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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to give up trying to donate blood?

35 replies

Flockameanie · 01/12/2021 16:51

First donated blood three years ago. Nearly fainted afterwards (had to be popped back in chair, legs up, etc). I've never fainted, or nearly, before so it took me a while, plus lockdown etc, to steel myself to donate again last year. That second time, I had to bail after waiting nearly an hour because I had to collect the DC from school - so a wasted trip. I went to donate again (3rd time) today. Waited nearly an hour for them to call me. Then, once I was all set up with needle in, they had to abort the session after a few minutes because my arm was aching! They got about 150mls (no idea if they can use that). The whole process, inc. travel time, took about 2 hours.

I really really want to donate blood. It's such an easy thing to do 'for the greater good'. But after today I don't know if it's worth persevering. I'm worried I'll either a) faint, b) have to wait so long I need to leave before being able to donate or c) have another failed donation... Should I just give up and take my name off the register, or is it worth trying yet another time?

OP posts:
Movingsoon21 · 01/12/2021 16:53

Doesn’t sound like it’s right for you! I donate every 4 months but I’ve never had any of the troubles you describe! Maybe donate money to an NHS charity instead?

lanthanum · 01/12/2021 16:57

I'd like to donate blood, in principle, but since I have to be horizontal for any blood test to avoid fainting, it just doesn't seem sensible. I think some of us just have to accept that we'll have to contribute to the greater good in other ways.

kitkatsky · 01/12/2021 16:58

Not everyone can do it lovely. I've had a few fainting episodes after and they've told me thanks but no thanks now.

If you want to persevere then my tips are to be very well hydrated before going, have nowhere to rush off to do you can stuck around and eat a biscuit and don't go on your period, but you might just be one of those people ot doesn't work for and that's okay

ilovesooty · 01/12/2021 16:58

I fainted after my second donation and have had two failed attempts (not consecutively) for low iron levels.

Have never had to wait for excessive times though.

JumperooSue · 01/12/2021 17:00

I am exactly the same as you!

I’ve tried to donate twice. The first time I got just to the end and vomited absolutely everywhere. I only started feeling funny about 2 minutes before that and suddenly I started getting a ringing in my ears and everything went in slow motion and was just uncontrollably sick in a packed room all over myself, the nurse and the chair. Everyone stared. Second time I fainted! I have truly awful veins so I think that’s part of my problem as they spend ages getting it in and I couldn’t move my arm at all as it was only working in a certain position. I’m not even remotely squeamish and spend my days cannulating other people at work, I’ve never felt faint for a blood test or Injection, it’s so annoying. My iron level is always really good too so I know it’s not that either.

I’m also O negative and feel so annoyed at myself that it makes me so ill when I know they are crying out for O negative donors!

EmpressCixi · 01/12/2021 17:01

I’ve seen fainting/little blood when people are close to minimum weight to donate? If you are around minimum weight and since you have history of trying but failing, then you probably should not donate blood. You can always donate your time instead to Red Cross or other charities.

Original poster
Flockameanie · 01/12/2021 17:03

I'd drank so much today in preparation (and to avoid the near-fainting of last time) that I was desperate for a pee by the time they finally called me!

However, my period literally started just as I was leaving the house for my apt. Does having your period impact being able to donate? The person sticking the needle in did say I had 'tiny veins' (not been told that before), but she didn't seem to have any issue getting the needle in and I managed to give 150mls in a few mins before they aborted.

I think I shall try one more time in a few months.

OP posts:
rifling · 01/12/2021 17:05

I gave up too as I couldn't donate quick enough and apparently that is a coagulation issue so they can't use it? I now live in a country where I can't donate due to being British anyway!

Original poster
Flockameanie · 01/12/2021 17:06

@EmpressCixi

I’ve seen fainting/little blood when people are close to minimum weight to donate? If you are around minimum weight and since you have history of trying but failing, then you probably should not donate blood. You can always donate your time instead to Red Cross or other charities.
Def not minimum weight - 5ft7 and I weigh just over 9st. So all perfectly healthy in that area.

Unforunately I'm short on time (young DC, work FT), so I can't donate time. I know I can donate money (and we do), but donating blood just seems like such a common sense easy thing to do that doesn't cost me anything. Annoying that I seem to be rubbish at it!

