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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to feel miffed that they don't want my blood?

88 replies

clam · 19/12/2010 11:31

OK, so am RH O Negative, which is always particularly in demand as it can be given to anyone of any blood type. Have heard that stocks are really low at the moment and they are pleading with people to donate. I've been donating on and off for 30 years.
Phoned up the National Blood Service to say "I'm here!! Clam to the rescue!" but they weren't in the least bit grateful and said they're too busy until January 12th to fit me in!

I was hoping for a fast-tracked system this week, whereby I'd overtake everyone else in the queue and be given a special seat with a cushion and extra nice biscuits.

So, AIBU? Xmas Grin

OP posts:
empirestateofmind · 19/12/2010 13:03

I am not allowed to give blood here in Singapore because I used to live in the UK. Another who might be a mad cow.

AVeryMerryPersonalClown · 19/12/2010 13:10

They keep calling me asking to donate now when I'm booked in for mid Jan.
Then when I ask if I can donate earlier (so 3 month gap instead of 4) I get told that I can't as you have to give the body time to recover.Confused

WHY CALL ME, THEN??

Eralc · 20/12/2010 03:19

I'm O negative and in Australia, so I also can't give blood - was a bit of a shock to find that out when I got here - have been donating for years in the UK!

TechnoKitten · 20/12/2010 03:23

I'm A+, in NZ, and can't donate because I lived in the UK and might have eaten the odd McD's burger mysteriously acquired BSE. Always donated without a problem back home!

HoHoHoHoopsAndBaby · 20/12/2010 03:36

You lot just reminded me that I can start giving blood again on the 2nd of Jan....yeaaa!! had to give up cause I gave birth to DS nearly 9 months ago.............last time I gave it, a lady came to the session who had had a lifesaving operation which included a blood transfusion, she went round and thanked everyone.......made me feel quite good about myself!! Xmas Grin

kreecherlivesupstairs · 20/12/2010 05:41

Another potential mad cow. I couldn't give it in Switzerland because we'd lived in the UK. I thought they were going to say it was because we'd lived in fleshpot Bangkok.
I gave twice after the Tsunami but felt a little drained.
I have given in Belgium though, I had to take DD with me, she was convinced they'd want her blood (AB+) and had rolled her sleeve up.

SuchProspects · 20/12/2010 07:47

OP - They are now making an "urgent appeal" for O neg blood. Might be that news of the scarcity you'd heard about hadn't trickled through their systems at the time so the operator couldn't fast track you. You could try again if you can be bothered.

They don't want my blood because I've had a transfusion. Bit worrying that the blood they've given me is considered too risky to put back into the system.Confused

nameymacnamechanger · 20/12/2010 07:55

I used to give blood but they then changed the rules were by if you have had a blood transufusion before a certain date you can't give blood. Always felt so good giving it! I'm rhesus A negative which they often ask for too, when I did give blood I was always getting letters.

legspinner · 20/12/2010 07:57

I would love to give blood but am in the same boat as several posters in Aussie and NZ - potential mad cow (despite being vegetarian for most of that time in the UK....)

Original poster
clam · 20/12/2010 09:29

suchprospects it was in the light of that article (and others like it) that I phoned up. I made it clear that I was O Neg and I'd heard there was a shortfall and they were asking for donors. Made no difference. Their appointment systems are full. Which made me wonder why they can't fast-track certain groups. What's the point of putting out a call for additional donors if they haven't got the facilities to cope.

Next thing is, I'll get a letter asking me to donate!

OP posts:
Yulephemia · 20/12/2010 09:56

About 20 years ago, when ex-DH had just left me, I decided to start picking my life up again: got a new job, started exercising, decided to be a good citizen and go and give blood.

They couldn't find a vein and told me to come back in 10 years once I didn't have so much sub-cutaneous fat. Xmas Biscuit

I went home and cried my wee heart out. Xmas Sad

Xmas Grin
Porcelain · 20/12/2010 10:06

YANBU I am O neg too and they are pestering me no end. I gave birth 4 months ago though, so they won't let me.

celebmum · 20/12/2010 10:08

i have given regularly for 10yrs (B+)so quite rare-ish.. but since having pulminary embolisms (multiple blood clots) when pregnant i can't donate anymore Sad

i never had a problem booking in on the blood drives though? the sally army near me have them quite often? can you try there op?

Waswondering · 20/12/2010 10:11

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

TheMoreItSnows · 20/12/2010 10:13

Sign up to booking appointments on the internet here then you can book months, years, decades in advance at a donation centre of your choice - otherwise you are destined to be turned away, or sit in grim silence waiting for a space to turn up sometime in the next 3 hrs thus wasting your time and making you feel far less virtuous for having donated...

ClotildeK · 20/12/2010 10:20

I have an appointment to donate at the end of January. It was the first available one that I was able to get to when I booked the appointment at the start of August.

FantasticDay · 20/12/2010 10:31

I once gave blood in France and got a glass of red wine and a croissant.

KatieMiddleton · 20/12/2010 10:48

My mum phoned me up because I'm O neg to insist I donate but I can't give blood at the moment because I have a swollen lymph node that will need investigating in new year if it doesn't go down. Luckily Hmm I have a throat infection now so can't be interrogated donate any way.

All being well in the new year I'll be off giving blood. If I'm happy to take it then I should give it (although fully expect much fawning and proffering of choccie biscuits for my special blood Grin)

fayc84 · 20/12/2010 10:57

I cried at the blood donor advert on TV because I used to give (not as regularly as I should Blush) but am pg so not allowed at the moment. They keep sending me letters too. They'd be welcome to my blood though, I have loads - it keeps coming out my nose! (not a pregnancy symptom I was aware of before)

nomoreheels · 20/12/2010 11:01

I'm O neg but Canadian - would I be able to donate in the UK?

PinkIsMyFavouriteCrayon · 20/12/2010 11:14

Having read this thread I've just rang the appointments line as I'm 0 neg. I was lucky (or they were??) I got an appointment tommorrow Smile
Thats in Newcastle if anyone reading is around and interested? x

QueenStromba · 20/12/2010 12:56

They won't let you donate in the US if you've lived in the UK or Ireland. My father is O negative and used to have people from the blood bank turn up at his work because they wanted his blood. I can't donate myself because they have enough difficulty trying to get enough blood out of me for a blood test - there's no way they'd get a pint out of me. My housemate gives blood all the time and used to always manage to make me feel guilty by telling me I should give blood - only had to explain about 20 times before he stopped pestering me about it!

Original poster
clam · 23/12/2010 16:28

GAAAHHH! I knew it! They've just phoned me up and told me that as O Neg blood is very important, would I please go along and donate!!!!

OP posts:
MrsThisIsTheCadillacOfNailguns · 23/12/2010 16:36

I'm A rhesus negative and haven't managed to give blood yet.They tell me that it is too rare and it is likely it will 'go off' before it is needed.I'm not sure if this is actually true though,because the person on the helpline when I rang and enquired seemed very vague.

gapbear · 23/12/2010 16:54

That's rubbish, MrsThis, because I'm A neg and I give blood every 4 months. In fact, there were only three months between my last two donations because they were desperate! Try phoning and talking to someone else...don't let them put you off.

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