Give Blood!

[Keebler]

well, i thought i would report on my attempt to donate blood platelets.

in a nutshell, i couldn't donate!!!! my platelet count was a little lower than they'd like to see. of course, my initial reaction was - am i ok? and she said yup..no problems. some ppl just have more platelets than other folks. kind of like having blue or brown eyes. my hemaglobin and white cell counts were through the roof and my blood pressure was 124/56 and my heart rate was 66 so i felt good about that.

I am, however, totally bummed i couldn't donate. she said to try in another 4 weeks. it could have been b/c i had worked out in the morning and i might have drank too much water...thus diluting the blood a bit. i wasn't far off the mark to donate so that could be it.

but the next time, they're going to take a sample of my blood first and run the test. i guess they don't do that for 'virgin' donaters b/c it rarely happens that a person can't donate.

and here in canada, most of the platelets goes very quickly to bone marrow transplant patients.

cheers,
Keebler

 

[floriflee]

I can't give blood. I've been banned since we lived in the UK during the mad cow scare. Hmm... maybe that explains my slow mental decline....

 

[Doctor Q]

FYI: The political issue is being discussed in the FDA: Gay Blood Icky! thread.

I envy you. I can't give blood because I have low hemoglobin <12.

Hemoglobin varies from hour to hour and day to day, so you might just have been ineligible at that time. Donors are encouraged to drink plenty of fluids before a donation, and ironically that reduces your hemoglobin; you don't have less of the protein (i.e., you aren't anemic), but the percentage of cells goes down from from the extra fluid.

Based on day to day variations and the amount I've had to drink, my HGB is sometimes off the charts and sometimes just enough to qualify.

Ok here are blood donation qualification guidelines.

Yes, those are the Red Cross guideilnes. The details of a donor questionnaire can vary from organization to organization, and that they also change over time as new concerns emerge, e.g., time spent in specific countries.

Any one here donate Plasma? I donate once a week. I don't get money or anything really, except a smile and some cookies.

You are my hero.

I've donated 25 times, starting about 6 years ago.

You too! Some people can't donate, and some aren't interested, so that's all the more reason for the rest of us to keep up the habit.

 

[jayb2000]

I am actually overdue to donate. I usually try to go within a week or two of being eligible. I have done 10-12 donations in the last 4 years, not sure exactly.
I like the double red donation, takes the same amount of time, only have to go 1/2 as often, and no need to sit around for 20 minutes making sure I don't pass out.

 

[sycho]

You are my hero.

Wow, I don't think I've been someone's hero before. Maybe you could give me a cool label under my name or something.

Quick edit here:

I just took off the bandage from my donation today, and the scab was all suck to the gauss, so now my arm is slowly bleed. :thumbs down:

 

[Doctor Q]

Wow, I don't think I've been someone's hero before. Maybe you could give me a cool label under my name or something.

Sorry, I checked the stockroom and we're fresh out of cool labels. But we have plenty of kudos left, so I can give you a bunch of them for being a good citizen. Just fill out your "Q" Kudos Application Form.

Interesting fact: Donating blood reduces your ferritin level (stored iron), and research studies appear to show that this can reduce your risk of heart disease, heart attack, and stroke. Plus you get cookies!

 

[sycho]

Sorry, I checked the stockroom and we're fresh out of cool labels. But we have plenty of kudos left, so I can give you a bunch of them for being a good citizen. Just fill out your "Q" Kudos Application Form.

Ummm, maybe later...

Interesting fact: Donating blood reduces your ferritin level (stored iron), and research studies appear to show that this can reduce your risk of heart disease, heart attack, and stroke. Plus you get cookies!

Hmmm, doesn't help me much, since I get most all of my blood back. Unless it is stored in the plasma, then I'm set for life!

 

[MongoTheGeek]

Interesting fact: Donating blood reduces your ferritin level (stored iron), and research studies appear to show that this can reduce your risk of heart disease, heart attack, and stroke. Plus you get cookies!

There are some people with a disease that the treatment is regular blood letting, hemochromatosis.

 

[Doctor Q]

There are some people with a disease that the treatment is regular blood letting.

Right, and iron overload can be a very dangerous condition if left untreated. Meanwhile, people without hemochromatosis who receive blood transufions may also suffer from iron overload from the iron they accumulate. Removing blood (phlebotomy) can reduce iron in those with hemochromatosis, but of course wouldn't be a suitable treatment for people who require transfusions - you'd be taking out the blood you just put in!

A few times I've donated blood while somebody in the next chair was having blood taken out to reduce their iron store. The procedure is the same, but they send one unit of blood to the blood bank and dispose of the other. I hope they keep track of which is which!

 

[Doctor Q]

I saw a sign yesterday at a Community Center here in the Los Angeles area. It said

Blood Donations
Saturday, June 9
Drop off Donations Here​

I'm not making this up. It was on the south side of Ventura Blvd. in the San Fernando Valley, near Vanalden Avenue. I was driving and couldn't take a snapshot of it. Anybody live near there?

