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:( oh, that's too bad that you couldn't help your mother. I guess they have such strict guidelines now regarding age/weight/overall health that they are trying to be extra careful that no harm comes to someone who does it. I wish I could donate more often, but they only allow you to every 56 days.Quote:
Originally Posted by Madhuri
I feel like such a baby about that when I think of my son, he's 13 and has Crohn's disease, which was diagnosed a couple weeks after he turned 11 and one of the medications he takes requires frequent blood tests and he sits and takes all those needles like a man. ;) :lol: One time though, the nurse...or phlebotomist...let's just call her the "technician", moved the needle while it was in his vein, she pulled it out just a tad and then pushed it back in at an angle and my eyes literally started to water but my son didn't even flinch. When we got out of there though he told me he never wanted that "technician" again.Quote:
Originally Posted by Logos
That is so strange. I have been a donor since 1979, and I have never seen that happen.Quote:
Originally Posted by Logos
And yet you persist. I find that very impressive. You have to be scared before you can be brave, right?Quote:
Originally Posted by Logos
Don't feel bad about it. After all, you did try, didn't you? It's not your fault that the rules stopped you, but they should, you know... they are there for a reason.Quote:
Originally Posted by Madhuri
Crohn's? I am sorry to hear that. Still, as you say, a brave young man.Quote:
Originally Posted by Idril
/Claes
cool logo . I do bood donation every six months,it's kinda habbit . It's good for your health and your spirit:)
Yup, I agree :) I was feeling much braver today, must have gotten up on the right side of the bed. Today was my 5th donation and it went really well, much better than the last time. I was hardly squeamish about the needle :p and they used my other arm so there was no problem with clotting etc and it took about 7 mins to get a full bag/donation. One of the volunteers had brought in homemade apple tarts for us to eat afterwards, I had two hahaa!Quote:
Originally Posted by ClaesGefvenberg
I'm always so touched by the amount of gratitude one is shown just by walking in the door and going through the procedure, the nurses and technicians always thanking you for taking the time out of your day to donate, whereas I am happy to be able to do it and thank them.
i'm not able to donate yet because i'm too young . . and i'm probably definitely too thin . . . but i'm really frightened of doing it; i'm scared to death of needles. Except i have O-type blood, which can transfer to anybody, so i'm really afraid that if i DON'T donate when i can, somebody who needs blood that can transfer to anybody won't get it and will get sick or die. do they have enough blood at the bloodbank, or do they still really need more donors?
And now a bit of blood donor trivia:Quote:
Originally Posted by Logos
When I first started donating blood in the late 70's, I usually pedalled my bike through town to get there. Somehow, I was always arriving at the last moment, so my pulse was ticking away at quite a pace. To top things off, the equipment was a little different in those days: The blood bags were put inside airtight cansters with reduced pressure. You see where this is leading, by now, don't you?
Oh yes: Sluuuuuurp! No seven minutes there.... More like two minutes, actually :lol: And yet... I never saw anyone faint or even get woozy.
/Claes
I agree that there should be some criteria to be fulfilled before blood can be donated. As it is not sensible to take blood from an already weak person, that blood will be deficient, which is not fit for any patient. When these rules are made they think of the patient more, who will be recieving the blood, and are cautious that only healthy people donate blood.
Oh, the rules are there to protect both donor and reciever. Anyway, you can look at it in this way: Somebody else helped your mother this time. You, on the other hand, will probably be able to donate later in life... and help someone else in the same way.Quote:
Originally Posted by Madhuri
/Claes
Mostly agree to the things said here. However, this stuff about not letting homosexual men donate is a bit like implying that they all sleep around, isn't it? HIV is almost as common among heteros and the tests are highly accurate. Still, better safe than sorry I suppose.
In Sweden, we get these wonderful t-shirts after donating blood, which means you can brag without really saying anything... :)
I'm a regular donor for a while, so I sometimes ask questions like those to the doctors. Although I'm not an American, I think that answers are the same.
This resercheas are very expensive so they count on donor's honesty. Actually, they don't do those resercheas( not all and not so detail).Quote:
Originally Posted by Logos
If you have enough of Fe in your blood, your blood is acceptable. After further exams, if your blood is good, you can become a regular donor.Quote:
Originally Posted by Logos
You have to have more than 55kg. So if you're thin and tiny...:DQuote:
Originally Posted by Madhuri
Yes, me, on my last donating! I was ''off'' for couple of minutes. My vein got broken, and blood went out in arm; my arm changed it's color in last three weeks from red to blue, then to green and finally to black...But everything worked out fine.Quote:
Originally Posted by ClaesGefvenberg
You're kidding right? yes they are expensive and take up tremendous amounts of time and resources, but haven't you heard of all the 'tainted blood scandals' that people have died from? In Canada anyway a person goes through an extensive Interview and screening process (I think it is 8 steps) each and every time they go. Each and every donation is tested for infectious diseases including sexually transmitted diseases, hepatitis, hiv 1 and 2, and west nile virus. A person may be infected by these and not know it, hence they might still be honestly thinking they don't have anything, but the tests show they do, and their doctor is informed.Quote:
Originally Posted by bazarov
Misunderstood...They do tests, but don't look for viruses very deep, is like normal test, not like going to speciallist.Quote:
Originally Posted by Logos
We don't get money for blood, it's a manner of good wish, so they have faith in donor's credibility but even then they do tests, you can never know if you're ill. If you're ill, they call you imediatlly.
Couple of years ago some 2 or 3 people got infected with donated blood. It was a huge scandal, and the reason was Baxter's broken machines. Then it was published that they do tests on blood, but even then you can get some diseas, but possibility for that is very minimum, so it's acceptable. Kind a stupid, I know.
So, since we turned 18 on 23th September, we thought it might be a good idea to start donating blood.
Yesterday, on our way home, two friends sitting in a cafe besides the way saw us and invited us to have a snack with them. They said that they were going to go and donate some blood so we joined in.
When we three got there, there were two nice student girls giving us forms and asking us to fill in, asking whether it was our first time and whatnot.
Also, when we were filling in the questionaire (it was a bloody long one) they helped when we asked about the dangers of donating blood. (they were: fainting and, when you have a cold or something, your immune system might be weakened for some time so the cold can get worse)
One of our friends had too little emo-goblins in her blood so she couldn't donate any, but the other one could. We had 155 emo-goblins, we think. 135 was necessary for men.
They gave us a little packet of juice and told to drink up before giving blood.
And so, then we gave some blood. It took a little time (about seven minutes) which passed fast since we had someone to talk with.
We gave 450 millilitres and got a big chocolate (with almonds) as a reward. The friend who gave blood got also a little badge with a blood-drop on it since it was second time for her.
We felt a bit woozy after the donation and talked about very strange things. (but we do it constantly, so no harm done)
So, we are a blood donor now.
BTW, we had a strange dream lately about donating blood, but we won't tell of it here.
Then, how about telling it in here :DQuote:
Originally Posted by Taliesin