Your blood group

[summerdays]

A something. It's on my blood donor card but I haven't given blood in a while, it's a massive pain in the arse. I've got low iron so more often than not they'll do the floaty blood test then send me away, then the coupld of times I have managed to give they've had trouble finding a vein, and then I almost faint afterwards and have to stay there for an hour.

Are you me? They only ever take blood out of my right arm now, they've given up looking for it in the left arm. And on one occasion when I didn't give blood I still had to sit down and have a cuppa and biscuit because I felt faint (proving its all in my head!!!), and on another occasion they gave up after I only gave about a quarter of a bag in the same length of time that others gave the full amount.

When I was pregnant and having blood tests they would lie me down to do it so that it didn't matter if I felt faint!!

 

[taxing]

Are you me? They only ever take blood out of my right arm now, they've given up looking for it in the left arm. And on one occasion when I didn't give blood I still had to sit down and have a cuppa and biscuit because I felt faint (proving its all in my head!!!), and on another occasion they gave up after I only gave about a quarter of a bag in the same length of time that others gave the full amount.

When I was pregnant and having blood tests they would lie me down to do it so that it didn't matter if I felt faint!!

I might be half you, they have given up on my left arm now, and they always fetch someone more senior to find the vein in my right arm. I've never given a quarter of a bag though, apparently when I get going I'm quite quick! And they won't let me have a cuppa, apparently orange juice is better for you if you're a bad donor like me. No matter how desperately I want a cuppa, I always get stuck with the orange juice.

 

[palinurus]

A RH Positive, long-time donor here too.

Not that I'd put a sticker on my cycling cap in the eventuality that I'd need a transfusion.

 

[taxing]

I'm going to start wearing a hat that says "If I fall off and need a face transplant, please give me a pretty one".

 

[Maz]

I used to give blood when I lived in the UK but am not sure now what it was/is!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's the collective term for the group of islands just off the coast of France.

 

[Maz]

I might be half you, they have given up on my left arm now, and they always fetch someone more senior to find the vein in my right arm. I've never given a quarter of a bag though, apparently when I get going I'm quite quick! And they won't let me have a cuppa, apparently orange juice is better for you if you're a bad donor like me. No matter how desperately I want a cuppa, I always get stuck with the orange juice.

That's a bit stingy of them! I've never had a problem getting tea or coffee, even when I was unable to give due to low iron level once.

 

[taxing]

That's a bit stingy of them! I've never had a problem getting tea or coffee, even when I was unable to give due to low iron level once.

They always 'strongly advise' that I have orange juice. Maybe they would let me have a cuppa after the orange, but I don't want to clog up their little recovery area drinking everything in sight. By this point I'm already embarrassed that I felt faint and had to sit down straight away, and the nurses fuss saying I look pale etc., so really by this point I just want to leave.

 

[Maz]

They always 'strongly advise' that I have orange juice. Maybe they would let me have a cuppa after the orange, but I don't want to clog up their little recovery area drinking everything in sight. By this point I'm already embarrassed that I felt faint and had to sit down straight away, and the nurses fuss saying I look pale etc., so really by this point I just want to leave.

I think I see what they're getting at. Cold drinks are absorbed into the body more quickly than hot drinks. Hence quicker recovery. I think.

 

[BrumJim]

They force you to drink a pint of water before donating now. Apparently this has drastically reduced the numbers of people feinting either during or post donation.

 

[Paulus]

Been a blood donor for thirty years. I am A+.

 

[Maizie]

I think I see what they're getting at. Cold drinks are absorbed into the body more quickly than hot drinks. Hence quicker recovery. I think.

Aaaah, that makes sense! Sometimes they say 'cold drink' to the drink-person, other times they don't specify, for me. I always dreaded the day they insisted on hot drink, as then I'd have to explain that actually tea/coffee/caffeinated drinks make me ill, so actually I need to have a cold drink (unless they have decaff available). But sounds like that is unlikely to happen, good to know

 

[Paulus]

Years ago when I started doning you used to get a choice of sandwiches, biscuits, fruit, and various drinks including Mackeson and Guiness.

 

[PaulB]

I've been a blood donor for many years, so, yes, I do know my blood group. I'm B+.

If you worked harder, you could improve that to an A- you know.

 

[Svendo]

I'm an A-, according to my Mum. 7% of UK population, 3.52% worldwide according to Wikipedia.
I've not donated since I was exposed to some tropical disease in S.E. Asia. I ought to see if I can donate now as that was a long time ago now.

 

[byegad]

My sister has a rare blood group. so much so they put her on a register and called her in when her group was needed. I tried to give blood half a dozen times and each time they refused to take any as I'd been in contact with so many infections, part of my then job. So I don't know if mine is the same as my sisters.