Blood Plug

[sheddy]

Go on, you know you want to - http://www.blood.co.uk/news/nbw/

 

[Melonfish]

Nope you don't want to, you MUST!
for the benefit of others and for the benefit of your own well being (feeling good)

 

[Yellow Fang]

It's hay fever season so I can't. They usually refuse my blood these days anyway because my haemoglobin count is on the low side. The fact that I've given over 30x before without feeling unwell and do fitness training about five or six times a week doesn't seem to matter. When you read all the categories of people excluded from donating, you hardly wonder that they're often short.

 

[Maz]

I've been giving blood for years now (40+ donations?). I'd encourage everyone who can to do so.
It doesn't take that long, especially if you make a timed appointment.
Just take it steady on the ride back home, that's my advice!

 

[Melonfish]

Has anyone had that odd phenominominominononon... where you race another person to fill the bag?
i'm guilty of this a few times. keep pumping the fist LMAO!
don't seem to suffer any ill effects from it mind
pete

 

[Maz]

Has anyone had that odd phenominominominononon... where you race another person to fill the bag?
i'm guilty of this a few times. keep pumping the fist LMAO!
don't seem to suffer any ill effects from it mind
pete

I have, but I never seem to win.
I always play 'hunt the chocolate biscuits' when I have my cuppa after donating.

 

[PaulB]

I gave a pint of mine once but a few weeks later when they donated it back to me and I raced the next day, I received a nasty letter from the AAA. Bastards!

 

[smokeysmoo]

After a lapse of around 6 years due to having numerous tattos I went back after the campaign for the 11 year old last week. Wrong blood type to help there but at least it will help someone.

SWMBO is coming with me next time, and she's is a full on needlephobic, so that's a result

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

I would, but I had/have Leukaemia, so I doubt they would touch mine with an 18 foot lavy brush, which is a shame, because I would donate without hesitation - my parents did it for years, but neither my Brother or sister have any desire to give blood, which just seems bizarre to me (actually, my Brother is just a coward when it comes to these things).

I have had several pints given to me over the years (including my own as part of a medical procedure, oddly enough), AND I have had a couple of white blood cell harvests, so I have had the relative novelty of having all my blood pumped out of one arm, put through a centrifuge to separate it all out, and then returned into the other arm!

White blood cells are creamy red by the way

 

[Archie_tect]

It's hay fever season so I can't. They usually refuse my blood these days anyway because my haemoglobin count is on the low side. The fact that I've given over 30x before without feeling unwell and do fitness training about five or six times a week doesn't seem to matter. When you read all the categories of people excluded from donating, you hardly wonder that they're often short.

YF, try eating more iron [and folic acid] rich foods to get your haemaglobin levels higher. Red meat is the richest source of iron and the iron is easily absorbed by your body. If you're a vegetarian you can get iron from pulses, green leafy vegetables and nuts, but the iron isn't absorbed as easily. Apologies if this old news!

 

[martint235]

I've just signed up to start donating again after a 10 year break. I always seemed to have a cold or a hangover before so I just fell out of the habit.


People should also think about being marrow donors if they can.

 

[Melonfish]

I have considered marrow donation but i've no idea how to sign up, i hear its damned painful too! still its gonna save someones life so whats a little pain.
tis only like falling off a bike and at least your pride isn't hurt

 

[Yellow Fang]

YF, try eating more iron [and folic acid] rich foods to get your haemaglobin levels higher. Red meat is the richest source of iron and the iron is easily absorbed by your body. If you're a vegetarian you can get iron from pulses, green leafy vegetables and nuts, but the iron isn't absorbed as easily. Apologies if this old news!

Doesn't seem to make much difference. I even went through a stage of eating liver

once. Even iron tablets do not make much difference, except for some I was prescribed once. One of the nurses said not to take iron tablets just to be able to donate blood, so I don't.

 

[Ghost Donkey]

I donate blood a couple of times a year and gave the last one a couple of months ago. I'll be missing the next one as I've got a few sporting things coming up which I'm already out of depth with and I'll be getting sponsorship for good charities. I'll get a blood donation in at the end of the season and might ask about donating plasma if that's still an option and something they actually want people to do.

Lots of people have genuine reasons why they can't give blood but if you can you really should.

 

[Ghost Donkey]

I have considered marrow donation but i've no idea how to sign up, i hear its damned painful too! still its gonna save someones life so whats a little pain.
tis only like falling off a bike and at least your pride isn't hurt

The Anthony Nolan Trust is a good place to start. I gave a blood sample in 2003 when they set up a blood drive where I was working at the time. They actually made contact recently regarding having another blood test in an attempt to find the best match for somebody who needed a donation. If I was the best match it would have meant taking time off work and spending time in London. This wouldn't have been a problem when I signed up and I would have been prepared to go through with it (no point signing up otherwise) but when I was contacted I had to decline having another test as I have three young kids and a newly disabled wife and it would have been impossible to spend any time away from home<br><br>Looking at the website it looks like they can use placentas and umbilical cords which would otherwisebe thrown away. Something to consider if you have children in future.<br>