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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that we should all donate blood if possible and sign the donor organ register?

110 replies

Nemofish · 18/03/2010 21:11

Another AIBU has got me thinking...
(this is not a dig at any other posters, honestly, it just literally made me think)

What stops you, if you don't donate blood or haven't signed the donor organ register? Do you have worries or concerns about where the blood / organs may be going, do you feel ill at ease with medical procedures, or other reasons?

'Cos I really think that if at all possible, we should all do it. Really. Unless IABU!

If you do donate / have signed, what really really motivated you to 'just do it' (aargh!) in the first place?

OP posts:
serinBrightside · 18/03/2010 22:43

I give blood and am A negative so get called up sometimes.

Am not on organ donor register and have no desire to be but have made clear to DH and other rels that if I die in accident, Docs can have whatever they want, but if I am on life support in ITU,I do not want my life to end in some operating theatre whilst my organs are 'Harvested'.

Valpollicella · 18/03/2010 22:48

Nope

(that's what you were looking for, wasn't it....?)

But seriously, just do what you have to to get over being scared. There's nothing wrong witht that.

I bet one day you''ll be walking and see a van, and be all 'Yeah, I can do This!'

Or alt just make an app, get a reliable (ie non passing out kinda) friend and Just Do It

[grin

PorphyrophillicPixie · 18/03/2010 22:58

I haven't given blood before, I was going too in college but a few days before I was told that it would be 'inadviseable' because I'm anaemic (and cannot spell it atm, too late I'm afraid!) which bugged me a bit. I think that I'm down for some of my organs to be donated but not all and occasionally wonder whether I should change that or not but am indecisive.

There is one thing that bugs me about blood donation though and it's this:
www.blood.co.uk/can-i-give-blood/exclusion/
Gay or bisexual men cannot give blood what-so-ever.

There is also the 'if you have ever worked as a prostitute' thing, which I know is logical however there are people who sleep around and take risks in the same sense yet are still 'able' to give blood.

In answer to OP, I'm torn on whether it should be opt out or in. I do tend to sway towards the former, however I can understand reasons for the latter. I would want my organs to go to somebody who needed them rather than to a university or science facility.

piprabbit · 18/03/2010 23:08

I can't give blood as I've been lucky enough to recieve transfusions.

I did give blood regularly for several years (at uni and via work), but had to stop because the blood donation became extremely painful and slow (if you bleed too slowly they call a stop to the donation and the blood may be wasted) - possibly related to the medical problems I later had.

TidyBush · 18/03/2010 23:25

I'm on the organ donation register and regularly gave blood for 20 years from when I was 18 yo. I've had to stop now as my blood pressure is low and the last two times I went I threw up and then fainted whilst lying down (then took ages to recover enough to be allowed home).

They told me not to come any more because I was too much trouble, even though they love my O neg blood .

DH is not far off his 50th donation and we both agree that we're happy for the medics to take whatever they want once we're gone.

Having said that I would not like to dictate whether others should feel the same as I do.

sweetnitanitro · 18/03/2010 23:34

I'm on the organ donor list AND the brain donor list (which not enough people are on, sign sign sign!! ) but I don't think I could give blood, I have really low blood pressure and I'd probably just faint if I stand up. My iron levels are crap too.

cakeywakey · 18/03/2010 23:51

Apparently only 4% of people actually give blood - obviously not everyone can or wants to, but I would have though that the figure would be higher.

I'd love to but can't because of medication I normally take and the fact that I'm pregnant at the moment.

I am on the organ donor register, but they may not want them for the medication reason , no harm in offering them though What do I want them for when I'm going to be cremated anyway?

OTTMummA · 19/03/2010 00:00

I give blood as im AB+, and have done on and off from 18yrs old, my GP kept going on about it when i was quite young and it stuck with me.

I haven't donated for about a 3 yrs now, but once im off my meds completely i will go back.

