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Original poster

Blood donation

355 replies

ImperialPleather · 13/06/2019 19:58

I’m so fed up of being told to donate blood? It’s happened 3 times in the past week I’ve been shamed for not giving blood.

I have no good reason to not give it other than I don’t want to but given I have bodily autonamy AIBU to think it’s no ones damn business?

It’s amazing some people give so well done to those who do!

OP posts:
Lizzie48 · 15/06/2019 11:39

M3lon has a point. How long do we go on with this? We don't vaccinate against smallpox anymore, do we? Because there's no risk of catching it, as it doesn't exist anymore!

You shouldn't call it an 'imaginary illness', though. Several hundred people died of it in the late 1990s and early 2000s. It was s horrific illness, and there could be someone on here who lost a family member to it.

Whoopstheregomyinsides · 15/06/2019 11:51

I’m AB+ too so useless. My dad had many transfusions however so I’m grateful to each of you who donates

LittleCandle · 15/06/2019 11:53

M3lon - it says specifically in the blurb by the blood transfusion service that they need AB blood in the Aberdeenshire area, so perhaps they are not 'crying out' for it, but they do want more, as they only have 4 days worth of blood, not the minimum of 5 days that they prefer. Perhaps you might want to trot up to Aberdeenshire and give a pint. I'm sure they would be delighted.

hazell42 · 15/06/2019 11:57

I'm not allowed to give blood. I have had a few sceptical comments but not outright judgement. How would they know that you haven't given blood, unless you have loudly declared your feelings about your bodily autonomy (3 times)
Most people wouldn't give a monkey's, I suspect.
But if their opinion bothers you, give blood or lie about it.
Be honest, you're scared of needles, aren't you

over50andfab · 15/06/2019 12:01

Seeing as diseases like vCJD can have an incubation period of several decades, so there might be those still carrying it but not symptomatic, it’s understandable that current guidelines are in place. Also understandable on why further studies can take so long. It’s good that it is being reviewed regularly though and guidelines becoming slightly more relaxed.

Considering the ongoing contaminated blood inquiry it’s better to err on the cautious side, for all our sakes.

LittleCandle · 15/06/2019 12:01

Here is the level of blood stocks in Scotland - check out the AB levels.
www.scotblood.co.uk/donation-locations/aberdeen-blood-donor-centre/
and then the link to the story.

www.eveningexpress.co.uk/fp/news/local/i-will-be-forever-grateful-to-thosewho-gave-blood/

Sorry, I have no idea how to do clicky links.

EBearhug · 15/06/2019 12:21

Maybe they should also protect against other imaginary diseases too then...just to be safe!

Not imaginary, but part of the reasoning for not allowing people who have had transfusions to donate is that vCJD showed there's also an unknown risk of diseases we don't yet have research on, but it's likely blood transfusions would increase risks.

If people RTFT, they would see this is already discussed upthread.

Missillusioned · 15/06/2019 12:36

If you've had sex with a man who has ever had sex with another man you can't donate. So anyone with a bisexual male partner is barred.

EBearhug · 15/06/2019 12:50

If you've had sex with a man who has ever had sex with another man you can't donate.

I can be very literal. I want to answer some of the questions about sex with "don't know." For all I know, some of the men I've slept with could have slept with other men. Even when we have known each other's pasts, they might have lied or at least omitted details. I wish they would add a comment about, "to the best of your knowledge."

Fraxion · 15/06/2019 12:51

@LittleCandle I read that story yesterday, blood donors saved that woman's life without a doubt and thank god for that. As I said upthread, my live was saved by blood transfusions after I suffered massive internal bleeding during emergency surgery so unfortunately I'm not able to donate any more.

nothingtowearever · 15/06/2019 12:54

You should be shamed into not giving blood if there's no reason for it. My husband wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for blood donations he would of died at 15. Let's hope this is never one of your loved ones.

Yabbers · 15/06/2019 12:57

No-one is shaming you

Then...

I'm sorry but I think it's selfish not to just because you don't feel like it. (along with many other posts)

People who choose not to donate are shamed. It’s not in their head, it’s not their own internal shame, people are shamed.

