# I'm pissed because I can't give blood. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 12, 2001, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-pissed-because-i-cant-give-blood/81099 "2001-09-12T16:32:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![fish\_in\_the\_sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7ba0ec/32.png) [@fish\_in\_the\_sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fish_in_the_sky)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2001, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-pissed-because-i-cant-give-blood/81099/21 "2001-09-12T21:08:51Z")
I’ve never given blood before because I’m terrified of needles, but if the Red Cross will come to (rural) town I’m willing to give it a try. Barring that I’ll donate money. ---
**Author:** ![SisterCoyote](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/958977/32.png) [@SisterCoyote](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SisterCoyote)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2001, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-pissed-because-i-cant-give-blood/81099/22 "2001-09-12T21:14:58Z")
I have to put off donating because I’m down with a head cold/bronchitis. :mad: But as soon as I’m able… I’m A- CMV- And **Lunatic**? One trick my mother uses (she’s also petrified of needles but gives blood regularly) is not looking at the arm the whole time she’s donating. Not until the Nurse tells her she can raise her arm. Don’t know if it will work for you or not… ---
**Author:** ![celestina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/258eb7/32.png) [@celestina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/celestina)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2001, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-pissed-because-i-cant-give-blood/81099/23 "2001-09-12T21:16:04Z")
Okay, I’m showing my ignorance here so educate me, please. Why can’t you give blood if you’ve got a tattoo or had a piercing done? Is it because you’ve taken pain-killers or something when you had the procedure done? ---
**Author:** ![Ayesha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c0e974/32.png) [@Ayesha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ayesha)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2001, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-pissed-because-i-cant-give-blood/81099/24 "2001-09-12T21:17:36Z")
I can never give blood again as I have HepC (though I am in remission right now). But there are other things we can do like make a cash donation to the red cross if we live too far away to volunteer in another way. If we all do what we can no matter how little that may seem, we will make a difference. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2001, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-pissed-because-i-cant-give-blood/81099/25 "2001-09-12T21:51:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by celestina \* > \*\*Okay, I’m showing my ignorance here so educate me, please. Why can’t you give blood if you’ve got a tattoo or had a piercing done? Is it because you’ve taken pain-killers or something when you had the procedure done? \*\* I think it’s because, even though the needles are sterile, there’s always the possibility of infection. I had no painkillers for my tattoo, so that’s not it. With HIV and other infections, IIRC, your blood may not show the virus for at least 6 months after exposure. I think the year guideline is a “better safe than sorry” attitude, and I can understand it. ---
**Author:** ![SisterCoyote](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/958977/32.png) [@SisterCoyote](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SisterCoyote)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2001, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-pissed-because-i-cant-give-blood/81099/26 "2001-09-12T22:03:49Z")
I’m not 100% sure what the problem is with piercings. Tattoos, OTOH, carry a small risk of accidental blood transmission. It is _possible_ (though unlikely) for blood to be pushed back up the tube into the ink (or at least into the tube, anyway) while the needle is working under your skin. This is not a problem for “reputable” tattoo parlors (ones that use an autoclave and other appropriate sterilizing procedures) but because not _all_ such operations clean their equipment completely all persons with recent tattoos are considered to be “at risk,” just like all gay men are (regardless of their sex lives or HIV status). :rolleyes: Similarly, someone with a gaping wound wouldn’t be allowed to donate. I wasn’t allowed to donate for a year after my knee surgery - but in my case it had something to do with the antibiotics they gave me. Don’t know if this helps, and I’m rambling. ---
**Author:** ![JillGat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9fc29f/32.png) [@JillGat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JillGat)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2001, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-pissed-because-i-cant-give-blood/81099/27 "2001-09-12T22:08:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Superdude \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by celestina \* > > \*\*Okay, I’m showing my ignorance here so educate me, please. Why can’t you give blood if you’ve got a tattoo or had a piercing done? Is it because you’ve taken pain-killers or something when you had the procedure done? \*\* > > I think it’s because, even though the needles are sterile, there’s always the possibility of infection. I had no painkillers for my tattoo, so that’s not it. With HIV and other infections, IIRC, your blood may not show the virus for at least 6 months after exposure. I think the year guideline is a “better safe than sorry” attitude, and I can understand it. \*\* Bloodborne pathogens like Hepatitis B and C and HIV can be transmitted via tattoo needles. Many states don’t have “licensing” for tattoo artists to be sure that whole procedure is sterile. ---
**Author:** ![red\_dragon60](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ce73a5/32.png) [@red\_dragon60](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/red_dragon60)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2001, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-pissed-because-i-cant-give-blood/81099/28 "2001-09-12T22:56:18Z")
My friends and I went to the local Red Cross and gave $90.25 between all of us. We are broke but happy. Doug ---
**Author:** ![Born2Read](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/cdc98d/32.png) [@Born2Read](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Born2Read)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2001, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-pissed-because-i-cant-give-blood/81099/29 "2001-09-13T00:20:35Z")
Superdude, I got you covered. By coincidence, the blood drive for city workers (like me) was today. When I got there, I didn’t realize we had so many employees! I waited almost an hour. Usually you can walk right in. The good people the RI Blood Center were sending members of the public to their other sites, as they had all the city employees they could handle in the bloodmobile. People saw it parked in front of City Hall and were stopping like crazy. There were a lot of first time donors, too. So, Lunatic13, don’t worry. The people who take blood are pros. It doesn’t hurt much and if the needles bother you, do what I do. Turn your head and don’t look. ---
**Author:** ![ruadh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2001, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-pissed-because-i-cant-give-blood/81099/30 "2001-09-13T00:23:04Z")
I can’t give blood because I lived in England in 1996 and they’re afraid I might have mad cow disease. Nevermind that I haven’t eaten cows since 1985. I’ll go give cash tomorrow, though. ---
