Donating blood

[Zee.]

I'm set to do this next week. I don't know how much blood they take in other countries but i've been told that here in Australia they take about the size of a can or coke + a bit more.


I got my blood donor number today and i'm really excited. Sounds odd and i know it is a very small thing to do but I think i'm going to start doing this regularly as a way of "giving back" so to speak.

Have you given blood before? what was it like?

I have no fear of needles and i'm not squirmish about blood so i'm okay in that sense

[mono]

How very noble of you, limajean, as I could not advocate for donating blood more. Even as someone who works in medicine, I do not know how much phlebotomists tend to take in your country, but in the U.S. it measures to 1 pint (slightly more than 450 ml [a can of soda = about 355 ml]) - it sounds like a lot, but your body replaces it entirely in 16-24 hours, and they should test your iron levels, to make sure you have adequate oxygen-carrying capacity in your blood, prior to donating.
Luckily, it only requires one poke, for you needles-fearers, and, if you have a good phlebotomist, you may not even feel it; the process takes anywhere from 30-60 minutes - just remember to stay well hydrated, drinking lots of fluids, and you should feel no different, maybe a little dizzy upon first standing, but even this appears rarely. I donate blood about as often as I can, having a not-common-but-not-rare type of blood (B-positive), and feel fine afterwards; even if I felt mildly symptomatic to the hypovolemia, however, I would feel rewarded at the individual(s) who received it in a time of need.
Good luck!

[manolia]

I don't because i am not allowed to (low iron levels). I am afraid of needles but that is irrelevant (since i'd love to donate if i could).

[1n50mn14]

I can't for several reasons, and wouldn't, even if I could.

I have to have enough blood taken out of me on a regular basis for testing that I can't spare any for blood donations. The ladies that run the blood clinic in town are absolute *****es, and automatically assume if you go in there looking a bit scruffy that you're infested with AIDS. My boyfriend isn't allowed to donate blood, despite having entirely clean, appropriate blood, and a letter of approval from his doctor, because on the survey you're given to determine eligibility, he checked, 'Sexual contact with a man.'... because ya know, EVERYBODY who has sex with another man gets AIDS...

As far as giving back goes... even if I were eligible to donate, enough other people do that I don't have to. That isn't as passive/lazy/self serving as it sounds. I also prefer to give back to the earth, rather than society/community/people. I'm a bad person, I know. I do a regular garbage clean up, and tree planting.

[JBI]

It's an important process, but keep in mind, your arm is going to go numb for while, with an inability to do simple tasks like open a car door.

[TheFifthElement]

Good on you limajean. I used to donate blood before I got pregnant the first time, but now I can't due to the fact that I take a particular type of medication.
As I understand it, they take about 1 pint.
Needles are fine, I think the experience you have depends on the size and ease of access to your veins, and the skill of the phlebotomist. Most of the people working at blood donor centres are pretty skilled, but you might still have an 'off' experience (there are a few people at work have horror stories, but mainly this is due to the fact that they have small veins or are 'slow bleeders'!). I got dizzy a couple of time, but then you get a lie down and a cup of tea and a biscuit, which is kind of nice :)

Becca, I understand what you're saying, but I don't think it's necessarily the fault of the people who run the blood clinic. The guidelines are pretty stringent around blood donation, basically because the blood goes to people who are already injured, sick or physically compromised in some way and they simply cannot take the risk. The points you've described (well except scruffy, I guess) sound pretty consistent with the guidelines the blood donor service use in UK. Things like piercings and tattoos count you out as well, at least in UK. HIV is a big concern, especially as it's pretty much symptomless for a very long time and routine screening doesn't happen.

[Tournesol]

I'm set to do this next week. I don't know how much blood they take in other countries but i've been told that here in Australia they take about the size of a can or coke + a bit more.


I got my blood donor number today and i'm really excited. Sounds odd and i know it is a very small thing to do but I think i'm going to start doing this regularly as a way of "giving back" so to speak.

Have you given blood before? what was it like?

