Blood donation

[talksensetome]

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!

My very late 'I'm a 10 Donor' certificate and badge came earlier. I see giving blood is more worthwhile than donating charity, I gave blood on Sunday so now I'm waiting for the text message telling me where my blood has ended up 😊

I'm O- I would like to donate but I'm on a ton of medication for bipolar and I've read suggestions that you can't donate, but nothing conclusive. I'm actually too embarrassed to have to tell someone what meds I take and why so I've never gone any further .

Here's the contact details toast. You can email them or phone them - they're always lovely on the phone and there's nothing to be embarrassed about.

I am A- and now I am wondering if I might also be CMV -. Those who know their blood goes to neonates how did you find out? I saw I had neorr marked on my form. Vested interest as had 23 weeker twins who both received blood.

I am A- and now I am wondering if I might also be CMV -. Those who know their blood goes to neonates how did you find out? I saw I had neorr marked on my form. Vested interest as had 23 weeker twins who both received blood.

You can be up to 55 to register as a stem cell donor with DKMS. They send you a cheek swab which you then post back, so all very easy. More here

I think it's so great that people are giving blood. Shamefully I never have. I almost faint when I am just having a blood test and have to lie down to have it done so I just don't think I would be able to have the needle in my arm for that long to give a pint Well done to everyone for donating!

I've done it once about 3 years ago, inbetween a couple of tattoos and pregancy I've tried twice more but was turned away on both occasions because the they were too busy!!!!! Ive just gone to book an appointment after seeing this thread and no more appointments at the 4 centers around my area for the next 2 months! Reluctant to get a bus potentially 1 hour away to get turned away.

I book and it seems ages away but soon comes around. Then I book whilst I'm there for my next donation. I just think it's an hour out of my day to help.

olivia same here! I get impatient waiting for my appointment date then it goes fast on the day! Only 20 weeks to go until my next appointment.

Regular blood donor here. Only 11 more pints to give to reach 100. Never book an appointment as my journey home is so variable but never had a problem with just turning up as a walk in. I encouraged both my sons and my step son to sign up and my youngest son persuaded most of his class to come down and sign up.

I got a happy birthday email from the Donor people recently. Never had that before.

'Dear Fink,
Donor ID: xxxxxxxxxx
On behalf of everyone whose lives your donations have helped to save or improve we would like to wish you a very happy birthday!
Thank you so much,
Everyone at NHS Blood & Transplant'

I don't know why, but it seemed a bit weird.

I tried to give blood a few weeks ago and couldn't due to my veins being too small apparently. I was so upset, I started crying right there cos I couldn't do it! Looked like a right nob! Was so important to me as DH's best friend has leukaemia and has just had a bone marrow transplant so is constantly having blood & platelet transfusions so I wanted to help in my own way and couldn't. So from people like our friend, thank you OP and everyone else that donates blood / platelets / bone marrow.

I would like to give more, but they make it so difficult. Only ever open during office hours and if a van comes near where I work, they're always fully booked up at lunch time.

Gwen have you looked of you have a local blood donor centre? We have one in Brum which is a trek but means I can pre book a Saturday and it comes round in time. Now I do platelets can only use donor centrw

Thank you to everyone who donates blood. I am currently unable to due to low (ish) iron levels.

Last year my sister haemorrhaged, she received 11 units of blood and several more of plasma. Without people like you she would be dead, there was a point during surgery where she had only saline running through her veins as she lost every single drop of her blood. She was so very lucky to have many skilled surgeoms and nurses but without donors the abilites of the medical team would have been futile. Instead she's back home with her 4 children raising as much awareness as possible why its important to donate blood if you can.

Its fantastic to read that so many are donating or wanting to. I used to be a regular but am genuinely disappointed that I can no longer donate after receiving blood (severe (3+L) PPH) Like PP I feel I have a blood debt and want to give back. I would also like to add my humble thanks to all of you who are donors

dinocat I'll do one for you

MommaGee - I can go on the website for local donations. They are all office hours. They obviously only want the blood of shift workers and the unemployed. I actually called into a radio programme to complain about this and the expert there agreed that it is a problem, but they clearly don't need blood badly enough to do anything about it.

I was on a study day this week and apparently only 3%of the population donate blood🙀🙀🙀🙀🙀

Absolutely thank you to all of you who donate. I had two transfusions after childbirth and I don't know if they saved my life but they definitely improved it on that day.

And a bag of platelets costs approx £500🙀🙀🙀🙀my dad had both blood and platelets on numerous occasions whilst being treated for acute leukaemia .though I have found it quite difficult to donate myself😡

Can anyone explain the logistics of it? Ie what actually happens, how long it takes.

I have massive white coat syndrome so that would be a massive concern..

How many vials do they take? How long does it take?

It seems pathetic but I'm an organ donor!! #tryingtodomybit

Sorry for my word repetition!!

I have blood this week,I hadn't for ten years as busy having kids etc. I felt so elated afterwards!
I'm in London and can never get an appointment and my local places but found a permanent blood donation centre in central London so will going there from now on,SO easy to get an appointment.