MacRumors 2012 Blood Drive!

[Shaun.P]

Donation 207 today. Donated a platelet double (60 ml). I regularly do this up to 24 times a year. Paying it forward.

Wow - that is some severe dedication. Amazing!

I did my bit today Second time giving blood! (I'm 19)

When my sister was younger, she had a massive haemorrhage from her mouth and almost died... she was given blood which saved her life, so I feel like I should give a bit back.

Thank you for sharing your story - and thank you for donating.

 

[Doctor Q]

Another year as gone past. And so have 5 more donations. Here is my 21st whole blood donation with my family. Two O-s and an AB+.

Does anyone agree with me that "spillproof" is an excellent name for a blood donor?

Nice work, everyone!

 

[tekno]

Does anyone know if its still illegal for homosexuals to donate blood in the UK? I haven't bothered trying to donate for about 15yrs but wondering if the world may have moved on by now?

 

[Doctor Q]

Does anyone know if its still illegal for homosexuals to donate blood in the UK? I haven't bothered trying to donate for about 15yrs but wondering if the world may have moved on by now?

The eligibility restrictions were relaxed last November but were not completely eliminated. Read that page for details.

 

[tekno]

The eligibility restrictions were relaxed last November but were not completely eliminated. Read that page for details.

When I haven't had sex for 12 months, the last thing on my mind will be to give blood!

 

[T'hain Esh Kelch]

I donated blood last week.. Or tried to.. My vene collapsed, so I only gave 200mL, which they have to throw away.. And it was even my 10th time..

I'm 0 positive, and usually they only call me in 4 times a year..

 

[BK.]

They won't accept my blood here in the UK, so I'll pass.

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Does anyone know if its still illegal for homosexuals to donate blood in the UK? I haven't bothered trying to donate for about 15yrs but wondering if the world may have moved on by now?

You can't donate if you've had sex (oral or anal) with a man in the last 12 months (with or without protection).

So basically, you can donate if you're gay and haven't had any sex whatsoever with a man in the last year. If you have, they don't want it.

 

[Blues003]

Being a Medstudent, I am a risk group and cannot therefor donate blood. I encourage everyone else to do so, though!

 

[rainbowdementia]

I tried donating yesterday, but my blood clotted and they stopped. Really disappointing. I might upload a photo of my boo boo later, but probably not, since I didn't donate anything helpful.

 

[Doctor Q]

I tried donating yesterday, but my blood clotted and they stopped. Really disappointing. I might upload a photo of my boo boo later, but probably not, since I didn't donate anything helpful.

That's too bad but don't feel guilty. You showed up to donate and nobody could have asked you to do more.

I had a similar problem on a day that I had been too cold outdoors on the way to the donor center. That apparently made my blood too slow to flow, which can cause it to clot before the collection is complete. I couldn't complete the donation.

Better luck next time.

 

[stridemat]

Me and a work colleague are off to our local donation centre tomorrow.

Good excuse for a lay down while on work time

 

[DudeDad]

If you are not on the marrow registry, do it. In 1989, I donated a sample of blood at a drive for a young woman in Maryland looking for a bone marrow donor. On the release form, there was a box asking if I wanted to be in the national registry, which was quite new then. I remember saying "what the hell" and checked the national box. Good call. In 1991, after some more tests, I matched a leukemia patient in California. In October 1991, I donated marrow to him. In 1992, we met after exchanging out information (not required). I met his wife and 4-year old son. In October 2011, we celebrated 20 years! While his health is declining after 20 years of anti-rejection meds and steroids, he has had 20 years with his wife, and has seen his toddler grow up, graduate college and fall in love. I learned that it only takes one to make a difference. Please get on the marrow registry.

I've attached the letter he wrote me a year after the donation...please share it...if it encourages just one to get on the registry, it will give every person looking for a match one more chance.

 

[stridemat]

Donation done the Vampires got their pint!

 

[mikeyredk]

I will also add, that I am an engineer who works for one of the major global blood collection companies for 20 years and I have personally worked on manual collection systems (standard blood bags) as well as various apheresis systems for collecting platelets, plasma, and red cell components. Please feel free to ask any questions and I will answer as best as I can. I'm also interested for those who are donating if you know which machine you are collecting on and any feedback you have.

Hey dmk could you guys come up with a heated return for the apheresis machines? It gets really cold with the room temp fluids returning to the body. I don't know what the model of the machine was but the last two times I tried with the machine it failed (bad sticks) so I have switched back to the manual collection system.

My donation is this Saturday first day available (1/15, 3/24)

 

[dmk1974]

Hey dmk could you guys come up with a heated return for the apheresis machines? It gets really cold with the room temp fluids returning to the body. I don't know what the model of the machine was but the last two times I tried with the machine it failed (bad sticks) so I have switched back to the manual collection system.

