# How many pints of blood have you donated? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 19, 2010, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-pints-of-blood-have-you-donated/561269 "2010-11-19T21:32:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Maiira](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Maiira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maiira)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2010, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-pints-of-blood-have-you-donated/561269/61 "2010-11-24T07:40:58Z")
> [@Balthisar](#): > > How do feel after having a doctor draw normal blood samples? I mentioned about that I pass out 100% of the time when donating blood, but I also pass out nearly 100% when blood is drawn for any reason. The work clinic doctor explained it to me once, but I can’t remember what the condition was called. It’s not an aversion to needles (inject me all day long, if you want), nor an aversion to my blood (I cut myself from time to time). It might be psychological because no one ever finds the vein the first five or six times. :mad: Umm…to be perfectly honest, I don’t even remember the last time a doctor has had to draw blood from me. I’ve gotten dizzy when doing blood typing labs in high school biology classes, because they always poked us when we were standing up, and the teachers practically stabbed us with the stupid lancets. So I think mine might just be an aversion to needles (though I’m usually okay with injections). ---
**Author:** ![One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/838e76/32.png) [@One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/One_And_Only_Wanderers)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2010, 9:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-pints-of-blood-have-you-donated/561269/62 "2010-11-24T09:41:55Z")
> [@TheBori](#): > > Am I really the ONLY person who has donated more that 15 gallons? I figured everyone was doing it…it’s easy, safe and saves lives. Am I just THAT old? How often can you donate? It’s 3 times a year here, so 120 pints would take 40 years. Given that you can’t start until 18 years of age, 15 gallons is a biiig number. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2010, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-pints-of-blood-have-you-donated/561269/63 "2010-11-24T12:00:30Z")
I wish I could donate, but I have crappy veins. In fact, there’s just one that works when I need to have a sample drawn at the doctor’s office. About 10 years ago, there was an occasion where it took 2 people 5 tries to start an IV. Fortunately, I’m B+, so it’s not like I’m a super-rare type. ---
**Author:** ![shiftless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9c0ed/32.png) [@shiftless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shiftless)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2010, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-pints-of-blood-have-you-donated/561269/64 "2010-11-24T13:47:13Z")
Just passed 2 gallons (so I get to be in the 17- 32 pints group, woot!) when they told me I can’t give anymore. ☹ Something in my blood triggers the HIV test, which causes them to waste money on further testing. No more free cookies for me. ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2010, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-pints-of-blood-have-you-donated/561269/65 "2010-11-24T19:30:33Z")
I’ve given something over 1 gallon. But I stopped giving when my veins started taking longer to stop bleeding after each session. Some folks ask, “Why not start donating from your other arm?” I answer, “Because that arm is reserved for putting blood back IN.” ---
**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2010, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-pints-of-blood-have-you-donated/561269/66 "2010-11-25T16:55:28Z")
I’m O - and CMV - , so they are always after me to donate, and I usually comply. It’s a great and relatively painless way to give back to the community. ---
**Author:** ![TheBori](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ee7513/32.png) [@TheBori](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheBori)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2010, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-pints-of-blood-have-you-donated/561269/67 "2010-11-25T17:56:17Z")
> [@One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](#): > > How often can you donate? It’s 3 times a year here, so 120 pints would take 40 years. Given that you can’t start until 18 years of age, 15 gallons is a biiig number. I donate platelets (apherisis). You can donate every 2 weeks. For a while I had a regular Wednesday appointment. I’ve been less regular since (busnies travel, etc). But it doesn’t take long. I recently got my 20 gallon pin. I do have professional track marks in both arms… all in the same spot. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2010, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-pints-of-blood-have-you-donated/561269/68 "2010-11-26T03:27:19Z")
If I’m not mistaken, I think my next donation will put me at the five gallon mark. ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2010, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-pints-of-blood-have-you-donated/561269/69 "2010-11-26T05:29:50Z")
