Been told that I could NEVER donate blood and do bone marrow transplant

[SilentSteps12]

Got the worst ever feeling today after coming to the blood donor centre to donate blood. Everything was going so well before getting my blood taken and then I was told that after some blood test, they found antibodies in the blood. They couldn’t specify what it was but they suspected malaria because I was born in the Philippines. I’m mixed (white and Asian) and there aren’t a lot of donors of this ethnicity so I was really wanting to help with that but the fact that they said I could NEVER donate blood or even do register for bone marrow transplant just made me feel so utterly disappointed in myself. I told the nurse whilst trying to hold back tears “that’s a shame” and she said that it’s. not a shame because they wouldn’t want any blood containing antibodies for a disease to be given to someone who does not have it. True enough but I told her that I just felt like a pain in the ass for wasting their time and a complete failure that I couldn’t even do this one simple thing. I hate myself. 😔

I'm in the US and they won't let anyone who spent more than 3 months in the UK between 1980 and 1996 donate, thanks to mad cow disease. So I can't ever donate either. Unless I move home I suppose in which case I guess they already figure everyone in the UK is already at risk?!

I had no idea IVF drugs from 20 years ago meant you can't donate

I can't donate nor can I be an organ donor and this is because I had cancer. It's not my fault and it can't be helped. It's disappointing obviously but your reaction is extreme. I hope you manage to work through it.

What else is going on op?

That's crazy. However I think MCD is why you can't donate once you've received in the UK.

This is nonsense.

I didn't even start properly donating until I was 33 and had my first child. He had blood in hospital and it pushed me into action. I gave blood and plasma for four years before I had my twins and now I can only give whole blood as the twins gave me antibodies.

The fact is, OP, you were a good and kind person to try and donate blood so you can feel good about that. There are lots and lots of reasons why they won't take blood from many of us. I gave blood twice and it made me anaemic and I failed the little drop of blood test so that was the end of giving blood for me.

You mustn't hate yourself - you tried and did your best.

It is.

There were 4/5 people who contracted it after having blood transfusions. Although they could never be 100% sure it came from the transfusion they did get blood from someone who developed CJD so the ban was put in.

I was also disappointed that my blood is of so little use - being AB + that they don't want it ! I had donate twice and felt good about that so I was disappointed the third time when told they didn't need it ! So I do empathise but hey ho we tried didn't we!

You tried to donate- some people never even try. There are loads of people who aren't allowed to for lots of reasons, so it's quite normal. The rules are strict for good reason - and change a lot because of research.

If you still want to help, maybe you could give someone who can donate a lift so they can get to the donor location, or look after their children while they donate? Or volunteer for a medical charity of some sort?

@SilentSteps12
I understand your response.

It's miserable to have your good intentions rejected.

I tried giving blood in the US during the early 2000s and was turned away on the basis that I had lived in Ireland /UK during the mad cow outbreak, even though millions of people in Ireland and the UK donated blood every year during and after that time, and it was used in hospitals without issues.

I left shaking my head. They recently changed their mind about people in my position but I still feel a bit resentful about the stupidity.

If you feel you'd like to do something to help the bloodbanks even without donating blood, you could volunteer at a donation site, or do outreach in your community or other communities that tend not to donate for various reasons.

@texy

YYY to your experience.

They can be very brusque and unkind at donation centres. I have a feeling there are many posters here who haven't seen the inside of one.

@noodlezoodle

Good news! The mad cow rule has changed.

As long as you meet all other health/ weight eligibility requirements, you will be able to donate in the US.

I was a regular donor in my youth but got rejected in my late 20’s due to shit veins and haven’t been allowed back since. I was gutted as my grandmother and mother were milestone donors.
It is what it is.

My uncle had malaria in the war . He used to be asked to donate as they could use the antibodies to treat people. Maybe times have changed

Whaaaaaat?! That's fantastic - thank you! Looks like I'll be able to donate for the first time ever!

I haven't read all the posts - just the OP as I REALLY should be asleep by now 🤦🏻‍♀️but couldn't leave this one.

Just wanted to say, I really feel for you. My mum has leukaemia and has had goodness knows how many transfusions and a bone marrow transplant through Anthony Nolan. I was desperate to be able to give blood to "give something back" and be able to help someone the way so many strangers helped my mum.

I was devastated to be told I couldn't donate. I suspect there's a reason this means so much to you. But hating yourself is not going to help. Be frustrated at a situation. Hate knowing you can't control a particular circumstance. But not yourself. It really won't help. Try and reframe it, if you can 💐

I was rejected as I had an anaphylactic response to penicillin once. Not only was I rejected, but I was firmly told that my details would be put on a blacklist of people attempting to donate blood, so that wherever I went in the country I would be refused everywhere.
This was five years ago in Ireland. It’s as though they thought I was some rogue donor who would foam the country trying to contaminate blood donations lol.

A quick Google search says you can donate as long as it's been 3 years since you had it? Someone feel free to correct if I'm wrong here but doesn't that mean you CAN donate at some point, it's just that you would need to wait the 3 years? I know if it hasn't been 3 years yet that this doesn't solve the issue at present but it seems the main reason you're upset here is that you can 'never' donate, yet this information seems to indicate otherwise?

Thank you for trying. I can't donate because I've had several blood transfusions. It saved my life. Many people can't donate. At least you tried.
.

I cant donate either as I have a condition called MGUS, felt briefly miffed but then moved on!

I can't because I had Hodgkins lymphoma (a type of blood cancer) years ago. It's a shame, but really not your fault and you are wasting nobody's time trying to donate!

This is really interesting as I tried to donate in the US after 9/11 - they were asking for donors and we were staying there having been unable to fly home. It turned out that Hodgkins ruled me out anyway, but they also told me they couldn't take it because of Mad Cow disease and I always thought I must have misheard as it seemed so odd. Apparently not!

@mathanxiety shared that this restriction has now been lifted!

Doesn't help 2001 you of course (and that must have been an appalling experience by the way), but it's good news for 2024 me!