blood stocks low - will anyone donate in my place?

[outforblood]

My time as a blood donor is over. I tried and failed to donate yesterday for the last time. Having donated regularly since I was a teenager, this was the second visit in a row where even the most experienced senior nurse was unable to access a vein.

Apparently my veins are very small, buried deep, and the one stretch where they come close to the surface is now unsuitable for further attempts due to being used so often. No need to try again: "Looks like we've got all we can out of you."

I always found giving blood very life-affirming. I've been very lucky to be in good health most of my life so I always felt fortunate just to be in a position to do it. I know many can't. So I felt very sad to be turned away, but even worse to then read that blood stocks are currently dangerously low, particularly of rarer types (like mine).

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cw4y2x2kn4ko

I thought I'd come on here in case I could spur someone on here who is eligible to donate but on the fence to take my place. Maybe you've been meaning to donate but haven't got round to it, or maybe you haven't done it for a long time, or maybe you're a first-timer and nervous. But it's such a positive thing to do, the staff I've encountered have always friendly and gentle and professional. And of course you get and afterwards!

If you have any questions or concerns let me know and I'll do my best to help. But it would make my day if even one person pledged to donate in my place. 🙂

Funnily out of all my FB friends - the ones who donate and post about it (there are 3 of them) are all male!

I'm B negative and used to give blood regularly because not too many people have B negative but I had to stop after receiving a transfusion after giving birth to my elder DS. I never minded giving blood. My veins are very easy to find.

I can no longer donate after having blood cancer/stem cell transplant but am so so grateful to those who can and do.

I received countless pints of blood and plasma when I was ill, and I can't tell you how much better a pint of blood can make you feel when your own blood is buggered.

Thank you all for donating!

(And if you can please sign up to the stem cell register - you could save someone's life if you are a match and it's a simple and pretty painless procedure to harvest cells.)

I donated yesterday. It's easy and I love the excuse to have a Club biscuit as well

Not allowed to as, ironically I’ve had a blood transfusion….

My heart condition means I can no longer donate blood. 😕 such a shame, as I am O neg.
Thank you to those who are donating.

Wow. I'm quite overwhelmed at the response.

To all those who are regular donors, many with far greater totals than I was able to achieve - I salute you!

To those who are unable to donate for health reasons (or who have recieved blood yourselves), I wish you all the best.

To those who fall foul of the rules or for whom sessions are not easily accessible, thank you for at least for being willing to try.

And to the many individuals who have pledged to step up in response to my plea, I am truly quite choked up about it. Thank you each and every one. You've made me feel a lot better by being able to pass the baton on.

I think we need to see photos of the biscuit spread at all the donor sessions you end up at. Are Club biscuits the offering of choice, or are there regional variations? I was surprised yesterday to be offered a packet of crisps before donating (cheese biscuits were also available) - apparentlly for the salt to raise blood pressure! So savory palates are also catered for...

I mean 500k people get blood every year. Over 40 or so years since 1980 that’s 22m people. Obviously new people are born and people die but that’s still a huge amount of the population not eligible.

Maybe a stupid question, I don't know my blood type? Where do I find it and do I need it to sign up??

I can’t donate as I’ve had blood so just along to tank those of you that donate now or did in the past.

I used to donate at uni. Then stopped as life got busier. I tried to donate again a few years ago, inspired by a friend who has made multiple donations. I couldn't as I was the recipient of human tissue in the mid -2000s in the UK . I did receive donated "tissue" as the result of a single IVF treatment. I investigated further. A single case: a post-mortem in the USA in c. 2000 identified CJD in the ovaries. A ruling in the UK in c2012 decided that no recipient of human tissue could donate blood or other tissue due to "risk" from this one case. No recipients were notified, there was little to no publicity regarding this decision. I've chased a couple of times and been told that when more medical evidence becomes available the restriction will be reviewed. YET in the last year the decision has been made that gay men who self-declare they have not engaged in risky sex acts for the previous 3 months can donate. Obviously subject to some other restrictions. www.blood.co.uk/who-can-give-blood/men-who-have-sex-with-men/

Extraordinary. No wonder we are short of donors. I won't be trying again. This single case also impacted my ability to donate bone marrow.

