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.

Yes, we know why. Because you're a muppet.

I just see it as an extension of the growing nonsense of humans expecting medical science to shield them from their own mortality, then kicking up a stink when medicine fails to do so. When your number is up your number is up, and the notion of being willing to depend upon another human being's physiology to extend your own life beyond it's natural conclusion does not sit easy with me.

I've just been referred to Oncology and have absolutely no intention of undergoing chemo or radio for the same reason. I have no interest in prolonging my life beyond nature's intended shut-off date. Far too many of us are living to far too old an age, and folk are left wondering why they are having to sell houses and dig into savings to pay for dribbling wretches who haven't a clue where they are to be spoon fed and have their bums wiped. It's a nonsense, and it wouldn't be as much of an issue if more of us had the good grace to accept our mortality.

Jehovah's Witness? Can't see the logic in your position whether you are a JW or not, but it's your choice. Hope you don't attempt to impose your views on your children

No religion and no kids. Happy for anyone else to make their own choices, I only ask that they respect mine in turn.

@Mustreadabook if the poster is AB+ like me, they literally would!

The same as everyone else. There are plenty of do gooders out there. If they said you can only have blood if you have given it then most people aren't going to getting blood.

What a horrible selfish attitude!

Various ill health for a while that stopped me, now I’m in a position too but the nearest places to donate are only open once every couple of months, next is in march on a week day so not really viable for me, could travel much further but again just awkward times, week day middle of the day and no weekends.

The waste majority of people don't donate blood. About 1% of people donate blood. If we all donated blood what on earth would they do with it?:

@XDownwiththissortofthingX curious as to where you draw your line with medical care then?

I'm assuming you'd get a broken leg looked at? Would you accept anti-biotics for an infection? Would you use insulin, if you became diabetic? Epi-pen for allergies?

Asking in good faith and because I'm curious.

My blood is hard to extract, it needs about five goes to find a vein and I’m sure they’ve not got the time for that!

Does one need a reason? I just never have!

Mostly yes, because the vast majority of illnesses or mishaps are not terminal to human life, and I don't expect anyone to needlessly live in pain or forego treatment for the sake of it, but IMO illnesses like Cancers very much are nature's natural human population control, and I personally am uncomfortable with the way we go all out to circumvent that.

Insulin I'm unsure of, but verging toward no, because I'm uneasy with anything which is derived from another human being's physiology. Factor 8 etc likewise.

My question would be, if you’d be happy to receive life saving blood, why would you never even consider giving?

I am not allowed to donate blood because I have had a blood transfusion and am on immunosuppressants, both of these mean you can't donate

Do gooders?!

You think people donating their time and blood to save the lives of complete strangers are do gooders?!

Fucking hell, I hope you never have to regret saying that sentence.

I'm some kind of bloodless robot - no GP/ nurse/ phlebotomist has ever succeeded getting blood first time. I'm usually referred to the hospital, then it takes multiple attempts and multiple people trying. Even when they find a vein, more often than not there doesn't end up being enough blood coming out and they have to go in again.

Every time there's a need for bloods, I tell the person 'I'm terrible to get blood out of, you might struggle' and they always say 'oh everyone says that, you'll be fine' and then all the above happens.

Years of fertility treatment and eventually pregnancy, the hardest part was always the bloods.

I really don't think they'd want me.

First time I tried, I was under the weight requirement. When I got over the weight requirement my veins were apparently too small for them to get the donation from (any time I’ve needed a blood test cannula in hospital it’s been a huge challenge for the person doing it so I guess that makes sense). Now I’m on medication that prevents me from donating.

I just never have considered it, it isn't something that I have ever done. I am unlikely to need to receive it, as I don't take part in many risky activities. Obviously, I would be grateful if I did need it and received it, but I don't feel guilty for not donating.

I donated once as a teen, but like many others on this thread I was told my veins were too small and it took too long!

Even if not though, I live an hour's drive from any donation centres, it's difficult to get appointments, and they don't have childcare - it makes it such a palaver and an expense that I probably wouldn't be bothered even if I had great veins, honestly.

AB+ is the universal plasma donor. If you’re near Reading Twickenham or Birmingham you can donate it. It’s super rare and appreciated. They constantly check when I can next donate and get treated like a queen when there.

Didn't weigh enough until I was pregnant (not a boast, I'm very short and had ds quite young). Found out I was o negative and was quite delighted to discover I was a universal donor. Then needed transfusion after loosing a good chunk of my previously very useful blood in labour!

Is there a time limit for being able to donate after transfusion or is it forever?

The times I have tried I have been deterred by the poor treatment of donors. Waits of nearly two hours just to be screened, officious and aggressive donor support assistants and a general lack of respect for my time and wellbeing have made me very unwilling to ever donate again.

Same here.

I did try to donate once but the nearest appointment I could have was 45 minutes away in 4 months time so they are hardly sort the stuff.

Turned down as anemic.

it's weird isn't it? ds had a blood transfusion at 1 yo but in 17 years time, it still won't be good for someone else. obviously you don't refuse a blood transfusion but it did worry me at the time.

I used to donate platelets but after my twins I had antibodies so couldn't. I do try to donate blood as I'm B+ but between available sessions, childcare/school run and getting poorly each time before hand, it's not as often as I'd like.

DH is absolutely needle phobic so would be more trouble than he's worth frankly!