Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Mental health

Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you have medical concerns, please seek medical attention.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

AIBU to not declare psychiatrist appt when donating blood

50 replies

ju810 · 08/05/2017 21:36

So I am due to donate blood tomorrow.
I am also having some MH issues. I have previously declared taking ADs (GP prescribed) and that's been OK.
I am due to see a psychiatrist this week. I called the help line to check whether I could still donate (online says to call with MH queries), and she said that I should not donate and wait for outcome of appt.

I'm really disappointed. I've had these MH issues for a long, long time and donated with no problem. Now I'm taken the courage to ask for help to recover and I can't donate.

Would it be awful to just not tell them? I am on no other meds apart from the aforementioned ADs.

OP posts:

AnxiousMunchkin · 13/05/2017 17:33

Crazy for 12 months, yeah. I got caught out on that one once because I thought I was making some kind of social justice protest point - I had had a ONS with a bisexual guy, and I said "maybe" cos I pointed out whilst I knew he was bisexual I had not interviewed him in detail about his sexual activities with male partners and seeing as male same- sex activity often doesn't include penetrative sex, he may well have never "had sex" with another man.... anyway the nurse was pretty horrified - couldn't get her head around a man being bisexual, she kept repeating "so he is a gay? You had sex with a gay?" and then said that I must not go to church very often. She's not wrong there.

Anyway they turned me away until 12months after the ONS. Not sure what I was thinking with all that to be honest.

Anyway, the rules around gay sex/HIV risk are a different kettle of concern to safeguarding the donor's health - physical and mental - which is why they don't accept donation if you are currently waiting to see a secondary referral HCP/for medical tests etc.

Original poster

ju810 · 30/05/2017 10:04

AnxiousMunchkin
You are right - I was waiting for my initial assessment, this is why they postponed me donating.
I think (as long as I am stable in myself) they will happily allow me to donate now I have a care plan in place. Being under the care of a psychiatrist or taking ADs does not rule someone out from donating.

It's a pain as I'm a keen and competitive runner and try to fit my donating around my race diary (it affects my performance for a good few weeks).

OP posts:

kali110 · 31/05/2017 15:59

Maybe because i wouldn't wAnt to answer whether or not i was seeing a Psychiatrist?
I have seen one in the past, however not related to a mental health reason, and i would think it unfair to be turned away due to having an appointment with one.

TripTrapTripTrapOverTheBridge · 31/05/2017 16:12

Out of interest Kali what would someone see a psychiatrist for other than a mental health/emotional/behavioural reason?

FV45 · 31/05/2017 16:16

That's what I'm wondering. Psychiatrists are doctors trained in MH issues.
I guess if you explained your reasons to the donor team they would understand, but they do need to ask. It's only fair.

GoodbyeNormal · 31/05/2017 16:18

Fucking stupid rule. And the "protect the recipient" argument? I'm not going to infect the recipient with mental FFS.

FV45 · 31/05/2017 16:31

I think it's to protect the donor actually.

GoodbyeNormal · 31/05/2017 16:49

Well, yes, exactly - which is why the "protect the recipient" shit people were bringing up earlier was frankly embarrassing. But I stick by it's being a stupid rule. Capacity should be assessed for all donors; whether or not they're seeing a psychiatrist soon is immaterial. Waiting for the outcome of the appointment… what relevant information is that going to provide?

GoodbyeNormal · 31/05/2017 16:49

Its goddammit.

Applesandpears23 · 31/05/2017 17:02

You might see a psychiatrist as a precaution if you have witnessed something traumatic or if you are pregnant and have a stong family history of mental health problems. I knew someone who was referred just in case whilst pregnant because her mother was bipolar and had had post partum psychosis.

TripTrapTripTrapOverTheBridge · 31/05/2017 17:04

But that's still mental health related Apples

Applesandpears23 · 31/05/2017 18:11

Yes I guess. I was assuming that the person who said it meant that they didn't have a mental health problem.

EBearhug · 31/05/2017 20:43

The fact I was still allowed to give blood while I was on anti-depressants was massive. It meant there was one thing in my life that meant I was useful to other people.

I do understand the risks about whether you are fully able to consent, though I think if you're a regular donor, there's a strong chance you do. I also understand there can be risks around eating disorders and self-harming - but OTOH, knowing I was due to donate in a few weeks was one of the things which helped me think about whether I was eating vaguely healthily or not.

