Do you give blood?

rainbow kirby · 13-11-2015 04:23PM

Can't donate at the moment because I'm pregnant, but will do it in the future.

Penny Tration · 13-11-2015 04:24PM

Diamond Doll wrote: »

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.

My dad even said to me he hadn't had sex for well over a year and was nervous! Fear aside, it meant loads of perfectly good blood that could have helped people was destroyed.

rsole1 · 13-11-2015 04:25PM

No, I'm unclean from England.

blue note · 13-11-2015 04:39PM

Penny Tration wrote: »

My dad even said to me he hadn't had sex for well over a year and was nervous! Fear aside, it meant loads of perfectly good blood that could have helped people was destroyed.

God love whoever it was too.could be someone who had a one night stand a year ago and genuinely had no idea he or she was sick.

The Backwards Man · 13-11-2015 04:46PM

Samaris wrote: »

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.

When the US, Canada, Austria and Italy ban all their own citizens from donating blood I'll gladly inform the IBTS when I'm just back from those countries. Until then, it's over restrictive nonsense.

c_man · 13-11-2015 04:47PM

I have done a few times but in recent years whenever I think of doing it I don't think I can since I smoke weed somewhat occasionally.

Tilly · 13-11-2015 04:48PM

KenjiOdo wrote: »

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..

I got a lovely nurse one day that started wiggling the needle around INSIDE my arm looking for the vein. Bitch ruined my arm :mad:

keano_afc · 13-11-2015 05:18PM

The Backwards Man wrote: »

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.

Whenever they have anything good I tend to stock up, as a result I have a lot of pens and keyrings.

efb · 13-11-2015 05:20PM

My dad used always give blood, my brothers still do.

Everyone else in my family can't give blood.

cython · 13-11-2015 05:31PM

KenjiOdo wrote: »

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..

Mobile clinics come around a lot of places every few months, so good chance if you keep an eye on https://www.giveblood.ie/Where_to_Give_Blood/ one would be somewhere much closer to you maybe once every 4 months - Tinahely, Wicklow, Bray and Arklow are all planned between now and Jan, and depending on where you are in Wicklow there may be other options (e.g. Blessington might be best looking at Kildare clinics)

efb · 13-11-2015 05:36PM

I remember on the last day of my finals I came out of the exam, saw they were doing a clinic in the rowing club, and I donated and signed the book wishing Ireland the best in the JSK WC 02

mud · 13-11-2015 05:41PM

Yes I give blood, it used to take ages to get through the screening part but they've hurried it up by using an appointment system and also by doing the finger blood test at an earlier stage. (The rage one time when I'd been there for over 2 hours only to be told my iron levels were too low!)

Several members of my family have needed transfusions over the years for various reasons so it gives me an enormous sense of well-being when I donate.

The last time I was an absolute muppet and didn't eat all day thinking that a massive meal an hour before donation would suffice. It didn't

When I arose from the plinth I pulled a major whitener and had to lie flat for half an hour while all the nosy parkers gawped at me. Lesson learned!

I have my opinions on the restrictions but believe that donating is more important than not. Even though I do feel that sections of society are discriminated against.

Must donate again soon because I'm planning a tattoo so will be ineligible for a time after that.

Jayop · 13-11-2015 05:44PM

I can't because of the cows. Lived in Ireland all my life, the first 18 years in the North and the last 16 in the south but because I'm from over the border they won't take my blood.

Jayop · 13-11-2015 05:47PM

KenjiOdo wrote: »

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..

Does the mobile clinic not come around every few months?

13-11-2015 05:50PM

No, lived in the UK for the first few years of my life. Never ate beef though but I guess I'm still ineligible!

Ken. · 13-11-2015 05:59PM

No. Got a false positive for Hep C cause I had a cold sore that was under the skin. Barred for life even though nothing is wrong with me. I had given 11 times at that stage. The IBTS paid for my train and food to bring me up to St.James' hospital to use me as a pin cushion to test their machines and me to make sure all was ok with me and their systems.

JulianSNZ · 13-11-2015 06:38PM

I don't, but I should. I don't really have any excuse not too. That being said I don't plan of giving blood anytime soon.