I have no fear of needles and i'm not squirmish about blood so i'm okay in that sense

Well, Lima, let me tell you...I have given blood twice, though I've wanted to on at least 5 more occasions. Those times I was turned down, once was because I had recently returned from South America, and the other times my iron was too low. [In my family, we naturally have low iron.]

The first time I gave I was still at university. The second time was just last year, I did feel a little dizzy after, but as soon as I drank some Ribena juice and ate some chocolate etc, I was good enough to drive [about 30-40 mins after giving blood]

Giving blood is such a noble thing to do. It feels you with love for humanity. The fact that you're giving a part of yourself that will possibly save another person's life, that would save the life of a complete stranger, makes you a hero!


Good luck Lima!

[1n50mn14]

Fifth, I also understand that there are stringent guidelines and that there is a great need for the blood to be clean. I just don't understand why if you're proven to be clean it would be an issue. I also dislike the bias based on man-man sexual contact... women could just as easily get AIDS/HIV nowadays from having sex with an infected man. It isn't just a gay thing anymore, but it seems to be treated as such at the clinic... I also don't think the ladies are nasty because they refused to take his blood, haha, they're just crabby old ladies in general.

Out.

[Zee.]

I agree with Becca on this one. If you're proven "clean" in regards to AIDS and still denied it seems to me to be no different than denying someone who has ticked "no" to the rest of the criteria which excludes you from giving blood, even if they've been proven to be "safe" to donate. Double standards if you ask me.

And I understand your stance about giving to the earth etc, I just, I thought about what I could do to give back something positive, and it wasn't a moralistic stand or a need to prove to myself that i'm a "good" person, it just felt right + I want to help people (human rights lawyer) in the future and though I know giving blood and human rights protection are completely different things I still regard it as acknowledging that we all share a common humanity and must nourish/protect/give to that. (BIG RANT)
Anyway, i don't mind needles and i find blood fascinating so I dunno, choice was easy for me.

[BienvenuJDC]

I am a multi-gallon donor. Here in the US they take a pint, but you can't give more than a pint every two months. I don't recall how much I've given over the years, but it's close to 50 times or more. I gave along side a woman that had given 12 gallons over the years.

[TurquoiseSunset]

...gallons... *gulp*

So I read this thread this afternoon (it's 19:42 here now) and I happen to know it's Blood Donation month, so I decided I was going to go after work. I've been threatening to do it for years now - the last time was in 2001. After that I couldn't donate for a few years, but after that it was just plain cowardice, because my veins are very deep...I'm always scared that they have to try again. I hate needles. But I have O+ bloodtype so I thought people could really use my blood; it's for a good cause.

So I went, filled out the form, pricked my finger (good iron levels), got my juice and Blood Donation Month fridge magnet, and sat down. The woman took my blood pressure (very good 120/80), and then when she tried the vein she stuck the needle right through it. It started swelling so they had to take it out - the swelling was a little painful, but not that bad - and then I was told that I couldn't donate today, "It's too traumatic," she says. All this, just because I said ouch. Now I have to go back next week...can you believe it?...:brickwall

[TheFifthElement]

I agree with Becca on this one. If you're proven "clean" in regards to AIDS and still denied it seems to me to be no different than denying someone who has ticked "no" to the rest of the criteria which excludes you from giving blood, even if they've been proven to be "safe" to donate. Double standards if you ask me.

HIV, just to be clear. If you've got AIDS you've had HIV for some time first.

If you want to know why there's an issue around donations from men who have engaged in oral or anal intercourse with another man you can read here:http://www.blood.co.uk/pdfdocs/position_statement_exclusion.pdf

and here: http://www.blood.co.uk/pdfdocs/msm_summary_of_policies.pdf

[*Classic*Charm*]

I was fully planning on giving blood the last time there was a drive at school, but I had gotten a new piercing within the last six months, so I couldn't. I'll be making a visit to this year's though! I have no problem whatsoever with blood or needles.

It's nice to hear that so many people have donated/ are regular donators!

[Stargazer86]

Limajean- from your pix you appear to be rather slender. Make sure you eat and drink a lot beforehand as well as after as you may get very faint. I'm not anemic, but barely cleared the weight amount the first two times I gave blood and got very ill. I was on bedrest the rest of the day because I was so dizzy and weak. I think the combo of being thin and not eating enough really got to me. I know a few other girls who were the same way so maybe have someone go with you in case you can't drive yourself back right away.

