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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Blood donation

219 replies

talksensetome · 10/02/2017 12:46

AIBU to tell you all that I am going to give a pint this afternoon, just because I love these threads and how they inspire others to give.

I wanted to donate platelets but I am too tiny so a pint of the red stuff it is!

OP posts:
mrslaichaoui · 10/02/2017 21:42

Love this but I can't donate as I've previously had a blood transfusion 😢

shellistar · 10/02/2017 21:42

preens

Both CMV & A negative. I had been going sporadically and one day I asked what the codes meant. When the nurse told me I just knew I had to make it a regular thing.

They keep trying me for platelets but alas! My veins are not quite hardy enough.

I'm also trying to lose weight to get on the bone marrow registry too. I think BMI has to be under 35 Blush

shellistar · 10/02/2017 21:43

Arrietty! My CMV- friend!

BoboBunnyH0p · 10/02/2017 21:48

I gave blood for the first time a few weeks ago. It's something I had been meaning to do but kept forgetting to arrange. The thing that kicked me into gear is that a dear ex colleague is under going treatment for cancer and was devastated to learn that they could no longer give blood ever again. So as a result myself and several of his friends agreed to donate in his honour.

Mrspotatohead18 · 10/02/2017 21:51

I give blood.. I'm on the donor register and the bone marrow register. I love thinking I can help others. I wish everyone else had the same mindset.

Knowing you could save a life is such an amazing feeling!

Jellybean83 · 10/02/2017 21:53

Good for you OP, and a massive thank you to everyone who gives blood. Flowers

I've had 2-3 blood transfusions per year since the age of about 20, I'm 33 now so that's a whole lot of blood. It is a massively selfless and wonderful thing you guys do, hopefully one day I can give back too.

ActuallyThatsSUPREMECommander · 10/02/2017 21:58

My last pint went to the Queen Elizabeth's hospital in Kings Lynn so if any Norfolk posters have friends who've been treated there wave to a bit of me when you next see them. Up to 37 pints, aiming for 50 before age or ill health stops me.

PorkyScratchings · 10/02/2017 21:59

I'm O negative and only thought about blood donation about 4 years ag,o after reading one of MrsD-V's threads. I have no idea why it hadn't occurred to me to go before but I've been going regularly ever since.
I don't get told where the blood goes though. That is so cool.

AlmostAJillSandwich · 10/02/2017 22:03

I'm devastated i can't give blood. I met all the requirements for my blood to be safe, but i have very thin veins that are too deep, they couldn't find my vein to get any blood. I've tried on several occasions, tried keeping warm, exercise and loads of water before the appointment but it didn't make a difference. Even blood test needles that are much easier they struggle to gt blood from me, my veins collapse. I'm hoping if i manage to lose a few stone i can try again, although they've told me weight isn't a contributing factor and it won't make a difference if im a size 18 or an 8, i still want to try. Already on the organ donor and bone marrow registers. I appreciate some people are needle phobic, but so many people could give but just don't, but they'd willingly take it i bet!

BillDoor · 10/02/2017 22:05

I've tried a couple of times now, but no matter how hydrated I am they can't get a good enough vein on me. Sad

AlmostAJillSandwich · 10/02/2017 22:08

I think from an at home test on a card i'm O positive, no idea about other antigens in it that are pos or neg. I know it's the most common and i did kind of secretly wish for a rare type, but it means if i ever am able to donate blood that it is effectively safe for up to 85% of the population if it is split down to blood products of platelets or plasma, and a good 40% or more as packed red blood cells or as whole blood.

AlmostAJillSandwich · 10/02/2017 22:11

Bill heres hoping one day we manage, i told them i didn't care if they dug around and stuck me a hundred times i'd let them do it to be able to donate, but they said even if they got it in it would probably rupture my vein as the blood draw needles for donation are bigger so it flows faster, and my veins were just too small for the needle size.

Natsku · 10/02/2017 22:12

I'm AB+ so only good for one blood type so not that useful anyway but I have really good veins and they are just going to waste!

BillDoor · 10/02/2017 22:13

I told them to use the back of my hand as that's where my blood tests end up, but they were reluctant.
One day we shall donate!! Grin

Permanentlyexhausted · 10/02/2017 22:14

I've gone back to giving blood regularly after a decade of children, exhaustion, and sniffles made me a very erratic donor. DD came with me last time and is keen to donate when she's older. Next appointment in a couple of weeks so need to take care of myself.

Cherrysoup · 10/02/2017 22:20

I received a pint of B+ the other day because my chemo makes me anaemic. It's given me such a boost. I was getting breathless just climbing the stairs and didn't have much energy to do things.

I'm B+ and give as often as possible. I like the odd plastic chairs that tip up, like an oversize bouncy chair! I like the quiet time of the actual blood being taken, as well as the idea of helping. I'm on the bone marrow donor list too.

oliversax · 10/02/2017 22:20

I haven't given blood for a few years as have been pregnant or breastfeeding but started at 18 and donated every viable year since.

It's really lovely seeing recipients posting, you know the blood goes somewhere but it makes it feel more real.

AlmostAJillSandwich · 10/02/2017 22:24

Quite honestly i'd let them stick the blinking needle into my neck if it meant i could donate! I have a docs appointment on march 6th with the only doctor whose ever been able to draw blood from me with no issue, going to ask her if it is possible to make veins bigger to be able to donate in future or if they could have smaller needles on hand if they had enough notice i'd be coming.

Fink · 10/02/2017 22:28

I always miss out on the penguins and such like because I donate on a fast day. ... I wonder how cheeky it would be to pop back in the next day and claim my ration of biscuits! Wink

I like the little texts you get now with where your blood has gone.

wendytorrence · 10/02/2017 22:30

I want to say thank you too.
Lost a lot of blood due to placental abruption with DS1.
A few pints of B+ gratefully received.

AlmostAJillSandwich · 10/02/2017 22:30

It makes me feel so much worse i live within a 10 minute drive of a dedicated blood donation centre, and they are open almost every monday to friday so getting an appointment isn't an issue, which is good since im disabled and almost completely housebound but i've tried there and got told no point coming back and had my blood/co.uk account suspended asi wasn't able to donate, which made me feel really excluded as it means i cant try again and book another appointment. I phoned up and got it unrestricted to go and have a second go at a differnt venue but they couldn't do it either, and i hd my account restricted again.

user1471506380 · 10/02/2017 22:35

I had to stop donating due to having medications. I am donating my brain for research into neurological disorders. It is all signed up and I have a card.

mummysherlock · 10/02/2017 22:35

Gave my 33rd pint of blood last week, DD (5) came to watch. I am CMV - ve so my blood is sidelined for NICU babies which is ironic as DS was prem. Cup of sugary tea and orange club biscuit is always the snack of choice afterwards.

SloanyAnne · 10/02/2017 22:37

I tried but they didn't want it at that time because of medication. I'm going to try again as soon as I'm clear to do so.

PenelopeFlintstone · 10/02/2017 22:46

I've never given blood but have tried a couple of times and been turned away for valid reasons.
I can't donate now due to the Mad Cow ban on Brits' blood.
I'd like to start when, and if, the ban is lifted, but a 60-year-old lady I work with has been told she may not be able to keep donating as she's done it so many times she has too much scar tissue in her elbow crease! This scares me and puts me right off!
Has anyone got any words to dispel my new fear?
I'm O negative, by the way.