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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

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Chinafoot

Have yet to donate but intend to quite soon.

Ever since I was old enough to donate I had tattoos done so that ruled me out for six months (during which I'd sometimes get another). I got my last tattoo in August so I'm good on that front.

Went to Cuba recently so I have to wait 2 months before donating.

Very curious to find out my blood type.

I've gone to donate blood a few times now and I've only ever been able to give a full donation once. Every time I go, I do the whole screening process, everything's fine and I get to the point where they stick the needle but I don't have big enough veins on the surface of my arm for them to get enough pressure to get a full donation out of me.

I don't understand it really 'cause I'm 30 years old, about 6 foot, maybe a tiny bit overweight and my family has a history of high blood pressure. I don't particularly like needles but I'm willing to brave them to donate blood. However, when I go through the whole rigormoral of getting stuck with a needle, usually in both arms 'cause the first one doesn't work, it gets really frustrating. They tell me to eat a full meal and drink lots of liquids before I donate and I do this and it still doesn't work. Unfortunately, even though I can pass the screening process, I'm just gonna give it up.

Dave!

Does anyone know the site where you can order organ donor cards from?

I can't seem to find it...

I got mine off some site, where you just fill in a simple online form, and they send you out a card which you sign, and it's sorted. It's brilliant! If I could remember the f*cking address then I'd post it in big bold letters... I'd say most people want to be organ donors but just aren't arsed getting a card (like me for example!), and this is a deadly way of doing it.

Anyone know the address?

Karoma

Most decent chemists will have a few. Just pop in?

www.ika.ie has some instructions, but no form...

Dave!

But people forget, etc. etc. as ya don't really head to the chemist with the intention of getting a donor card. Unless you're really motivated

I just found it anyways. It's not a form though, as I thought:

http://www.irishhealth.com/index.html?level=4&id=10354

To obtain an organ donor card and information fact file, text the word 'Donor' and your name and address, along with the number of cards you require, to 53377 or email your request to donor@ika.ie Texts cost 15c.

Do it! Ya don't need your feckin kidneys when you're done!

Feral Mutant

Not allowed. I lived in England for more than a year in the time period.
http://www.ibts.ie/generic.cfm?mID=2&sID=106

lasair

i give blood every 90 days.

The Hill Billy

I regularly donated (every 3 months) until I moved to England & ate their damn beef for a few years. :mad:

When I was donating I used to arrange a gang from my office to go. The Blood Board sent an ambulance down to pick us up from our building & then brought us back after a few drinkies & sticky buns. Maybe they still do. I can think of worse ways to spend a long lunch.

connundrum

I donated blood with my da and a few of his mates when I was like 19 or somethig... they gave us all a bottle of Guinness (which I thought was a great touch) and sent us on our way.

Having had the taste of the Guinness, we decided to further extend our outing and ended up in the pub.

We were all amazed that we were basically hammered after 3 pints

Good times, good times

Donating blood ftw!

Bluetonic

connundrum wrote:

We were all amazed that we were basically hammered after 3 pints

Guinness or blood?

Darkwing Duck

I cant till the end of next year. Just back from India so its a year after you've been to any malarial country. Used to go every 3 months regularly, so its a pain the nuts....

Ah well, just have to keep feeding Audrey instead so

connundrum

Bluetonic wrote:

Guinness or blood?

Yes

The_Minister

I gave blood once, then had an operation. I haven't been able to since. I keep chickening out.

Miss Fluff

Used to give it regularly but no longer can because IBTS restrictions mean I can't anymore as I used to live in the UK. Awful really, have a rare blood type and would happily donate!!

Don1

Went in to do it with the greatest intentions but then found out due to my actions in Germany over the Summer I have to wait a year.

P.S. My actions were not that bad just lead to uncertainty in filling out the form and as anyone who has been knows, if you're not sure about something you can't donate.

Wacker

I gave it once a few years back. A mate of mine sent a group text around asking if anyon wanted to give blood with him (kind of odd, right?) and I went along. I felt nothing from it. No weakness, no light head, dizziness, anything. I weigh about fourteen stone, so I guess I can better afford to lose a pint than most, which probably explains it.

When I said I felt nothing, that includes the feeling of goodwill and satisfaction that is mentioned in the ads. I felt in no way different. So, if a mate asks me to go again, I'll go again. But I am not massively motivated to give blood.

HJ Simpson

I used to donate blood but and still would now. However I was asked to try and see if I was able to give platelets. My platelet count was too low so I could not give a platelet donation.
However I have rare type of platelet that only 2% of the population apparently have so I give a donation every month that goes to babies.
Apparently mothers can give birthe to children with the rare type of platelet
who need a transfusion and thats where my platelets so.

So I feel chuffed with my rare little self!!!

petes

Have never given blood. Wanted to the last time they were around but I got a tattoo in January and I think there is something about not being able to give blood for six months. Just checked the Blood Transfusion site. Yep six months after a tattoo. Will donate the next time they are in the locality.

[Deleted User]

Don't think I'm allowed to donate blood. I lived in England in the late 80s/early 90s and because of this I might be a carrier of CJD

Never give blood if:
You have spent 1 year or more, in total, in the UK in the years 1980 to 1996

I lived there from basically 1988-1991.

sound_wave

Yip, I donate every three months, which will be in November for my next donation. I got my brother to go with me one day and now we both donate. I've never had to have a transfusion but my mother had to have a serious one a few years back. I dread to think what would have happend if there was a shortage of blood.

The Bollox

I do indeed, I have been a donator for a few years.

greenkittie

I fail on like 5 of the points, i'll never be able to give blood!

Faith

I did, last year. I also nearly fainted whilst doing it, so it kind of put me off. I might do it again soon, provided I don't get the tattoo I want.

Binomate

Shit, I knew I was forgeting something. I was going to give blood in college yesterday but I had a meeting I had to go for instead. Ah well, hopefully they'll still be there on Monday.

tman

Would if I was allowed to (lived in England during the bad beef period...)

fade2black

I got a letter yesterday telling me my blood was special and basically to get my arse of the chair and do some donating. I've only done it twice.

Lust4Life

fade2black, that is wonderful!
Get your sweet little fanny in there and donate!
It's not so bad. And you get cookies! \0/

wow sierra

Yeah I donate every three months - its just a regular part of life I couldn't imagine why you wouldnt. I hate needles but I just look away and its not sore. looking at this thread its amazing how many people are not allowed to donate. IF YOU CAN, JUST DO IT!! Dont hesitate - I was in a hospital with a relative who had their operation postponed because of low blood supplies. We all complain about the health services and waiting lists and this is something we can improve ourselves. The only hassle is the waiting time in local clinics - 1 to 2 hours. Bring along a book or paper. Or chat to the person beside you - you never know who you might meet!!!!

[Deleted User]

connundrum wrote:

I donated blood with my da and a few of his mates when I was like 19 or somethig... they gave us all a bottle of Guinness (which I thought was a great touch) and sent us on our way.

Having had the taste of the Guinness, we decided to further extend our outing and ended up in the pub.

We were all amazed that we were basically hammered after 3 pints

Good times, good times

Donating blood ftw!

Yeah that reminds me of the one and only time I gave blood when I was 19-I went down to the pub and got plastered very quickly.
It was a wierd giddy sort of plastered.

Peteee

Can't donate. Born in UK and had 3 blood transfusions when I was a baby.

Would love to give, but alas...