I think what they meant was that you could drop off donations for an auction or a raffle or some such event, not that you should drop off your blood, but the sign sure struck me as funny.

 

[xsedrinam]

I saw a sign yesterday at a Community Center here in the Los Angeles area. It said

Blood Donations
Saturday, June 9
Drop off Donations Here​

I'm not making this up. It was on the south side of Ventura Blvd. in the San Fernando Valley, near Vanalden Avenue. I was driving and couldn't take a snapshot of it. Anybody live near there?

I think what they meant was that you could drop off donations for an auction or a raffle or some such event, not that you should drop off your blood, but the sign sure struck me as funny.

Frightening thought for the day.

 

[grafikat]

I've given gallons over the years. It was the one way I could give back when I didn't have any money, and then it just became a habit. My right arm does have a couple of nasty divots, it you really look!

...on a side note, a gal I met at a beauty school told me she was thinking about studying lobotomy. I gave her a funny look, and she said (I'm not kidding here) "ya, you know, for taking blood and stuff?"

I only donate at the local hospital now, just in case I meet up with her or someone similar!

 

[Counterfit]

I had to take a break from it after the last time I did. (I think it was my fourth. w00t, a half gallon! )
Bad idea #1: looking at the needle. I don't like watching needles go into skin. Can't watch it when I get injections, can't watch it on ER, DEFINITELY can't watch it when the needle is 1cm wide.
Bad idea #2: Okay, this wasn't a bad idea, not even an idea at all, but I did have to get stuck twice last time, as the nurse/whateverthey'recalled didn't quite get the vein in my right arm. You might think "how TF do you miss", but I would guess that it's pretty easy to not get it 100% when the needle's nearly the same diameter as the target.

I don't have to worry too much about side effects though, I've got plenty of blood to spare. Last time I went, I was asked if I wanted to donate two units of just red blood cells (I think that's what it was, it was a new thing. basically the opposite of donating plasma).

 

[Doctor Q]

I don't have to worry too much about side effects though, I've got plenty of blood to spare. Last time I went, I was asked if I wanted to donate two units of just red blood cells (I think that's what it was, it was a new thing. basically the opposite of donating plasma).

They make me wait 56 days between whole blood donations. Exactly 56; I know because I tried to go on Day 55 once. How long do you have to wait after a double donation?

 

[sycho]

I don't have to worry too much about side effects though, I've got plenty of blood to spare. Last time I went, I was asked if I wanted to donate two units of just red blood cells (I think that's what it was, it was a new thing. basically the opposite of donating plasma).

Weird... Instead of taking my whole blood, they only take my plasma, and instead of wanting you whole blood, they only want your red blood cells... Why don't they just take whole blood from both of us?

Side note, here is all my goodies:

The iSight is crappy in low light!!!


And my arm after last week's donation... Still looks like this, actually, it looks worse. I'm going to go to the collection centre tomorrow as soon as they open.
(don't mind my hairiness or pantlessness... )

 

[Mac-Addict]

I would give blood but I'm like 13. Heh I will most likely when I am older and feel like helping people in need of blood xD Right now I'm all too young for nearly everything apart from 12A's (PG13 I think..) Joy.

OMG Now I really want that shirt. I would ware it forever and walk around really smug. All the village children would shout "Ah look its Joe the super hero who saves 9 lives!" as I walked by , As I south "Thats right kids! Give blood. And dont do drugs."

 

[Doctor Q]

And my arm after last week's donation... Still looks like this, actually, it looks worse.

At least they didn't give you a black eye!

(I have a very good memory.)

 

[holamiamigos]

i have given blood twice and proud of it.. they were all part of the school blood drive...first time was the regular way. but the second time was the ALYX machine... anyone use that??? its pretty cool...

 

[sycho]

i have given blood twice and proud of it.. they were all part of the school blood drive...first time was the regular way. but the second time was the ALYX machine... anyone use that??? its pretty cool...

Does it look anything like this:

 

[holamiamigos]

yea thats exactly it

 

[sycho]

yea thats exactly it

I call them "The machines"...

 

[holamiamigos]

haha nice.

 

[grafikat]

I can't donate (or sell ) plasma, as my veins are too small. The problem comes when putting the separated blood back into my arm.

I've thought about bone marrow donation, but the pain factor has always scared me away.

 

[Doctor Q]

I've thought about bone marrow donation, but the pain factor has always scared me away.

They have a newer technique that is less scary.

With the old method (a bone marrow donation), they extract marrow, usually from your hip, with you under anesthesia. The procedure doesn't hurt (you are unconscious) but you can be sore afterwards. They get the stem cells, which is what you are actually donating, from your marrow.

With the new procedure, they get the stem cells out of your bloodstream, just like a regular blood or platetlet donation. The difference is that beforehand they give you injections of "growth factors" that cause some of your stem cells to move from your bone marrow into your bloodstream, where they are easy to get at. The process seems a bit like magic, but it works.

For those willing to donate if and when a patient in need turns out to match you, here is the information about joining the National Marrow Donor Program. I did!

 

[amd4me]

I'm A-, so screwed if I get in an accident.