in England where that happened), ate something that did have meat (accidentally).

Tar.Aldarion

Thirdfox wrote:

ected with CJD after a transfusion).

Oh btw, vegatarians can contract BSE too (there was a case in England where that happened), ate something that did have meat (accidentally).

Nooooooo!!!!
Anyway, I would say that rarely happens.
/me becomes paranoid about food.

byte

Yes, I donate blood. Though the last time they would't take it as my Iron level was .1 away from 13 They can be so fussy.

Seraphina

i give regularly but i'm on a year long ban now because last time i went in my iron levels were so low.
anyone know if they're very strict on that rule? been a good few months now, i've been on iron tablets and i'm much healthier now (was stressed and run-down with finals etc. at the time)

Zhane

Cant donate cos I'm gay, which is fine by me as i hate needles.

GrumPy

I'd love to donate, what would one do to donate? can I ring hospital/gp or what way does it work?

Dave!

http://www.ibts.ie/clinic_search.cfm?mID=4&sID=89

New_Departure06

No, largely because of a fear of the needle sparked largely by the Hep-B scandals of the 90's. The trust just isn't there with me.

Philistine

Use to donate blood regularly untill last year. A foreign doctor spent 20 minutes trying to get the needle into my arm and left me black'n'blue ! Haven't donated since and don't intend to ever again !

Goodshape

My gay blood just ain't good enough, aparently. I've also lived in the UK for a couple of years before '95.

I probably would if I could.

GrumPy

I plan on donating for the first time next week do you have to know your blood type?

and will I need ID yeah?

Baggly

good for you.

Dave!

New_Departure06 wrote:

No, largely because of a fear of the needle sparked largely by the Hep-B scandals of the 90's. The trust just isn't there with me.

Is that really the reason or is it cos it stings a bit?

YeAh!

Irish GrumPy wrote:

I plan on donating for the first time next week do you have to know your blood type?

and will I need ID yeah?

You will be asked to fill out a questionnaire and give your age, weight, most recent donation, current health, and various risk factors such as tattooing, drug use (recreational or performance enhancing), residency abroad, recent international travel, and sexual history.

No ID needed as the donation is anonymous. Not sure weather you have to know your blood type. I assume they have developed methods to make sure what blood type they have recieved.

Baggly

they tell you a few weeks after donation. they take samples of every donation to be sent off to the lab. after the ok comes back to them, then they use your donation.

fade2black

New_Departure06 wrote:

No, largely because of a fear of the needle sparked largely by the Hep-B scandals of the 90's. The trust just isn't there with me.

But you'd happily accept it if you or a loved one needed it in an emergency.

athena 2000

Thirdfox wrote:

The test for prions (or whatever that causes mad cow disease) should be more cost effective than refusing people who have such rare blood groups the chance to donate... Seems like such a waste (but probably down to potential legal ramifications if someone were to be infected with CJD after a transfusion).

Unfortunately, according to the American Red Cross website: "[FONT=&quot]There is no test for vCJD in humans that could be used to screen blood donors and to protect the blood supply. This means that blood programs must take special precautions to keep vCJD out of the blood supply by avoiding collections from those who have been where this disease is found."

Well done to those that donate blood, especially if you are a more rare blood group, or a universal donor like 0+ and 0-. I've been a blood donor as well, and now am looking for the OP's information that "Due to Mad Cow desiese, they won't take donors in US who have been to the UK in the past year. Wild, huh?"[sic]

Linkies please, if you have them?
[/FONT]

InFront

New_Departure06 wrote:

No, largely because of a fear of the needle sparked largely by the Hep-B scandals of the 90's. The trust just isn't there with me.

Actually it was Hepatitis C not Hepatitis B. And how on earth could anyone catch it from donating blood???

soupie

I give blood regularily, I feel it gives you that feel of inner goodness when you leave.


On another point I'm not 100% but I'm also certain that if I or any of my immediate family required a transfusion we would become a priority ahead of those who dont. I was only told this on my last visit but I havent yet read up on it.