Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
Jebuschristchocolatebar · 13/06/2019 20:38

British blood is refused because of cjd or mad cow disease.

awalkintheparka · 13/06/2019 20:39

I gave it once. I saved 3 lives!
Please if you can then do.

I felt horrendous for 3 months afterwards. I want to do it again but I'm scared. I'm waiting until my kids are older and I'm not as exhausted.

Croprotationinthe14thcentury · 13/06/2019 20:39

I also think we should all encourage our loved ones to give blood and I'll certainly encourage my dd to give blood once she's old enough.

YesQueen · 13/06/2019 20:40

Would receive blood, can't give it Sad

Dhalandchips · 13/06/2019 20:41

I'm another one who can't, because I'm a mad cow apparently! (Well, have received blood products since 1980). I got to 17 donations, getting excited for my silver badge, then needed a transfusion. Disappointed!

Myusernameismud · 13/06/2019 20:41

I'd love to donate blood, but I'm AB positive which is basically useless Hmm

They use plasma from AB positive males, but females are asked to wait until they're contacted directly before donating blood. I'm still waiting, 6 years after I first signed up...

alltheteainchinajustisntenough · 13/06/2019 20:42

Blood donations save lives. If you’d accept blood to save yours, I can’t comprehend how anybody physically able to do so would actively choose not to do it.

On a personal note, If people didn’t give blood, three members of my immediate family wouldn’t be alive today. It’s easy to be ignorant when you haven’t seen it’s importance. Blood donation is amazing and I’m grateful every second for people who make the time to do it (And yes, I do it too)

creamofcarnation · 13/06/2019 20:43

I like the texts you get telling you which hospital it has gone to. My last donation went to Manchester Children's Hospital

smartcarnotsosmartdriver · 13/06/2019 20:43

@creamofcarnation that sounds so good! They don't do that here or they didn't the last time I went. I'd love to know where it went.

iVampire · 13/06/2019 20:45

I can never give blood again (medical reasons) and am immensely grateful to all those who do. Thank you

I got DS along for his first session as soon as poss after his 17th birthday. So at least I produced my replacement!

JB1983 · 13/06/2019 20:47

@Myusernameismud yeah our blood bank doesn’t stick AB blood as it would just get wasted. My husband was gutted when I told him this as he was excited about his rare blood group, at least his plasma is sought after though.

ReganSomerset · 13/06/2019 20:49

It's also easy to sign up to the bone marrow registry, for anyone not already on it. There are a few different registrys but they all share information so it doesn't matter which you sign up to.

MaximusHeadroom · 13/06/2019 20:50

@CrazyToast

As PPs have said it is because of the risk of CJD.

AFAIK the US won't accept donations from people who spent more than 3 months in any UK territory including the Falklands and Gibraltar during the 80s and 90s.

Idontwanttotalk · 13/06/2019 20:51

I don't want to receive blood from anyone. If there was the possibility of needing it in elective surgery, I would prefer to donate my own in advance and receive that. I wouldn't want someone else's even in an emergency.

I've given many times in the past and I think I am still allowed to but, as I've had an early stage Breast Cancer, I don't believe I should be allowed to because I can't see how it can be guaranteed that absolutely no cancerous cells are transferred via transfusion.

PencereTencere · 13/06/2019 20:52

I don't think YABU OP.

I was a blood donor for several years, but after a really bad donation where I suffered an arterial puncture (bloody painful and unsightly for weeks) due to having really difficult veins, I was was advised not to donate any more. I'm perfectly eligible to donate, but unless they can take it out of the back of my hand or my foot, they aren't going to get it out of me.

IsabellaLinton · 13/06/2019 20:54

Nobody wants my blood or organs.

MorondelaFrontera · 13/06/2019 20:56

It's a pretty big deal for the needle-phobic.

so needle-phobic never get a blood test done and refuse all transfusion or immunisation they would need? really? And no anaesthesia when going to the dentist?

I am squeamish with needles myself, I actually faint if I have to look, but I don't. I kind of woman-up, look the other way and get on with it.

No need for silly excuses.

MorondelaFrontera · 13/06/2019 20:57

I felt horrendous for 3 months afterwards
what on earth did they do to you! Shock

I hope you ask for medical help, because that is not right on any level!

Vinorosso74 · 13/06/2019 21:02

It is a personal choice but some people just seem to think blood will be there and there's no need to donate. Older donors perhaps can no longer donate or die so they do need to recruit new ones hence drives to do so.
I was due to donate last week but had a rotten cold so changed my appointment. I then had to cancel as I got bitten by a cat (puncture wound) and had hospital visits and antibiotics. I will be rebooking shortly.
It will be my 36th donation. I go to one of the permanent donor centres which makes getting appointments easier.

Fraxion · 13/06/2019 21:05

I can't donate now either but would love to as I had life saving transfusions after emergency surgery. Grateful thanks to all that do.

MorondelaFrontera · 13/06/2019 21:08

I remember the official message from blood donation centers (not sure of which country it was) telling people there was no need for urgent donations anymore as people had rush to donate after a terrorist attack.

I thought that was heart warming to read.

PineappleSeahorse · 13/06/2019 21:08

Being squeamish about needles is not at all the same as a genuine phobia and yes many needle phobics will do anything to avoid needles. Having a blood test is impossible for some and as for the dentist there's often a big correlation between needle phobics and dental phobics so yes, the dentist will be avoided too, likely for more than one reason.

Nat6999 · 13/06/2019 21:17

I used to give blood but due to receiving a transfusion without my consent after having my son I can't donate any more.

Likethebattle · 13/06/2019 21:19

I have given 27 pints. It takes 10 minutes to actually donate and barely hurts. I felt faint once and I was so well looked after I couldn’t fault them. It’s desperately needs to maintain stock, I have a fairly rare type so get asked to go regularly. I think ‘I don’t want to’ is selfish especially when many people actually would if they didn’t have illnesses etc stopping them.

nokidshere · 13/06/2019 21:20

I'd like to give blood but have been refused ever since I was 18 sadly. I have psoriasis and they used to think it was something to do with bloods so was refused on those grounds. Then I was refused because of infertility drugs, and now I am refused because whilst having an emergency C section I had to have a blood transfusion.

It's a real shame but I tried.