Yesterday I went to donate blood...again. I'm a regular. I go every 5 months, or whenever I want anyways. I'm also looking into paletel (or however they're called) donations and bone marrow (which is rather heavy so I'm really thinking about it... :-/)
Do you donate blood? If not why? I mean for me, it's free, just 30 minutes or something around that (plus driving and parking), does not hurt and well... I may very well do something good, or save someones life or whatever simmilar.
So yes, a spammy thread about blood donations :D
Good for you!
Especially about the bone marrow... Michael Brecker passed away (on the 13th of this month) because they couldn't find a donor with compatible bone marrow or whatever it was they needed. :(
I don't want to donate blood because I only care about myself. I'm a horrible person like that.
Donating blood in Ireland has had some very bad press over the last couple of years. Mass outbreak of Hepatitis C among hemophiliacs due to contaminated donated blood pretty much destroyed faith in the blood bank scheme, as well as reports of HIV infected blood not being screened at the donation stage.
Plus being an Obsessive Complusive keeps me far away from hospitals, syringes, or anywhere I could be exposed to other peoples blood/germs/sickness :-[
Such weak people like me are not allowed to donate blood. They only collect a certain level of blood (that I won't be able to donate). Heck, if they collect less than half unit from every weak people like me, they would have so much blood in the bank that could save the world! (umm, I know "saving the world" is too much, well, you got my point :P )
Me give blood. Me is also scared s**tless of needles. Go figure.
Quote from: Geoffkhan on Sat 20/01/2007 21:05:18
Good for you!
Especially about the bone marrow... Michael Brecker passed away (on the 13th of this month) because they couldn't find a donor with compatible bone marrow or whatever it was they needed. :(
The thing with Bone Marrow is that it takes REAL dedication. There are 2 methods in the UK, and one of them keeps you 5 days in hospital. It's not really easy to donate THAT much time... I mean compaired to 30 minutes for blood, or 2 hours for paletels... :-/
LF: really? Never heard of it...
Is that Hep C thing in Ireland in general, or just the republic? I live in Northern Ireland, but I don't want to get Hepatitis.
I haven't donated blood before, but I intend to start. I don't know how old I'd need to be to begin, I should really go find that out.
Now that I think, any time I've had blood taken for medical reasons it did take a while to find a vein. Still, I have O Negative, which I believe could be used for quite a large number of patients. It's definately something I want to do, though.
Isn't bone marrow donation super-painful? Not as painful as dying though... I'll look into that too.
Quote from: Mr Flibble on Sat 20/01/2007 21:29:06
Isn't bone marrow donation super-painful? Not as painful as dying though... I'll look into that too.
50% of the times, you need general anesthisia... :S The other half you get some kind of machine, which takes blood out (or something like that) and puts it back in, with local anesthetic, and you're fine to go home. First case you stay in hospital. Haven't done it yet.
The thing about bone marrow donor, is that you're simply called
if and when you're needed, you don't go every 5-6 months like blood donors. Chances are that you won't be compatible so you just waste a visit. 1/10 donors are compatible with the patient everytime.
Age: above 17 (at least that's what www.blood.co.uk says. Depends on the country).
I think the word you're looking for is "platelets."
I don't give blood. Ever. I tried once, but my friend Seth, who went ahead of me, turned green, threw up everywhere, and passed out for ten minutes. Upon waking, he headbutted a nurse in the face and jumped off the gurney, cowering in a corner and screaming for 5 minutes until they calmed him down and he remembered where he was.
However, from standing in line, I at least got to partake in some free pizza, and even after I got out of line I sat down and finished watching "the Great Escape," which they had playing for the people in line :D
Quote from: Nikolas on Sat 20/01/2007 21:25:04
The thing with Bone Marrow is that it takes REAL dedication. There are 2 methods in the UK, and one of them keeps you 5 days in hospital. It's not really easy to donate THAT much time... I mean compaired to 30 minutes for blood, or 2 hours for paletels... :-/
I thought that they just took samples or whatever and then put you on a list, that if anyone would happen to need a bone marrow donor and you were compatible, they'd give you a call...
