Spinoff: Do you donate blood?

[Feralpeg]

Before I had cancer, I donated on a regular basis. They will not allow me to donate now.

 

[tlbwriter]

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

Oh man. Sad but funny. I didn't know having "the gay" was an automatic disqualifier.

I used to donate, but it got harder and harder. First, they couldn't get an entire pint in the time allowed (I don't know if that's still an issue, but at the time, if it took too long to fill a bag they booted you out and threw your blood away). Then I was getting rejected because my pulse was too fast or my iron was too low. And I had a transfusion last year, so I don't know how long until I'm eligible again, but it's at the point where I hate to try, because it wastes their time and supplies.

 

[Conservative Hippie]

And I had a transfusion last year, so I don't know how long until I'm eligible again, but it's at the point where I hate to try, because it wastes their time and supplies.

12 months if it was in the US.

 

[indimom]

I don't. I tried numerous times in my younger years and was always turned away for low iron.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

Oh man. Sad but funny. I didn't know having "the gay" was an automatic disqualifier.

Being gay by itself is not, however the Red Cross defines the limitation of gay males from giving blood under the HIV/AIDS guidelines:

You should not give blood if you have AIDS or have ever had a positive HIV test, or if you have done something that puts you at risk for becoming infected with HIV.

You are at risk for getting infected if you:

• have ever used needles to take drugs, steroids, or anything not prescribed by your doctor
• are a male who has had sexual contact with another male, even once, since 1977
• have ever taken money, drugs or other payment for sex since 1977
• have had sexual contact in the past 12 months with anyone described above
• received clotting factor concentrates for a bleeding disorder such as hemophilia
• were born in, or lived in, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea,Gabon, Niger, or Nigeria, since 1977.
• since 1977, received a blood transfusion or medical treatment with a blood product in any of these countries, or
• had sex with anyone who, since 1977, was born in or lived in any of these countries.

It's a sad, sad state that these criterion are so old and outdated, that it ultimately limits the supply of blood, especially with the level of screening they can do now. So, in short, lets say you were a gay male, found the love of your life and had sexual relations with that person, regardless of how many times, regardless of their status, regardless of if you used protection you are immediately ineligible. I can tell you I probably am less of a risk factor then most people who donate because I get tested regularly and I use protection. No offense to college students, but think of how many of them are encouraged to donate and the risky behavior they may participating in, even if they are straight.

 

[PigletsPal2]

I used to donate regularly, and would do so again in a heartbeat, but they won't take my blood because I lived in England at the height of Mad Cow disease. Like mad cows were roaming the streets of London! I tried to convince them that I never stepped in cow patties in front of the Embassy, in the theatre district, or around my flat (just about the only places I frequented!). They wouldn't even test - said there was no test for mad cow and they couldn't risk it. Is there a test now? Oh well, their loss; I've been told my blood was especially iron-rich.

Queen Colleen

 

[tlbwriter]

I used to donate regularly, and would do so again in a heartbeat, but they won't take my blood because I lived in England at the height of Mad Cow disease. Like mad cows were roaming the streets of London! I tried to convince them that I never stepped in cow patties in front of the Embassy, in the theatre district, or around my flat (just about the only places I frequented!).

I'm sorry, I can't quite tell if you're joking or not, but if you're serious... mad cow disease is contracted by eating cows, not by being around them. And if you're joking, you're just too subtle for me.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

I'm sorry, I can't quite tell if you're joking or not, but if you're serious... mad cow disease is contracted by eating cows, not by being around them. And if you're joking, you're just too subtle for me.

Very serious which again, is just completely crazy because that would mean if the UK (which is medically advanced) followed the same rules as we do, there would be very little blood available to even take:

http://www.redcrossblood.org/donati...ligibility-criteria-alphabetical-listing#arc5

From January 1, 1980, through December 31, 1996, you spent (visited or lived) a cumulative time of 3 months or more, in the United Kingdom (UK), or
From January 1, 1980, to present, you had a blood transfusion in any country(ies) in the (UK). The UK includes any of the countries listed below.

