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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to remind people about donating blood?

205 replies

MLMshouldbeillegal · 06/11/2021 10:14

Gave blood this week at a community session near my house. The nurse who chatted to me as my blood was being taken was saying how much the pandemic has impacted them - no walk ins, everyone has to make an appointment, if people don't/can't turn up after booking that's a slot lost, numbers are down because people are avoiding being around other people.

So if you can - and I know not everyone can - please consider signing up as a donor or going back to being a donor if you did in the past and haven't been in a while.

OP posts:
mummyh2016 · 06/11/2021 18:23

And walk in appointments stopped here (west midlands) years ago, well before Covid.

Chanel05 · 06/11/2021 18:27

Wish I could donate but I had a blood transfusion in labour. Saved my life and I am forever grateful.

Please donate if you can. Only 4% of those able to actually donate.

TheOrigRights · 06/11/2021 18:29

I struggled to find an appt locally, then one was cancelled and then I was anaemic anyway (can't go again till June).

There are lots of factors.

TheOrigRights · 06/11/2021 18:32

@Dojacatpaws

I've been giving all through the pandemic, if anything the process is quicker and smoother than it's ever been
Do you book your next appt when you donate? I think if you get in a good routine (and appts aren't cancelled) then it's easier. Sometimes when I've been invited I go online to book and there's nothing available.
AWhistlingWoman · 06/11/2021 18:34

Have always given blood since I was a teenager but tried a lot harder since my twin DDs were born prematurely and both were blood recipients.
Have actually found the process runs a lot more smoothly these days, far quicker in and out.

Postmanpatsucksdick · 06/11/2021 18:35

When I was able to (not exempt due to having had piercings/tattoos) they never had any appointments and were turning people away who tried to 'walk in' but at the same time advertising as being desperate for donations. I still kept trying. Then I had a blood transfusion and now I can't give at all. I'm O- so it's very sad.

TheOrigRights · 06/11/2021 18:37

@takingmytimeonmyride

I gave blood before I had kids, then decided to start again a few years ago. But my haemoglobin levels were too low twice, and once more means I will never be allowed to give blood again. So I don't want to go in case I'm banned for life.

I'm on iron and folic acid (prescribed) so not sure if they'd be high enough now.

My DO donates platelets monthly. He's been doing it for many years.

That was my understanding as well, but when I questioned it at a session they said that it wasn't the case. So I've heard both - from donor nurses.

I have been low lots of times and not yet been struck off!

girlmom21 · 06/11/2021 18:38

@mummyh2016

The issue is the availability of appointments. I'm pregnant so can't currently donate anyway but if I've just clicked on the app and the earliest appointment available is February! That's despite me being 0+ and getting messages every couple of days urging me to donate.
I just saw you're in the midlands. I agree completely. I had a baby 9 weeks ago, booked an appointment for the spring. They called me a few weeks ago to ask me to donate, told them I had an appointment booked ready for when I can, they checked and confirmed the appointment. The next day I got an email saying the appointment had been cancelled.

This is at the permanent blood donation centre in Birmingham so it's not like it's somewhere they couldn't get enough staff

InMySpareTime · 06/11/2021 18:39

I had to stop donating when I developed ME/CFS. Even if I recover they'll never take my blood because of it.
It's frustrating because ME/CFS is only diagnosed once they've tested bloods thoroughly and found nothing wrong at all. I contacted the blood donor people to ask why, they said it was in case it turns out to be blood-borne in future, but you could really say that about anything and anyone. All I know is they will never again accept my provably perfect blood.

girlmom21 · 06/11/2021 18:41

@MLMshouldbeillegal I get the feeling that this is one of those services that's much more efficient in Scotland than England!

Harlequin1088 · 06/11/2021 18:44

I have A- blood so quite a rare blood type and I'm happy to keep donating despite the restrictions.

I've made 9 donations so far but had to cancelled my upcoming 10th when I found out I'm pregnant with my first baby 🙈

Baby is due in April so I'll start donating again as soon as I'm allowed to after he's here. Determined to get this elusive 10th donation under my belt now to make it an even number lol 😂

OrangeBananaFish · 06/11/2021 18:45

I only booked my next appointment the other day. I'm in Jan.

I must admit I don't go as often as I should, but it is such a faff. Book an appointment that is months away (I don't usually get one as soon as the one I have) in an inconvenient place at an inconvenient time. When I was at Uni in Manchester I went to a walk in. Wish there were more, didn't realise they were still a thing in places.

Anyway I'll go, but worried if I get a Christmas cold and I won't be able to go.

Harlequin1088 · 06/11/2021 18:46

@Frannyhy

After my 91st donation this week, they’ve retired me. The scar tissue is so thick on my right arm that the nurses can’t get a needle through it. The vein on my left arm is too deep and they’ve never been able to use it.

