Spinoff: Do you donate blood?

[Conservative Hippie]

Have you ever donated blood, or do you donate on a regular basis?

I used to donate every once in a while - not regularly, but probably once a year. I also donated plasma a few times. Then in 2007 I needed a blood transfusion after having my daughter. I'm eligible to donate again, but I still haven't since. (ETA: I also had another baby in 2010, so my eligibility has been on and off.)

My dad donates blood every 60 days.

 

[dismom2]

Have you ever donated blood, or do you donate on a regular basis?

I used to donate every once in a while - not regularly, but probably once a year. I also donated plasma a few times. Then in 2007 I needed a blood transfusion after having my daughter. I'm eligible to donate again, but I still haven't since.

My dad donates blood every 60 days.

Yes, I do go to donate blood. Why not help save another life?

 

[SC Minnie]

Yes, I dontated this past Monday. We have a bloodmobile that comes to our office every couple of months. I have been donating regularly since they started doing that.

 

[mjkacmom]

I used to, but once I had hep A, I was no longer allowed. Bummer, because I actually enjoyed it. My mom goes on a regular basis.

 

[goofy4tink]

My dh donates every other month or so. I used to but I found that donating blood was really messing my veins up!!! When I had to have blood drawn, they had trouble finding a good spot. That really surprised me since it had always been so incredibly easy to draw blood. Finally the girl changed arms and asked if I donate blood. I told her yes since I'm O-neg. She told me that if you donate too often, it can make it harder to get into the veins. Funny thing was that I automatically hold out my left arm...and that was the arm she had trouble with. When she switched to the right arm there was no issue at all...just like it used to be.

I may start donating plasma now. O-neg is too valuable to waste.

 

[NHdisneylover]

I used to regularly. I stopped when the rules about people who had lived in Europe not being bale to went into effect. I suppose I could in Europe though, but would not know where to go to do so; maybe I should look.

 

[krcit]

Yes. I try to do it a few times a year. Last month I gave a 'double donation'. It was really cool. The blood came out, was seperated into 3 parts and then the plasma went back into my vein. That happened 3 times and took about 30 minutes. They get a double batch of red blood cells. I have to wait 120 or so days until I can do it again. You also have to be a certain height and weight.

 

[apirateslifeforme]

I'd love to, but I'm anemic (my iron level is usually around 9, even with supplements, and the minimum level is apparently 12). I've tried 2x - take my supplements as usual and have a steak-and-spinach dinner the night before, and still I get turned away.

My DFi has excellent blood, however, and donates platelets every 3-4 weeks.

 

[piglet50]

i'm not allowed to because i have an auto-immune disease, but i admire those who do. my dad used to give at least 3 or 4 times a year.

 

[SleepyMom]

I had hepatitus as a child and was told I would never be able to, I did check again a few years ago to see if that had maybe changed and was told I still cannot donate. DH does, and tries to be fairly regular.

 

[BubblPopElectrc]

I'd like it to. I have "the gay" though.

 

[PrincessKsMom]

I used to, but it got progressively harder. The last two times were the worst. Second to last I almost passed out/got sick/etc. The last time the vein collapsed multiple times. The nurse finally asked me not to come back again, because they were wasting valuable time babysitting my veins when they could have gotten mutiple donations from other people. In all honesty, I had problems the last few times with my veins, but the last time was the worst. Took them over 1/2 hour to get one bag of blood. I liked doing it, am not bothered by needles, and liked that my blood is CMV- which I'm told is used for premature babies and sick people. Unfortunately, my veins just won't cooperate. I even have a problem getting bloodwork done. It was never a problem when I was younger, but seems to have gotten progressively worse the older I get.

 

[Golf4food]

I donate a few times per year, sometimes the new machine to take 2 pints at once, sometimes just the old fashioned bag 'o blud. Nearing 2 gallons now, I guess.

 

[Pakey]

I did until I got cancer. My husband still does, every 60 days.

 

[scrapquitler]

I'd like it to. I have "the gay" though.

I don't understand why they have decided that this makes you ineligible for donations. I mean, they test the blood more than once for HIV, so why isn't that good enough? This is just one of those things I don't understand. And it's not like only homosexuals have the possibility of having undetected HIV....


I don't donate blood, I do platelets. Right after my Dad died, hubby and I both started doing plasma donations every 2-3 weeks (Dad had apherisis, so he relied heavily on donated blood for almost two months), but since the fall we have gotten out of the habit. Need to start doing it again.

 

[declansdad]

I had hepatitus as a child and was told I would never be able to, I did check again a few years ago to see if that had maybe changed and was told I still cannot donate. DH does, and tries to be fairly regular.

I had Hep as a child as well. I had things checked and I was given to the ok to donate. You may want to check.

 

[DawnM]

They change the rules often, but I haven't been eligible to donate for the past 30 years or so. I am not sure what the requirements are, but I was ineligible because I lived in Sub-saharan Africa for most of the 70s and into the mid 80s and I contracted Malaria and Hep A my senior year of high school. I think the Malaria still keeps me off the list forever, but haven't looked recently.

Dawn

 

[jlewisinsyr]

I'd like it to. I have "the gay" though.

Ditto.

What drives me crazy is that they ALWAYS have a blood shortage in my area (and most areas) and because of outdated policies and risk profiles I cannot help. Sure I could lie, but that's unethical in my opinion.

 

[scottishduffy]

I will admit that I don't, even though I should. Being as a work in a hospital and am around very sick/ isolation patients on a semi regular basis I usually end up failing their little questionnaire. I have donated several times, but last year I had a needle stick that kept me away for a while and now I am pregnant. After that hopefully I can go back.

DH donates regularly. Every 2 months I think. The red cross even calls him and leaves messages on his phone saying it is time to go in! he has O- blood so I suppose he is in demand.

 

[TiggerStac]

I donated once and had a seizure while I was on donating. Not a fun experience, I could feel it coming on, but didn't know what was going on. Trying to get a nurses attention when you feel like I did....wasn't easy.

Anyways, I was told I shouldn't donate again.