S/o Organ donation - blood donation

[Deleted]

Thanks to everyone who donates blood! DH had to get two units yesterday because his red count was really low. Hopefully he'll be able to restart treatment tomorrow after new CBC counts.

I've never donated, but it looks like they've relaxed the mad cow related restrictions so I qualify now. I'm going to make an appointment for the next time he has a long day at the doctor.

[josieposy]

Lots of good vibes for your DH!

I gave platelets for the first time about 2 weeks ago. Took longer than I thought and I got a horrible bruise out of it in my left arm, but then they sent me a postcard a few days later saying they were used on a patient and I felt lots of warm-fuzzies after that.

[Deleted]

I'm looking forward to donating again. When not pregnant/breastfeeding I usually get in 5-6 times a year. I thought about doing platelets but my numbers were kind of borderline.

[wawa]

I have never successfully given blood. Every time I try they kick me out again. (Low iron I guess...I've always come back borderline anemic at the docs office)

I should make a point to have some kale and liver for dinner or something and then try. I'm an easy stick so no other reason not to.

[penguingrrl]

I keep trying but have yet to be accepted. The last several times I was fine until right before they stuck me my heart rate shot through the roof, but this is a reminder to try again. Maybe all these years of pregnancy and lots of needle sticks will make me less nervous.

[kimibrighteyes]

I'm not eligible because of the meds I'm on. DH used to donate plasma weekly and has over 200 donations but he hasn't been lately given how busy it is with the kids. This is a reminder to me to sit with him and see where we can make time for him

[sushi]

My boss, his wife, and I would donate together. We tried to make it a race, but my interview was always way longer just from losing the countries from the last 5 years. They don't travel.

Now I try to do platelets whenever I have to go to Walter Reed. They prefer that to my blood.

[tacosforlife]

Thanks for reminding me to try again. I used to give every 8 weeks when I worked in a building that had weekly blood drives. But since I was rejected for low iron a solid 1/3 of the time, it's a bigger pain now that I have to make an appointment and can't just waltz down while on the clock at work. But I should just schedule an appointment and use it as an excuse to eat a burger!

[sunshine608]

Oct 27, 2015 6:06:30 GMT -5 @ameliapond said:

Thanks to everyone who donates blood! DH had to get two units yesterday because his red count was really low. Hopefully he'll be able to restart treatment tomorrow after new CBC counts.

I've never donated, but it looks like they've relaxed the mad cow related restrictions so I qualify now. I'm going to make an appointment for the next time he has a long day at the doctor.

This is good news! Going to check if I can donate now! I donated once when I was 17 and a year later I went back and couldn't b/c of the Mad cow stuff.

ETA: Nope still excluded  

[tacosforlife]

Also, if you can't donate, you may be able to volunteer with a blood donation organization. I know at the drive I used to give at, a guy named Jim, who was too old to donate, manned the treat/recovery table. And he brought the best treat selection of any blood drive I've ever been to!

[pescalita]

I did it once successfully after pg, and then got an iron fail and almost passed out. I like to go to the one 1/2 hour away instead of a bus to minimize my chances of passing out, but it's not a slam dunk.

Carl has a standing platelet donation every other Thursday, and he can give three units. For now that's my contribution.

[decemberwedding07]

I've donated. It wasn't bad, but it did take a very long time and I fainted after. I would go again, but I've been doing ivf.

[Mashara]

I'm another one who can't donate. My blood won't come out Maybe because of my small veins and really low blood pressure? Anyway, the last nurse kindly told me not to try again (same results when I tried a few years before).

[decemberwedding07]

Annnnnd I just wondered if my new epilepsy diagnosis and medication could keep me from donating and it looks like it will. Bummer.

[laurenpetro]

i've been advised by the ARC that while they need blood donations, i am a poor donor and they "don't need blood that badly", which bumms me out. my mom was an AMAZING donor. she went like clockwork.

[osulori]

We used to have regular blood drives here at work but I think they stopped when our building manager changed. I need to get back in the habit of going to the local blood donation center!

[emilyj]

I love donating blood. So easy (for me, at least) and you get cookies after!!!

Which reminds me, I'm due to go again.

[Cicero]

I don't qualify but as someone who has had several plasma transfusions in the past I greatly appreciate those who can and do.

[nursewife]

I've made a few donations but am 50/50 on them finding a vein big enough for the needle. Any tips for those with smaller veins? I'm not bothered by needles at all and would love if I could make more donations!

[Susie]

(high5) yay donors!

I think I've donated around 2 gallons so far.  I have to wait to add to my total until post-baby though.  I got a lot more serious about it when I saw how much my mom has needed/received during her cancer treatment.  It is eye opening.

Oct 27, 2015 9:02:28 GMT -5 nursewife said:

I've made a few donations but am 50/50 on them finding a vein big enough for the needle. Any tips for those with smaller veins? I'm not bothered by needles at all and would love if I could make more donations!

Be really, really, really hydrated when you go.  It plumps them up.  Mine aren't very big either, but it's doable.  Couple bottles of water both before and during, and skip the morning coffee until you're done.

[meshaliuknits]

I'm O negative, so I try to donate as often as I can. I will donate again before I get my next tattoo and I'm off the market for a year.

[darnkatz]

I need to go and try to donate again. My iron is usually too low.

[sushi]

Those that can't donate blood should look into platelets. There are fewer restrictions. It takes longer, though, a couple hours.

[ijack]

I'm grateful that work makes it so easy. The blood drive van comes to our building every 6 weeks so I barely have to think about it.

[downtoearth]

I haven't in a long, long time. I used to routinely, but after having kids, I haven't. I should look into this.

[Bernadine]

My goal after this pregnancy is to make sure I'm donating as often as possible. It's something that's so easy for me to do, and can make an actual, life-saving difference for people. I'll have to check into platelets, too.

[oliviapope]

I used to give blood all the time because we held blood drives in high school, now that's it's not as convenient I stopped. I need to get back to doing it regularly. Thanks for the reminder.

[msmerymac]

I didn't qualify last year after getting a bone graft, but I'm okay now! Thanks for the reminder.

[ladyk]

I can't donate anything (including bone marrow) because I'm on lifetime blood thinners now. Thank you, though, for those that can and do. My aunt and uncle both had multiple transfusions during their cancer journeys.

[mrs.jacinthe]

I'm at 13 pints (so a little over 1.5 gallons) right now, and I'm a regular donor - I have an appointment made every 8 weeks. R goes with me because he's got "baby blood" - I guess he's got some antibody or something that makes his blood safe for baby transfusions AND he's a universal donor.