Donating Blood

[HaRuMaN]

The bloodmobile comes by my work regularly, and I make it a point to donate each time they're here.

I've always just donated a pint of whole blood, and never really had any side effects.

Today, they asked me to do a "double red" donation since I have type O+.  I've never done that before, and after they explained it to me, I said "Sure, why not?".

Basically, they take out some blood, spin it in a centrifuge, and give you back your plasma & white blood cells along with some saline & an anticoagulant.  They do this process 4 times until they have an equivalent donation of twice the red blood cells as a normal, whole blood donation.

After doing this today, I am wiped out!  I'm tired, lightheaded, had tingling in my upper lip and nose, and just generally feel 'blah'.  Anyone else ever done the "double red"?

I'm ready for a nap... lol

[Ginsu Victim]

Man....I don't even know what my blood type is.

[HaRuMaN]

Man....I don't even know what my blood type is.

If you donate, they'll let you know.  Along with your blood pressure, pulse, and cholesterol... 

[saint]

I can't donate blood. I was in Europe during the first 6 months of 1980, and according to Red Cross guidelines that makes me ineligible (mad cow disease I think).

I'd donate if I could.

Oddly enough, after a friend's son was diagnosed with Leukemia, I registered as a bone marrow donor. There were no questions about travel in Europe during that process.

[HaRuMaN]

I can't donate blood. I was in Europe during the first 6 months of 1980, and according to Red Cross guidelines that makes me ineligible (mad cow disease I think).

That's weird. 

I donate often enough now that I get the shortened questionnaire, they just ask me if I've been to Mexico or South America since my last donation.

[Hoopz]

I can't donate blood. I was in Europe during the first 6 months of 1980, and according to Red Cross guidelines that makes me ineligible (mad cow disease I think).

That's weird. 

I donate often enough now that I get the shortened questionnaire, they just ask me if I've been to Mexico or South America since my last donation.

I need to do this.  I have a phobia about needles so I've avoided it in the past.  My wife used to donate a lot but hasn't recently.  You're good guys to do it or at least try.   

[HaRuMaN]

I can't / don't watch them stick the needle in.  I can look at it once it's in, though.

The staff are pretty good at making it quick and as painless as possible. 

[Hoopz]

I can't / don't watch them stick the needle in.  I can look at it once it's in, though.

The staff are pretty good at making it quick and as painless as possible. 

I'd need a drink first.  And during.  And after.  Heck, I need one now thinking about it.

You go back for extra cookies like in the episode of The Office?

[HaRuMaN]

You go back for extra cookies like in the episode of The Office?

Lol...  no, I eat a package there... but I do take one 'for the road' 

[Ginsu Victim]

Man....I don't even know what my blood type is.

If you donate, they'll let you know.  Along with your blood pressure, pulse, and cholesterol...  

Considering I'll never do it, I guess this isn't an option.

(I'm also not an organ donor...)

[Ed_McCarron]

(I'm also not an organ donor...)

Why not?  Trust me, you won't feel a thing.

Buddy of mine is still alive 10 years after a heart transplant (he's 38) because someone donated.  Shortly after he found out he needed a transplant, I had to have some surgery to fix my gut -- my living will stated that if anything happened to me during surgery and the tissue types matched, he got the heart.

[nexusmtz]

I haven't done the double-red yet, but many people (myself included) feel the way you do after just a single. Sometimes I'm fine, and sometimes I'm done for the day. It has a lot to do with how rested you are and how much fluid you have in you.

At least you tried it. Now you know what's easy for your body, and what is going to set you back a little. Maybe you can make yourself a deal - if it's been less than 12 (10,14, whatever) weeks since you last gave, give one, but if it's more, do the double. And always think about what you have planned for the rest of the day!

Maybe I'll try the machine... next time. Then again, I'm over six gallons the old way, and I'm still alive, so the "Don't fix what ain't broken" rule could apply.

[SirPeale]

(I'm also not an organ donor...)

Yeah, why not?

[Fordman]

Ive given blood many times but never the 'double' thing. They always ask about being in Europe at certain times or South America, Africa, Middle East, South East Asia and Mexico. Europe for mad cow, South America, Africa, Middle East,South East Asia for small pox, typhoid and HIV and Mexico just because its a dirty rat hole! (Im not kidding about the mexico part, the Red Cross doesnt want blood from anyone that has traveled or lived in mexico for ny reason).

Glad you gave blood, it might save yours or someone you know's life!

Fordman

[danny_galaga]

(I'm also not an organ donor...)

Yeah, why not?

veneral disease is an automatic exclusion 

I'm really sad I can't donate blood. I get really, really faint. Last time i gave a blood sample (two actually, for a diabetes survey) I blacked out. Happens every time i lose more than a few drops of blood. I can watch YOU bleed to death no problems at all, but lose a bit of mine own and it's all over. Unless it was for an immediate family member and they were all out of blood, i just couldn't handle it...

[korbitz]

I have tried to give blood numerous times but due to me having stayed in hong kong for a couple of years when i was younger they wont take my blood due to a possibility of a dormant malaria strain in my system. They always say that they will be looking into the rules regarding people that have been in Asia but as of yet nothing has changed, though i must admit i've not tried for a couple of years now, might see when they blood-mobile will be in my area next.

