to be annoyed that DP has been turned away from Giving Blood...

[FadBook]

AIBU for being annoyed that DP has been turned away from giving blood because her went to the gym this morning?

I feel annoyed as it has been booked in for a while (following another thread last month on blood shortages, and how some MNer's had got their partners to donate because they couldn't, I can't due to having a transfusion myself and being a recipient of egg donation so DP said he would for me, how sweet!) and we've just moved house so he could have easily just not turned up but he didn't, he went along and answered all the questions. But apparently there was a risk of him passing out because he'd done exercise today. I'm just surprised tbh. Prepared to be flamed for this.

he was also looking forward to his tea and biscuits in peace without 17 month old dd begging for one!

[CotherMuckingFunt]

I have the same problem HoneyStep I live in France and they don't want my blood because I'm from the UK but I can't give blood in the UK because I'm not a resident.

[FredFredGeorge]

I've been asked about exercise before, I've also been refused because I didn't have breakfast - despite the fact I never have breakfast. I just lied about both after that.

[Whatdoiknowanyway]

I was turned down last time I went. I'd given blood earlier in the year and felt faint so when i went back recently they asked some follow up questions. That had been my first time in giving blood in 20 years as it always did make me feel faint, literally drained I suppose, and when I had young children I needed to reserve my energy for them. But children now adult and I could give blood again.

Except apparently I can't.

I understand that they need to be careful but I was only slightly faint earlier in the year and to my mind it was a managed risk. I was told to try again in 2 years. Meanwhile there is a shortage of blood...

[mrsjay]

his bp was maybe raised or something else I dont think they wouldnt take it because he had been to the gym and did some excercise my dh has given blood for 20 years and never been asked that question

[GhoulWithADragonTattoo]

I've just checked the FAQs on the blood donation website. It says, "if you have undertaken exercise before you donate, you will need to be recovered from the exercise and well hydrated in order to donate".

I have to say I've been giving blood for years and have never been asked about exercise. He must have turned up looking red and knackered without having drunk plenty of water I'd say.

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes]

I've felt faint on three occasions over the last 15 years or so, two of those being in the last year, they have it all on record but I have never been turned away, just have to take a few extra prevautions

[FadBook]

I've just asked DP what else they said (you lot are making me paranoid!) and he said there were concerned about him being dehydrated and looking tired.

He looks tired because dd keeps us up all feckin night not because of his workout! That's keeps him awake. Oh well it's booked back in.

Just wish I could donate to give something back. That's why I'd got DP to do it! The mad cow disease thing is the same for me, there is a risk of it being in me because I've had egg donation. The risk is tiny but they have to enforce it. It was the same for me wanting to donate breastmilk to one of the banks, because of the egg donation (& blood transfusion) I wasn't allowed.

[TeaBrick]

I just looked at the online checker for whether you can give blood or not, and there was nothing mentioned about exercise.

[Loveweekends10]

Unlikely to be that. He has either misunderstood or he is not being honest.

[GhoulWithADragonTattoo]

Loveweekend - to be fair it does say that on the FAQs bit of www.blood.co.uk (I quoted the relevant bit above), so he's telling the truth it's just that most people would be recovered and well hydrated by the time they went to donate so it doesn't get asked.

[nickelbabylyinginamanger]

How weird.



unless it's a new thing.
high instance of people passing out when they'd done exercise that day?

DH usually gives straight after work - he's a postie so would have walked 6 miles and cycled about 2.

[LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726]

I gave blood last week and wasn't asked this question. Are you sure, OP? The only 'new' thing is that you're required to drink 500ml of water when you go in.

[FutTheShuckUp]

Aww he bottled it- just humour him

[GhoulWithADragonTattoo]

//www.blood.co.uk/giving-blood/faqs/ Scroll down to the bit about donating before or after exercise. He's telling the truth!

[LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726]

See the bit about drinking 500ml water... why would anybody be dehydrated? They MAKE you drink it.

[ChristmasKnackers]

Before you get all suspicious, I was turned away after gong to the gym! They were worried about me being dehydrated. To be honest, I think they were really busy and didn't want the extra hassle of picking up an ill person from the floor!

[oldraver]

I havn't had this question asked (gave just before Christmas) but was given a list of 'risky' things and asked if I would be taking part in any of the activities later. It was the first time I had seen this.

The drinking extra water thing has been going for quite a while at my session.

It does seem that each time I go there is some new/different policy... a new one in the last year was an excercise card to do while donating no way I enjoy my calm lie down.

[marquesas]

I can only guess that your DP looked terrible as I've been giving blood for years and have even been this week and have never been asked about exercise.

I agree that they are making improvements all the time, the new chairs are brilliant but on the other hand I also think that unless they sort out the logistics people will stop going.

The whole process is really inefficient and ime never takes less than 90mins in total. Only the most public spirited will bother to go, for example when I finally got the chair the "donor carer" took at least 5 mins sticking on the bar codes to all the bags and bottles while i just sat there. Every step is painfully slow and repetative, I'm sure there'd be little risk in working on the basis that if someone has given 25+ there could be a fast track system that doesn't involve you going over the same old ground every time.

[LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726]

yy marquesas... a time and motion study definitely needed. I think the time taken definitely puts people off. At the session I went to last week there seemed plenty of staff but not enough beds and only one person doing pricks.

[oldraver]

I wanted to moan actually about all the changes and different ways of doing things but didnt know if I should

I do realise that sometimes new ideas come along (like the water thing...it is supposed to help the blood flow better and keep people hydrated) but its as if they are making it up as they go along. "Oh we are trying something new" seems to be their mantra. I know it doesnt come from the staff themselves it comes from management but staff seem to be as pissed off with it themselvs

The staff also, while friendly to your face just seem bored and listless and stand around gossiping far too much. I bleed really quickly (about 4 mins) and I'm frequently left with the buzzer going. I do sit there thinking if I worked in such a slow coach manner I would be pulled up about it, but being as its seen as so worthy you dont want to criticise the staff

[marquesas]

Lying - I'm glad it's not just me. I always feel bad getting annoyed as the staff are always great but I do think the system lets them down.

Also where I go the people who check you in aren't very friendly and seem to tut under their breaths if you don't have an appointment - hardly welcoming for a first timer.

[Blowninonabreeze]

Ours are always obsessed about exercise.

DH is an exercise fanatic and has been turned away twice, once because he'd ran 10km the night before and once because he'd cycled the 2 miles to the donation centre. Since then he's stopped being so honest.

I went with wet hair one sat morning having been swimming with my dd2 in her baby swimming class. She was 2, we were in the baby pool and my feet never left the floor of the pool. It really couldn't be mistaken for exercise!! If I hadn't been pretty insistent they wouldn't have let me donate.

[thoroughlymodernmillie]

He is telling you the truth, especially if the excercise was an intense workout. Whilst excercise is not mentioned on the donor health check it is often asked during screening, especially for new donors.

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes]

I am usually in and out within about an hour even with extra precautions due to previous faintness and I usually don't have an appointment but show up at the start of the session. However the timing of the clinics isn't great, ours are 1.30 - 3.30 which means I have to go right at the start in order to be able to pick the DCs up from school. There is another session 4.30 to 6.30 but that clashes with swimming lessons.

The card asking if you will be doing risky activities later that day has been in use at my sessions for quite some time now. From talking to the staff they do roll out new procedures area by area, so it will vary. I am very taken with the new reclining chairs we had at the last session.