I use to donate whenever the Red Cross came to work. But then I went to Mexico for a weekend, did not swap any bodily fluids with any natives, but they gave me the third degree about it. I gave the blood, but I am sure they flagged it and discarded. so I never gave again. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Nader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Darth\_Nader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Nader)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2010, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-pints-of-blood-have-you-donated/561269/70 "2010-11-30T05:38:17Z")
Won’t take mine. Pisses me off. ---
**Author:** ![lindsaybluth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/90db22/32.png) [@lindsaybluth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lindsaybluth)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2010, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-pints-of-blood-have-you-donated/561269/71 "2010-11-30T18:20:00Z")
Can’t do it/ not allowed. _Extremely_ small veins. When I have routine bloodwork done, I get a butterfly needle to the hand. Sigh. ---
**Author:** ![tr0psn4j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@tr0psn4j](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tr0psn4j)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2010, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-pints-of-blood-have-you-donated/561269/72 "2010-11-30T19:54:55Z")
I didn’t vote. It’s not that I have chosen not to, I just haven’t gotten around to it yet. ---
**Author:** ![Gedd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gedd/32/4938_2.png) [@Gedd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gedd)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2010, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-pints-of-blood-have-you-donated/561269/73 "2010-11-30T20:06:36Z")
Being on 3 different medications means they don’t want my blood. I’m fine with that because I hate needles and am a scared puppy around them. This way I don’t have to choose between freaking out when they go to stick me or wimping out and not donating. I figure my contribution is reminding my wife to donate since she is O-. ---
**Author:** ![Runestar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/74df32/32.png) [@Runestar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Runestar)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-pints-of-blood-have-you-donated/561269/74 "2010-12-02T14:21:52Z")
Over 8 gallons here in the midwest, and 2+ gallons during the 6 years we lived in Seattle. I also donated a few times when I still was living in Philadelphia during/after college. I’m O-, so they’re always happy to see me. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-pints-of-blood-have-you-donated/561269/75 "2010-12-02T15:43:54Z")
I can’t donate any more because of my arthritis. SWMBO, however, is up over 10 gallons and still going strong. The Blood Bank loves her every 90 days! ---
**Author:** ![Kiyoshi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e19adc/32.png) [@Kiyoshi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kiyoshi)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-pints-of-blood-have-you-donated/561269/76 "2010-12-02T17:09:36Z")
As soon as they get rid of their pathetic homophobic rules, I can and will give blood, despite my fear of needles. (Yes, I know I could just lie to them, but why should I?) ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-pints-of-blood-have-you-donated/561269/77 "2010-12-02T17:24:25Z")
> [@Kiyoshi](#): > > As soon as they get rid of their pathetic homophobic rules, I can and will give blood, despite my fear of needles. (Yes, I know I could just lie to them, but why should I?) Yes, the longer this poll goes on, the more I’m aware my wording of the option ‘0, and I can’t’ was poor. I was trying to capture ‘0, and they won’t let me/don’t want my blood.’ I hope and believe the day you speak of is coming. ---
**Author:** ![Junkman209](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/junkman209/32/5522_2.png) [@Junkman209](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Junkman209)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-pints-of-blood-have-you-donated/561269/78 "2010-12-02T22:46:58Z")
I’m type O-. Gave 2 gallons. Can’t give more. Blood disorder. ---
**Author:** ![Double\_Foolscap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/85e7bf/32.png) [@Double\_Foolscap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Double_Foolscap)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2010, 10:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-pints-of-blood-have-you-donated/561269/79 "2010-12-03T10:35:50Z")
I’m up to 20 pints, but it’s been over a year since my last donation. I should probably get on that - I think there’s a church on my way home from work which has blood drives every so often. ---
**Author:** ![Swords\_to\_Plowshares](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b38774/32.png) [@Swords\_to\_Plowshares](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swords_to_Plowshares)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2010, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-pints-of-blood-have-you-donated/561269/80 "2010-12-03T17:01:36Z")
I haven’t and I can’t/won’t. I get fainty and my veins are hard to find. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-pints-of-blood-have-you-donated/561269.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-pints-of-blood-have-you-donated/561269.md?page=5)