I cannot donate blood because I have End Stage Renal Disease and a kidney transplant. I'm severely anemic, and I require shots of a drug called Epogen. In fact, if my condition gets bad - I get blood transfusions. So, to all of you who give blood - thanks. I've had quite a few in my day, and they helped a lot.
Bt
I give a lot of blood, but it usually doesn't end up in someone's body.
Does that gig pay any dough?
The first and only time I went to give blood, I got told I couldn't because I was born around the time of Chernobyl, and in England.
That was in Ireland.
Maybe they thought they were keeping themselves purebred irish that way or something.
I knew an old lady who didn't want to accept blood when she was in hospital because she didn't know if it was the "blood of a black" or not.
I'm glad she didn't accept blood because maybe she'll die.
I've donated on several occasions, maybe twice a year. I don't mind it at all and I've never had any complications. Well, at least not in the post-screening part of the donation. My first two attempts at donating, I was turned away for being too hot. Coincidentally, on both days (separated by one year) my body temperature was just over 100 F :o Almost an entire degree above their cutoff point. Besides that, I have twice felt a bit dizzy and experienced lo-res vision after donating, but only after I was well away from the needle and in the "sugary baked goods" portion. Each time this happened I had to be wheeled (in my opinion unnecessarily) back to a bed and my waiting time was reset.
It feels good knowing you are helping people, and that you will soon have a pint of newer, 2.5x awesome baby blood circulating inside you :D. That is primarily what brings me back to the clinic.
Quote from: Yutzster on Sat 20/01/2007 22:04:10
I knew an old lady who didn't want to accept blood when she was in hospital because she didn't know if it was the "blood of a black" or not.
Perhaps she resented the idea of blood donations full stop, since the process was invented by a black person ;)
The Hep C and HIV thing was just in the Republic. Just another feather in the brim of our government's incompetence hat. One of many. >:(
I'm not allowed to donate blood because I'm diabetic- it often strikes me as a bit strange that we cannot do that. Okay: My blood is, how to put it, defective. I lack a couple of chemical triggers, which also affects my healing abilities (certainly no Wolverine factor here), but heck, there are so many things done, science-wise, with blood: You can clean it, take bits of it, anything. I think some money and effort should be spent on making these methods more commonplace. Plus I'm 0-, which is quite rare and highly compatible, and it would be nice not to be forced to waste that.
I think blood donors are important. I also used to carry an organ donation card, but that too is void (this at least makes sense because some of my organs are already affected by all the results of being diabetic).
Diabetics are, from the donating point of view, totally shrugged at.
I can't donate blood because I'm underage and that my hemoglobin level is too low.
I have 115 and the minimum here is about 135..
If it were that easy to repair blood, then there wouldn't really be the risk of people being infected by faulty transfusions, no? I'm sure there's a good reason why they don't "repair" blood. Maybe it's not possible yet. Maybe it's too expensive. Maybe it's much too much effort to be worth it. After all, hey, they *need* the blood, so it would be in their best interests to get it all.
Not repair; if that was possible you could heal diabetes instead of just treating it. But the "taking apart" factor shouldn't be undererstimated. Blood is a collection of different elements, and some of them can "become pure" even if the donator is "faulty". It can be done, and is done for research purposes, and all I think is that some effort should be taken to make some use of that.
In another thread here I learned that some high medal scientists discovered the universal colour of the universe, which is turquoise. Can't see how that'll help some kid that's run over by a cart and needs an infusion.
This chick on Real Time with Bill Maher said that she isn't allowed to give any of these donations (not even blood), because she lived in England at the time of the mad cow epidemic. The context was about donating blood and such to victims of Katrina. She was talking about the states, though - they might be a bit more sensitive about it there. Then again, mad cow's symptoms are said to be dormant for years, so we won't see the effects of it on some level until the near future.
