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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Blood donation - wwyd?

66 replies

JohnnyMcGrathSaysFuckOff · 02/06/2020 23:27

This isn't strictly an AIBU I guess, but I need some straight advice.

I donate blood as often as I am allowed (in my area, every 16w). I am due to donate again next week.

I would really like to keep the appt. It's a good thing to do and also, I imagine quite a few donors might decide to cancel now - which makes it more important to do imo.

Only, we are just starting to see Dpils and my mum again, and from initial chats, I think they might say they don't want to see us for a bit if I keep the appt.

My children really really miss their grandparents and it would make them very sad if they had them yanked away again.

Wwyd?

Yanbu - give blood
Yabu - postpone the appt

OP posts:
Chesterfuckingdrorrs · 03/06/2020 00:19

Can you check local blood stocks and see if your type is required? I wasn't allowed to make my most recent appointment as my blood type was well stocked. They asked if I could be contacted if supply was low.
They're really limiting the people going into my donation centre so there's no unnecessary contact. I'd imagine that they're taking cleanliness/decontamination seriously and it's probably safer than going to a supermarket.

Likethebattle · 03/06/2020 00:19

@SudokuBook I asked about unused donations, and was told they never waste a drop. If it’s not required it’s used In testing etc.

TheHighestSardine · 03/06/2020 00:22

The blood donation centre is in a hospital? Okay - then it's worth avoiding. Go look on the blood website and see if there are any other centres nearby that are dedicated.

like7 · 03/06/2020 00:39

I gave blood in May and it was fine, But for you I'd say it was more important to make sure you can see your family if they may be concerned. You cna easily give blood later on.

DamnYankee · 03/06/2020 00:43

I can't give blood - I am too thin and I faint besides!
Very grateful for people like you...but for goodness' sakes take a break!
And please accept my thanks!

DamnYankee · 03/06/2020 00:48

Confused by the voting options.
Making up my own. Grin
YANBU to feel this is a good thing to do.
YABU for thinking you can't take a break, see your family, take a break, build yourself up physically and emotionally (!), and donate again!

DamnYankee · 03/06/2020 00:49

*Clearly feel strongly about taking a break! Sorry...! Blush
So much respect for those that can brave the needle for the common good.

ilovesooty · 03/06/2020 01:00

I'm due to donate in a couple of weeks. It will be my third donation. A friend of mine has been donating for years, went recently and said the procedure was very safe.

I have in demand blood and I've been contacted to check I'm still coming. I definitely intend to go.

As others have said your trips to the supermarket pose more risk to others.

feelsoshitnow · 03/06/2020 01:01

@41iknowimcoming you're actually the commonest blood group and can give to anyone (universal donor), only those who're rhesus negative wouldn't be able to have your blood. AB is the rarest, but can receive from anyone (universal recepient), but can only donate to other ABs. Not sure who told you that, but it's the opposite of truth.

AwrightDoreenTakeAFuckinDayOff · 03/06/2020 01:08

I have just given blood. I believe most areas are appointment only - if not all of them now.

Juice or water given at the bed and you are asked to grab a biscuit on your way out as others have said.

Scotland also.

missnevermind · 03/06/2020 01:11

I can't give blood and I have to have hands on treatment 3 times a week for my condition. We are not able to observe social distancing in the treatment room and sometimes their are 4 people in a small space.
I have never felt unsafe. Everybody is properly masked and gloved. Gloves changed reqularly.
You will not be at risk while giving blood. Health professionals are protecting their own lives as well as yours.
But if you want to take a break or miss a session that's fine too

countbackfromten · 03/06/2020 05:30

I’m a doctor who has both given blood myself and has given various patients blood transfusions over the years. Thank you for donating and please go! They will be doing absolutely everything they can to keep you safe and well and we need people to keep donating.

Original poster
JohnnyMcGrathSaysFuckOff · 03/06/2020 07:40

This is so tough!

I am O+ so "universal donor"

I will have another word with my mum but last time we talked she went all quiet and said "oh you don't want to do that..xx hospital is full of covid... what if you make the children ill?"

