I gave blood today!
Got a free Dove bar, too.
But apparently they’re hiring blind epileptics to do the jabbing, now, just to make it extra interesting for the donors. It took several minutes of “OW!” “Sorry, did that hurt?” before he found the sweet spot.
Still a cheap price for an hour off work and a free Dove bar.
Ginger, your post-exsanguination snack didn’t contain anything containing lentils or lentil flour, did it?
Because nothing will mess up your head more than a pre-lentil phlebotomy.
I don’t donate, but my cats give blood at the animal hospital.
Shame on you.
Another O+ donor checking in (they must have buckets of it!) I don’t count the 56 days with impatience, but I give regularly. Half the time Hema Quebec calls me and I start imagining those foxy nurses being all-extra-nice to me and I end up driving like a maniac to the blood drive. Someday I’ll have a horrible car crash. How ironic would that be?
I’m pretty sure it’s not that dangerous. I got more then enough macrocytic iron, just not enough of the microcytic variety.
Although it’s kind of neat. It’s a genetic disorder that exists in rare cases in Filipinos and Chinese, so even though I am White (really White) I know I have Filipino of Chinese ancestor somewhere. I also have a partial blockage of the … nerve bundle on one of my ventricles, left I think. Also something that’s not dangerous, or even odd. I think about 10% of the population has that. I think it was just the combination of those two and 1 nad occurance while giving blood where the needle got blocked about halfway through, I got very faint and sweaty. Which wasn’t so bad, half a dozen cute nurses around me holding my hands, dabbing my forehead, feeding me juice. But that was it, banned for life.
bah humbug.
they won’t let me. too thin apparently (i’m 47 kg, that’s enough). and i don’t even know what blood type i am because nobody likes my veins enough (“um, doctor, this is the third one to collapse, oh yes, and she won’t stop bleeding”) to do an unecessary test.
in ireland you just walk in off the street, fill in the form, and that’s you.
my mother got blacklisted after 20 years of platelet/blood/plasma donation because she grew up in a malarial country…
nope, she’s never had malaria, and if she had, all the bugs would be well and truly dead by now…it’s 30 years since she’s been in africa.
I used to give blood all the time because my pa was always sick, and he was an O-pos like me. If you have a donorcard you get preferential treatment (or at least it used to work that way)
Now I give blood in case(god forbid) anything should happen to a family member.
Each time i do, I pass out. I have no tolerance for needles. I always tell the vamps, hey, lie this damned chaise lounge back, I’m gonna pass out.
They all say “Nah, you’re a big strong guy”.
Then I pass out.
then it takes about ten of these little waifs to pick my giant bulk up so they can lie the chaise lounge down.
I just hate needles. I’m always OK, but it always sucks.
Still, it’s a good thing to do.
b.
[sub](I thought that in light of the WTC disaster, this would be a good thread to resurrect. Some good info and experiences here for others to read.)[/sub]
I’m an AB + donor, and I coincidentally donated shortly after this thread began. I just recently got my one gallon pin, but that’s because I’ve never lived in the same area for long enough til now, and I always lose the damn little card, anyways. I’m probably up over three gallons lifetime.
Interesting fact about AB +: the blood type is rare (about 3% of population). Even so, we are universal recipients (can use ANYONE else’s blood) but limited donors (our blood can be used ONLY by other AB + people). I’ve also been on the bone marrow registry for close to five years now, but I’ve never had a call.
John, my wife is blacklisted also. She gave blood earlier this year for the first time in eight years (had been birthin’ babies and breastfeeding during that time). They found her blood to contain antibodies for Hepatitis B, meaning she had had the virus at some point in her life (Hep B is not a terribly serious virus unless it becomes chronic, I understand). But even though she’s not currently sick with it (she saw a specialist to be certain) she blacklisted now. According to the doctor this thinking is atiquated, and he hopes they will come to their senses soon. We’ll wait and see.
Billy, your story gave me the first good laugh I’ve had in 36 hours. 
I’ve never had problems donating, other than the occasional bruise. I’ve also got good strong veins, and the nurses never fail to comment on just how fast I’m filling the bag. Obviously, the experience is different for everyone, but most people do just fine, no dizziness or fainting. YMMV, but it’s worth trying. ESPECIALLY now.
And what’s all this about good-looking nurses? Where do you guys donate?? The ones at my local Red Cross look like they wandered over from their rooms at the nursing home next door…it’s just not fair.
Yippee! I GAVE BLOOD TODAY.
I have been saying “I’ve got to do that some day” for years now and this tragedy got me off my arse and into the Red Cross.
It was a delightful experience. Some pain, little bruising, but an atmosphere of up-beat staff and volunteers that were terrific.
I had been previously identified as a “Veinless Wonder” by an anesthesiologist so I knew it would be hard. Cindy at the RC is my new hero…first time, every time! I also made plans to go back when Ginny (a volunteer) was working in 8 weeks.
I’m proud to be an Exsanguinating Ruby!
[sub]Thanks Ginger…I had to look that one up
Yeah. No kidding! But, I let the ‘vampires’ down at the Red Cross have a ‘taste’ of my own O neg every now and again. Hey - ya never know when you might need a bit of it yourself. Giving blood lets me feel I’m not placing myself in yet some other form of debt if I’m the one who needs a pint or two.
I’m A+, and I donated yesterday in the early afternoon, before the call went out for donors, and so I didn’t have much of a wait.
I generally don’t have a problem getting stuck, and have had only one bad experience, but it wasn’t bad enough to keep me from doing it.
As for the plasma-selling thing, these centers are generally owned by drug companies who use the plasma as the base for drugs. This isn’t the plasma that’s used in emergencies. Also, donors aren’t paid for their plasma, they’re paid for their time. This information comes from a research project I did in college.
Robin
I can’t give blood (the whole having had sex with another man since 1976 thing) but my dad is up to 13 gallons.
My mom (B pos) and brother (AB pos) gave yesterday. Maybe I’ll take partial credit for the A part of his.
HAAA!
You talk of pizza and of Subs.
Here in Ireland when you give blood you get …Guinness.
Yup , you trade a pint of your precious life blood for a half pint of theirs.
The novelty does wear off when they keep sending cops to your house because someone needs an in-uterine trafusion for their unborn child. Dont get me wrong its a good feeling everytime and I’m glad to help but the neighbours are beginning to talk.
CONTINUOUSLY?!?!?
A Pos here, been giving contiuously since Nov 1984, minus a few years after taking the pills Uncle Sam told me to take. Apheresis for a few years, getting qualified for SoFla system again. Have absolutely no clue how many gallons, don’t really care. Been in too many systems. I am an excellent bleeder.
(Note to Self: Next visit to Canada OR Ireland, Bleed Good!)
Damned right, UncleBill. After you get all woozy from bleeding, I’ll take advantage of you 
Funny thing, I don’t get woozy.
(Note, page 2: Forget Ireland. Now if I can just get my butt out of Las Vegas…)