Original poster

ju810 · 31/05/2017 22:49

People who are on ADs are able to donate blood.
People who are awaiting a psychiatric assessment are not able to donate. I was told to return after my assessment and to speak to a nurse. I think this is perfectly fine and puts the donor's welfare first.

They did acknowledge that donating blood is something someone struggling with MH issues can find very rewarding and were very, very nice to me.

I have made an appt for a few weeks, but actually, following my assessment and having seen a MH professional I think it's best I don't donate at the moment.

Only one person upthread mentioned protecting the recipient and I'm pretty sure they meant against any medications the donor might be taking, NOT that the donor service are worried recipients might catch a mental illness.

OP posts:

GoodbyeNormal · 31/05/2017 22:59

Oh dear god you took my comment literally

peaceloveandbiscuits · 31/05/2017 23:13

Hold up. Since when can you donate on ADs? I've been turned away many times because of being on ADs.

It sucks because I've got nice rare blood/precious plasma, and I want to help by donating it, but I take ADs to live, and am unlikely ever to stop taking them.

This is excellent news!

Original poster

ju810 · 31/05/2017 23:23

Normal I have just re-read your comment which I took literally and I do not see any irony in it. Please can you explain how I was meant to know you did not mean it literally.

peace I have been taking ADs for a year and have always declared as such and been able to donate. It seems odd that they would turn you away many times because if the rule was that 'you can't donate on ADs' then why would you keep going only to be turned away. They must have made a decision each time.

OP posts:

Original poster

ju810 · 31/05/2017 23:28

And actually Normal considering this is the MH board and I've been quite open with my own issues, it wouldn't have hurt you to be a bit kinder.

OP posts:

EBearhug · 31/05/2017 23:36

It might depend on the particular ADs - I was on Citalopram. Also, donation rules change frequently as research shows new risks and reduces others, so it may have changed.

peaceloveandbiscuits · 01/06/2017 00:15

This has been over the course of about fifteen years. I haven't applied for at least five years on account of pregnancies and breastfeeding etc.

kali110 · 01/06/2017 01:44

I have a disability, part of pain managemt was to see one. A lot of people with chronic pain see one as part of their pain management.

erinaceus · 01/06/2017 05:04

And the "protect the recipient" argument? I'm not going to infect the recipient with mental FFS.

The argument is not that psychiatric disorders are transmissible by blood, vCJD notwithstanding. The argument is that psychotropic medications may affect the blood of the donors - indeed, they do in some cases, and that this might affect the recipients. Further if the donor has a history of substance misuse this might affect their blood.

Capacity should be assessed for all donors; whether or not they're seeing a psychiatrist soon is immaterial. Waiting for the outcome of the appointment… what relevant information is that going to provide?

I agree that capacity should be assessed for all donors, but I do not agree that whether or not they are seeing a psychiatrist soon is immaterial. A psychiatrist can assess capacity in a way that a nurse cannot; the psychiatrist also might have access to the patient's psychiatric history which the blood donation service will not have access to. Assessing capacity is not a trivial issue.

ju810 - I am glad you got it sorted. Well done for taking care of yourself, and I mean this in a non patronising fashion.

Original poster

ju810 · 01/06/2017 08:29

So kali I imagine that would not rule you out at all. Managing pain is a mental health issue. But they would need to know, that's all.

Thank you erin, I didn't think you sounded patronising at all.

OP posts:

GoodbyeNormal · 01/06/2017 10:37

Sheesh.

PhoenixJasmine · 01/06/2017 13:40

The question isn't specifically about mental health though - some posts read as if people might be assuming there is a kind of discrimination going on. If you are awaiting any referral appointment, test results etc for any health condition, physical or mental, you tick the box and then have a confidential discussion with the senior nurse who determines if your particular situation precludes donation at that time.

Anyway - awaiting assessment for a condition not currently diagnosed/well managed - seems sensible to not donate. Ongoing treatment should not preclude donation, apart from some medications that could affect the recipient.

I know it's ok to donate if you are on most modern antidepressants, I don't know about other medications. But you could phone the blood helpline and they can tell you.

Flip

1 2