Donating platelets

[Spinning]

I know many of us are familiar with donating blood but not sure if everyone is familiar with donating just your platelets. This is a 2 hour or so proceedure which can be done every 2 weeks.
I just did it yesterday for the second time. Not too bad. Yes much longer than donating blood but you get to pick out a movie! The nice thing, I was able to make an appointment and they stuck to it so in the long run it didnt' take much longer to give! Plus you dont' have to sit around and wait after it is finished! Only down side...you or at least I got very chilly! So please think about it!
http://www.socalredcross.org/dblood/dblood_plateletsD.html

 

[grinningghost]

Yes - donating platelets is so appreciated by the people that need them. My boss's late wife had leukemia and needed to get platelets frequently. My DH donated them weekly for quite some time. He used to watch "Full Metal Jacket" everytime he donated.

 

[candykisses]

I've been donating platelets since 1986. I find it very rewarding, but it can be very sad.

When the call comes, very little information is given especially now because of the privacy laws. The last donations I gave were to a 2 yr old girl. After a month of pretty constant giving, her father sent a message (through the staff) thanking me...but his daughter had passed away. It kind of rips your guts out, but it is comforting to know that I did my best to help her.

Every year the blood bank has a picnic for all the donors and the patients. It's heartwarming to see those who got well.

 

[debster812]

My DH also donates platelets. Once a month. We lost a very dear friend 7 years ago in June to a particularly insidious cancer. She made us each promise that we would do what we could, to help the organizations that had helped her during her battle.

DH donates platelets to the division she got most of her donations from.

I volunteer every chance I get for the Jimmy Fund or the Dana Farber. I'm a hard stick, and the platelet donation is very difficult for me.

2 of her brothers ride in the Pan-Mass challenge every year.

We all just do what we can.

 

[Dan Murphy]

I have in the past, for a friend who had cancer. I felt good.

 

[Patabel]

Great reminder! I was a platelet donor for many years, as well as whole blood, (hbp put an end to that ), but it was one of the most rewarding things I ever did. And so incredibly easy.

At the Red Cross in St. Paul, MN, for a platelet (apheresis) donation, they put you in a comfy recliner, cover you with warm blankets, give you a headset for the tv (or radio) and hook you up. It was always one of the most relaxing times I had all week! I would go about once every three months and kept running into many of the same folks. If I asked, I was usually told who the platelets were going to...but I rarely asked.

I know the Red Cross has been campaigning this week in the Twin Cities, looking for whole blood and platelet donors, since donations are really down and the situation has become critical.

Can't encourage anyone enough to give blood...it will make you feel great!

 

[Mishetta]

Standing ovation for those that donate platelets. My Mom was in desperate need of them & they kept her alive just a short while longer, but I appreciated every moment with my Mom. Unfortunately, due to a medical condition I have, I am not able to donate platelets, nor blood for that matter. Both are so very important. Please keep giving & encourage others to do so as well.

 

[aprincessmom]

I now only donate platelets once a month...I did it twice a month before I had DD. When I went back after having DD, I was so thrilled to have a few hours "to myself" where I could watch a movie, have snacks brought to me and be waited on while I just sat!

Luckily I can give a double...I have tons of platelets so I can do a double in the time it takes most to do one. It's a great feeling and it takes so little time.

 

[JerseyJanice]

Great thread! Thanks for informing people about their ability to donate platelets.

This is an act that really does save lives.

 

[KathyTX]

Another regular platelet donor here---

Platelets are desperately needed, especially by cancer patients and in cases where patients have been given anti-clotting agents (like heart surgery patients). The platelets can help suppress internal bleeding for these folks.

An interesting bit of trivia (well, I thought it was interesting): the "universal" donor type for platelets is opposite the universal type for whole blood. Type O is the universal donor for whole blood (the type that can be transfused to any other type). Type AB is the universal donor for platelets.

So if your blood type is AB, they'd be especially happy to have you as a new or regular platelet donor.

 

[janette]

Thank you to those that do this. I don't think I can, the last 2 times I've tried to donate my blood clotted before it completed so they weren't able to use it I can't see that I would last 2 hours if it won't flow for 15 minutes. It seems that they are having a harder time finding veins also. I need to try again and see if it's better but haven't been able to work up the gumption to get myself in there.

 

[KevinNYC]

I agree about the need for continued blood platelet donations. I began donating 4 years ago when a friend's 1 yr old child became ill and desperately needed platelets. Unfortunately, the child didn't survive but the experience taught me that platelet donations were needed and went to people who really need them. Since then, I have continued donating every 3 months. I dont know anyone ill in particular but I know those platelets are going to someone who really needs them from us.

 

[Spinning]

so nice to hear about others donating! It is a good feeling
One sad thing they did tell me, they use to have over 5000 people in my area donating now they are down to 1600. They don't know why. So I have a feeling they are going to start advertizing more promoting it more. Plus Platelet donations only last 5 days.
I had no idea AB was the unniversal donnor...that's great because that is my blood type! Guess I will get to catch up on those old movies!

 

[grinningghost]

I'm a type AB, but unfortunately, they won't take my blood due to a medical condition. I would really love to help. Who knew AB could be good for anything? I always feel like the oddball with that blood type.