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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to think that 95% of people...

290 replies

PurplePidjin · 08/02/2012 19:14

...do not have a significant phobia of needles?

So why do only 4 or 5 in 100 of us who are medically capable actually bother to give blood? Where are the rest of them?

It took 30 minutes of my afternoon, and they deliberately stay open late so people can pop in on the way home from work and have an excellent excuse to slob on the sofa for a bit

Oh, and apparently the registers are now cross-referenced do my Anthony Nolan sample is relevant to both Grin

www.blood.co.uk

OP posts:
OhDoAdmitMrsDeVere · 09/02/2012 12:36

Now you listen to me Kayano

You need not hang your head in shame. If anyone understands I DO.

Ok I can stick my arm out like a trooper and let them take my blood but I have only just managed to go to the opticians! First time since DD got sick. I sat there shaking and apolgising to the poor, bemused lady.

I havnt been to the dentist for 10 years. Thats my next stop and I have been putting of a blood test since December Blush

When you are scared, you are scared. Its not logical and its bloody embarrasing. The fact I can give blood is a weird blip in my severe anxiety around medical situations.

BUT you can do it you know. Slowly, slowly and one day you will be able to give blood and you will feel wonderful afterwards. And you should.

I hear a lot 'Ive got a needle phobia' and I know a good % of that is bollocks but NOT all of it.

Someone once wrote on my DD's notes she had a needle phobia Hmm. Fucking cheek. She was just fed up of people trying to access her line and screwing it up.

Thank you SO MUCH to those who have given blood. I am incredibly moved whenever someone tells me they have done it because of my ecouragement nagging in Billie's name.

Haziedoll · 09/02/2012 12:38

They don't want my blood. Too much faff to find my veins. I also faint as well which they aren't keen on.

I was told that if there was an emergency situation they would want me to donate but otherwise they would prefer more straightforward donars.

IUseTooMuchKitchenRoll · 09/02/2012 12:43

FUN thank you Smile

Weirdly, as much as I don't like giving blood and find it quite difficult to do so in the times that they are open etc etc and have to be royally kicked up the bum to persevere, I did sign up to Anthony Nolan from one of your threads MrsDeVere, and I would LOVE to get the call saying that I could donate for someone.

Kayano · 09/02/2012 12:46

You'll see a thread on here one day gloating about me giving blood one day. I am really quite determined

Angry
GrownUp2012 · 09/02/2012 12:47

I'd donate but I have rheumatoid arthritis, kidney problems and mental health issues which all require different medications and unfortunately with being run down all the time I get anaemic quite often too.

I also encourage as many healthy people I know to donate because I am frustrated that I cannot do much myself, I require so much support here and medication there, I feel like I take out of the system and I can't put anything back.

So please do excuse me if any of my comments came across as argumentative, I just also get defensive of medical conditions, so I do understand your reaction to diabetes. Sorry. x

Original poster
PurplePidjin · 09/02/2012 12:56

A friend of mine is disabled and unable to donate, but she sometimes comes with me for the moral support - which is very much appreciated!

I would also happily watch friends' children so they could donate

Maybe the donor people should have a creche corner with a childcare worker supervising? Wouldn't work for mobile vans but there's always been space at the halls I've been to...

OP posts:
IDoNotLIKEFun · 09/02/2012 13:04

God we're all bringing our issues to this aren't we?

I had a row with DH last night because he says he has a needle phobia yet when he had to be tested to ensure that DS didn't have the same condition that DD has, he seemed fine. Had support but he did it and there was no question of him ever not doing it because it was deemed important. DS is biologically his and DD isn't so I get very frustrated that he doesn't donate because it seems like favouritism. Especially since his blood is like flipping treacle. The man never bruises or bleeds.

He is, however, utterly lovely and I adore him and his super-human blood so I will apologise properly to him too when he gets home.

Tunnocksteacakesrock · 09/02/2012 13:05

Thank you to all of you who can give and do. I wouldn't be here if you didn't as I needed a transfusion with DC1 (can't give since that). DH has given 60 times. If you can give blood please think about starting.

MinnieBar · 09/02/2012 13:37

When I donated this morning there was a question about 'have you ever taken fertility drugs?' which wasn't on there last time. I ticked 'no' so I don't know if that's an automatic disqualification or a 'to discuss further' one.

Anyway they were lovely and it was almost painless.

SydSaid · 09/02/2012 14:09

There is no facility here for blood donations, so geographicall I can't donate.

YABU to assume that needle-phobic people CAN'T give blood - my friend's OH is very needle-phobic - he faints EVERY time, yet he still gives blood.

YA also BU to think that because you are not needle-phobic, you can give blood.

BUT there are a lot of people that could and don't - and YANBU to highlight the issue!

IDoNotLIKEFun · 09/02/2012 14:37

Your mate's OH faints and he still does it?

Good on him. Fainting isn't dying. My beautiful DD is still here because of people like him Smile

Chattymummyhere · 09/02/2012 14:44

Licking period blood BOAK!

