Why can't you donate blood?

meoklmrk91 · 19-01-2014 06:06PM

I'd love to do it but I have teeny tiny veins, doctor struggles to get enough blood for a blood test from me, I might go and see if they can get anything out of me but I think it might be a waste of time.

efb · 19-01-2014 06:09PM

Chorcai wrote: »

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

rarest group wow

B- (me) 2nd rarest

Vito Corleone · 19-01-2014 06:10PM

Cydoniac wrote: »

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

I might give it a whirl so.

Raminahobbin · 19-01-2014 06:11PM

I'm not allowed because I stick acupuncture needles in myself on a regular basis :rolleyes:

byhookorbycrook · 19-01-2014 06:12PM

Like Elle-Em, I can't because of my MS meds (PML anyone??)
I am donating my body to medical research as I cannot donate organs either.

Riva10 · 19-01-2014 06:13PM

Gave blood and plasma for years. Got three awards. Silver and gold drops and also got the Porcelain pelican for 100 donations. Continued to donate and then developed a melonoma. That put a stop to donating.

Senecio · 19-01-2014 06:16PM

My wife tried to donate once but was refused because she was too light. She's only 5 foot and a very fit personal trainer but at 44.5kg she was 0.5kg under the limit.

Chorcai · 19-01-2014 06:20PM

efb wrote: »

rarest group wow

B- (me) 2nd rarest

I could "ignore" the question, but for me its a matter of principle, I mean do they ask single mothers about the past unprotected sex ? (might not be phrased correctly but I hope ye get what I mean, not bashing single mothers in any way shape or form)

dudara · 19-01-2014 06:20PM

I can't donate because I had open-heart surgery as a child, and that puts me at risk from contracting infection during the donation process (apparently)

December2012 · 19-01-2014 06:21PM

I've had acupuncture

Jimoslimos · 19-01-2014 06:21PM

Chorcai wrote: »

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

Sorry to dispute this but this isn't true. Lesbians can donate. You're excluded because you're MSM (men who have sex with men) which carries a significantly higher risk for certain diseases transferred through blood. Yes you may practise safer sex than many heterosexual couples but overall the stats are worse for MSM than the rest of the population. It's a rather dry and pragmatic way of minimising the amount of blood discarded after screening.

You could identify as "gay" yet never had sexual contact with another man and be allowed donate.

Muise... · 19-01-2014 06:22PM

Chorcai wrote: »

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

Yep, fcuk 'em with a thousand needles. I'm a woman who has had sex with a man who was bisexual (at least one that I know of) so that's me out, and to be honest, even if I hadn't had sex with a man who sometimes also had sex with men, I'd tell them to fcuk off on principle. Blood transfusion rules are thicker than blood. :mad:

Tasden · 19-01-2014 06:26PM

Muise... wrote: »

Yep, fcuk 'em with a thousand needles. I'm a woman who has had sex with a man who was bisexual (at least one that I know of) so that's me out, and to be honest, even if I hadn't had sex with a man who sometimes also had sex with men, I'd tell them to fcuk off on principle. Blood transfusion rules are thicker than blood. :mad:

Was just about to say what if you're female and have had sex with a guy who has sex with men?

Muise... · 19-01-2014 06:27PM

Tasden wrote: »

Was just about to say what if you're female and have had sex with a guy who has sex with men?

that you actually know about and admit to...

Tasden · 19-01-2014 06:29PM

Muise... wrote: »

that you actually know about and admit to...

Don't really understand your post..?

But if a straight female has had sex with a bi man (who has had sex with gay men)...

Chorcai · 19-01-2014 06:29PM

Jimoslimos wrote: »

Sorry to dispute this but this isn't true. Lesbians can donate. You're excluded because you're MSM (men who have sex with men) which carries a significantly higher risk for certain diseases transferred through blood. Yes you may practise safer sex than many heterosexual couples but overall the stats are worse for MSM than the rest of the population. It's a rather dry and pragmatic way of minimising the amount of blood discarded after screening.

You could identify as "gay" yet never had sexual contact with another man and be allowed donate.