I don't think I've ever given blood. There have been a couple of blood drives in my time, but I never thought a cookie was worth the stinging of needles. I'd be happy to participate now, but it hardly overrides other priorities. Plus, I wouldn't really know where to go to get one. They should do more PSA's about it. Also, in every occasion where I've gotten a needle stuck into a vein, the nurses have always had a hard time catching my veins. Apparently they're thin. They always stick me like 12 times before they catch it. I know, there go my chances of becoming a junkie :|
EDIT:
Funny thing - apparently in Finland a male, who's had sex with another male, is not allowed to give blood.
QuoteIn another thread here I learned that some high medal scientists discovered the universal colour of the universe, which is turquoise. Can't see how that'll help some kid that's run over by a cart and needs an infusion.
Those high medal scientists are working for a field of science, the kid needs help from high medal people in the field of medicine. I understand where you're coming from, but that point is very moot. Similarly, the kid wouldn't be helped by most any other developments in science, art, sociology, psychology, whatever. It's a whole different issue.
As for the blood issue, you seem better informed than I am, but until I am proven wrong I will maintain that, if it were that easy to do, it would be done, I'm sure. But apart from this stuborness, I am not qualified to discuss it any further. :)
Ildu and people who mention similar things - sometimes it may seem like they're putting on flimsy excuses or going overboard with protection, but this is a very serious matter. Healthy blood can save lives. Blood that's unhealthy in any way can contribute to serious harm or death. When AIDS first reared its ugly head, blood transfusions became a nightmare. Is it any wonder that nowadays people try to be extra- extra-safe?
The ridicule only happens when, as has been said in this thread, bad things happen DESPITE those extra precautions. That means something is definitely wrong.
EDIT - When I wrote the above, I hadn't seen Ildu's edit. I agree that it is ridiculous to stop people giving blood from that sole reason.
I think it's ridiculous that homosexuals are still screened from giving blood in the US.
I've done it, I should do it regularly but it just doesn't happen. It's hard for me to decide whether it's safe or not, 'cause last time I passed out and was woozy all day. It's kind of a bad idea with all the driving that I do.
You can give blood at any hospital or Red Cross center, they're glad to take it. There are always blood shortages it seems and hospitals have to pay outside sources for their supplies. Your free blood is much appreciated, after they test it for HIV and such.
Quote from: Rui "Trovatore" Pires on Sun 21/01/2007 00:05:56
Those high medal scientists are working for a field of science, the kid needs help from high medal people in the field of medicine. I understand where you're coming from, but that point is very moot. Similarly, the kid wouldn't be helped by most any other developments in science, art, sociology, psychology, whatever. It's a whole different issue.
Agreed, that was a bit superficial from me.
The last time I heard anything about it, I think they said Finland has a surplus of blood. Maybe they even export it, I don't know. We haven't had any contractions of HIV since 1985, when they started screening for it. The last Hep C contraction was in 2000. They say it's very safe in Finland, because you get nothing in return, which means it doesn't attract bunches of junkies and hobos and such. I'm sure it's the same way in most countries. Also, there's enough support from the government to do thorough adequacy and disease testing with the proper staff.
Well, it is a common procedure, that if you've had sex with a new partner during, what's it, 6 months, you're not supposed to donate blood, unless you've had yourself tested. And one must agree, HIV was pretty common among gay people during the 60's or so, I 'think that's why it's so.
I personally donate blood regularly, though I'm A positive, but that doesn't make me any less than other people.
I fact, now that I remember, last time I donated blood was some time ago, it was the independence day of Finland, don't know the date (so, shoot me). Anyway, later that day my friends appeared at my door with shitloads of beer, and sure I had to drink, I had just moved in, so it was a party celebrating that. So I drank quite a lot. (How the hell do all my posts lead to drinking too much?). Anyway, didn't feel that different after all. I've never had any problems doanting, no dizzy feelings, now puking or such.
