Are you a blood donor?

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Permalink Reply by Vanessa on October 2, 2008 at 8:41am

I have donated whole blood since I was 18 years old. I went in for a platelet test this morning, and I will begin donating my blood platelets on October 18. It's interesting that you can donate them every two weeks, but discouraging to learn that it takes TEN platelet donations to help ONE patient.

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Permalink Reply by minnemom on October 2, 2008 at 8:51am

I've been a blood donor since I was in graduate school. I give four times a year, except when I'm pregnant. I also get deferred for low iron about 25% of the time, but I always go in and give it a try.

I've always been queasy about needles and seeing blood, so I don't watch anything they do. I just look the other way and don't think about it.

I also had a few episodes where I got special attention because I got light-headed at the end of the donation. I finally figured out that if I lie down flat from the start, I don't have that problem. Now I bring my own travel pillow (if I forget, they have pillows) and tell them I need to be lying down instead of reclined.

The most frustrating thing for me is that they can't seem to store my maiden name in their computers, so every time they ask if I've ever donated under a different name, I have to spell it out. Maybe other areas are more sophisticated than we are in that respect. ;-)

My husband has recently begun doing "double red" donations. It takes twice as long, and you can only do it half as often. In our area, it's for type O's only and there are certain height and weight requirements.

Giving blood isn't a "fun" thing for me to do, but I think it's important to do as often as I possibly can.

Linda

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Permalink Reply by Pam on October 2, 2008 at 9:09am

I donate as often as I can. I actually went in a couple of weeks ago, but they always have issues hitting a vein or keeping it there, and they got air in it so ended up throwing my whole donation away because it was considered contaminated. I was actually surprised at how sad I was about that. They are seriously short, of my type in particular, and I really wanted to help. I can't give again for two months, even though I didn't fill the bag up this time.

I always had but it means even more to me now since I've seen those I love have to receive blood. I want to give back to help others.

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Permalink Reply by Desiree Stanley on October 11, 2008 at 7:44am

I have donated blood since HS. Only during my two pregnancies did I not give blood. It is such a wonderful experience ~when you think about how much it helps! In fact, I just saw a sign up at a local church for blood donation. It reminded me that it's been a little while since I last donated & it's time to donate again.

I never look when they are inserting the needle. I usually lay back and relax...

Vanessa - I have a friend that donates platelets, I understood that it hurts a bit more than just donating blood. Is that correct?

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Permalink Reply by Cara on October 11, 2008 at 9:03am

I am one that doesn't do well with needles, at ALL! I just can't handle it at all. I have one of the rarer types, so I probably should, but I have had not a single even slightly positive experience with needles, so I just can't get myself to do it.

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