You don’t need to know it. Give blood and they’ll tell you what it is!

The website is still queuing you so hopefully that's good news for donations, I'll try again in the morning.

I always book a Sunday appointment and I last went a couple of weeks ago when it was the Euros final. It was incredibly quiet and the nurse told me they’d had loads of people cancel probably due to the football, which I found a bit sad.
Where are you lot all going where you’re offered a cup of tea? It’s cold drinks only round my way since Covid. I don’t really care though as long as they have TUC cheese sandwich biscuits!

@socialdilemmawhattodo Sorry about your experience, and I'm sorry if I've misinterpreted, but I feel like the below comment you made is somewhat disapproving?:

^YET in the last year the decision has been made that gay men who self-declare they have not engaged in risky sex acts for the previous 3 months can donate. Obviously subject to some other restrictions. www.blood.co.uk/who-can-give-blood/men-who-have-sex-with-men/^

Thanks for the concern @Miley1967. The nurse specifically reassured me that they only have a single size needle available for the donation, but for blood tests etc there would be the option to use a smaller one.

I was a regular donor. Made over 50 donations, the last time just before Covid.
Now it is so hard to get an appointment that I have given up. I am retired and can go any time but they send me invitation and there are no appointments available any where near me.
I have twice had them ring me up and ask me to go and then they haven't been able to find me an appointment.
I think the lack of sessions must play a big part in the shortages

I donated up until 2003 when I emigrated to NZ. In NZ we were banned to donate due to 'mad cow', but the restriction has just been lifted. My appointment to donate for the first time in 21 years is in August.

I cannot say I am looking forward to it, but I think it is an easy way to help someone.

Aah yes that makes sense. they are pretty big needles they use for blood donation ( not that you feel it ! )

I went in January and failed, but conditions were not favourable as it was cold and my veins went into hiding! This time round I was determined: I've been much more active recently, went for a long walk in the morning, drank pints and pints of water (and even did some star jumps in the loo before I went in 😂).

But in the end it came down to anatomy. It wasn't the number of failed attempts per se, but all the nurses who had a look were in agreement that the location of the veins in my arm meant there wouldn't be any use in trying any more.

Thank you to all that donate. DP would not be alive without the kindness of strangers giving up an hour of their time and a pint.

My DCs (26 and 20) are the only ones of their friends that donate. Even DP's own kids don't which is such a shame given that saw their Dad's illness and recovery.

I received my heart warming notification today.

Yes please. We need group O blood as it can be given to any male or rhesus pos female in an emergency.

I’m O-ve, started donating as soon as I turned 18, but am also now not allowed due to receiving a transfusion during a haemorrhage in 2022. Still bothers me, as surely whoever donated it must have gone through this screening process! I’d love to be able to donate again if they ever lift that restriction.

I went in January and failed, but conditions were not favourable as it was cold and my veins went into hiding! This time round I was determined: I've been much more active recently, went for a long walk in the morning, drank pints and pints of water (and even did some star jumps in the loo before I went in 😂).

But in the end it came down to anatomy. It wasn't the number of failed attempts per se, but all the nurses who had a look were in agreement that the location of the veins in my arm meant there wouldn't be any use in trying any more.

Hmm. Interesting. Thanks. The lead nurse at the last session I attended was much more negative about my veins than anyone at my usual centre has ever been.

When I finally got to the top of the website queue, I couldn't log in. I'm wondering if they've fired me. I'll ring tomorrow.

I'm a blood donor (0 neg, so in demand). Sadly the NHS decided to close all the small donation centres in our town and the only option is now to drive which I'm definitely not doing after giving blood because it makes me feel lightheaded.
I'm really sad I've had to give if up.
If they're so short of blood they need to make it easier to donate FGS.