to judge people that don't Give Blood?

[PersonalClown]

Right..now I've lured you all in!!

Just a little nudge to remind people to give blood if you can.
Stocks are still incredibly low, you get to feel good about yourself and you get a lie down and a afterwards.

Don't make me set Misdee on you!!

My haemoglobin count has been too low every time I have tried.

Have a blood disorder--would love to give but not allowed. Or in the words of the haematologist when l enquired if l could was " don't be so bloody stupid"

What I would to know is why the blood bank or whatever they are called keep sending me leaflets asking me to give blood when I have told them I am not allowed to by their rules?

It's annoying and it makes me feel a bit guilty, even though it's not my fault.

twolittlemonkeys - weight is one of the reasons why I'm not allowed to as well. But again, my BMI says I'm in the healthy range so I don't get it? Surely weight is arbitary unless you factor in height?

Allegro, it's possible it's a physical reason for you reacting like that rather than it being in your head. I'd certainly react the same way and I know it's not in my head.

serenity by "rare" I meant O neg, which is rarer than positive, obviously, but is very much in demand as the universal type that can be mixed with all other types.

I'm waiting for my thyroid hormones to stabilise for 6 months before they'll have me back.

Unfortunately I can't as I had a blood transfusion after 1980. Which is a shame as I would really like to give (especially as I've been on the receiving end and am very thankful!) and I do like

twolittlemonkeys the weight limit is to protect the donor. Your blood volume is proportionate to your size so the standard 470ml donation is a larger percentage of your total blood volume than for someone like me at 5'6" and rather overweight. So a standard donation might be too big to be safe for you as it might lower your blood pressure too far.

I was always too small (weigh wise) but could donate blood platelets and bone marrow at my old weight. So for all those who have been blocked donating blood, if you want to help maybe these are routes you could look in to?

I know they don't require as much blood for platelets but they help out massively (another idea from the fabulous MrsDeVere and her daughter Billie).

I can't donate now due to transfusion but am indebted forever to those that do.

Really Reindeer ? Ive looked into bone marrow and i cant do that either due to weight. Is there no limit on platelets then ?

I used to give blood regularly before I had kids. Now though with whatever pregnancy has done to my body they can never find a vein! I've been sat there for half an hour while they've tried to find one to no avail. Although it's quite comical when I have to go for a blood test and they can't find a vein.

I shall be donating my lovely O- blood this Friday if I can get home from work in time. I should have gone in March, but had to cancel when DD was rushed into hospital. I always have trouble trying to find a session that fits in with work.

DH and I gave blood for the first time last week. We've both just never had time or realised when the drives were going on until then, plus I couldn't for so long due to having ds.

I had a massive headache for the next 2 days though :(

DH would like to know the reasons for all the restrictions, especially some of the stranger ones but I managed to convince him not to interrogate the poor nurses!

I've had to stop. My practice nurse said that the scarring on my already shit veins from so many cannulas was making it even harder for her to take blood from me. So that put me off a bit, then I found my ferritin stores were really low and GP told me to stop. Sorry.

Pixie - I can't say for definite but it was something that I was able to do due to the small amounts needed.

Bone marrow didn't have a weight limit but more of a health check when I looked into it. I could be wrong though (and probably am). Its worth contacting your local centre though just to double check the position.

For what it's worth, I am definitely not an expert, and am just giving my opinion and experiences (which are a few years old). Things may have changed and I'm more than likely to be wrong.

It was just an idea, as I know the blood restrictions are quite strict.

I never have done, I might try it next time I get chance. How much do they take?

I give blood. Last donation was in April. The Bloodmobile comes to my place of work so I get to bunk off and lie in a wobbly mobile home for a while. You get but no just squash. They often remark on my lovely petite veins, but surely it's not a good thing to have small veins - they'll just get clogged up more easily won't they?

Right i will look into that , thanks Reindeer !

RobF about 7 pints . Actually, I think it's less than a pint.

Oh I didn't say in my previous post that I am also on the bone marrow register.

YANBU, wish I could but can't. Did it at first opportunity at 17, passed out having my cuppa and told by doc not to come back for a year. Then went abroad.. then got nose pierced.. then got pregnant.. then anaemic.. and stayed anaemic. So sorry!

Are transfusions really an issue?
I had one in 1981, but I have tried to give blood since. Only reason they won't let me is my ridiculously low blood pressure. They never seemed to have a problem about the transfusion.

I would darling op but I can't as have to wait 6 months

RobF It's 470ml.