Donating blood is one of the simplest life saving acts one can perform. I think it's wonderful for anyone who does. It makes you feel good afterwards (not physically :P )

They'll also let you know your blood type if you don't know it already. Very important if you ever plan on having children (because of the RH negative factor)

Good luck! :)

[Logos]

I've been a regular donor for a few years now and was posting about it for a while.. (http://www.online-literature.com/forums/showthread.php?t=15748) :)

A few things I would suggest, make sure you drink plenty of fluids *before* you go; if you're like me and have not been drinking enough water or too much coffee it will be hard for them to get the needle into your vein, the blood might coagulate at the needle/insertion point, and or you're more likely to be dizzy/faint/weak and get a wicked headache afterwards :lol:

If you bruise easily, don't overstrain/lift heavy things with the arm you donated with or you could get a huge bruise for days/weeks later. Unless you want to look like a junkie :p

Oh and the needles they use here anyway are almost twice the diameter of a regular injection needle.

It's a great thing to do, good on you!

[Niamh]

I dont know if i can give blood because my blood pressure is constantly on the low side... my blood pressure today (which got me a worrying look from the paramedics) was 116/ 99. I think in the hospital it was 105... but i'm not sure.

Both my sister and my niece are unable to give blood here because they both had Glandular Fever.

[Virgil]

I'm set to do this next week. I don't know how much blood they take in other countries but i've been told that here in Australia they take about the size of a can or coke + a bit more.


I got my blood donor number today and i'm really excited. Sounds odd and i know it is a very small thing to do but I think i'm going to start doing this regularly as a way of "giving back" so to speak.

Have you given blood before? what was it like?

I have no fear of needles and i'm not squirmish about blood so i'm okay in that sense

I have blogged on this. http://www.online-literature.com/forums/blog.php?b=7049. Your arm doesn't go numb. At least mine has never.

Actually I'm scheduled for another blood donation a week from saturday.

[The Atheist]

I'm set to do this next week. I don't know how much blood they take in other countries but i've been told that here in Australia they take about the size of a can or coke + a bit more.

Bravo!

I've given blood for 35 years and have only had to give up this year due to an irregular heartbeat.

I think they take the same as a universal amount - 400ml, so I've given about 30-35 litres in my life. (about 7 US gallons)

I suspect the 50 gallons is a large overestimate.


It's an important process, but keep in mind, your arm is going to go numb for while, with an inability to do simple tasks like open a car door.

I'd dispute this, and having given on about 70 - 80 occasions and knowing dozens of others weho give blood regularly, I've never seen or heard of such things happening.

There's no numbness or weakness as no drugs are given - it is a straight needle into the vein and no more.

[mono]

I can't for several reasons, and wouldn't, even if I could.

I have to have enough blood taken out of me on a regular basis for testing that I can't spare any for blood donations. The ladies that run the blood clinic in town are absolute *****es, and automatically assume if you go in there looking a bit scruffy that you're infested with AIDS. My boyfriend isn't allowed to donate blood, despite having entirely clean, appropriate blood, and a letter of approval from his doctor, because on the survey you're given to determine eligibility, he checked, 'Sexual contact with a man.'... because ya know, EVERYBODY who has sex with another man gets AIDS...

As far as giving back goes... even if I were eligible to donate, enough other people do that I don't have to. That isn't as passive/lazy/self serving as it sounds. I also prefer to give back to the earth, rather than society/community/people. I'm a bad person, I know. I do a regular garbage clean up, and tree planting.
Indeed, there seem some persistently ridiculous rules on blood donation, and some of them came from the HIV/AIDS and hepatitis scares in the 1980's - true, quite some time ago, but many viral disorders can remain latent within the body for even longer.