Anyways Ive never donated blood but then since Ive been 16 I dont think there has been anytime I have not just had a tattoo, ears done, belly button, tongue or been pregnant or not anemic to give blood. tbh its just not something that is high up on my list of things to do, it takes them an age to get blood out of me when im pregnant and thats a must let alone "for the fun of it"

Original poster
PurplePidjin · 09/02/2012 14:46

Yay for Minniebar Grin

Syd, I'm glad I'm NBU, I'll try and be clearer in the OP of my next bunfight AIBU thread Wink

OP posts:
SydSaid · 09/02/2012 14:56

Yes, he genuinely does. When he moved he told the nurse 'I'll faint, but don't worry, it happens every time'. She spoke to him like a kid 'don't be silly, you'll be fine' etc etc ... while he was saying 'yes, I will be fine, but I will faint'.

She didn't believe him till it happened.

Purple Pidjin - :)

Kayano · 09/02/2012 16:37

Is fainting a phobia though? Some people do faint
Because Of sudden drop in blood pressure but that doesn't necessarily mean they have a needle phobia. I also have a friend who faints everytime, they need to ensure They lie him down with his feet higher than his head.

But he isn't remotely afraid Sad

GrownUp2012 · 09/02/2012 17:12

You can faint because you have a phobia, the resulting fear reaction can cause a vasovagal syncope. Venipuncture is actually a recognised cause of fainting, so it could just be that, or it could be caused by a stress reaction. (I faint in response to extreme stress ).

FarloRigel · 09/02/2012 17:22

I'm the same, it doesn't really trouble me, but if I get too many sensations within the vein, like that slight pulsing feeling you get sometimes when it's not coming very fast then I'm out for the count! Smile. I don't actually like needles, but I certainly don't have any real fear of them. Dear only knows I've stuck them in enough people and I've been happily used for training when others are learning so I certainly don't have any phobia. I have seen loads of people with a real phobia though, it's rare though, I'd estimate one in a hundred or less that come to my work, and I certainly wouldn't put them through blood donation (that's not what I do btw) except in a real emergency unless they really wanted to, because a true phobia is horrendous Sad. That said, I really do wish more people that could give, would, but I do get the point that it should be made easier. I just don't think they get the funding to run too many out-of-hours sessions unfortunately. If you want a look at how much good you can do, check out my photo on my profile - she's only here today because twenty-one people decided to put her fight with cancer ahead of their discomfort and schedule.

SensitivityChip · 09/02/2012 17:25

I used to but have just had two babies in two years complete with complimentary bouts of anaemia so don't think I'll be darkening The Blood Service's doors for a while!

KatieScarlett2833 · 09/02/2012 17:25

It is not compulsory to give blood, if people don't want to, that is up to them.

OhDoAdmitMrsDeVere · 09/02/2012 17:55

No its not compulsory.

But you should have a fecking good reason not to.

Our health system cannot function without it. Everyone will have benefited from blood donation in some way.

There is a moral imperative to donate blood if we can, even if its only once.

I accept fear as a reason not to donate but I would expect the person to address the fear at some point, when they are ready to.

KatieScarlett2833 · 09/02/2012 17:58

I don't agree about people who don't give blood feeling the moral imperative, sorry. Or that they should be judged because they don't want to give blood.

SweetestThing · 09/02/2012 18:08

I used to give blood but they won't take it now because I had a blood transfusion in 91 and apparently there's a risk of VCJD from transfusions before a certain year.

Just to say on needle phobia, a friend of mine has needle phobia and can't even wear a poppy for Armistice Day because of the pin. His DS had to have an operation and it turns out he has a needle phobia too - we pass all kinds of things on to our children, don't we?

OhDoAdmitMrsDeVere · 09/02/2012 18:23

But why?
I dont mean they should be reviled and have stones thrown at them.
But if you dont want to just because why on earth shouldnt they be judged?

There is no other way to provide the blood we need. We are always short. The demand is always high.

If you can, you should.

If everyone who could, did, I would assume it would average out so you would only have to do it a few times. Mind you I am not brilliant at maths and logistics so I could be wrong.

KatieScarlett2833 · 09/02/2012 18:28

Because I don't feel I have a right to judge another human who does not want to donate their own blood.

They will usually have a reason. I'm happy to respect "I don't want to" as a valid one. You are not. And that's just as it should be. People can think differently, some may feel strongly about a particular issue, others may not.

NoOnesGoingToEatYourEyes · 09/02/2012 18:28

I would have said that I was too afraid of needles to give blood when I was younger but then realised I wouldn't be so afraid of the needle that I would refuse blood if I needed it.

Which made me think that perhaps I couldn't use the excuse of being afraid of needles anymore, I wasn't so afraid after all, I just don't like them.

I've been donating blood for about eight years now, although the pregnancies and illnesses etc have meant I haven't been able to donate as often as I would have liked to. I'm on the bone marrow register too.

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