13-11-2015 06:56PM

I have done it before but every time i think of it since i have a cold!! I want to go back donate again

Penny Tration · 13-11-2015 07:06PM

mud wrote: »

Yes I give blood, it used to take ages to get through the screening part but they've hurried it up by using an appointment system and also by doing the finger blood test at an earlier stage. (The rage one time when I'd been there for over 2 hours only to be told my iron levels were too low!)

Several members of my family have needed transfusions over the years for various reasons so it gives me an enormous sense of well-being when I donate.

The last time I was an absolute muppet and didn't eat all day thinking that a massive meal an hour before donation would suffice. It didn't When I arose from the plinth I pulled a major whitener and had to lie flat for half an hour while all the nosy parkers gawped at me. Lesson learned!

I have my opinions on the restrictions but believe that donating is more important than not. Even though I do feel that sections of society are discriminated against.

Must donate again soon because I'm planning a tattoo so will be ineligible for a time after that.

you're only ineligible for 4 months after a tattoo

I remember when I donated in July, they asked had I had lots of food and cold drinks. it was so hot that day that everyone in the d'olier street clinic that day had fainted after donating :pac:

Vancity · 13-11-2015 07:06PM

It was the bane of my life trying to give blood when I lived in Ireland. One day iron levels were too low, another I'd spent time travelling in South East Asia which was an issue, another day I was too skinny, another day I was allowed give blood (same weight as the previous day(??)) but the nurse spent so long poking around in my arm I fainted and it was a bad experience overall.

Anyway, yes I have, but it's never been straightforward.

thesimpsons · 13-11-2015 07:26PM

ya, at donation # 47 now. my only problem now is that the free cadbury purple snacks have so little chocolate on them now its depressing. I'm the only one in my extended family who donates. parents used to regularly when I was growing up so always knew it was the thing to do. if the clinic isn't in my area when my 90 days are up I generally will scout out the nearest one and make a trip there.

The Princess Bride · 13-11-2015 08:02PM

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.

I don't understand this at all Penny.How could they not know whose blood it was?All specimens are labelled carefully and tested thereafter.
Unless it was in the 70s or 80s maybe?Or someone stupid made a mistake labelling?

I've donated 40+times and hope to make it to at least the 50 before the end of this decade -it's a better gift to a sick person than a stupid bottle of lucozade or a bunch of grapes!

Penny Tration · 13-11-2015 08:11PM

The Princess Bride wrote: »

I don't understand this at all Penny.How could they not know whose blood it was?All specimens are labelled carefully and tested thereafter.
Unless it was in the 70s or 80s maybe?Or someone stupid made a mistake labelling?

I've donated 40+times and hope to make it to at least the 50 before the end of this decade -it's a better gift to a sick person than a stupid bottle of lucozade or a bunch of grapes!

are they?

He assumed they didn't know who had the contaminated blood cause a load of them got letters saying someone tested positive, so they all needed to go get tested and refrain from donating til after. it wasn't in the eighties either, only last year!

The Princess Bride · 13-11-2015 08:16PM

Yes- I started giving in late 80s and it's always been strict.
At start of every procedure, samples are taken to be checked.
Sounds odd ....but no worries.
Once he's negative, that's all that matters.

trixychic · 13-11-2015 08:52PM

Can I ask why you would donate blood id you are ineligible to do so????

MilesMorales1 · 13-11-2015 09:16PM

I'm ineligible due to having lived in the UK in the 90s.

lazeedaisy · 13-11-2015 09:20PM

Been doing it for 27 years.

Its much harder since I moved out of Dublin, but still make the effort.

Gerinspain · 13-11-2015 09:37PM

I have donated a few times up until my cousin died of CJD and they ruled me out as a donor after that.

Here in Spain I was having a big operation and had to donate 2 units of blood to be used after the op. I had to supply a passport photo which they stuck on the bags so they knew it was mine.

Padster90s · 13-11-2015 09:42PM

Tried to a few times, could never donate for different reasons. I know its for safety but haven't and probably won't try again.

maudgonner · 13-11-2015 10:49PM

I do. Am overdue to donate but I've got a lingering cold (4 bloody weeks!) so will wait till that's fully cleared up.

I have to say though, the clinics are a pain in the hole sometimes. Queues are way too long - I've walked out a couple of times when it went past the two hour mark and I hadn't been seen yet. It used to be handy when I was in Dublin and could pop into D'Olier Street any time that suited me. It's a shame there aren't more permanent clinics around the country.

Do you give blood?

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