I will also say - this is very selfish but - we have 3 very young DC (5, 2, 2) and being able to once again get out to someone else's garden or house and have them run around is very tempting right now! I am currently working every night till midnight/1am as it is hard to work when kids are awake. I think the idea is that if this visit goes well, DH could start taking the DC over to Pil garden for an afternoon so I could work in peace.

Putting that off for 3 w is not attractive.

On the other hand......

OP posts:
Clemmieandareallybigbunfight · 03/06/2020 07:48

Just don't tell them. It's perfectly safe.

ProfessorRadcliffeEmerson · 03/06/2020 07:55

They cancelled my appointment (was due to go yesterday). I would have kept it without thinking twice about it. In your shoes I might cancel: I wouldn’t lie to parents or PIL and it sounds as though your mental and physical health would really benefit from being able to get some work done without the children.

If the blood service really wants donations, they should probably check who can actually attend appointments before they decide who to cancel. They told me to wait till they contact me again, so that’s what I shall do. Given that their admin is a bit shambolic, I may have donated for the last time.

cologne4711 · 03/06/2020 07:58

I would go anyway, I donated at the end of March and it was fine and I suspect they've refined their procedures since then to be even safer.

But if your relatives are vulnerable you could see them this weekend, and postpone the appointment by a few weeks, it's likely you will find a cancellation in eg a month's time easily enough as people will be cancelling for all sorts of reasons at the moment.

And blood does not get wasted! It can be powdered and used for burns or plasma or lots of other uses.

mumsiedarlingrevolta · 03/06/2020 08:08

I gave on May the 7th and it has gone to Southampton General Hospital.

We queued outside and were let in as and when there was space. All very well managed and I felt very comfortable doing it.

Unfortunately I do agree with @ProfessorRadcliffeEmerson that their admin is a bit shambolic and they do need to sort that.

I still give because I know someone who desperately needed blood but they are frustrating to deal with.

Snagscardies · 03/06/2020 08:09

The risk of catching it in sainsburys is greater than giving blood which had a finite number of surfaces that can be wiped and everything sterile that is touching you. You will also be in sainsburys for longer if you are doing three peoples shopping.

BumpBundle · 03/06/2020 08:11

We have an oversupply of blood at the moment and a lot is being thrown away. They don't need you at all so don't feel obliged to go.

lidoshuffle · 03/06/2020 09:03

I gave last week and was quite surprised how 'normal' it was, except for masks. The nurse told me not to bother with my scarf as she needed to see my face, and I slapped on sanitiser more than they told me to.

As they must know what they're doing, I'd say do it, it all seems business as usual.

Reallybadidea · 03/06/2020 09:19

@feelsoshitnow @JohnnyMcGrathSaysFuckOff

O positive is not universal donor, that's O negative.

OP I think your mum is being slightly over cautious if she won't see you just because you've donated blood,especially if you're just sitting in their garden. The phlebotomists will all be wearing ppe and the chance of picking it up just from being in a hospital is tiny. Anyone known to have covid is strictly isolated on a covid ward. You're probably safer there than the supermarket. Maybe this is unethical, but personally I wouldn't even tell them you've given blood. It's not even relevant because it's such a low risk activity.

firstimemamma · 03/06/2020 09:22

I'd still go op but of course the decision is yours. If you'd rather not go that's fine too.

However, I do a previous poster's argument about not going anymore for the time being as blood is needed less during this time to be a bit confused. Blood donations during lockdown are just as important as before. They are needed for things such as postpartum haemorrhages and things like that obviously havent been affected by lockdown. It's still happening.

Also for the poster who asked about how long a donation can be kept before it's no longer able to be used - I think it's about 35 days but I'm happy to be corrected on that.

dramadrama · 03/06/2020 09:24

I went to my donation session. It seemed very well organised and I felt safe. They actually sent me away as my haemoglobin was too low.

feelsoshitnow · 03/06/2020 09:44

@Reallybadidea Yes I did mention the rhesus factor in my post (+ and -), the fact remains that O+ can still donate to everyone who isn't rhesus negative. I was commenting due to a poster claiming that O+ was a rare blood group, and even though they cannot donate to - people, they still have a far greater pool of recipients than A+, B+ or AB+!

SudokuBook · 03/06/2020 09:49

Is it not O- that is universal donor? And AB+ universal recipient?