I dont know if i can give blood because my blood pressure is constantly on the low side... my blood pressure today (which got me a worrying look from the paramedics) was 116/ 99. I think in the hospital it was 105... but i'm not sure.
116/99, that sounds odd . . . ? The difference between the systolic (in this case 116) and diastolic (99) we call the pulse pressure; in your case, it measures as 17, which, I agree with the paramedics, could cause some strange looks - it would even make me raise an eyebrow. It could have involved a malfunction of equipment or a user-error (the most common causes in a normally healthy individual without cardiopulmonary issues), but keep an eye on it, just in case - better safe than sorry, n'est pas?
All this talk about paramedics and hospitals, everything okay, kiddo? ;)

[Niamh]

116/99, that sounds odd . . . ? The difference between the systolic (in this case 116) and diastolic (99) we call the pulse pressure; in your case, it measures as 17, which, I agree with the paramedics, could cause some strange looks - it would even make me raise an eyebrow. It could have involved a malfunction of equipment or a user-error (the most common causes in a normally healthy individual without cardiopulmonary issues), but keep an eye on it, just in case - better safe than sorry, n'est pas?
All this talk about paramedics and hospitals, everything okay, kiddo? ;)

I dont know... maybe i got that wrong... maybe it was 90 not 99...okay not sure of that figure at all but it was 116 and then 105 in the hospital. i was in a lot of pain at the moment :p woops! or maybe i got them completely wrong altogether. wouldnt be anything new i can tell you!
Ah me is grand. Just pulled some muscles in my chest.

[Helga]

I have always wanted to give blood but the last time I checked ( a few years ago) I couldn't because I have/had low iron. I started taking iron so I would be able to give blood but then I got pregnant and it just never happened, I think I have a pretty good blood status now but if blood pressure matters than I know I'm very low, there usually comes and 'error' mark on the new blood pressure machines but the midwife I saw when I was pregnant used the old fashioned way and even that didn't always work, one time she took it 3 times before I was measurable...

when my dad was sick when I was 6 to 9 years old he needed a lot of blood, he was a teacher and a lot of the people who worked with him started to donate blood because of him and most of them do it still today 14 years later. I feel like I should do my part too, maybe I'll just go and do that in my summer vacation...

[Joreads]

I give blood on a regular basis also. I have never had any problems at all.


Niamh they will not let you donate with low blood pressure they hate it if you pass out. Mine is low also sometimes

[Zee.]

Appointment is at 2:45 tomorrow. So excited :)

[Zee.]

Okay i did it and now have this lame bandage on im about to take off and a killer headache. Worth it though

[ClaesGefvenberg]

when my dad was sick when I was 6 to 9 years old he needed a lot of blood, he was a teacher and a lot of the people who worked with him started to donate blood because of him and most of them do it still today 14 years later. Yes, that is what usually happens once people start donating blood, and all the more so when it is prompted by the need of someone they know.


Okay i did it and now have this lame bandage on im about to take off and a killer headache. Worth it thoughKiller headache? That does not sound very nice. I have never experienced any ill effects since I started donating... in 1979. Do you think that maybe you were a bit tense?

Anyway, I'm glad to hear that you did it. It feels pretty good, right?

/Claes

[Zee.]

No I just didn't have enough fluids i think

[Virgil]

Okay i did it and now have this lame bandage on im about to take off and a killer headache. Worth it though

Ah, four stars for you Lima. You deserve it!

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2a/Flag_of_four_star_general_of_Italy.svg/800px-Flag_of_four_star_general_of_Italy.svg.png

[PoeticPassions]

I pretty much have low blood pressure, and I am slightly anemic. Plus, I am deathly afraid of needles... thinking about it hurts.

I have never donated blood for these reasons. I feel like I should. Once my anemia is under control, I will definitely just do it. Get over the fear. (I have gotten my blood taken for tests, of course, but I freak out every time and it hurts a lot)

[The Atheist]

Okay i did it and now have this lame bandage on im about to take off and a killer headache. Worth it though

Bravo!! Top chick.

Did they give you stickers?

I only ever went for the snacks.

Chocolate biscuits are the norm, but if you give at Wellington Hospital, they have a team of old ladies who've had to give up giving blood - in their 80s, most of them - so they toddle down to the blood bank with plates of crackers and cheese. I used to go so often, half the time they'd have to tip some back in!

