Why can't you donate blood?

knarkypants · 19-01-2014 02:55PM

Risteard wrote: »

I have haemochromatosis which means I actually do have to get blood taken from me every once in a while. I asked one of the nurses before if that blood can be used for transfusions or anything. She said that it can be but there are rules against or something and it has to be destroyed. Seems like such a waste given the amount of blood taken over the past few years.

I have both genes responsible for Haemochromatosis. Until recently I wasn't allowed to donate blood but now they are allowing people like myself to donate but only if the condition hasn't developed. So far my iron levels have been fine so I'm able to donate. As I've both genes I'm guaranteed to develop the condition as some point so then my blood will be destroyed.

Totally agree about the amount of blood wasted. As far as I know research is continuing so maybe in the future they will be able to use. I don't understand what is stopping them from using it now though.

quickbeam · 19-01-2014 02:56PM

Small and/or deep veins make it nearly impossible to get blood from me. Even for blood tests which I need every couple of years it's difficult to get enough to fill a syringe. Pity, I'd love to give blood, and I don't even know what my type is.

ElleEm · 19-01-2014 02:58PM

Czarcasm wrote: »

I call dibs on the brain... could do with one of those!

Mine is a bit spotty!!!

efb · 19-01-2014 02:58PM

ElleEm wrote: »

Have you got a special one? I tried to encourage my family and friends to do it too. Although it seems to freak people out more than other organs.

Hydrocephalus makes it v special

ElleEm · 19-01-2014 03:00PM

efb wrote: »

Hydrocephalus makes it v special

Aha! Our brains will change the future of medicine, I am sure of it!

Tzetze · 19-01-2014 03:05PM

Not so much can't as don't.

IBTS wrote:

Your blood group is AB+. As AB+ stock is now 11.1 days, please consider skipping donating in Carrickmacross this time. We hope to see you there next time. Thanks.

More often than not, I get this text when they're in my area. Wait times are usually bad enough when donating. No sense in unnecessarily delaying others.

Hugo_Whoriskey · 19-01-2014 03:07PM

I can't because of a lot of contact with primates whilein central america, risk of simian foamy virus. Doctor I met in the IBTS hadn't come across it before.

Vito Corleone · 19-01-2014 03:08PM

Is giving blood just like getting a blood test?

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1 · 19-01-2014 03:10PM

MistyCheese wrote: »

That sounds a bit accusatory! I don't mean it like that but I recently found out that I can't donate blood because I lived the North in the 80's and my OH also can't because he had jaundice as a baby.

So, anyone else here not allowed to give blood?

Baby jaundice does not exclude you from donating blood!

Tugboats · 19-01-2014 03:11PM

Because theres nothing in it for me

ElleEm · 19-01-2014 03:11PM

Tugboats wrote: »

Because theres nothing in it for me

Word on the street is they give you biscuits!

J_E · 19-01-2014 03:18PM

Tugboats wrote: »

Because theres nothing in it for me

Let's hope you never need blood!

Vito Corleone wrote: »

Is giving blood just like getting a blood test?

Sort of, except they fuss over you a bit more and they take a bit more blood.

BNMC · 19-01-2014 03:20PM

I'll give blood when they start paying for it.

spank_inferno · 19-01-2014 03:21PM

I wasn't born in this country.

So cannot.

bnt · 19-01-2014 03:21PM

Lived in the UK from 1991-1999, so there's a non-zero chance that I have mad cow disease.

Gummy Panda · 19-01-2014 03:24PM

I'm a panda

Paramite Pie · 19-01-2014 03:26PM

I have a very high iron count but can't give for MSM reasons. I'd love to do it.:(

snubbleste wrote: »

trypanophobia

spiralism wrote: »

Phobia of needles.

In fairness, would you be willing to overcome your phobia to donate blood? It will never disappear but my sister had/has it bad (nightmares and everything) but she got much better with it. Conventional injections are no longer a significant issue though she occasionally needs a motivational pep talk before getting one.