I don’t give blood. I have my own reasons, they are personal to me, and I refuse to explain myself to anyone because it’s not their business, and I couldn’t care less whether my reasons are good enough reasons for them not to judge me or not. So, I just say no I won’t be taking part. People say things which are supposed to shame me, I ignore them.

It’s perfectly reasonable to have your view on what you would do, or even what you think others should do. But don’t pretend there is no shaming of those who won’t donate blood.

GraceSlicksRabbit · 15/06/2019 13:12

@LimitedPeriodOnly

I'm group O+. Lots of people are. Though we are really common, that that means we can donate to nearly everyone, even people who aren't in our blood group. Check it out.

Sorry, but you are wrong about this.

It is O NEGATIVE that is the universal donor blood and it is not at all common- only 7% of the U.K. population has it but 100% can receive it. I am O- myself, and am always getting texts asking me to come and donate ASAP, which I do.

If you listen closely to medical dramas you’ll often hear them calling for “O neg” in emergency situations.

fairweathercyclist · 15/06/2019 13:22

I think it really depends on where you live regarding how easy it is to get appointments. I go online and make appointments, usually for my local centre which is less than 10 minutes' walk away but sometimes will drive to a centre a bit further away if the times work better. They've stopped making them at one session for the next session, so that may make it easier to get an appointment as they don't all get booked up 4 months ahead.

People are quite good at cancelling (unlike GP appointments) so I have also logged on a few days before a session and picked up an appointment last minute when the session was full when I previously booked. But I usually book a long way in advance (eg I donated in May, and booked that slot in about January).

fairweathercyclist · 15/06/2019 13:23

previously Looked not booked.

minmooch · 15/06/2019 13:31

@BooseysMom thank you.

My son's blood and platelet transfusions didn't ultimately save him but they helped to give him 2 and half more years of life in which to try and beat his cancer. He was so sad that he had he lived he would not be able to donate in return. He was also incredibly sad that if he died he knew he would not be able to donate his organs.

At 18 years of age he knew the importance of donating blood if you can.

I donate in his memory and with gratitude to the anonymous people for every single donation he received.

I can't donate platelets (my veins are not good enough for that) but donate blood at the time allowed. If you are able to donate blood it is always worth asking if your veins are good enough to donate platelets.

I talk about this not to shame people but to bring awareness to those who just don't think about it.

FoxFoxSierra · 15/06/2019 13:44

Minmooch Thanks I started donating after reading a thread on here from MrsDevere about her lovely daughter Billie.

WindsweptEgret · 15/06/2019 13:46

I think they should allow smaller women (and the few men) under the weight limit to donate a smaller blood volume. A person under 5ft 4 can be under the weight limit but still be at a healthy weight. I'm only a couple of kilos over at 5ft 5.

PCohle · 15/06/2019 14:17

Yabbers - would you accept a blood donation?

katseyes7 · 15/06/2019 14:24

l had a transfusion four years ago after major surgery. That made me decide to donate (l'm quite squeamish with needles into veins) but unfortunately l'm not allowed to. You aren't if you've had a transfusion. l understand why, but l'm quite disappointed, l wanted to pay it back!

fiftiesmum · 15/06/2019 14:28

At last there is a separate appointment number for Ro group needed for sickle cell people. And it works got called back with a suitable appointment within a day or two

Oldraver · 15/06/2019 15:11

I've donated 50+, even though I took a few years off, but oh yes the tedium of trying to find a donation session. If for whatever reason you cant attend your local one (as id happening with me now) you either have to wait another 4 months or try and find another one.

The last few ones I have travelled over 20 miles to find a centre.

I'm dead chuffed as well as I manage to squeeze out a pint/500ml in around four minutes Grin

Dinosauratemydaffodils · 15/06/2019 15:26

Perhaps you might want to trot up to Aberdeenshire and give a pint. I'm sure they would be delighted

I'm in Aberdeenshire and although I'm not AB, I am A+...perhaps if they made ever so slightly easier to donate in terms of more appointments/drop ins, then perhaps they'd have more blood.

M3lon · 15/06/2019 15:30

little except for the fact that my fictional vCJD means they won't want it at all...

sueelleker · 15/06/2019 16:44

prawnpatrol
Buying blood from abroad was what caused a lot of recipients to get Hep C.
iVampire
I thought you had to be 18 to start donating? That's what it was in the 70's when I started.