If You Have Never Donated Blood, What’s Your Reason?

[MarmaladeSandwich7]

I went to donate back in the 90s & wasn’t allowed to as I hadn’t long been back from South Africa. Somehow I’ve just never got around to it since but would very much like to. DF donated for years. I have a tendency to be anaemic & so worry that I should maybe hang onto my blood?! My iron levels are fine atm.

I hope you complained! What a horrible woman. Very sorry for your loss.

I couldn’t because I was so squeamish about blood and I felt faint every time I had to give that GP. I got over this a bit and started donating a few years ago. I just don’t look at anything they are doing to me and it’s fine. Appointments up to 7.30 pm and at weekends so loads of choice.

I donated a couple of times but it was always impossible to get appointments, and after that it was low iron levels, and then childcare/parking issues. And thanks to this thread I've now realised I won't be able to donate again having had cancer, which has made me a bit sad as I always meant to start donating again once the kids were older!

You've been very unlucky. I've never experienced anything like that and I've donated 30 or 40 times in various different places.

Because they never hold the donation sessions somewhere that is easy for me to get to! Years ago,they used to hold them in a hall at the church in my local high street,but stopped them for some reason. Now it would involve me having to get 2 buses,plus a lengthy walk on getting off the bus. As a disabled person with walking difficulties,this wouldn't work for me.

Not allowed due to having had cancer.

When I was younger I wasn’t allowed because I didn’t weigh enough.

When I lived abroad I wasn’t allowed because I lived in Britain in the ‘80s/‘90s.

Not allowed to due to MS, as they don't know what causes it. I can be an organ donor, and I'm on the register, but that is because the recipient would have the chance to make an informed choice about whether to accept with the uncertainty. Blood is usually given in an emergency, when there is less time to weigh up risks and benefits.

Not allowed to due to MS, as they don't know what causes it. I can be an organ donor, and I'm on the register, but that is because the recipient would have the chance to make an informed choice about whether to accept with the uncertainty. Blood is usually given in an emergency, when there is less time to weigh up risks and benefits.

I used to (eons) but it got to the point I had to make an appointment, turn up for said appointment waited over an hour because they were running late then half the time my iron was low so it got too much hassle
im a bit rare as well so I hope they have some spare should I need it

Deleted

Tiny veins - I have tried a few times

at the moment very low ferritin. Also the online thing gets funny about time abroad, and historically a lot of my adult life I was borderline on the weight thing.

shame really as I’m o- and they’d really like my blood

it counts, I give blood more now cos my son will never be able to, but it saved his life. I nearly had a transfusion when I had the twins but narrowly avoided it, else they'd be carrying my blood debt forward lol

DH does but I can’t due to medical reasons.

oh come on, the fact you call donors "do goodera" shows you're looking down at them. it's a word used y people who think such behaviour is below them but thankfully some stupid saps will step up and do it

You're extraordinarily hung up on one word! Maybe focus on the 98% of people who don't give blood either!

I used to go regularly but then they just started to make it too damn difficult to actually go - never any appointments/ don't want my blood type etc, and if I could get a slot my veins hide so was touch and go each time if they'd get enough. It's a shame really as my work give you paid time off to give blood.

Every blood type is needed!

I'd love to donate blood but I can't due to having had a transfusion. I was really disappointed because I wanted to "give back"; I was so grateful to whoever donated the blood I used! I'm O neg too which is apparently always in demand.

Because it's a 2 hour round trip now they've stopped the local sessions, although I can't donate now due to the meds I take.

Probably because it isn't MY body doing these things, and as I've explained, I'm not comfortable with the notion of using another human being's physiology to circumvent nature telling me my time is up.

do you really think it's more ethical to let a woman who's just delivered newborn twins die from blood loss? or to let a baby slowly deteriorated and die for want of a transfusion? a teenager run over by a drunk driver etc? how can it be more ethical to say "well, I get 10 months is all he was allocated by life!" and just essentially watch them lie there and die?

These are all considerations purely for the people involved. As I've said, I'm perfectly comfortable with other people taking different views to my own, it just wouldn't be me accepting a transfusion or transplant and I've taken what steps I can to try and communicate that to doctors ahead of time. What other people view as ethical is entirely a matter for them.

I gave from the day I turned 17. Needed a transfusion during childbirth so can't now but all of my kids have since they turned 17 also.
I always say 'If you'd take it, you should give it!

What a spectacularly entitled thing to say.

The more you post the worse you come across.

Such a disappointing and selfish attitude.
Luckily for you if your loved ones need a transfusion other "do gooders" are there to pick up the slack.

I was turned away when I was younger as the doctor thought I looked too thin, despite being over the weight limit.

I tried again when older and fatter and they cancelled my appointment with only an hour's notice, once I'd already left home to travel. Then after that I was barred due to having a bisexual boyfriend.

I hear that male donors are preferred anyway. They have more blood, bigger veins, are less likely to be anemic, can donate more frequently and don't carry certain antibodies that women can get through pregnancy so their blood is more useful. Yet less than half of donors are men.

I never got round to it, then I was anaemic and then had a blood transfusion so now never can