Blood donation

[ImperialPleather]

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!

@MorondelaFrontera

What, PineappleSeahorse said.

I had blood cancer and weekly blood and platelet transfusions saved my life so I am grateful to all tjose who donate blood. It does make a huge difference.

Everyone is an organ donor @ImperialPleather.

Are you actually being shamed or are you just embarrassed that you don’t when people mention it?

As others have said, if you would accept a transfusion (and you’re medically able) then you should donate.

I also agree with another poster than blood donors really don’t make it easy. I’ve been trying for ages but there are no local appointments.

I think saying ‘I have a phobia if I look’ is really playing down the reality of having a phobia. I do have a phobia of needles and definitely have avoided tests and injections I should have had so that I didn’t have to have a needle. I don’t even know why they bother me - blood and pain don’t particularly concern me, it is more medical settings and my body being intentionally pierced, I think. I try to power through every single time but my body just seems to shut down at the mere thought of it. It’s extremely embarrassing I obviously forced myself throughout pregnancy and attempted to just make myself be ok and refuse to admit how much it was bothering me but ended up collapsing in the corridor afterwards and still caused a scene anyway. I have fainted in the past at simply being told that I may have an injection in the future and had to have special arrangements made as a teenager so that my parents could hold me down because my rising panic completely took over from my rational side and I just couldn’t cope with it. So. Bloody. Embarrassing. I was an exceptionally quiet, nerdy, well behaved teenager and knowing that other kids in my year actually saw me being held down while I was screaming in panic and thrashing at a single injection was bloody mortifying. I passed out around an hour after having the tester for TB because I just took that long to get to the actual loss of consciousness stage after fighting it. Ignoring it and mentally shouting at myself does nothing.

I should probably get some kind of CBT for it, but I don’t regularly encounter injections or needles so I mostly just avoid thinking about them and am fine! I know that it’s ridiculous, but I also know I would end up causing a huge scene if I went to give blood. It does make me feel guilty. I am an organ donor at least! I am surprised anybody would think I must choose to have this embarrassing reaction in public and simply need to “woman up” and make it magically stop. Hasn’t worked so far.

I wish they told you in Scotland where your blood went. Mind you I wouldn’t be too happy to read ‘mental Malky from Govan says thanks for the blood after his dealer stabbed him’

Do people just run up to you screaming that you should donate blood?

I've been donating since I was 18 (with a few breaks due to travelling, briefly having an African partner, and TTC/pregnancy).

I think everyone who can do it should do it. It's not very arduous and it's worth it for the text afterwards telling you where your blood has been used and for the free biscuits and hot chocolate

@minmooch.. i'm sorry for your loss

Doesn't donating blood help clean out the old so that your body produces new and is good for you in some way.. or is that just bollocks?!

Everyone is an organ donor

No, they're not.

British blood is refused because of cjd or mad cow disease.
Can we please word our thoughts so we stay a bit further away from complete absurdity?
British blood is not refused.

As part of screening, anyone can be refused for one reason or other, which is a good thing as we want blood products to be safe as this was not always the case.

OP YABU. Sorry but you might have been shamed 3 times, that is not the blood donation system's fault.
I am a donor because I feel it is my moral duty to do so.
I don't ask people if they are and I most certainly don't shame them but we are in serious need of blood, did you know we need to buy blood from abroad at times? As if our medical bills weren't big enough already. We need more donors in this country and more publicity so sorry but this time your personal feelings are not as important and you can just move on.

But the OP doesn't say she's needle phobic, she doesn't give blood because she doesn't want to. Utterly selfish IMO and damn right she should be shamed. I'm O- and try to give 3 times a year. I've given over 30 times now and it makes me happy to know I've saved lives. It's such a small ask really (unless needlephobic/prevented from donating etc)

I think saying ‘I have a phobia if I look’ is really playing down the reality of having a phobia.

if it's directed to me, what I actually said was "If I look, I faint". It's a simple fact. I have to be extremely careful when I have my kids, with me or being given an injection, because I can't faint in front of them.

I can't let this stop me from getting immunised when pregnant, getting my kids immunised and so on.

You can't compare giving blood and being an organ donor, unless you mean being a live organ donor (which is on another level entirely).

I'm not sure donating blood is good for you unless you have hemochromatosis (a condition which means you have too much iron in your blood) but having your iron checked regularly could be good in some cases.

My dad was a platelet donor until last year when his iron got too low, when it was low a second time they recommended going to the doctor and that is how his cancer was diagnosed. The cancer was caught much earlier than it would have been otherwise. Sadly it is is an aggressive esophageal cancer so he can't be cured but we have been given much more time with him than we would have it he hadn't donated platelets.

What’s the deal with AB? I used to donate and always was welcomed - last time I turned up (this year) was told they didn’t need any and had to leave without my biscuit

I understand why some people would be really nervous about it. I think it would be good to understand a bit more of the actual experience - how long it takes, how it feels etc. We had a good campaign drive at work about it and that type of thing can help boost donations.

It isn’t as straightforward as one might think however to be eligible to donate. DH has a sought after blood type and is from an ethnicity for which the need for this blood type is high, outstripping supply (due to transfusions being needed for treatment of certain conditions, which are most common in people of that ethnicity). But, as he has received transfusions himself he isn’t eligible to donate.

I on the other hand seem to have a blood type that isn’t much use! My blood type can only be given to people with the same blood type, and it’s one of the rarest blood types in the UK, but people with my blood type can receive blood from anyone which means there’s little demand. There is some demand for the plasma, but this is only used from male blood donations; they avoid female donors due to antibodies that can be produced in our plasma that affect the suitability for transfusion (can be life threatening), and it’s especially the case when the donor has been pregnant before. I’m female and I’ve had several pregnancies. Basically no one wants (needs) it!

I keep an eye to see if these things change, but so far it’s been this way for years.

ImperialPleather
you still haven't clarified what you meant by "being shamed".

Not sure how can anyone really comment accurately without even knowing the fact.

I used to go 3 times a year. Now I cannot donate which I hate.

Feel like I veered off the core of the topic a bit - so yes, I agree that it’s good to donate blood if you can!

cubes and frusty you're the same blood type as me! We can receive blood of any type but can only give to other people with the same blood type and they just don't want it! It's frustrating but I'm registered as a donor and if they need it at any point they will get in touch apparently.

I thought the guidelines had changed re: gay men donating??? Was shocked to read they can only donate if they have been celebate for 3+ months (and meet all the other criteria)

I now take a medication that rules me out, and the condition I take the medication for meant I could only donate under a strict criteria. IE in a period of remission for x amount of time.

Kpo58 I agree that it can be difficult to book appointment or find a session that has drop ins. I haven’t been able to donate for a while for medical reasons but will get back to it as soon as I can.

My friend was told not to come back as she is petite but also very short and kept passing out after she gave blood.

I was due to give blood today but have come down with a stinking cold so had to cancel. Next appointment within reasonable travelling distance is 5 weeks away.

• British blood is refused because of cjd or mad cow disease. Can we please word our thoughts so we stay a bit further away from complete absurdity? British blood is not refused.*

Anyone has had a transfusion in the UK cannot donate because of cjd or mad cows. So it's not absurd to think that other countries won't want the blood.

"Dracula" bob

I got a BBV from a BT so two reasons I cannot donate.