Right, you bloody lovely bunch, over here please for Norksy's annual resolution suggestion

[NorksAreMessy]

If you have not made a resolution, may I respectfully suggest that you totter down to the blood bank just ONCE in 2015 and help save someone's life?
It doesn't hurt, they give you biscuits and they have lovely swingy chairs that turn you upside down if you go a bit woozy.
Plus you come out walking about 2feet off the ground because you have done something AMAZING

This is in honour of Joe Trazzletoes who is an inspiration to us all.

Bloody happy new year to you all

Got a response from the blood donation service.

Ban is still in place. It might get reviewed, but it might not.

Still think they basically can't need much blood atm.

My appointment is at 6.30 I'm really nervous, I've never done it before

douchbag you'll be fine - the nurses are lovely, just take some deep breaths and wiggle your toes when the needle goes in, and make sure you enjoy the biccies afterwards! Brilliant that you're doing this

Thanks ping

I've just done it! Painless, easy, and I got a nice lie-down and a cup of tea and a biscuit or three in peace. Result!

I did it today too! I can't say I particularly enjoyed it but it certainly wasn't painful. Enjoyed the biccies and got to lie down next to the hot guy from Marketing ??

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thanks for that info, I had no idea. dont know what vCJV is (cba to google it).
what I don't get is that if it can't be tested, how do we know if someone has it or not?
and if all the people who have received blood can't donate but live longer as a result surely at some point most people would have received some, then who will be left to give blood?
(if that makes any sense)

Ice
it is a frustrating situation. no doubt for them as well, I'm sure they are desperate for it. I hope they will change the policy, because a blanket one is illogical.
you were given blood, surely it was safe enough for you to recieve it. why can't it be passed on? if you hadn't received it, someone else would have - only you "looked after it" for a short time. so why it now can't be handed on again is beyond me (unless of course your own blood is not safe enough to pass on, which doesn't seem to be the problem in your case)

zing I believe it's mad cows disease and it can't be detected until the person is ill with it.

Sadly unable to donate due to receiving a transfusion. Shame as I'm O rh neg :(

Yes, AuntieMaggie has it right there.

ah I see, thanks

can people can be carriers without being ill?

if yes, then nobody should donate blood, because there's no way of knowing who has it, because it can't be detected.

if no, then they'd get ill, which goes on record, they can't donate, sorted.
is there a fault with that logic? or am I the first genius who worked that out? (2nd option would be bad news, I'd have to go & work for the government or something )

I think it's a fatal disease so they wouldn't be able to donate. its really hard to diagnose as the symptoms are similar to other conditions and can only be detected by brain scans in the later stages

thanks Auntie

but then how can anyone donate blood? I wouldn't know if I'm affected, would I?

auntie everything you say is true however there are no suspected or confirmed cases in the UK anymore. vCJD was fatal quite rapidly and has now run its course with no cases in the last few years.

So I don't have it, and neither does anyone else who had a transfusion.

We are now no higher risk than the background population.

So why not let us donate?

I guess because there have been cases in the US and they can never know definitively that nobody has it.

But that applies to the general population as well.

If the risk from you donating is 1:60 million and the risk from me donating is also 1:60 million then why should you be allowed and me not?

At the peak of vcjd outbreak the risk from the general population nearly got up to 1:100,000. That makes the risk from someone who has received blood once approximately 2:100,000. This is still FAR lower than other issues with blood donation that can also be fatal. And fair enough! They didn't know how bad the outbreak would get and maybe it only remained contained due to their actions!

But now none of this is relevant. The number of cases has dropped to zero, the risk from the general pop is almost zero and risk from receivers of blood is only imperceptibly higher....

So if they actually need more blood urgently then clearly they would drop the ban. So equally clearly they don't.

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I can't donate blood (transfusion myself and anaemia) but I am on the organ donation register and I'm on the Anthony Nolan register as well.

I sat with my Mum today as she had an infusion of blood to treat her myelodysplasia. It won't cure the condition, but it will prolong her life and means she will be with us that little bit longer.

Please keep registering and donating you lovely people

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