My donation is this Saturday first day available (1/15, 3/24)

My company doesn't make a blood warmer anymore, but some centers use them I know for therapeutic procedures on apheresis systems. They connect to the disposable set if the center elects to use them. When I used to be able to donate, I would typically feel the slight temperature decrease during reinfusion phase as well. Plateletpheresis donors often are given a blanket during donation.

 

[iJohnHenry]

What about pipe-wrap?

 

[Timelordprime]

My company doesn't make a blood warmer anymore, but some centers use them I know for therapeutic procedures on apheresis systems. They connect to the disposable set if the center elects to use them. When I used to be able to donate, I would typically feel the slight temperature decrease during reinfusion phase as well. Plateletpheresis donors often are given a blanket during donation.

I actually don't mind the room temperature returns. However, I do have to have blankets, and a heating pad for my back to keep me warm. The Trima accel machines make it feel like the life is being sucked out of you, compared with former Spectra machines we had. MCS machines I hate, due to their pressure cuff, and they always make me aware that a return is happening. So the Trima machines are quite good, when they don't need to be rebooted in the middle of a donation (had that happen the first time I donated on one).

 

[dmk1974]

I actually don't mind the room temperature returns. However, I do have to have blankets, and a heating pad for my back to keep me warm. The Trima accel machines make it feel like the life is being sucked out of you, compared with former Spectra machines we had. MCS machines I hate, due to their pressure cuff, and they always make me aware that a return is happening. So the Trima machines are quite good, when they don't need to be rebooted in the middle of a donation (had that happen the first time I donated on one).

Well, I can't speak to either of those since I don't work for Terumo (who makes the Accel) nor Haemonetics (who makes the MCS), but the one we have sold for well over a decade is real good for donor comfort and versatility.

 

[Goldinboy17]

My last two tries have been incredibly frustrating. My veins clotted and wouldn't give. The first time around the bag was 4/5 full and the nurse kept moving the nurse inside trying to see if she could get the blood flowing, felt pretty uncomfortable and just made me queasy. The same thing happened last week when I tried to donate again - what the heck? I donated three times prior to these incidents and everything went smoothly. To add insult to injury they let me know that they would have to throw the blood away

 

[mikeyredk]

For those who have failed donations I recommend you have the blood tested for platelet counts you may be a better platelet donor then a blood donor (they pump an anticoagulant into your blood). They can use the blood from a rejected donation.

 

[ironpw]

3 More Units of Platelets

3 more units of Platelets at the Red Cross.

Plus here's a little shout out to Mac rumors I put on my arm!

 

[Mr. McMac]

I've been giving blood every year since the 70's. It's the right thing to do

 

[Doctor Q]

If you are not on the marrow registry, do it. In 1989, I donated a sample of blood at a drive for a young woman in Maryland looking for a bone marrow donor. On the release form, there was a box asking if I wanted to be in the national registry, which was quite new then. I remember saying "what the hell" and checked the national box. Good call. In 1991, after some more tests, I matched a leukemia patient in California. In October 1991, I donated marrow to him. In 1992, we met after exchanging out information (not required). I met his wife and 4-year old son. In October 2011, we celebrated 20 years! While his health is declining after 20 years of anti-rejection meds and steroids, he has had 20 years with his wife, and has seen his toddler grow up, graduate college and fall in love. I learned that it only takes one to make a difference. Please get on the marrow registry.

I've attached the letter he wrote me a year after the donation...please share it...if it encourages just one to get on the registry, it will give every person looking for a match one more chance.

That letter is amazing, DudeDad, and shows what it's all about: the real lives of real people, and how ordinary people turn into life-saving heroes.

I read that in the U.S. the National Marrow Donor Program finds matched donors for about 12 people a day. Other people waiting for a match may not survive long enough to find one. That's why every potential donor should do the cheek swab and sign up for the registry. Just type in your zip code to find an upcoming marrow registry drive near you.

It's a one-time-for-life thing. They keep you in the donor database as long as you're eligible or until you tell them you changed your mind. Just remember to tell them if your contact information changes so they can find you if it turns out that you can save someone's life. Only one out of every 540 members of the U.S. registry ends up donating bone marrow or stem cells, but it could be you!

 

[funone0]

Double Red Cell Donation (1 gallon total)

Today I donated double red cells for my third time and have donated 1 gallon total so I got a 1 gallon pin

 

[hurrderrp]

I often consider donating blood but since I occasionally smoke pot it would probably be useless. Once university is done (2 years) I will be able to do some good too!

Very cool idea, good on all of you!