An O- donor gone.

91 donations! That is amazing! Thank you so much for saving so many lives and for generously caring for your community like that for so many years. You should be so proud of such a fantastic achievement 🥰
Kerberos · 06/11/2021 18:46

I am immensely grateful for all of you who've given blood. Without you I'd have died having DS2.

I massively regret not having given blood when I could. I've an overdraft with the blood bank that I can never pay off.

SantaMonicaPier · 06/11/2021 18:51

YANBU! I never weighed enough pre- kids so put it out of my mind - post kids and with lockdown weight I am finally over the minimum (by some margin) so have just started. They have made me feel v special as I have a rare blood type and regardless of that I will be a regular donator now.

Wynston · 06/11/2021 18:51

Thank you all so much for donating I am truly grateful having received a transfusion after surgery.

I used to go myself but am no longer allowed to give blood.
Thanks again all its an amazing thing you do x

feellikeanalien · 06/11/2021 18:57

Another one who can't donate because of a transfusion when DD was born. I managed to nearly clean out the O- supply in the hospital. Wish I could donate as I've got O- blood.

I checked the blood donation website and it said that anyone who has had a transfusion since 1980 can't donate. Slightly off topic but are there any HCPs around who might know if that only applies to transfusions given in the UK or is it anywhere in the world as DD wasn't born here.

shinyblackdog · 06/11/2021 19:01

@FakingMemories

I am ineligible because I spent more than 3 months in the UK between 1980 and 1996. Even though I was a vegetarian for most of that time.
Say what now? I've lived in the UK since 1985 and just done my 39th donation.

I've also been lucky by the sound of it, never had any issues. Been sent away twice, once because they thought I had a coldsore (was a cut), and once when the bizarre West Nile Virus time limit came in after a trip to New York.

meditrina · 06/11/2021 19:08

I can no longer give blood for medical reasons.

But it's really heartening that so many do, and persist when the booking systems go weird.

One further plea to those who can: if you're not already on a bone marrow register, you can do it really easily at your next session - you need to sign an additional form, and they draw off one extra testing vial, and that's it, job done. If you are a good match for someone, it is a more intrusive process, but it's literally life saving

TheOrigRights · 06/11/2021 19:11

@Kerberos

I am immensely grateful for all of you who've given blood. Without you I'd have died having DS2.

I massively regret not having given blood when I could. I've an overdraft with the blood bank that I can never pay off.

Please don't live with regret. It is what it is. And I am sure there are many other ways in which you could or already do 'pay back'.
TheOrigRights · 06/11/2021 19:13

@FakingMemories

I am ineligible because I spent more than 3 months in the UK between 1980 and 1996. Even though I was a vegetarian for most of that time.
Do you mean you are unable to donate somewhere other than the UK (I know my Aunt can't donate in the US for the reason you give)?

I think most people on this site will have been in the UK for 3 months during 1980 and 1996!

NoSquirrels · 06/11/2021 19:26

As others have said, they cut so many community sessions a while ago (pre-Covid) that it’s almost impossible to get an appointment at a session. I’m in a city - admittedly not a large one - and there used to be at least 4 sites on a rolling basis. Now there’s one, every four months, and they’ve recently changed its (previously central) location to somewhere you need to drive. I get asked by the blood service to make an appointment and just can’t get anything sensible and doable. COVID restrictions have made it worse but the issue was pre-existing, here anyway.

DontPeeInThePlayHouse · 06/11/2021 19:29

I tried, they didn't like my veins, they are a pain in the arse tbh but once you get them they are at least productive. Got to the chair to be told they wouldn't try, walk of shame from the chair to the door.

gofg · 06/11/2021 19:31

I am ineligible because I spent more than 3 months in the UK between 1980 and 1996. Even though I was a vegetarian for most of that time.

Do you mean you are unable to donate somewhere other than the UK (I know my Aunt can't donate in the US for the reason you give)?

You can't donate in NZ if you've been in the UK during that time. I must say donating blood here sounds easier here than in the UK. I've never heard of appointments being cancelled (other than covid or quake related). I donate at a mobile unit which calls at my town three or four times a year and you have to make an appointment, usually well in advance, but it's easy enough. At present we have to wear masks, it's no big deal.

Thegirlhasnamechanged · 06/11/2021 19:32

I’d love to donate again (o neg so they’re always requesting) but I’m on mat leave with no local clinics - used to donate on my lunch break in the city - and I’ve been told that I wouldn’t be able to bring my infant baby along to the clinic. The no baby rule must be new as they were more than happy for my now toddler to attend

Sadly DH doesn’t have the annual leave spare to enable me to go to a city clinic and we’ll be WAH indefinitely after mat leave. Will just have to keep checking for local weekend clinics I thibk