Do you give blood?

wilhelm roentgen · 13-11-2015 03:27PM

Doctor: You're AB negative.
Hancock: ...Is that bad?
Doctor: No, no - you're rhesus positive.
Hancock: Rhesus?! They're monkeys, aren't they? How dare you! What are you implying? I didn't come here to be insulted by a legalised vampire!

keano_afc · 13-11-2015 03:28PM

Yep, have been giving every 3 months or so for the past 3 years, the endless supply of free cream crackers is just one of the perks.

mejulie805 · 13-11-2015 03:28PM

Did a few platelet donations, but they didn't go very smoothly! Disappointing as I really like to be able to.
Haven't donated in about a year due to ineligibilities running into each other; my most recent 'ban' is due to expire mid-Jan.

Diamond Doll · 13-11-2015 03:28PM

I tried doing it a few times, years ago, but each time the vein kind of gave up before they got enough blood. So even though the bag was well over half full, they were going to have to end up chucking it because it wasn't a full bag. And I felt really crap for a few days after each time, sick and dizzy etc.

Might try again though. Needles don't bother me, and I wouldn't mind feeling crap afterwards if at least I knew the blood was going to be used.

It's amazing, with all the scientific advances in medicine, that they haven't yet found a way to synthesize blood. I amn't squeamish at all at the idea of donating it, but I think I'd find it very strange to see someone else's blood being put into my body ...

The Backwards Man · 13-11-2015 03:30PM

Yep, every three months too, only missed a couple of times since I was 21, once iron was too low and once because I was on antibiotics. Technically I'm eligible but in reality I shouldn't be as with a lot of families in the eighties on the border, the bulk of our shopping was done in the North.

I never tell them when I'm on holidays abroad now with the new restrictions, if I was in the tropics maybe I would, but the chances of me getting West Nile Virus in Vegas or Vienna are roughly the same as the chances of Beyonce knocking on my back door looking for a place to stay for the night.

Buona Fortuna · 13-11-2015 03:31PM

kneemos wrote: »

Most of Ireland lived in the UK during that period.

That's what I was thinking. It's not even one stay, its a cumulative 12 months, and includes the North.

I was just totting it up because we lived in UK all that time, but the wife's mum and dad were always over a week here, fortnight there. Wife's Dad helped us fix up an old place. Then in the sh\tstorm of the 80s he got a job for 3 or 4 months. Can't be that unusual.

The Backwards Man · 13-11-2015 03:32PM

keano_afc wrote: »

Yep, have been giving every 3 months or so for the past 3 years, the endless supply of free cream crackers is just one of the perks.

Bastards had no pens the last time I donated, hope that was just an oversight on their part, I wouldn't even know where my local pen shop is if I actually had to buy one.

efb · 13-11-2015 03:35PM

Think I gave 6 pints.

I'm B- 2nd rarest group (AB- being the rarest)

beyondbelief67 · 13-11-2015 03:36PM

Buona Fortuna wrote: »

Wow, never realised. Anyone that lived in the UK for more than 12 months between 1980 and 1996 is ineligible because of the risk of CJD.

That must reduce the pool of donors quite a bit?

Yes I tried explaining that I've been vegetarian for most of my life, so I wouldn't be a risk but no joy, but I guess I can understand there worries, but it would really reduce the amount of people able to donate.

wilhelm roentgen · 13-11-2015 03:38PM

efb wrote: »

I'm B- 2nd rarest group

You are obviously not my type

Samaris · 13-11-2015 03:40PM

Ireland the UK share a blood bank as far as I recall.

I used to, but medical issues made me ineligible. I did though, because I have the universal donor type (O-); can be given to anyone regardless of blood type.

I would again if I was allowed to.

Also, absolutely do not give blood if you're ineligible for it. Some of the reasons might seem a bit harsh, but there was a case in Missouri in 2008 where a regular donor donated blood and it was later discovered - after his blood had been used - that he was HIV positive, picked up from a one-night stand. At the time of donation, it was not screenable because it was still in the incubation period (there's a more technical explanation, but that's the gist of it; it takes between 1-4 weeks for the antibodies to show at all). Of those they could track who had received blood components, there was one confirmed case where the receiver ended up HIV+.

There have also been cases prior to 1991 where people were infected with HepC from donated blood.

I -remember- a case recently where a lot of blood had to be destroyed because a donor was found to have an infection, but for the life of me, I cannot find it in news reports so take that with a pinch of salt.

