Are you a Blood Doner?

delos · 10-06-2007 12:34AM

No

Used to donate regularly when I lived in Scotland but not any more due to the ban. I would have been happier if they could have given me a guarantee that the blood I was donating would stay within the NHS rather than being sold to private healthcare as I don't like the idea of someone profiting from my donation.

Nehpets · 10-06-2007 01:57AM

So what exactly happens? Do they test the blood first?

Dave! · 10-06-2007 01:17PM

No

They do a short interview thing where they ask you if you suck d*ck, do drugs, etc. Then they prick your finger a tiny bit and smear your blood onto some sort of panel that's attached to a computer. I think this tests the iron content. Then you wait a while until you're called to a bed which you lie on and a nurse attaches the needle to your arm. Then an assistant (not a nurse) sits with you until the bag is full, when she takes out the needle. Then you've to wait for 15 minutes drinking minerals and eating crisps. Yum.

strassenwolf · 10-06-2007 01:30PM

It's also worth sticking your name on the bone marrow donor registry - e.g. it may be possible to help people with leukaemia. It's possible to be a potential bone marrow donor even if you're not allowed to give blood - I'm on the register but I can't give blood due to having lived in the UK in the '90s.

funky penguin · 10-06-2007 01:49PM

No

I tried to give platelets, but my count is too low.

Last time I donated blood was in college just before a lecture. I left the clinic way too early, and I tripped and fell up a stairs because I felt so light headed.

Lesson: Always stay for the free food.

snickerpuss · 10-06-2007 03:41PM

I have received a donation before

Gauge wrote:

Not allowed to give blood because of eczema/hay fever- in case I have an allergic reaction or something. I'd like to though

Really? Damn I'm hayfever central all summer. Whats the reaction you could get?

sunnyjim · 10-06-2007 05:10PM

burnedfaceman wrote:

the view from cafe on westmoreland street down o connell street is worth a pint of blood alone[/QUOTE

Couldn't agree more!! It really is a great view.

delta_bravo · 10-06-2007 05:19PM

No

Nehpets wrote:

So what exactly happens? Do they test the blood first?

On your first time it is given a test in a lab and then you are sent out a card informing you of your blood group. If your blood is acceptable it is sold to hospitals ( about €300 ) and used as needed.

However, if you are a blood donor and require blood at some stage you dont not have to pay for the blood. That is a good incentive to donate...and the free guinness and crisps:)

microgirl · 10-06-2007 05:31PM

No

DaveMcG wrote:

Ye can only donate every 3 months apparantly. It takes that long for your blood to..... something.

But you can donate platelets every month! (you have to have donated blood at least once first though). Platelets are in very high demand, because they have such a short shelf life (5-7 days, depending on the bag they were drawn into) whereas blood has a shelf life of 35 days. Although we make platelets from blood donations too, so it works out. But we always need apheresis platelet donors!

The clinic is the the National Blood Centre beside St James's Hospital. It's not great times-wise though - the "late" evenings are only til 6pm (last donor arrives 6pm like), which is really only feasible if you work nearby. Though many employers allow you time off to donate.

And for those smart and cunning amongst you who will have noted the "we" (and because I have vague memories of a controversial thread talking about people coming clean with vested interests) I work in the laboratories of the IBTS, in direct contact with the hospitals who need the blood, and I am thrilled skinny to see so much positive donation stories here. Thank you all of you

Right now we are pretty low, and during the summer is always a bad time for blood shortages (everyone travelling) so the more people who donate - and better, donate regularly - the better.

microgirl · 10-06-2007 05:35PM

No

oleras wrote:

dont it 5 or 6 times about 6-7 years ago, got a piercing and couldent and never went back, it was the waiting around that annoyed me the most, if they are that desperate why not have a service in a hospital where you can go at anytime night or day, and as for running out, that aint gona happen, they buy it in when they run low iirc.

That's not the case.