I won't be donating my organs until they give a checklist you can do as there are certain parts i wouldn't want to be taken.

and i definately will not be making the descision for my child/ren until we have a proper discussion and come to an understanding. until that then, if the unmentionable happend i wouldn't donate their organs

LetThereBeRock · 19/03/2010 00:03

They do have a checklist,certainly on the online register.

OTTMummA · 19/03/2010 00:07

oooh, i will having a gander then, thanks BEROCK!

LetThereBeRock · 19/03/2010 00:09

Link

AbricotsSecs · 19/03/2010 00:09

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OTTMummA · 19/03/2010 00:20

done!

claw3 · 19/03/2010 00:26

I give blood, what promoted me was that they always seem to be crying out for O negative donations.

PorphyrophillicPixie · 19/03/2010 08:10

OTTMummA, I had a checklist when I filled in my drivers license, so it could be a fairly recent thing, maybe they need to make this clearer to people above my generation if this is a fairly new system?

sarah293 · 19/03/2010 08:18

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hazeyjane · 19/03/2010 08:27

I was quite surprised to see how many things there were that can prevent you from donating blood, when I had a look at the checklist.

Re: the low blood pressure thing, do they take bp before you donate? Or is it just something you find out on the day - I have always reacted badly to anaesthetics (I spent a lot of my last labour passing out, because of the epidural!) because of low bp.

I haven't been able to donate blood for years because I was on chemotherapy, and was then pregnant twice in quick succession, and am pregnant now. Once I have had dc3, I will donate - but I have just persuaded dh to go and take his workmates next time the van comes.

PersonalClown · 19/03/2010 08:55

Sweetnitro.. Just signed up for the brain donor list. I didn't know you could do that!!

If any part of me helps.. they can have it. I'm cetainly not going to be using it!

Birdistheword · 19/03/2010 09:01

I signed the Organ Donor register yesterday, after seeing their new ad on tv, it got me thinking..i would of course hope for a donated organ if i needed one, so i should be willing to do it myself.

I will be going to donate blood with my friends in June too.

BigRedTomato · 19/03/2010 09:08

My mum regularly donated, and as soon as I was able at 18 I was there too. Have only missed a couple of sessions due to places I've travelled to, but now pregnant so can't donate until next year!

I've always encouraged friends to donate with me, I'll take them there and back, and hold their hand, and DH is now hoping to leapfrog me in number of donations whilst I'm banned. There's no other time on earth that I look forward to a cup of sickly orange squash, KP crisps and a TUC biscuit

Some companies used to organise donation sessions at the workplace making it easier for more people to attend, don't know whether they do that anymore. Our sessions are always well attended and regularly turn people away at the end of the day as they can't fit any more in. They are vry strict with who can and cannot donate, it may seem over the top but is definitely necessary.

For organ donation I really feel it should be mandatory unless you opt-out. If someone feels that strongly they will make the effort to make their preferences known, whereas its easier to be lazy and not both signing up. So many people need donations, and so few are available partly due to improved car safety.

I hope that they make sessions easier to attend and that those who are afraid just take that step and see its not so scary afterall. No worse than blood tests they take when you're pregnant, and you get to have a little snooze and cup of tea

MortaIWombat · 19/03/2010 09:14

What is "tissue" on the checklist, please?

OhYouBadBadKitten · 19/03/2010 09:24

I really wish I was allowed to, so strongly encourage others to.
Go on, do it

EzrasMummy · 19/03/2010 09:25

I wanted to give blood and be on the organ donation register. Unfortunately I am constantly anaemic but more importantly i have had a transfusion before. There arent many ethinic minority bone marrow donors about and I really wanted to be one of them.

It really upsets me sometimes as someone had the good grace to give blood so i could have it but I cannot repay the favour.

giraffesCANdriveAcar · 19/03/2010 09:28

Im on the organ dondor register.

I phoned up and spoke to a dr at the blood donation place and they said despite my medication I can give blood. Was going to do so this week but have had a really heavy period (tmi) and don't want to give away any more blood thanks so maybe next week.

AvrilHeytch · 19/03/2010 09:34

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