Do you donate blood?

Drakmord · 10-07-2010 11:19AM

A- blood here. Kind of useless.
I always meant to donate but it's never been convenient. They only seem to be around at exam time.

donkey balls · 10-07-2010 11:19AM

im just after checking out the blood transfusion website on who cannot give blood etc.

it states the usual people who have injected drugs/hiv etc you can not donate, then if your a male that has had sex with another male you cannot donate yet they dont have a female having sex with another:eek:

rainbowtrout · 10-07-2010 11:19AM

Started donating when I was 18. Have donated 23 pints at this stage. They used to come to Boyle every three months but it's a bit hit and miss for the last while

Dravokivich · 10-07-2010 11:21AM

Caoimhín wrote: »

Im not allowed. I lived in the UK for a number of years and the nurse said that I am disqualified.

Has anyone heard about this? Im not sure of the years but i think; 1977 - 1982 and 1998 - 2002.

It's got to do with Foot/Mouth, Mad Cow Desease and other issue's with contaminated meat. Same thing if you've lived in the USA for a long period of time.

Caoimhín wrote: »

Do they take the blood off them?

Crack heads.. no...

Rabies wrote: »

don't know my type, but since I'm a foreigner living in another country and I have had a blood transfusion here in the past so I presume I can't donate again.

If you've received blood, they won't let you donate again here.

Rooneysdaman · 10-07-2010 11:22AM

Universal donor here, I used to donate regularly in the US until they got freaked out about Mad Cow.

Now that I've moved back to Ireland, I'm unsure whether I'm eligible to donate or not but quite sure that I haven't handled any monkeys!

I've always wondered how I can be O- and my brother is ABO, do I even want to know the answer to that?

Ann22 · 10-07-2010 11:23AM

Elessar wrote: »

Once. I had a terrible time afterwards. As the donation was coming to an end I felt weak and lightheaded, started panicing. The doctor came over and lay me down, raised the legs. I felt like I was going to pass out. I'm a grown man and it terrified me. I spent an hour on a stretcher afterwards. There is nothing as frightening as feeling you're going to pass out and not being able to do a thing about it.

I'd like to donate again, but after that experience, never again.

The same thing happened me.. I felt terrible just as the donation was nearly finished. I donated at 7pm and was lying flat on my back 'til 9. Everytime I sat up I could feel myself fainting. They gave me 3 cans of 7up with sugar in it. I was there 'til it closed...weak as water I was.:(
I bravely went back to give a year later but when I told them about my previous experience they wouldn't take it.

Btw, I got a letter from them after donating to tell me I have an irregular antibody and it was vital that I carry a card and informed doctors if ever I was admitted to hospital. When I was pregnant with my son I told my gynae but he didn't think it'd be a problem. It was a big problem, my baby was born with life threatening jaundice. His paediatrician said I should've been monitored throughout the pregnancy and if the antibody levels rose, my baby should've been induced early. Thank God after a week of special care treatment, he was ok.

Magenta · 10-07-2010 11:26AM

Never, because I literally blackout and keel over when faced with anything regarding needles/blood and then I am shaky and weak for the rest of the day.

Ann22 · 10-07-2010 11:26AM

Rooneysdaman wrote: »

Universal donor here, I used to donate regularly in the US until they got freaked out about Mad Cow.

Now that I've moved back to Ireland, I'm unsure whether I'm eligible to donate or not but quite sure that I haven't handled any monkeys!

I've always wondered how I can be O- and my brother is ABO, do I even want to know the answer to that?

Maybe one of your parents is O and the other is AB or ABO. I don't know an awful lot about it but I'd say its quite possible. My dad was O positive and my Mam is A-. I'm A positive. My sister's A-, dunno what my brothers are.

Azureus · 10-07-2010 11:30AM

Ive tried loads of times but I am never eligible , bit anaemic and my iron count is always well below what it needs to be!

I try tho and Ive got loads of people into it

The Big Red Button · 10-07-2010 11:33AM

There seems to be loads of O negatives on Boards, I thought it was meant to be rare? I don't feel special anymore!

I tried to donate blood five times. Each time, they weren't able to get enough blood out of me to fill the bag - and apparently, when that happens, they can't use whatever they did manage to get, it just gets dumped. And, while the procedure itself isn't in any way painful or unpleasant, I was very sick for a couple of days afterwards each time. After the last time it happened, the nurse told me in the nicest way possible that I have crap veins and that it probably wasn't worth my while trying again. Ah well.