On very rare occasions blood is requested from the International Frozen Blood Banks but only if there is a patient with a very rare blood type. Blood is not "bought in" in regular cases. And all too often hospitals have to be told "No, you can't have that blood/platelets because there isn't any in stock". Believe me, running out is a real possibility, and happens.

flossie · 10-06-2007 06:01PM

I donate, but have to do it here in the UK (i'm in college here) as i lived in the UK as a child before moving to Ireland. I have a relatively rare group (A rhesus negative) so i give blood as often as i can as if anything happens to me i would like to know blood would be available to me.....i went travelling for a year and when i came to donate i had to wait three months and then have a malarial anti-body screen, but i got the all clear (yey!) and am off donating now. On my 6th donation and have recently gotten a new card giving me a 'regular donor' stratus

I wanted to donate platelets but stupid me decided i would go on a diet, so am now below 11stone (only just!!) so am excluded from that...don't understand why though, surely it should be based on healthy weight ranges for your height? I'm 5'8, so just under 11stone isn't bad at all.....

philstar · 10-06-2007 07:05PM

No

excuse my ignorance..but...what exactly is a platelet??

Dave! · 10-06-2007 07:28PM

No

If my secondary school biology serves me correctly it's one of the components of your blood that is used for clotting it and forming scabs when you get a cut (the other components being red blood cells, which carry O2, and white blood cells, which fight bacteria). Not sure who'd need platelet transfusions, possibly haemophiliacs.

Oral Slang · 10-06-2007 07:54PM

No

Gauge wrote:

Not allowed to give blood because of eczema/hay fever- in case I have an allergic reaction or something. I'd like to though

Thats weird. I have both of them & I can donate. Thats the only box I tick on the form & they say its fine!

jor el · 10-06-2007 08:48PM

No

microgirl wrote:

But you can donate platelets every month! (you have to have donated blood at least once first though). Platelets are in very high demand, because they have such a short shelf life (5-7 days, depending on the bag they were drawn into) whereas blood has a shelf life of 35 days. Although we make platelets from blood donations too, so it works out. But we always need apheresis platelet donors! The clinic is the the National Blood Centre beside St James's Hospital.

Is it only at the Blood Centre that you can donate platelets? I donate every 3 months, full blood, when I get a letter, and text and sometimes a phone call. O- here too so they'd probably prefer the full blood to the platelets. Just made donation number 30 two weeks ago, didn't realise it was that many already.

flossie · 10-06-2007 08:58PM

anybody know why you have to leave it 3 months between transfusions? I thought the amount of blood removed reproduced itself within 8 hours or so.....

I think for people who are going in for major scheduled surgery (hip replacements, heart bypass and other things) you should have some form of system where in the weeks before surgery you should have to donate a set amount of your own blood that is put away exclusively for you in case you need it during your surgery....if not, it can be passed on to somebody else in an emergency.

godtabh · 10-06-2007 09:04PM

No

I do it more often if I could there while the place is open.

In the old job it was very hard. In a new job and its not so bad

Mushy · 10-06-2007 09:18PM

No

Yeah, I donate myself. New before I was 18 that I was going to do it. First time was fine, second time was after school, and convinced some others to tag along. Pity only one of them actually went through with the donation. Then he collapsed:eek: Such a good friend, aren't I? Only had the chance to donate twice, and have done so, and will try and donate everytie. Pity I'm at that age where I think a tatoo is cool, and would think about getting one.

Dave! · 10-06-2007 09:21PM

No

You can donate again 6 months after you get a tattoo, so don't worry bout it. You'd hardly be expected to structure your life around donating blood!

uglyjohn · 11-06-2007 09:11AM

No

i donate platlets....i love doing it, you feel so good about it and the staff are all so nice to you, they act like you just save a bunch of kittens from hitler.