 

[Mermaid02]

Anemic. Had to have 2 IV iron infusions when I had my hip replacement.

 

[2binak]

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.

My husband has been donating double reds for years. He says he feels much better afterwards because of getting the plasma back. He's O neg so the Red Cross loves his blood!!!! I encourage everyone to read the guidelines and try to donate double reds if you meet the criteria.

I recieved blood during & after surgery a few years ago. Without the transfusions, I most likely would not have survived, so I'm sending a huge THANK YOU out to all of you who donate!

 

[karenos]

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.

This. I am not anemic, but my iron count is never high enough when I go to donate. I think out of 10 or 15 tries, I've been able to donate twice. I will try again next week at a local drive in my town.

My DH used to donate all the time in his twenties but lived in Europe for a bit and now can't as well.

karenos

 

[Carly_Roach]

Originally Posted by Red Cross
You should not give blood if you have AIDS or have ever had a positive HIV test, or if you have done something that puts you at risk for becoming infected with HIV.

You are at risk for getting infected if you:

• Have ever taken money, drugs or other payment for sex since 1977

I think they just described my entire 20 year dating career. Granted, I mostly got paid with dinner and a movie, jewelry, perfume, etc, etc, etc.

On topic, I can't donate due to anemia. DH donates when he thinks of it, but it's nothing regular. If there's a drive going on and he has the time, he'll stop by to "bleed a little" for them.

 

[tallygirl]

I donate regularly. I am O neg and CMV neg. I can count on getting a call about donating within a day or two of becoming eligible again. They have mentioned the double platelet thing but I have never done it. I may try since some here say it's easy.

 

[Crystal0608]

I used to everytime they came to work, 4 times a year I think. Then I started testing anemic every time, even after I ate spinach and spoonfuls of peanut butter, so haven't gave in a while.

 

[Captain Hindsight]

I have the very valuable O- coursing through my veins... And my local blood bank knows it, only because I did donate once before finding out that they do not accept blood from homosexuals. Now I'm not gay, but I refuse to help out any organization that would discriminate like that. They call me multiple times a month asking if I could come in to donate blood. I tell them that I am gay, and ask them if it is a problem, which of course I know will be. Then I tell em to talk to the people at the top and give me a call when they can get their heads out of their nether regions!

 

[PigletsPal2]

No joke - my humor is not that subtle. This was info from Red Cross, admittedly from some time ago, probably 10 years. Maybe I should try again.

Queen Colleen

 

[Katieinwonderland]

I'm from the UK too, so no one wants my blood

 

[It'sWDW4me]

No joke - my humor is not that subtle. This was info from Red Cross, admittedly from some time ago, probably 10 years. Maybe I should try again.

Queen Colleen

I just donated last week and the questions are still in there - living/visiting UK for longer than 3 months = no donation from you, thank you for coming on in.

I also have a MAJOR issue with my iron. It's usually just a smidge below acceptable in order to donate. Someone told me to eat raisins. We have a blood drive at work a few times a year. The past 2 times, my iron was just the wrong side of the minimum level line. I ate a handful of raisins every day for a week before donating and... voila!... just a smidge on the right side of the minimum line for once!

 

[tink_n_pooh]

I donated blood once. It took me hours to donate and I had to sit there for over an hour and a half before I was okay enough for them to let me go home but I don't care I would like to do it again.They honestly they don't make it very easy to do around here. I get emails with local blood drives and they are almost always when I am working. With such a shortage of blood you would think they would throw in some evening/weekend blood drives for those of us that work during the day

Double red cell donations look pretty cool but I don't meet the requirements as I am not tall enough nor do I weigh enough. It took me years before I was able to donate the first time, now that I'm "big enough" I will stick with the regular blood donations.

 

[ashleybea]

I would love to and want to donate but I am deathly afraid of needles. I am the biggest baby when it comes to getting shots and what not. Plus its really hard to find my veins. Next to I see a blood donation going on I'm going to try to go.