Quote from: Tuomas on Sun 21/01/2007 01:09:27And one must agree, HIV was pretty common among gay people during the 60's or so, I 'think that's why it's so.
That's pretty odd, since HIV was discovered in 1981 :D.
Quote from: Tuomas on Sun 21/01/2007 01:09:27I personally donate blood regularly, though I'm A positive, but that doesn't make me any less than other people.
I think I'm A+ as well. Having A+ blood means that we can only donate to people who are either also A+ or AB+. O- is where the money's at :D.
I have O Negative.
Great, my blood is a whore. ¬¬
I used to give blood,then I couldn't for a number of years (including now)
1 Year because of a new tattoo
3 years because of a deployment to Kosovo
1 Year because of another tattoo
3 Years because of a deployment to Iraq
1 Year because of ANOTHER tattoo
So I've pretty much given up on the thought of ever giving blood again, even with my next giving blood window is open (2009) I'll probably end up getting another tattoo by then
I'm like Montgomery Burns. I've got so many things wrong with me that I should be dead. Thankfully, like Mr. Burns, the things wrong with me are keeping one another in balance, so I live!
These things do keep me from being allowed to give blood, though.
I don't give blood as often as I should, I'm glad this thread has reminded me to make more of an effort.
This has been a reminder to me as well... I haven't given blood since highschool, and I really should since I have O+ blood (not quite the universal donor, but close ;)) and I'm not squeamish about needles.
Quote from: ildu on Sun 21/01/2007 01:44:14
That's pretty odd, since HIV was discovered in 1981 :D.
Oh, how silly of me, of course there was no HIV before that.
Quote from: ildu on Sun 21/01/2007 01:44:14
That's pretty odd, since HIV was discovered in 1981 :D.
Damn that Reagan, does his treachery know no bounds?
The first time I donated blood I met an older lady who had donated over 100 times and some competitive streak in me said: "If you start donating regularly now at 20, you'll totally beat her record." And so I donated regularly every 8 weeks which was the minimum recovery period between donations. It was very convenient while I was in University as the clinic was on campus. I even amped it up at one point and started donating plasma which only required a 1 week recovery period betweeen donations. Since graduating from university my donations are sporadic.
For me the worst part about donating was the screening questionairre. Twenty questions about my sexual history when I just needed a box that said "None of the above".
I have donated blood twice, and plan on continuing (though its difficult as my alternating between home and university doesn't seem to match up to when the sessions are). My mum really encouraged me to do it, she's a very regular donor and both of us are also on the organ donor register. Despite the fact I am petite and it makes me feel very drained and tired (nothing that a drink, a biscuit and a nap can't cure!), it only takes half an hour of your time and is one of the more selfless things you can do. I have the B+ blood group, and I really think more people should donate blood because there's absolutely no reason not to unless you are medically unfit to do so.
I used to own a donor card (when I was about 5 :P) but don't have that anymore. Also, a couple of years ago I was pushed towards a door by my parents and a load of people and ended up enrolling for marrow-bone transplants or something. I can't beleive I did that.
The main reason I don't give blood is my fear of needles. As far as I know it's the only way of extracting blood. When I was about 8 I had major operations on my arm. 6 of them, to fix my bone that had started growing in the wrong direction :P The part I feared most was when they put that gel type stuff on your hand and then stick the anaestethic in there. I couldn't handle it. I begged and begged for the gas option but they only ever did it once. One time when they used a needle, the surgeon got it stuck in my hand, and couldn't remove it. It had bent slightly or something, and he was trying to pull it out whilst I was still concious. From that moment on I was certain never to do anything involving needles again. I guess it's my phobia, so that is unfortunately why people won't be having my blood. They can have my organs though...I just have to be dead first :P