**Author:** ![Ruffian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/71e660/32.png) [@Ruffian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruffian)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2001, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-pissed-because-i-cant-give-blood/81099/31 "2001-09-13T00:26:35Z")
We both had ear piercings in April. (As it is, I’m more or less blacklisted anyway as I vomited 3x, had no measureable blood pressure for an hour, and could not stay conscious for equally that long after my one donation. They kept saying, “I really recommend you don’t give blood again…”) We’ve been scrambling to find SOMEthing we can do, and thanks to **Zette** ’s link, we have. ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2001, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-pissed-because-i-cant-give-blood/81099/32 "2001-09-13T00:30:14Z")
Can’t give blood 'cos I’m a faggot, but I’ll see if I can afford to give money. ---
**Author:** ![celestina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/258eb7/32.png) [@celestina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/celestina)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2001, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-pissed-because-i-cant-give-blood/81099/33 "2001-09-13T00:45:49Z")
Thanks for educating me. I can’t stand needles, so I wouldn’t have tattoos or piercings done anyway. More power to those who do though. I will give blood, though. ---
**Author:** ![whiterabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/cab0a1/32.png) [@whiterabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whiterabbit)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2001, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-pissed-because-i-cant-give-blood/81099/34 "2001-09-13T00:48:52Z")
I can’t donate either – I’m two pounds under the weight limit, and I did try, but they still wouldn’t let me – so I’m going to see if I can come up with a little money. I’m very very very broke right now, but I’ve got to do SOMETHING. ---
**Author:** ![FallenAngel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@FallenAngel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FallenAngel)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2001, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-pissed-because-i-cant-give-blood/81099/35 "2001-09-13T00:59:28Z")
**SD** , our collective pint of O+ is “in the mail”. (If you ever call me a peach again, I’ll slug you. Can’t I be a pommegranite or some other non-revolting food 😉 ) **Red\_Dragon** good job, man. Every little bit helps, and scraping together and piling up your loose cash means more than Bill Gates cutting a seven figure check. ---
**Author:** ![Tenar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@Tenar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tenar)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2001, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-pissed-because-i-cant-give-blood/81099/36 "2001-09-13T03:11:08Z")
I am frustrated beyond words, too – another donor lost to the (necessary) “better safe than sorry” approach. I used to be a faithful blood donor – not a sexy O-, granted, just a boring B+, but I did the best I could. Now I am barred for life because my beautiful wife was a former IV drug abuser who ultimately died of AIDS. I know these measures are necessary, but since I have tested negative for both HIV and hepatitis on more than one occasion in recent years, have _ **never** _ used IV drugs myself, have had only one sexual partner in my entire life, have had only lesbian sex (yes, I know that’s no guarantee, but it sure improves the odds), have never had a blood transfusion, have been celibate for the many years my beloved has been gone (sadly, I require love and not just sex), have never been raped, have no tattoos, have never been to Britain, rarely eat beef, much less imported beef, and am not a health care worker, I am as close to being 100% safe as it is possible for a human being to be. I am certainly safer than the average person on the street, because the average person on the street has probably never been tested and only _assumes_ he or she is negative. And I am barred for life. I, too, will seek other useful outlets where I many. But in a situation like this, the urge to give of one’s one life in as literal a fashion as possible is overwhelming. Plus, I liked the Oreo cookies and Lorna Doones. The juice and jelly beans really sucked, though. ---
**Author:** ![Ferggie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e99b99/32.png) [@Ferggie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferggie)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2001, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-pissed-because-i-cant-give-blood/81099/37 "2001-09-13T05:38:00Z")
When I can get in, I’ll give two donations’ worth of platelets. (They routinely take two from me. With platelets they can split up my As and Bs and make it more useful than my AB- whole blood.) Who wants my Bs? (That’s plural of “B”, not bullshit.) ---
**Author:** ![junkyardangel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/47e85d/32.png) [@junkyardangel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/junkyardangel)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2001, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-pissed-because-i-cant-give-blood/81099/38 "2001-09-13T06:12:09Z")
I cannot donate, either, due to Hepatitis A 10 years ago, but I have given as much as I can afford. It really is a bummer, I was 2 donations away from a gallon pin. Even though I can’t stand the pointy end of a needle pointed in my direction. I give through my church (United Methodist) and I can be sure it will all go to where it is needed. Let me urge you to give as much money as you can, it is needed as much as blood. The survivors are looking at astronominal medical bills. And the families of the dead are going to have funerals to pay for, and I’m sure most of them are not prepared for that. I renew my offer, if there is anything I can do for anyone, I will do all I can. And I know the church is more than willing to help anyone, member or not, just ask. Please continue to pray for the families, and the injured. Everyone can do it, even if you cannot do anything else. I will get down off my soapbox, now. I do have a tendancy to run on and on. JYA ---
**Author:** ![Phallyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5e9695/32.png) [@Phallyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phallyn)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2001, 10:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-pissed-because-i-cant-give-blood/81099/39 "2001-09-13T10:21:07Z")
I can’t give because I’m a year too young – sixteen istead of the required seventeen :0 It’s driving me crazy, 'cause I want to donate very badly, but I’ll have to wait until my birthday in December. Three months never seemed like such a long time before ☹ ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2001, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-pissed-because-i-cant-give-blood/81099/40 "2001-09-13T11:23:19Z")
Well, my blood may be homo, but my money’s not. I donated $20 US on my Visa card last night; please **call 1-800-HELP-NOW** to do the same. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-pissed-because-i-cant-give-blood/81099.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-pissed-because-i-cant-give-blood/81099.md?page=3)