OP posts:
ColinTheKoala · 01/12/2021 17:06

Not everyone can do it although I don't think your period affects anything (other than you possibly having too low iron levels at the end of it).

I have had problems a couple of times and not given a full bag and they told me they'd powder it and use it for burns. I don't know if that is still the case.

rifling · 01/12/2021 17:06

Just to add - I felt a bit of a failure as every adult in my family is a blood donor - it's just something I've grown up with, the idea that if you want to receive donated blood you'd better be willing to give it! I put my efforts into other things though. If you can't do it, you can't do it.

ColinTheKoala · 01/12/2021 17:07

9 stone at 5 foot 7 is very thin though, I am almost the same weight and 5 foot 4. So maybe you are too light for your height?

ColinTheKoala · 01/12/2021 17:07

(I mean in the context of donating blood, not generally)

RubyFakeLips · 01/12/2021 17:08

I'm banned from donating blood due to a medical issue, so I'm an organ donor. Figure it's the least I can offer should the worst happen.

Original poster
Flockameanie · 01/12/2021 17:09

@ColinTheKoala

9 stone at 5 foot 7 is very thin though, I am almost the same weight and 5 foot 4. So maybe you are too light for your height?
I'm really not (too) thin! My BMI is just under 21.
OP posts:
Original poster
Flockameanie · 01/12/2021 17:10

@ColinTheKoala

(I mean in the context of donating blood, not generally)
Ah, I see! They've not mentioned it when I've gone to donate though and there were definitely thinner people than me there today with bloody happily chugging out of their arms
OP posts:
EBearhug · 01/12/2021 17:12

Lots of people faint after first donation, including me - I've now done over 50. So don't give up yet, unless they tell you you shouldn't.

SleepyTraveller · 01/12/2021 17:15

I gave blood regularly for years before being excluded due to an unrelated medical issue. I only once had arm pain, so it's possible that may have been a fluke.

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 01/12/2021 17:19

It’s not an easy thing to do though! Evidenced by the fact you fainted.

It doesn’t sound right for you. I’m sure you can find something else for the greater good that suits you, and is easier for you

I used to donate blood and was fine with it, but can’t now due to a medicine I have to take for life. I do find it gutting that I can’t donate any more, but just goes to show how grateful we should be to those who can and do donate .

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 01/12/2021 17:22

If someone’s very thin they can donate 3/4 pint, or used to be able to.

When I was younger I was so slim - 5’6” as I am now but I weighed under 8 stone at one point. Just due to being young and that being my metabolism. (NB I used to think in stone at that point, I couldn’t say what I am in stone now but it’s a lot more!) I was only allowed to donate 3/4 pint at around 18

PlanktonsComputerWife · 01/12/2021 17:22

If you really feel bad about it, see if you can help out in other ways, e.g. volunteer at a vaccination centre.

ilovesooty · 01/12/2021 19:49

@PlanktonsComputerWife

If you really feel bad about it, see if you can help out in other ways, e.g. volunteer at a vaccination centre.
The OP says she unfortunately can't give her time.

I'm O negative too, which is one of the reasons I'm persisting.

scarpa · 01/12/2021 20:09

A couple of times I've had very slow donations/trouble with the needle going in (something to do with where a valve is in the vein, but the vein in my other arm is impossible to find even by That One Nurse Who Can Always Get It - I love those ones) and they said if it happened again I probably wouldn't be allowed to donate anymore which I was a bit gutted about because it feels like a useful thing to do!

I can't for a while anyway now as I got a tattoo in summer, but in January I'm really hoping my arm behaves. But if not I'll be encouraging everyone I know to go to try and balance it out Smile

DismantledKing · 01/12/2021 20:16

I used to work for the National Blood Service 20 years ago. The needles that they use to get a donation are quite large, certainly larger than those used for blood tests; it used to be that you had to get 470ml in 15 minutes for the donation to be usable, for reasons associated with coagulation. Some people’s veins are just not up to it.
2 ‘faints’ in 2 consecutive donations used to be grounds for retirement from the panel.

LaMadrilena · 01/12/2021 20:35

I'd love to give blood too, but here in Spain they don't accept donations from anyone who lived in the UK during a certain period due to the risk of mad cow disease!