She's considering donating blood too. She's currently more afraid of fainting (another phobia) than the needles right now. It's enough to give make her out of breath just thinking about it, yet she's still thinking about doing it.

Pedro K · 19-01-2014 03:29PM

I donate platelets regularly. I was deferred for a whole year due to my ferretin (iron stores) levels being slightly under the threshold.

My year deferral ended in December and it was great to be able to go back in and donate again.

mad muffin · 19-01-2014 03:30PM

I can't because I licked a tramp once.

35cent · 19-01-2014 03:58PM

Born/lived in the UK in the 90s so I can't. I tried to give blood while in college but they turned me away.

Wattle · 19-01-2014 03:58PM

I can't because I had laser eye surgery 10 years ago.

Timfy · 19-01-2014 04:01PM

I can't because I'm a registered high radiation worker...

Risteard · 19-01-2014 04:02PM

Paramite Pie wrote: »

I have a very high iron count but can't give for MSM reasons. I'd love to do it.:(

In fairness, would you be willing to overcome your phobia to donate blood? It will never disappear but my sister had/has it bad (nightmares and everything) but she got much better with it. Conventional injections are no longer a significant issue though she occasionally needs a motivational pep talk before getting one.

She's considering donating blood too. She's currently more afraid of fainting (another phobia) than the needles right now. It's enough to give make her out of breath just thinking about it, yet she's still thinking about doing it.

It's strange. I have no problem getting needle or watching it get done to myself. But watching TV or films where there's a drug scene for example, I can't look at it.

Penny Tration · 19-01-2014 04:13PM

I don't get the people who say they won't because there's nothing in it for them.

Firstly, it's an easy, relatively painless way to genuinely save lives.

As for there being nothing in it for the person donating - it means if you ever need a transfusion, which many people do, you do not have to pay for it. Plus, like, the nice feeling that comes with knowing you've helped somebody.

I've got a common blood type (O+) but it means my blood can go to lots of people. I'll donate as often as I can, and if my junkie veins don't prevent it, I'll be donating platelets, too. Transfusions of blood and platelets prolonged my uncle's life for several months before cancer took him from us. After seeing how much it helped, I'll never shy away from donating.

black_frosch · 19-01-2014 05:07PM

I'm afraid of doctors.

FizzleSticks · 19-01-2014 05:47PM

This post has been deleted.

Aestivalis · 19-01-2014 05:59PM

The rule where you're not allowed to give blood if you lived in the UK for a certain period is also a rule in other countries in Asia, US and Europe but they also include Ireland.
Not because they dont know Ireland is not part of the UK or anything, just because we were also included in that problem.

Then why can we still give blood in Ireland? I'd say its because they could hardly say "nobody in the country is allowed to give blood because you lived in Ireland". We'd be screwed if that was the case.

rawn · 19-01-2014 06:00PM

MistyCheese wrote: »

That sounds a bit accusatory! I don't mean it like that but I recently found out that I can't donate blood because I lived the North in the 80's and my OH also can't because he had jaundice as a baby.

So, anyone else here not allowed to give blood?

I weigh slightly under 50kg so they won't allow me to. Doesn't stop them sending me letters and text messages encouraging me to donate though!

Chorcai · 19-01-2014 06:00PM

My AB- isn't good enough for em cause I have the ghey, fúck em.

Aestivalis · 19-01-2014 06:02PM

black_frosch wrote: »

I'm afraid of doctors.

good thing no actual doctors attend the blood clinics. You will have about 2 nurses doing the questioning and pre-tests. And the ones actually doing the IV and blood drawing are just people with a FETAC qualification and extensive training in IV's.
They're not nurses, doctors, or any other type of medical practitioner. And to be honest they're probably better than most doctors at IV's, considering the blood guys do it day in day out probably dozens every single day.

Why can't *you* donate blood?

Comments

Why can't you donate blood?