Category: Safe Haven
Hi All, Have any of you ever donated blood? I've always wanted to, but I'm not old enough yet, and I don't weigh enough anyway. What's it like? Caitlin
I've never given blood becauwe of my extreme fear of neadles, but if (I wasn't afraid of them, I would
only when Vic the Vampire comes to call...
yes I have donated blood. It's pretty uneventful really, you have to fill out some forms the first time, about family history of diseases ... where you've travelled ... etc, it's just routine so they can be sure you're not in a high risk group, after that they prick your finger with a needle and take a drop of blood, they drop the blood into some solution and if the drop of blood sinks you can give blood, if not you can't - it's to do with whether your iron levels are high enough. After that you lie on a couch and they put a tourniquet around your arm and then put a needle in, which is attached to a bag which the blood flows into. it takes about 30/45 minutes. After that you get tea and biscuits! lol. You should be aware though that you should eat beforehand, it can make you feel very queezy after - I donated a few times but passed out the last time, after that i became pregnant and wasn't allowed to donate for a year after having my son. i haven't donated since, hth and good luck
I haven't given blood, don't think my doctor would trust that, my iron is not too good.
No I haven't given blood, but I've always wanted to, but because of my eye condition/syndrome being genetic, it is not recommended that i give blood. Also i have been put off the idea ever since my younger sister gave blood and turned aneamic because of it. So thats quite scary. I think it's a really good thing to do though, and know people that have benefitted from blood transfusions, so i'd like to do it if i could.
Is she still anemic?
I've never donated blood but i have had blood drawn for blood tests before. I'm not sure if blood is taken any differently for the two but it doesn't really hurt.
no blood tests only take a short time, for actual blood donation you have to lie on a bed while the blood is being taken. it takes a while - they take a pint.
I went to donate blood once on a dare from a friend, I hate needles terrified of them actually heehheeh. but well it was a dare, so what could I do? But the lady called up the head office thingy after she heard how I lost my site. (through cancer) and they decided i couldn't give blood after that. Don't know Why exactly, I'm perfectly healthy, and have been for bout 19 years, but oh well. Was great for me, no needles, and I went through with the dare technically speaking, and the nice lady gave me chocolate for my trouble heehheh.
No my sister isn't aneamic anymore but she was for several months after giving blood, and the doctor recommended she never give it again
No... I'm not allowed to give blood over here (in Canada) because I have spent too much time in Europe--Britain, specifically, I think they're worried about. They are afraid that I might single-handedly spread BSE :-). Otherwise I would give blood, but I'm not too unhappy to have been given the perfect excuse not to have myself poked with long needles. Just kidding :-).
No... I'm not allowed to give blood over here (in Canada) because I have spent too much time in Europe--Britain, specifically, I think they're worried about. They are afraid that I might single-handedly spread BSE :-). Otherwise I would give blood, but I'm not too unhappy to have been given the perfect excuse not to have myself poked with long needles. Just kidding :-).
No... I'm not allowed to give blood over here (in Canada) because I have spent too much time in Europe--Britain, specifically, I think they're worried about. They are afraid that I might single-handedly spread BSE :-). Otherwise I would give blood, but I'm not too unhappy to have been given the perfect excuse not to have myself poked with long needles. Just kidding :-).
I tried to give blood, but can't since I've had a cornea transplant.
Darn my eye disease is genetic, does that mean I cna't give blood either? I have Lebers Congenital Amorosis. Thanks for all your guys' tips about blood donations though, if I can I definitely will.
Would anyone like to donate as I'm feeling highly peckish..Type O Negative is my favourite tipple.....
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Caitlin I doubt very much that your condition would prevent you from donating....
I can't imagine why a genetic condition would prevent you from giving blood - after all genetic disorders cannot be passed from one person to another through blood, they're passed through the chromosomes, and by giving your blood to someone you do not give them part of your genetic make= up, i mean that same blood does not stay in their system for ever - blood cells die off and are re-generated.
I had a corneal transplant when I was six months old, so giving blood's probably out for me too, though I'd like to give blood. The other reason why I don't think I could is I'm hyposensative and have quite a bad needle phobia.
Hi all,
Caitlin, my best friend--Stacy (PlusOneChick) on here--has LCA and has given blood many times with no problems.
I have given blood af ew times--though the last two times I tried, the first one my iron was too low and the second they could find no vien. LOL
I have benefittef rom blood transfusions so will give blood as long as I can.
It's not really that painful or anything either which is nice. But you should eat before hand.
In Him,
Shanda
I have given at least thirty times, I used to give every six months as a matter of form. But I must say that the first time was scary. After that it was "sure, for the orange juice and cookies."
The one and only time I donated it took me about two hours before I felt like I wasn't going to faint. And yes, they made sure my blood sugar was normal and iron was normal before taking the blood, and yes, they gave me juice and cookies afterwards. I felt fine immediately after getting out of the recliner I sat in for the donation, but after a couple minutes I felt faint. I would lie down for several minutes until I felt I could sit up again, start feeling faint again and lie down again until I felt I could sit up again. This pattern repeated itself several times over approximately two hours until I was finally able to not only sit but stand without feeling faint.
I've donated blood. It's like what has been said earlier. They ask you health and health history questions. Also about places you've traveled and if you use drugs and a bunch of sexual questions. The they look at your arms to see if you have needle tracks. Then they prick your finger to do the iron test. After that, they sit you in a nice recliner type chair and drawl your blood to fill a pint sized bag. After that you can eat and drink. Be careful, when I do it, I get really light headed afterwords. They also will give you a t-shirt. grin
i donate every ten weeks thtough my schools program.
it's actually not scary and it helped me deal with my phobia of needles.
goblin, interesting you should bring up vampires, the program is called the vampire shield. lol.
I give blood whenever my iron levels are not low. The last time I went to do it, the blood floated in the solution, unfortunately. They just hafve you leaning back on this bed-type thing in case you do pass out during the donation. For me, donating took about five minutes. For the rest of the day, I had to drink a lot of fluids. didn't feel any nausea though, which was great
I didn't pass out either.
I've never given blood. I should probably mention that I haven't had blood drawn since I was five. I'm now almost 30. I wouldn't mind nearly as much, but I can not stand the thought of having any of my fingers (thumbs included) poked. Even with a small needle. If they could do the anemia test on a differnt place such as the back of the hand or arm, i wouldn't mind nearly as much. For some reason i have extremely sensitive fingers. probably from using my hands so much and reading braille. I once went for a checkup at a local clinic. The nurse wanted to do an anemia test and i refused. I got really nervous, my heart was racing and I felt like I was gonna pass out. I'd rather have a regular blood test. I know it's probably an irrational fear. Most people I talk to say that having an anemia test really isn't that painful. But I just can't handle the thought of having one of these. Anyone out there with the same problem? I hate to be such a pansy, but I just can't handle that. I'd rather have novocaine given to me at the dentist. How weird is that! Any comments?
Yeah, I can't stand needles at all. The sharp feelings of beeing poke doesn't give me any comfort. Oh, and I have no idea of what donating blood is like, but I won't want to do it.
even if it saves lives? Did you know one pint, (which is how much you give every time), is enough blood to save three people who need a transfusion?