I could dig out the report that HIV is now higher in heterosexuals rather than homosexuals but I've been on this merry-go-round before.

Jimoslimos · 19-01-2014 06:31PM

Chorcai wrote: »

I could dig out the report that HIV is now higher in heterosexuals rather than homosexuals but I've been on this merry-go-round before.

Please do. If you mean on a numbers basis perhaps, but not on a percentage figure.

Muise... · 19-01-2014 06:32PM

Tasden wrote: »

Don't really understand your post..?

But if a straight female has had sex with a bi man (who has had sex with gay men)...

What I meant was women who have had sex with bisexual men would not necessarily know about it unless it had been discussed. So there may be many women unwittingly donating blood against the rules.

Samsgirl · 19-01-2014 06:34PM

I'm O neg and it's in great demand but due to food allergies they won't take it.

Tasden · 19-01-2014 06:34PM

Muise... wrote: »

What I meant was women who have had sex with bisexual men would not necessarily know about it unless it had been discussed. So there may be many women unwittingly donating blood against the rules.

But it is against the rules? Like do they ask a question that would include that scenario?

Lardy · 19-01-2014 06:34PM

I lived in the UK in the 80s, I have tattoos and I've been to Afghanistan and Iraq. Can't give blood here or the UK.

Muise... · 19-01-2014 06:35PM

Tasden wrote: »

But it is against the rules? Like do they ask a question that would include that scenario?

Yes

P_1 · 19-01-2014 06:36PM

What questions do they ask out of interest?

Ulnar · 19-01-2014 06:37PM

I can't due to chronic anaemia caused by my body only absorbing minuscule amounts of Iron.

I've had transfusions a few times.

In Aug 2012, when 8mths pregnant I was diagnosed with complete placenta praevia, suffered a massive haemorraghe and lost 80% of my blood in 4-5mins, all my veins collapsed so I had a emergency c section with no anaesthetic or pain relief. After my son was delivered I was given some Ketamine by anesthesiologist and was high as a kite getting stitched back up. I received a lot of blood

Most surreal experience seeing blood draining from your body and being in no pain(till the start jabbing your neck, toes, ankles lookin for veins)

So to everyone who donates from the bottom of my heart, thank you for giving me my life.

BBDBB · 19-01-2014 06:38PM

I tried 3 times, wasn't able to give the full amount as my blood just kept clotting in the tube

Sister Assumpta · 19-01-2014 06:43PM

I lived in the UK.

I went to the Irish Blood Transfusion clinic on Westmoreland/ D'Olier Street in Dublin a few years ago, with a group of fellow students. Of about 10 students, 1 person could give blood. Some had had the flu recently but had recovered (rejected), one girl sneezed but did not have the flu (rejected), most had too low iron levels (all women, might be a factor - rejected), and one person's records from a previous donation could not be located (rejected). That was a 90% rejection rate.

Now I'm not criticising high rejection rates, in fact, such scrupulous screening is heartening.

But if it is so difficult to find suitable and willing blood donors, I would suggest the last thing we should be doing is applying a blanket ban on willing individuals for some very dubious reasons... having ever engaged in MSM sex, even with protection... having lived in the UK at a certain time... is this really wise?

spurious · 19-01-2014 06:43PM

Blood pressure and thyroid medication were what stopped me. Bah.

markc1184 · 19-01-2014 06:45PM

I used to donate each time they were in the area but then one of my donations showed up a false positive so I can't donate now.

Does a false positive mean you can never donate again or is there a timescale?

Jimoslimos · 19-01-2014 06:46PM

Sister Assumpta wrote: »

But if it is so difficult to find suitable and willing blood donors, I would suggest the last thing we should be doing is applying a blanket ban on willing individuals for some very dubious reasons... having ever engaged in MSM sex, even with protection... having lived in the UK at a certain time... is this really wise?

In the absence of time and money to screen every single sample I'm afraid it is.

thomasm · 19-01-2014 06:47PM

Kept getting lighted head and woozy. Happened 3 times so they sent me a letter saying thanks but don't come back

Why can't *you* donate blood?

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Why can't you donate blood?