Your blood does not give a damn if you "mean well". If you are not eligible, don't lie about it. The consequences could be far graver than you think.

Edit: Also, recent studies suggest that Alzheimer's can be passed through blood too.

Edit to the first edit: The UK in the 80s thing is a right bugger, but in truth, we're only hitting the period around now where we'll really see if a CJD epidemic is going to hit. My sister is ineligible to donate blood because she lived there during that time. Actually...all my close family are ineligible to give blood for one reason or another. O.o I think I'm the only one that doesn't have a lifetime ban.

blue note · 13-11-2015 03:45PM

Samaris wrote: »

Ireland the UK share a blood bank as far as I recall.

I used to, but medical issues made me ineligible. I did though, because I have the universal donor type (O-); can be given to anyone regardless of blood type.

I would again if I was allowed to.

Also, absolutely do not give blood if you're ineligible for it. Some of the reasons might seem a bit harsh, but there was a case in Missouri in 2008 where a regular donor donated blood and it was later discovered - after his blood had been used - that he was HIV positive, picked up from a one-night stand. At the time of donation, it was not screenable because it was still in the incubation period (there's a more technical explanation, but that's the gist of it; it takes between 1-4 weeks for the antibodies to show at all). Of those they could track who had received blood components, there was one confirmed case where the receiver ended up HIV+.

There have also been cases prior to 1991 where people were infected with HepC from donated blood.

I -remember- a case recently where a lot of blood had to be destroyed because a donor was found to have an infection, but for the life of me, I cannot find it in news reports so take that with a pinch of salt.

Your blood does not give a damn if you "mean well". If you are not eligible, don't lie about it. The consequences could be far graver than you think.

Edit: Also, recent studies suggest that Alzheimer's can be passed through blood too.

Sure that lad in missouri was eligible, he didn't believe he had hiv. And the risk they have with gay people is an sti risk. But plenty of them have been in a monogamous relationship for years and could have been tested beforehand to be site they were safe. I'd rather they donate than we run out.

Gandhi · 13-11-2015 03:46PM

Can't give blood as I lived in London during the Mad Cow disease era. The US has the same rules as back home.

13-11-2015 03:47PM

I did it for the first time a few years ago and have been doing it every 3 months or so since.

I fcuking hate it every time. It's like a personal challenge to myself. I get nervous and sweaty palms. I hate needles. I hate the piercing feeling. I hate the numbness down your arm for the rest of the day. I hate looking at my own blood. I hate being reminded of my own mortality.

I still do it though because I hate sick people who don't get blood they need even more. It makes me feel good about myself.

seamus · 13-11-2015 03:47PM

I've always meant to, but I tend to find excuses. I'm not scared of needles, though I do find the idea of the blood draining out of me a little weird. If I'm not training, then I probably have a cold. If I happen to be taking two weeks off training and I don't get a cold, then my excuse is that I don't have time to go to a clinic.

I see from the calendar though that there's a clinic 200m from my house on a Sunday when I know I won't be training. So assuming I don't have a cold at that time I'm gonna try make that one.

One thing that's also put me off is the fact that anyone with my blood type gets harrassing calls from IBTS every couple of months with people telling them that "dying babies need your blood" down the phone.

That's not cool.

13-11-2015 03:48PM

cython wrote: »

IBTS site suggests blood can be stored for up to 5 weeks for their purposes at least:

Ah well - ruins my business model idea then for banking your own blood for later use in life! I think when you give birth in some places they can offer to store the placenta and things like that for any requirements of the childs stem cells later in life.

Samaris · 13-11-2015 03:48PM

blue note wrote: »

Sure that lad in missouri was eligible, he didn't believe he had hiv. And the risk they have with gay people is an sti risk. But plenty of them have been in a monogamous relationship for years and could have been tested beforehand to be site they were safe. I'd rather they donate than we run out.

He was not eligible, because he had slept with males*, including just before he donated. He was married, but had a series of one-night stands, generally after drinking, apparently, and did not admit that on the form.

If he hadn't lied, there's someone out there with HIV that wouldn't have it.

*Yes, of course I'm aware that not all gay men have HIV. It is a high-risk group though, particularly in the US, and in this particular case, the risk happened.

The Backwards Man · 13-11-2015 03:52PM

Samaris wrote: »

Ireland the UK share a blood bank as far as I recall.

I used to, but medical issues made me ineligible. I did though, because I have the universal donor type (O-); can be given to anyone regardless of blood type.

