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!!

I met some hilariously competitive donors at my local one. They were a group of well-built young lads who were keen to see who could give their donation in the fastest time. There was a lot of banter and piss-taking going on. I laughed but was secretly as it takes me an absurdly long time to fill the bag up.

please don't
I gave blood regularly since I was 18 (I even got a little badge thing for however many pints or whatever it was) but I had to have a trasfusion after DS3 was born so now I can't

Such a rubbish excuse I know, but I get tattooed too frequently.
As soon as I have a run of 6/12 months of not being tattooed (or pierced for that matter) I will do it. I have been promising my Mother for the last 6 years...

I started giving this year, I am scared of needles and especially in that bit of the arm, but I managed to get through it and am O- as well. i also have very good veins apparently [squeamish]. they come to my work so every time they do which is 3 times a year I think, I will donate :)

I can't give blood as I had 19 units when I had my DS. I WOULD like to say a very HUGE HUGE thank you to those that do as you may have helped save my life and for that I and my family are extremely grateful.
So please if you can do give blood as it really does save lives. I have also been deployed to Afghan and worked in the A and E there and seen how many lives (British, American, Canadian, Afghan adults and young children) have been saved by those people kind enough to give up there time and blood.

Something that has come up a bit in the press recently is that the NBS are very keen to recruit more donors from ethnic minority groups.

Oh I can give blood! Always thought I couldn't due to overseas travel and tattoos but I'm fine.

Sadly I'll never be able to donate in Aus due to mad cow thing.

I used to always give blood when I was younger. Then I had 4 transfusions to save my life. Now I am living in Australia where I am not allowed to give as I lived in the UK during the mad cow years. I always feel guilty when I pass the blood van. Sigh...

I always gave in the UK so am well hacked off that they don't want my blood here (Oz).

I have donated, on and off, for 20 years.

The new appointments system is a nightmare, though, for busy people. I used to like turning up and waiting for a short while. Now I have to wait behind a lot of retired people, who have booked their slot. I simply don't have the time.

Merle Surely having an appointment is a good thing?

Nanny - it's transfusions post 1985 or something because of BSE/vCJD. I had mine in '86 but still can't give. Although I had given between the transfusion and the change in rules.

I also feel guilty when passing a blood van. Got my gold card pre dcs. But since then have always been breastfeeding or anaemic.

My ds2 needed a blood transfusion for HDN. Te next day both my brothers went and gave blood. They do it quite regularly. And I will, hopefully, after I stop breastfeeding again. Not sure they'll want my blood though - has various antibodies in it after ds2.

I can't apparently after a bout of glandular fever & 2 transfusions when having DS - would like to thou.

what are the rules on the waiting times?

Out of interest - will ds2 not be able to donate blood when he's older? He had 80ml top up transfusion when he was 4 weeks old. Last year.

I used to do it for the biscuits. There was a shop in Glasgow run by the Scottish blood service and when I was a student there you could give blood every 12 weeks instead of less frequently in England. Long time ago so I expect it's all changed now.

davidtennantsmistress I don't think you can ever give blood if you have had a transfusion. :(

Agree with olifin, you (and pooka's DS) are barred for life or until they discover a blood test for CJD (or a definitive maximum incubation period).

Can you give blood if you are on tablets for epilepsy?

You used to get Guinness after giving blood in Dublin many years ago - bet you don't any more!

I didn't even get a cup of tea! I remember going with my dad when I was little and he always got a cup of tea!

Water or orange/lemon juice only for me. hmpf!

I wanted to give blood many times as I am O-, I got turned away every time, low iron mainly. Now I'm on medication that prevents me giving it.

If you have ever had a blood transfusion you can't give blood? What does that say for their screening methods then.

PersonalClown don't just stop at blood, do you also give marrow? Lots of people in the world need bone marrow

. Many women on MN will be in their forties, ie, in peri-menopause, when each month or less can bring heavy blood loss, leaving you so weak and anaemic you can barely carry out essential household tasks without iron supplements.

Surely you're aware of this, OP? Obviously not.

im too thin, anemic and have low blood pressure and awful veins. im on the donor list but giving blood, just couldnt do it

Re: small veins - I have normal sized veins, but they hide in my arms - seriously, you'd think I don't have veins at all!
the Blood people tend to laugh/cry when they see my arms, and call me difficult
never had a problem getting it out though.

Now, when I went for my booking-in appointment with the midwife, she decided she wuoldn't even try to find a vein and sent me off to the blood lady.
Blood lady decided I must have small veins and used a child-sized needle to get into the vein. I complained about that (not seriously ,obviously) because it took forever to get the blood out! and also explained that the needle at the Blood session was about 10 times that size!
she did apologise, though - had assumed that I had small veins, and that yes, it might have been easier after all to use a normal size needle.

Can't. Had blood trans.