It's the busiest topic. I don't think I am. 0- blood.

[MaryMotherOfCheeses]

Facebook message from NHS Blood Donation said

There has been a major incident in Cardiff which has resulted in a request for extra O- blood to be provided to help the local trauma unit. If you are O- and able to walk in into one our sessions this weekend please do so. To find the nearest session go onto blood.co.uk and put your postcode into the session searcher or give us a ring on 0300 123 23 23

Gwaaaan, you know you want to.

Oops, I seem to have tripped, and bumped into this thread. Sorry.

I can't donate either, I've had a blood product transfer in the past.

I live in Cardiff and would love to donate, especially at a time like this.

I have donated in the past, but not since I had my kids until I started again this year. My Dad was diagnosed with Leukaemia just after Easter and has received countless amounts of blood and platelets. Before this I had always thought of blood being needed during a trauma or operation, not about it being needed in this way.

Sadly they don't want want mine because of a medical condition.

I'm from Cardiff, I can't believe what has happened. The area where they stopped the van and arrested him is where my mum lives, we're off down there today and I feel weirdly sick about driving past.

Apparently his girlfriend finished with him and that is what triggered the incidents.

My next appointment is booked, I am ONeg. As I've had a recent tattoo, I can't donate until 4 months after it was done.

I can't donate due to medical condition and the toxic drugs I have to take but i've kicked all those around me who can.

I've just checked blood.co.uk to see if i'm eligible and it looks like they've changed the rules re: sex in high risk countries or with high risk individuals - now you have to wait 12 months rather than being written off forever.

I've been to a malaria zone in the last six months so can't donate

Can't donate at the mo (I am o-) as ds is only 3 months old. Will be back donating when I am allowed!

I'm O+ and have an appointment to donate next week. I've been trying to convince dh to do it too but he keeps making excuses. If I drag him along to my appointment do you think they will be able to fit him in too? I will be showing him this thread if anyone can think of something to persuade him

I'm from Cardiff originally and I am really shocked by this.

I'm A+ and donated on Wed.

Please consider giving blood if you are able.

A+ and pg, but will remind dp :)

Bump!!

Is it true you can't donate blood if you've had the anti-d jab when pregnant?

I can't donate sadly, as Ive had a blood transfusion.

I'm o- too

I'm O- and would love to give blood but there has always been some reason I've been turned down when I've asked, so about 5 years ago I just stopped offering. The most frustrating reason given is that I am very difficult to get blood of and even an experienced phlebotomist will often have to resort to a vein in the back of my hand. And because of the years of jiggling needles around trying to get blood out of several places before success, I'm a high fainting risk. I don't mind fainting if the blood is needed! (I do know that isn't very fair on the staff though). Then there's been visits to India and Africa and acupuncturists and so on. Apparently I can't even donate breastmilk because of the acupuncture.

I'm a bit because of being O- so maybe I should try again. The true irony here is that while pregnant it is MUCH easier to take blood from me, but I can't give it!

I can't give blood for the most stupid reason, having had sex with a man who had sex with another man- stupid rule! But bumping the thread.

They've been putting out appeals for O- on FB almost daily for weeks now, as well as the specific one yesterday. I'm not eligible at the moment (recovering from surgery) and am not O- but hoping to get back to it in a few months.

I saw this, and wish could help, am O+ though and also pregnant, wish there was a way I could help. DP is O+ as well but obv they asking for O- for a reason so its no good either way?

Was on local radio that O neg and B neg stocks are low in the south west.

(i gave my common popular A pos a couple of weeks ago)

I'm O neg and give regularly (went last week in fact)

I'm O negative but pregnant and too far away bumping for you though.

I think the reason they want O negative blood is that people with our type of blood are "universal donors".

If you have a negative blood group and are given positive blood, you could be very ill or even die.
BUT
If you have a positive blood group and are given negative blood, you will be fine.

So in A&E they give O negative blood until they have a chance to test for the casualty's bllod type.

Oh and I've had the anti-D jab in pg (twice) and not been asked about this. From looking at NBS website there is no mention of it being an issue, Irish site treats it similar to accupuncture and says to wait 12 months after jab.

They don't want my blood either because I had a transfusion 13 years ago, apparently they aren't sure if it was contaminated with cjd .I am gutted as after having needed blood myself I would love to give back.
Have the bump instead.

If you're not sure what type you are, the easiest way to find out is to donate, then they tell you.

I think you're ok if you've had anti-d because the anti-d is shipped over from USA so is a lower risk of it having CJD than a unit of blood in this country.

I am O- but can't because I am on antibiotics at the moment. I don't think they will have me anyways. :(