(and you get to chill for an hour and watch a dvd

)

spacecoyote · 11-06-2007 09:12AM

I have received a donation before

i can't give blood, cos I'm a diabetic. I went in to see if I could and they threw holy water & garlic at me

kevmy · 11-06-2007 10:32AM

No

I donated for the first time a couple of months ago. Wanted to do it for a couple of years but I was always sick or away or something when the guys came around. My father's done it for years and my brother does it too.

ergonomics · 11-06-2007 10:56AM

No

I started donating last summer and I try and do it every 3 months now, when possible. I have A positive blood so I feel bad if I don't donate cause their A positive stocks are always really low. TBH I don't enjoy the experience because apparently my veins are all deep and small which makes it difficult to donate so the alarm always ends up going off (not enough blood flowing out). I feel great afterwards though so it's worth the uncomfortable feeling!

missmatty · 11-06-2007 11:50AM

No

I have bad veins too so I've had to leave several times after the doctors couldn't get a vein. I've almost fainted a few times too (not nice) but i don't mind needles at all. Must go back soon and try again!

raido9 · 11-06-2007 11:56AM

No

I go when I can. In fairness its not that much bother. When you consider you could be saving someones life, sitting in a queue for an hour or two doesn't seem so bad. Bring a paper or book to pass the time. If it still seems like too much trouble there's something really wrong with your priorities.

Q_Ball · 11-06-2007 12:01PM

No

I'm A- and have donated 8 times. Would have been 9 except my iron was too low the last time. It makes me feel good because I'm told its not a common blood type. I'm afraid of needles too but find that, if i go regularly, I'm not nearly as scared. If I leave it for a while without donating, the thought of the needle freaks me out. I'm due again from july 3rd and getting a tattoo on the 7th, and heading to america in september, so my bans should overlap and i'll be donating again in the new year hopefully.

I'm also on the bone marrow register, that'll be fun if I'm ever called!

jor el · 11-06-2007 12:44PM

No

flossie wrote:

anybody know why you have to leave it 3 months between transfusions? I thought the amount of blood removed reproduced itself within 8 hours or so.....

Plasma volumes will return to normal in around 24 hours, while red blood cells are replaced by bone marrow into the circulatory system within about 3-5 weeks, and lost iron replaced over 6-8 weeks. Donors are eligible to donate whole blood approximately eight to twelve weeks after the previous donation, in Ireland the IBTS make you wait 12 weeks to be safe.

I think for people who are going in for major scheduled surgery (hip replacements, heart bypass and other things) you should have some form of system where in the weeks before surgery you should have to donate a set amount of your own blood that is put away exclusively for you in case you need it during your surgery....if not, it can be passed on to somebody else in an emergency.

Taking blood from sick people would probably be a very bad idea. With a shelf life of about 35 days, the patient would just about have recovered from a 1 pint donation. Going into an operation already down on blood probably wouldn't be the best start.

Pythia · 11-06-2007 12:53PM

No

Donated blood last July, had to wait until October to do it again, then got caught up in Christmas exams and Christmas. Couldn't donate in January as I went to America and you have to wait a certain time after you come back. Then was sick til mid April so no donation there, then was doing exams again. Really hope to do it again soon but I felt very funny for two days afterwards, almost like I was drunk, and had headaches, etc so need some time to be able to do it.

Raytown Rocks · 11-06-2007 12:57PM

No

I too am a platelets donor. Go once a month.
The staff there are really cool and very friendly.
It always makes you feel good when your told that your platelets
will be used to help new born babies with Cancer.
Can honestly tell you that it makes my day.

Wacker · 11-06-2007 01:44PM

No

It is exactly three months since I've donated, so I'll be going after work today. It will be my fourth time doing it, but I now do it regularly.
I don't get any of the satisfaction from it that other people seem to, so I'm not entirely sure why I do it. The second time I went they made a mess of spiking me and blood must have leaked under my skin becuase the inside of my forearm went all purple. I looked like a junkie. Didn't stop me from going back though.

Are you a Blood Doner?

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