Huh. Just read that O negatives can give blood to everyone and anyone, but can only receive donations from other O negatives. That's not very fair! :mad:

Leeg17 · 10-07-2010 11:42AM

chatterpillar wrote: »

After the last time it happened, the nurse told me in the nicest way possible that I have crap veins and that it probably wasn't worth my while trying again. Ah well.

At least you went and tried to give it.
Dunno why but I lol'd at that

zenno · 10-07-2010 11:45AM

chatterpillar wrote: »

There seems to be loads of O negatives on Boards, I thought it was meant to be rare? I don't feel special anymore!

I tried to donate blood five times. Each time, they weren't able to get enough blood out of me to fill the bag - and apparently, when that happens, they can't use whatever they did manage to get, it just gets dumped. And, while the procedure itself isn't in any way painful or unpleasant, I was very sick for a couple of days afterwards each time. After the last time it happened, the nurse told me in the nicest way possible that I have crap veins and that it probably wasn't worth my while trying again. Ah well.

Huh. Just read that O negatives can give blood to everyone and anyone, but can only receive donations from other O negatives. That's not very fair! :mad:

thats exactually correct.
http://the-red-thread.net/blood.html
there are a lot of 0 negative in ireland, something about the bloodlines with 0 negative from france or around that area.

Wacker · 10-07-2010 12:01PM

Ms. Captain M wrote: »

Go every 3 months, but half the time my iron is too low. Can someone explain what donating platelets entails?

Hey Captain,

Firstly, you have to do it in James' hospital rather than the D'Olier Street clinic. They'll send a cab for you, which is pretty slick. They have to do some pretty intense tests for eligibility the first time (IIRC; it was a few years back) and if you make the grade, you can then book appointments every four weeks. That's another difference; you have to schedule an appointment rather than just show up. They'll check your iron count, and it has to be at 13.5 rather than the 12 that is needed for donating blood.

Anyway, for the process itself, you're put in like a dentists's chair and spiked in the vein. The needle is much larger than the regular needle, so it hurts. Anyway, they'll then start this cycle where they'll extract blood for five minutes or so, which goes into a centrifuge where the platelets are removed. The blood is then put back into your arm. It feels f*cking weird! This cycle continues for about an hour. While you're there they'll give you as much tea, coffee, OJ, biccies, etc. as you want, and they'll also give you a portable DVD player to watch or papers. When you're done, they'll provide a cab again should you need it, all courtesy of our friends in Leinster House.

Give it a shot. The staff are super-friendly, and (any regular platelet donors, back me up here!) the girl in the canteen area is really hot! Plus you may get a real feeling of satisfaction from it. Me, I just do it so I can tell beggars and chuggers to go f*ck themselves without feeling guilty!

Diddy Kong · 10-07-2010 12:15PM

I get migranes so they dont want mine

Picky vampires

Carsinian Thau · 10-07-2010 12:17PM

Have a medical condition. Not suitable to donate blood (not sure if it's for my safety or theirs tbh).

Xiney · 10-07-2010 12:46PM

Rooneysdaman wrote: »

I've always wondered how I can be O- and my brother is ABO, do I even want to know the answer to that?

1) your brother can't be ABO, he can be AB.

2) if your mom is A and your dad is B (or vice versa), but they are both heterozygous for O (meaning that their true blood type is AO and BO) then both you and your brother can come from the same parents, don't worry

rainbow kirby · 10-07-2010 12:51PM

I really should donate, but I've never done it. I hate needles and the sight of blood though!

Lollipops23 · 10-07-2010 12:54PM

I'm B- which is pretty rare so I give as often as possible.

Ben Hadad · 10-07-2010 01:04PM

I donated twice although the second time i had a very small cold. I honestly wonder if i have ever murdered someone because of it. To be honest donating can be a double edged sword.

yoshytoshy · 10-07-2010 01:15PM

I've yet to donate ,I'm 0 - ,which is the most used afaik.

L.Jenkins · 10-07-2010 01:16PM

Donate as much as possible, but the nurse overcleaned the area with alcohol and it burnt like fúck right the way through.

hootietootie · 10-07-2010 01:18PM

I'm O- buut they wont take my blood, cause I have a very severe allergy to penecillin-seems I could help kill someone

Chorcai · 10-07-2010 01:19PM

Not allowed.