That headache is a strange one - I can't say I've ever heard of it as a side-effect. Maybe you're right with the fluid angle, but even more important is to go soon after a large feed. Whichever is the bigger meal for you of breakfast or lunch, go straight after that. But do drink plenty of fruit juice or something with sugar in it.

[bazarov]

I am on 28 donations so far and that's one of few things I made in life that I am proud of.

[Zee.]

Bravo!! Top chick.

Did they give you stickers?

I only ever went for the snacks.

Chocolate biscuits are the norm, but if you give at Wellington Hospital, they have a team of old ladies who've had to give up giving blood - in their 80s, most of them - so they toddle down to the blood bank with plates of crackers and cheese. I used to go so often, half the time they'd have to tip some back in!

That headache is a strange one - I can't say I've ever heard of it as a side-effect. Maybe you're right with the fluid angle, but even more important is to go soon after a large feed. Whichever is the bigger meal for you of breakfast or lunch, go straight after that. But do drink plenty of fruit juice or something with sugar in it.


Ah when you say Wellington I think of home. I miss NZ so much.

Yeah i had a headache after so i'm assuming it was lack of fluids. I got home later that night and had a good dinner and lots of water and felt better. Definitely doing it again.

[mono]

Well done, glad to hear it went well! The first time always feels a bit nerve-racking, but it gets easier and easier with the more times. Congrats, your donation could have very well saved a life! :thumbs_up

[Virgil]

I donated this morning. Stung a little more than usual but everything went smooth. :)

[Zee.]

Well done Virgil :]


They said to wait three months until i donate again, seems like ages :(

[Virgil]

Well done Virgil :]


They said to wait three months until i donate again, seems like ages :(

Really? It's only 56 days here. Did you read my blog on this? I posted a link somewhere before. I was able to squeeze in seven donations in 2008. This is my first for 2009. A few things have had me miss my appointments.

Edit: Oh and thank you. :)

[Zee.]

Then the three months must be a recommendation or something. Either way, they check your blood levels before you donate so going in earlier to see if you can donate can't hurt ;)

And you are welcome.

Edit - haven't seen the link,

[Virgil]

Then the three months must be a recommendation or something. Either way, they check your blood levels before you donate so going in earlier to see if you can donate can't hurt ;)

And you are welcome.

Edit - haven't seen the link,

Here it is: http://www.online-literature.com/forums/blog.php?b=7049

I would follow the recomendations outlined in your country. You can probably call up somewhere and find out for sure.

[sprinks]

I got my donation number back in Feb but still haven't been able to go. I found out along the way that I have Haemochromatosis, so the fact I had to have a blood test a week before my first blood donation appointment meant I couldn't do it, as well as the fact that I tested positive for that condition. So then I had to wait a few more months for them to send me paperwork, because I have to get these "Therapeutic Venesection Request Forms" signed by my doctor, which is annoying because I just want to go with my friends who do it so I can help people, but they have to treat it as a therapeutic medical thing due to my condition! Also we've been waiting for my dad to get tested (seeing as my grandma and her sister have it and I have it, and my mum's side doesn't have it he's pretty much definitely got it anyhow) so we could get all the forms done at the same time... And it's taking a while :rolleyes: My friends went this month, so in 3 months I can go with them hopefully. Then on top of that I have to fill out the "Donating Blood if you are 16-17 years old" forms (only needed in WA, QLD, and VIC though) AGAIN

[Joreads]

Well done Virgil :]


They said to wait three months until i donate again, seems like ages :(

That the law here lim (law might be to strong a word but you know what i mean) either way they will not let you donate before that time.

[sprinks]

That the law here lim (law might be to strong a word but you know what i mean) either way they will not let you donate before that time.

I was talking to one of my friends about it again today and she said one of our other friends who went this month fainted afterwards and now she has to wait 4-5 months between each time :(

[Joreads]

I was talking to one of my friends about it again today and she said one of our other friends who went this month fainted afterwards and now she has to wait 4-5 months between each time :(

They do not like it when you faint. If I go and my Blood Pressure is a little on the low side they send me home. They are really picky at the blood bank