Blood Donors

[miles]

I'm O+, but they won't take my blood because of a teensy, tiny little malaria infection I had a very long time ago.

If not for that, I'd donate regularly.



miles

[bsd43]

At my office blood drives you can't donate if you've been to the UK. That eliminates my English co-workers who would love to donate and they meet every other qualification. Silly.

The local blood banks (Bay Area Red Cross, and Blood Centers of the Pacific) have actually relaxed their travel restrictions recently. For the long time, the restrictions have been whether you spent 3 months in the UK after 1980, or 6 months anywhere else in Europe after 1980. Now, it's 3 months in the UK between 1980 and 1996, or 5 years elsewhere in Europe. I guess they're just trying to be super safe on vCJD.

Now, the anti-gay rules seem over-the-top to me -- my gay friends sleep around a helluva lot less than my straight friends, on average.

[Mr. Whippy]

Ok.

A few points:
1.  Ant, you're still technically at risk for nvCJD.  Although not proven, the theoretical latency can be up to 30 years based on classic CJD.  Yes, a lot of the screening process is bullshit, but it's in place because the policy is better overly safe than sorry.

2.  O+ can be given to an rh neg. patient once safely, and it is done in cases of trauma where rh neg blood is in short supply.  Fertile females are the general exeception.

3.  The gay prohibition is archaic and should be ended.  It's merely a epidemiological phenomena which is no longer valid.

4. Even more stupid is the ban on hemachromatosis patients.  Nothing wrong with their blood but excess iron.  They tend to donate once to twice per month.

5.  Despite some of the bullshit, blood donations are critical.  Much of modern advances require massive transufusion support--oncology needs tons of platelets, trauma and transplantation needs tons of RBCs.  All you blood donors also support the coagulation factor production which is critical for hemophiliacs, liver failure patients, trauma patients and those on antithrombotics and bleed.

6.  Platelet pheresis donors are walking with God.  They save hundreds of onc patients every year.

7.  Whole blood donors are are walking with God.  They save hundreds of motorcyclists and motorists and pedestrians (and others) with massive trauma (or transplant).  One MVA patient can use 60-100 units of red cells on initial resusitation.  Liver transplant patients start their surgery with a cooler containing 40 units.

8.  Donate often and realize you're actively saving lives.  Even if you don't know who.

[cbsnbiker]

4. Even more stupid is the ban on hemachromatosis patients.  Nothing wrong with their blood but excess iron.  They tend to donate once to twice per month.

I wasn't aware of that. I know someone with hemachromatosis. He gets blood drawn regularly. I'd always assumed that it could be donated. What a shame that it can't.

[Fourstring]

I donate (O neg).  I had a couple of years where I couldn't because of tattoos, but that's about it.

I don't mind the donating; the tape hurts worse than the needle, and I don't mind blood.  But can I stop getting all the stupid CD/calender/sweatshirt/ice cream gifts?  Just pay me or something if you feel you have to.

[Bubwheat]

I donate on a schedule at Lifesource here in Chicago. They seem to like the Alyx donations I give which collect only red blood cells while returning the other blood components, they tell me it's equivalent to a double dose of whole blood and can be used sooner because it doesn't have to be further processed(? pls correct me if wrong).

As to the sex questions, they always ask me if I ever "received any money for having sex with someone" and I always tell them "Look, I ask 'em all,  but no one will pay me!"  

[Mr. Whippy]

I don't mind the donating; the tape hurts worse than the needle, and I don't mind blood.  But can I stop getting all the stupid CD/calender/sweatshirt/ice cream gifts?  Just pay me or something if you feel you have to.

Blood banks would love to pay good, reliable repeat donors but FDA sez no.  No paid donations (prevents drug users from donating for drug money--very common during the era of plasma donation centers).

[Mr. Whippy]

I donate on a schedule at Lifesource here in Chicago. They seem to like the Alyx donations I give which collect only red blood cells while returning the other blood components, they tell me it's equivalent to a double dose of whole blood and can be used sooner because it doesn't have to be further processed(? pls correct me if wrong).