I would again if I was allowed to.

Also, absolutely do not give blood if you're ineligible for it. Some of the reasons might seem a bit harsh, but there was a case in Missouri in 2008 where a regular donor donated blood and it was later discovered - after his blood had been used - that he was HIV positive, picked up from a one-night stand. At the time of donation, it was not screenable because it was still in the incubation period (there's a more technical explanation, but that's the gist of it; it takes between 1-4 weeks for the antibodies to show at all). Of those they could track who had received blood components, there was one confirmed case where the receiver ended up HIV+.

There have also been cases prior to 1991 where people were infected with HepC from donated blood.

I -remember- a case recently where a lot of blood had to be destroyed because a donor was found to have an infection, but for the life of me, I cannot find it in news reports so take that with a pinch of salt.

Your blood does not give a damn if you "mean well". If you are not eligible, don't lie about it. The consequences could be far graver than you think.

Edit: Also, recent studies suggest that Alzheimer's can be passed through blood too.

Edit to the first edit: The UK in the 80s thing is a right bugger, but in truth, we're only hitting the period around now where we'll really see if a CJD epidemic is going to hit. My sister is ineligible to donate blood because she lived there during that time. Actually...all my close family are ineligible to give blood for one reason or another. O.o I think I'm the only one that doesn't have a lifetime ban.

If I was in hospital and it was a choice of certain death or a millions to one chance of contaminated blood I know what I'd choose

Samaris · 13-11-2015 03:54PM

The Backwards Man wrote: »

If I was in hospital and it was a choice of certain death or a millions to one chance of contaminated blood I know what I'd choose

The reason it's millions to one is because of stringent rules on who can and cannot give blood. If you have an infection or you are aware that you are in a high-risk group for infection and cannot get it tested (that includes travelling to countries with West Nile, malaria, etc., or UK in the 80s), don't do it.

Unless there's been a serious emergency, the blood banks actually do fine with people who pass the tests. Yes, people need to keep giving blood, but it's better for everyone that only those who pass the rules as laid out by the experts donate.

Dodge · 13-11-2015 03:55PM

what kind of a cock sees "don't give blood if..." and thinks of it as a challenge?

Jesus

iDave · 13-11-2015 03:56PM

Lived in the UK so can't.

Penny Tration · 13-11-2015 03:57PM

Dodge wrote: »

what kind of a cock sees "don't give blood if..." and thinks of it as a challenge?

Jesus

Some person in my dad's donation group caused a problem with this.

His blood (not my dad's) tested positive for HIV. As a result, since they didn't know who's blood it was, everyone in that group got letters telling them to go get HIV tests done. And all of the blood from that group was destroyed.

drake70 · 13-11-2015 03:58PM

I did a few times, but had to stop when I became ineligible due to medication.

beertons · 13-11-2015 04:00PM

Club orange, tattoo and timeout bars. Class.

javagal · 13-11-2015 04:10PM

I can't but I really wish I could.
I was lucky enough to receive 2 litres of blood 3 years ago, so it makes me ineligible now but it definitely makes me realise the importance of it

KenjiOdo · 13-11-2015 04:11PM

I did once but I was left with a huge bruise for days which actually hurt a fair bit.. I have thought of giving recently but closest bank is Stillorgan I believe, I'm based in Wicklow, guts of 2 hr round trip has me looking for time to do it..

Diamond Doll · 13-11-2015 04:11PM

Penny Tration wrote: »

Some person in my dad's donation group caused a problem with this.

His blood (not my dad's) tested positive for HIV. As a result, since they didn't know who's blood it was, everyone in that group got letters telling them to go get HIV tests done. And all of the blood from that group was destroyed.

Jesus that's scary! I wonder how many people were involved ... I'm sure some were probably nervous waiting for results! Even if you were 99% confident you were clear, it would plant that seed of doubt in your mind.

Canis Lupus · 13-11-2015 04:11PM

Lived in the UK so pretty much banned from everywhere although I've always wanted to. Since I got lymphoma blood donations are now a complete no no.

However I enjoyed getting lots of transfusions during treatment. People who can donate should do so and often. Keeps people like me alive to type nonsense into chat forums at 1am. Whoop whoop.

mad muffin · 13-11-2015 04:12PM

No. As a matter of fact, I don't even know my blood type.

Son Of A Vidic · 13-11-2015 04:15PM

blue note wrote: »

Do you give blood?

Yes I do, I pay way too much tax.

Do you give blood?

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