Alice1 · 10-07-2010 01:25PM

I've donated over 40 times - and I'm scared of needles! But the feel good factor is super and some day someone I love might need blood so ....

If you can at all, please do donate - it is something you really will not regret.:)

QuiteInterestin · 10-07-2010 01:33PM

zenno wrote: »

there are a lot of 0 negative in ireland, something about the bloodlines with 0 negative from france or around that area.

Not sure about the french connection, but there aren't that many O Neg in Ireland, they only make up 8% of the population although their blood is suitable for donation to all other blood groups, hence they're so special

KnifeWRENCH · 10-07-2010 01:35PM

Diddy Kong wrote: »

I get migranes so they dont want mine Picky vampires

My Dad used donate regularly but they don't allow him to anymore because he gets migraines.

I don't think I've ever been eligible for blood donation; I always seem to be on some form of longterm medication. I was on Roaccutane for ages a year or two ago and if a pregnant woman received my blood, it could have made her baby deformed.

Scarinae · 10-07-2010 02:17PM

I think blood donation is really important, even though I'm one of those people who freaks out about skin puncturing. I usually start freaking out around the time they pierce my finger! Once they've done it I'm grand though, same for the actually needle during the donation, once it's in my arm I'm fine.

I've only successfully given blood seven times though, for a number of reasons. The first time I turned up, on my 18th birthday, I wasn't able to donate because of my skin medication (like a previous poster said, it could deform foetuses) Once my iron count was too low, only by a teeny bit, and I was told to come back in three months. Three months?! They only took a drop of blood from my finger, I asked why I couldn't just go and eat a steak and drink some orange juice and come back in a few days, apparently it's the rules though :rolleyes: I had my tonsils out a few years ago too, which meant I couldn't give blood for a while because I needed it :pac:

My travels have stopped my blood-giving activities as well. I spent the summer of 2007 in Central America - that ruled me out for a year, because it's a malarial area. In fact, once I was eligible again I got many a question about my accommodation while I was there, in case I'd picked up some bug which I can't remember the name of. If I'd had it, it would have ruled me out for life, but they decided I was probably ok and could keep donating.

I went to Kenya last summer, and again a month ago, and because it's a malarial country I haven't been able to give blood since I first went and won't be able to for nearly another year. The UK will accept my blood after six months though, so I might donate to them instead

My parents can't donate blood in Ireland anymore, because they lived in the UK during the BSE time. My dad was near the 50 donations mark when they brought in the new rule. Funnily enough, they were vegetarians for the time in question they lived in London, but that makes no difference because it's a blanket ban.

yosemite_sam · 10-07-2010 02:19PM

Caoimhín wrote: »

Im not allowed. I lived in the UK for a number of years and the nurse said that I am disqualified.

Has anyone heard about this? Im not sure of the years but i think; 1977 - 1982 and 1998 - 2002.

Same as

Awesome-O · 10-07-2010 02:35PM

I had always wanted to give blood because I remember as kids we used to go with my Dad when he was giving blood. He's not allowed anymore because of medication and I was too nervous to go alone.
Then driving one day I saw a sign for donating blood locally and went in, They had me all hooked up but the blood was taking to long to come out (low blood pressure or something), if it takes longer than 15 minutes to get a pint they stop. Then I went on holidays to an area of Thailand with malaria so can't give blood for a year, but the time my year is up I'm off on holidays again so probably won't be allowed again. I know there's good reason for all the rules and regulations but it's very annoying for people who do want to give blood, especially as in the year I couldn't give it I got a few texts from the blood bank people saying they were low in stocks of my blood typpe, I felt like sending them a message back saying 'but you won't take my blood from me!'. As soon as I'm eligable again I'll be in with my fresh blood.

DazMarz · 10-07-2010 02:39PM

I donate as often as I can, despite the fact that I'm usually terrified going in!!! The procedure and everything is always grand, and the discomfort is minimal, but I always build it up in my mind and I have sweats and my stomach is in knots!!!!:o

But it is, in reality, incredibly quick, painless (minor discomfort is all!) and is well worth it. You don't know who's life you might be saving through blood donation.

Do you donate blood?

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