[Ginsu Victim]

(I'm also not an organ donor...)

Yeah, why not?

Don't want to take a chance on being in a situation where they're more concerned about saving my organs rather than saving me.

[missioncontrol]

I donate every chance I get, I tried the double reds once, but you have to go to the red cross center for that and it pretty much takes a couple hours between check in and the actual giving. The standard donation is easy, they usually have a drive at work every few months and i just give then.

[LLUncoolJ]

I guess I'm out for a while due to the MExico thing. I did have the shitz for about 2 weeks after I got back last month...it was starting to worry me, but it stopped.

I think registered donors should be moved ahead of non-donors on transplant lists. That would get more people to become donors.

I was 23 before I gave blood. I was always afraid of A) needles and B) what I might find out...I was with some women with rather questionable reputations in college.

[Cakemeister]

I donate regularly. They give out points for donating that you can redeem for loot once you have enough points. I've gotten four 2-gigabyte USB flash drives.

The other reason I donate is to check my cholesterol. It's still under 200. But my dad says that "150 is the new 200".

I tell people that my blood type is the only thing I ever made A+ on.

[HaRuMaN]

Yeah, my last cholesterol was 157 

The bloodmobile comes by 3 times a year here at work, which makes it pretty convenient, and I get to count the time towards my workday.

[Hoopz]

Yeah, my last cholesterol was 157 

The bloodmobile comes by 3 times a year here at work, which makes it pretty convenient, and I get to count the time towards my workday.

We had blood screenings one day at work.  I worked with a guy who got his cholesterol number.  They said go to the hospital.  Don't go back to your desk. Don't go home.  Go right to the hospital.

It was over 300.  And I think it was not close to 300.  Maybe 350 or higher. 

He was an idiot though with what he ate, drank, and smoked.

[danny_galaga]

If blood was worth anything or truly needed, they'd pay you for it.  It really is basic economics.

I thought they did pay for blood donations in the US? Wasn't there a big problem when AIDS first appeared because junkies were donating blood?

[HaRuMaN]

If blood was worth anything or truly needed, they'd pay you for it.  It really is basic economics.

I thought they did pay for blood donations in the US? Wasn't there a big problem when AIDS first appeared because junkies were donating blood?

I think you can get paid for donating plasma...  

I've never been paid for donating blood, and I've been donating for about 12 years now.

[HaRuMaN]

Cholesterol around 350?  Was his blood a stream of lard, or what 

[saint]

He was an idiot though with what he ate, drank, and smoked.

We'll all be gone in 100 years, live dangerously.

I'd personally like to make the 100, and not fail at 45.

[saint]

Cholesterol around 350?  Was his blood a stream of lard, or what 

At 350, I'm not sure "stream" is the most apt description.

[Hoopz]

I originally thought it was close to 400 and I'm pretty sure that's right.

He was an idiot though with what he ate, drank, and smoked.

We'll all be gone in 100 years, live dangerously.

I'd personally like to make the 100, and not fail at 45.

More time to not post about your game room?   

[mccoy178]

The school has them in twice a year.  The double does kick my butt more than the single, but nothing crazy.  It does take about 30 minutes longer for the double, but I believe it's worth it.

[protokatie]

I wonder what happened to the artificial blood that was developed in the 90's... Or is that for emergency use only?

Regardless, I am needle shy and if anyone got a pint of my blood they would be feeling more than fine (either that or hung over). My blood type is A+, so it is in some demand. I also have no blood borne diseases what-so-ever and have only traveled to one foreign nation (the USA [I am from Maine, CA]).

Still Needle shy tho. Maybe someone might catch homosexuality from me along with a good beer buzz if they got my blood. (anyone wanna take THAT risk? )

[AcidArmitage]

i would donate blood if they gave it to the people that need it for free

[Ed_McCarron]

i would donate blood if they gave it to the people that need it for free

Problem is, someone has to pay for the donor materials, the testing, the processing, the cookies and orange juice, the phlebotomists, the storage, the transport, the advertising to get donors, the lawsuits...

Get the picture?

[MajorHavoc]

Re: Mexico...I was barred from donating for a year following a vacation to Mexico.  It was explained to me that visiting Mexico in and of itself does not result in an automatic deferral but travel to certain areas within Mexico will result in deferral namely unimproved areas and any of the ruins as they are considered malarial risks.  The year deferral presumably is long enough to allow any malarial exposure to come to light.
In my case, I visited the Mayan ruins aTulum.  I would highly recommend visiting there if you are in the neighborhood.  They may have been a bloodthirsty lot but they sure had an eye for real estate!

[saint]

What gets me is that 30 years after I was in Germany I still cannot give blood. I know some things can have long gestation periods but I find that boggling. A doctor explained to me that there isn't a lot known about Mad Cow disease in humans and that it's not necessarily a rational fear of the disease but nonetheless... 30 years later

[huygens]

I donate blood regularly, but I cant do double red. The tingling lip / chest is a reaction to the anti-coagulent they use. They need that as the machine pumps the blood serum back after extracting the red blood cells. You can reduce or eliminate the side effects by taking a couple calcium pills before donating. Unfortunately I can only do whole blood as I get a strong reaction to the anti-coagulent wether I take some tums before or not.