Moving to MPSIMS.
I’m on a registry, but years ago I was told that I weigh too much to donate. Is it true that there’s a max weight?
Their website has a chart for weight maximums.
I gave for the first time last month, still haven’t gotten my card in the mail telling me what type I am. The bruise took forever to go away, though.
I used to be too skinny to give. Not anymore, I’m afraid. But I’ve been on the marrow registry for ages.
I used to get a group of 3 or 4 people from work to go the Red Cross every few months to donate blood. A couple of us would try to race, with me being the winner every time (yeah me!). Then we’d hang out and eat the free cookies. Was usually a good time.
Unfortunately I no longer work there and now have to go by myself. Maybe I’ll see about setting up something similar at my new office.
A+ : did apheresis for a long time: however, my veins are shot. I can’t do it any more.
As soon as I lose another 59 pounds, I’m signing up to be a bone marrow donor, though. Another great goal to shoot for!
Adding another plea for blood to the list… My father has his 20 gallon pin, but now He is getting blood and platelets on a very regularly because he has AML (at type of leukemia.) Right now he is in a phase 1 trial- conventional chemotherapy has stopped working and he is to old for many treatments such as transplants and some types of chemo.
I can’t give blood myself, due to having the gay, so I encourage other people whenever I can.
You could say it out loud, like “thanks for the juice and cookies, I donated today in honor of my gay friend Mr. Dorothy” 
I don’t think anyone would be offended.
I used to donate often, but due to various circumstances, I dropped off. I have been trying to donate now for months and I can’t quite do it. I made an appointment in the spring and got very sick for weeks and had to cancel it. Then I made another one a few weeks ago and I got sick that week too. I keep going to check when/where there are drives, but they aren’t ever close to me on a day/time I can do it. Very frustrating.
It was so much easier at a previous job when they would come to us and do a drive in our building.
I’ll go check the site now for drive updates.
Closing in on 5 gallons. Also on marrow donor list.
I do have a complaint about our Red Cross chapter though. They often do an online followup questionnaire. That’s fine and all, but their focus seems to be if I was greeted warmly and thanked for my donation afterwards. Yeah, fine, great. Whatever. How about asking me how truly competent I thought the phlebotomist was? Did the needle stick go well? Did it hurt? Because I know that folks good at sticking me do not even cause a twinge, let alone a stab. Can’t they reward the people that are good at drawing blood? Reward me for donating by having skilled people do the draw. I do not care if they are pleasant if they are skillful. And no matter how pleasant they are, I will have negative feelings if they poke wildly at me. And I will happily buy my own coffee and cookies if the draw is painless.
Also, anyone else think that as their blood is going through the tube, it looks rather like chocolate?
I was donating regularly but it was getting harder and harder to find my vein. Or, to find a phlebotomy who could find my vein.
I went through a lot of shit and a lot of pain trying to give blood. A couple times I’d go and go through a lot of pain and still not be able to donate (vein stopped, couldn’t find vein in the first place, etc) It was a major accomplishment when I could actually leave a whole pint behind.
HOWEVER, I’ll do it again. I just need to lose a few pounds and see if that helps.
I donated once a few years ago. I promptly fainted afterwards. I’m trying to work up the courage to do it again. My husband donates at least twice each year.
I would, but they won’t take mine anymore. I lost count of how much I gave, so I feel like I’ve done my share. Used to make a point of donating on my birthday, which was cool.
I’m the queen of iron counts - they’re always impressed. A+ but my blood pressure is normally low so sometimes they don’t want to take it and I have to insist. I do sympathize with those of you whose blood is not accepted, or who feel queasy around needles, I’m a bit of a wuss with that too, I just look the other way, but I am encouraged to give knowing others don’t have the option.
Giving blood was what tipped me off to my high blood pressure. They recommended I see my Dr, given the continued history of it getting higher and higher.
I did, he monitored it, but said it didn’t quite yet require medication.
I took a year off from giving blood, then when I returned I was told I couldn’t give - blood pressure was finally too high.
Went back to my doctor and now I’m on meds.
Apparently the needles they use are too big for my awkward veins or something.
I donated for about twenty years, as often as they came around. At some places, they would stop by like clockwork to milk the same donors right on schedule. At others, they would only come twice a year.
I stopped donating when I began running (ironically, I started running because of BP concerns raised by a nurse while I was donating). The problem is, when I donate blood, that first day is useless for any physical effort, and my endurance is sapped for several days afterwards. Even though the needle doesn’t really bother me, I hate being physically drained for two or three days.
It’s selfish, but I rationalize that away by considering how many gallons I contributed in the past.
Allowed to do it only twice a year now; I have O- with no anti-CMV antibodies and lovely veins. I have to do it on days when the boss isn’t there, so she won’t punish me for taking the time out of the office. I’ll check the schedule for the next time available. Hit the 13-gallon mark last time but they didn’t give me a pin. 
Because I found a blood drive a week ago last Thursday, I am not elible to donate again until August 25th. I may postpone 6 days then and bring in my son, who will be 16 on the 31st and donate with him while he does it for the first time.
I gave my 25th donation this week, so I’ve been feeling quite proud of myself. I got a little badge and a certificate, which I thought was very nice.