Correct.  Red cell pheresis.  A huge help (but not a common practice--yet).

Thanks.

[Bubwheat]

No problem, glad to help. I wouldn't accept pay because it's the only place I can go and eat all the cookies and juice boxes I want, and no one complains!  

[cultureslayer]

Got my tatt a little over a yera ago, will be getting another one later this year, and don't want to be giving anyone my anti-thyroid antibodies.

[highside]

I used to donate every eight weeks. That is the recommended time span here.
Now I have stopped because the Seattle Blood center struck a deal with the Dept. of Defense to keep track of DNA.
I have nothing to hide, but WTF?

Do you have anything on this? I live in Seattle and the very idea is pissing me off to a point where, if true, they can kiss my Oneg goodbye.

[ksann]

I donate platelets as often as possible (directly to a cancer treatment hospital (City of Hope)), but too often am rejected because of a low hemoglobin count. (the lower limit is 12.5, I am often 10.0-12.1).

Still, I will break the 100 donation mark this year. and I usually give a double unit, and occasionally a triple.



ken

[hhhch45]

I donate every 8 weeks up to about 7.5 gallons now. I allways figured it was good karma donating. Riding bikes one never knows?
Jim

[Walker]

I used to donate every eight weeks. That is the recommended time span here.
Now I have stopped because the Seattle Blood center struck a deal with the Dept. of Defense to keep track of DNA.
I have nothing to hide, but WTF?

My DNA (as is all service members) is on file with DOD, but then we were informed that our DNA had been transfered to the Dept. of Energy?  WTF?  Why in the HELL did the DOE get to head up the Human Genome Project?  And why was I 'volunteered' for it?

[Jeff]

I donate on a schedule at Lifesource here in Chicago. They seem to like the Alyx donations I give which collect only red blood cells while returning the other blood components, they tell me it's equivalent to a double dose of whole blood and can be used sooner because it doesn't have to be further processed(? pls correct me if wrong).

I did this the last time I donated, when I still lived in Minnesota. That was the first time I ever felt any side effects, and it was basically a bit nauseous at the beginning (ate a few Tums and was good). Then I got damn cold. But they gave me a blanket and some hot chocolate and I was better.

I've given over a gallon, but haven't really regularly because of a tattoo, then moving about over the last few years. But this post reminds me to contact the Red Cross, which I'll do now.

Jeff

[Walker]

As to the original subject:  I can no longer donate due to the countries I've been to and due to the immunizations that the Army gave me.

[Ant]

If you ever need blood I think you'll appreciate the precautions alot more.

IMHO, STFU.

Wow, nothing I said was meant to be a dig. I understand why the precautions are in place but I didn't understand why this particular one was around. It has now been explained to me, I still think it is something that they should test for rather than blanket ban but I can appreciate the precautions.

And the whole reason I can't give blood is because I have received it, it saved my life when I was born. That is why I want to donate

Apologies if anyone else took my "rant" to be selfish, certainly wasn't meant that way.

[Bubwheat]

Got my tatt a little over a yera ago, will be getting another one later this year, and don't want to be giving anyone my anti-thyroid antibodies.

Hashimoto's thyroiditis?  

[Bubwheat]

I did this the last time I donated, when I still lived in Minnesota. That was the first time I ever felt any side effects, and it was basically a bit nauseous at the beginning (ate a few Tums and was good). Then I got damn cold. But they gave me a blanket and some hot chocolate and I was better.

I've given over a gallon, but haven't really regularly because of a tattoo, then moving about over the last few years. But this post reminds me to contact the Red Cross, which I'll do now.

Jeff

I never had any side effect except for a slight metallic taste which is soon overcome with those cookies and juice boxes!  

[Mr. Whippy]

Got my tatt a little over a yera ago, will be getting another one later this year, and don't want to be giving anyone my anti-thyroid antibodies.

Have you ever been seen by a thyroid disease specialist (not just an endocrinologist)?  Your chronic fatigue syndrome may be a variation on hypothyroidism or even hyperparathyroidism.