Donating blood

[Blackjack200]

it's a lifetime ban for any male who's had sex with another male at any point after 1977.

and I could just lie, but fuck them if they don't want my blood.

I would feel the same way.

 

[911paramedic]

Not just ice cream, our donation busses (you can also donate at their main building, but I wait for them to come to me) are fully stocked with all kinds of snacks and juices. It's not really a gift you know, they just don't want you to pass out. :awe:

 

[rudder]

I donate regularly since I am allowed to go while working. get a free t-shirt and soda/juice/snacks. Plus it is an excuse to avoid heavy lifting/work when I get home.

 

[allisolm]

Unless something's change recently, I'm not allowed to give blood either because I lived in Europe in the late 80s.

This. They think we might possibly have been exposed to mad cow and, with a incubation period of up to 50 years, that's not a fun thing to have hanging over you.

 

[Imp]

I cried enough (inside) when I "gave" 2 (or 4?) vials of blood for a blood test. Eff donating. Thank you non-pussies for when I end up in the hospital.

 

[her209]

I cried enough (inside) when I "gave" 2 (or 4?) vials of blood for a blood test. Eff donating. Thank you non-pussies for when I end up in the hospital.

Blood donors get preference over non-donors.

:sneaky:

 

[ichy]

it's a lifetime ban for any male who's had sex with another male at any point after 1977.

and I could just lie (I've never had unprotected sex, not particularly promiscuous when it comes to anal, and I'm tested regularly regardless), but fuck them if they don't want my blood.

Same way I feel. I haven't lived on a country that's on the prohibited list for 20 years, so if I'd gotten AIDS there I'd be dead by now (plus I've been tested numerous times since then.) I'm not going to lie in order to be altruistic though.

 

[Red Squirrel]

I cried enough (inside) when I "gave" 2 (or 4?) vials of blood for a blood test. Eff donating. Thank you non-pussies for when I end up in the hospital.

The first time is the hardest as the body is not used to it. When I went for my first time I started seeing stars near the end. I told them to keep going anyway but they insisted to stop it. :awe: Was SO close to a full pint, or whatever it is that big holds. They also said most red headed people have lot of trouble donating so they were surprised I even made it that far. All the times after that it went fine though. I'm at 12 or so now. Only started a few years back.

 

[Modelworks]

Can't donate unfortunately, drugs I take exclude me.

 

[Modelworks]

I cried enough (inside) when I "gave" 2 (or 4?) vials of blood for a blood test. Eff donating. Thank you non-pussies for when I end up in the hospital.

I used to be this way. When I was a teenager I would pass out at the sight of blood, taking a blood test made me light headed. Then I joined the Navy and I swear they took enough blood that they could have done a transplant with it. After that no more problems.

 

[vi edit]

I've got stupid low blood pressue. I get light headed and woozy if I stand up too fast. I've tried giving blood but each time resulted in me damn near passing out and being sick feeling for an hour or two afterwards.

:\

 

[nanette1985]

I used to sell my blood back when I was a starving musician - private clinic with low standards. Now I can't donate because of my meds.

 

[Terzo]

Not just ice cream, our donation busses (you can also donate at their main building, but I wait for them to come to me) are fully stocked with all kinds of snacks and juices. It's not really a gift you know, they just don't want you to pass out. :awe:

The snack and juice selection at my local donation center has be going downhill for a while. There used to be multiple types of caffeine free soda, juice, cookies, and pretzels. Now they only have a few types of juice and at most 2 varieties of snacks (last time I went they didn't even have cookies!)

We don't even get free ice cream. The two times I've received coupons for free foodstuffs, one was for a subway sandwich (I liked that one, and bought some cookies at the subway to make up for the shitty selection at the donation center), and the most recent was for a 6 piece edible arrangements gift, which I didn't care for.

If I didn't have a tendency to fail the iron test, I'd start bringing soda and cookies with me whenever I go to donate.

I used to sell my blood back when I was a starving musician - private clinic with low standards. Now I can't donate because of my meds.

When was this? I thought it was illegal to sell blood in the US.

 

[Blackjack200]

When was this? I thought it was illegal to sell blood in the US.

It used to be legal. They made it illegal, I believe, when lots of junkies began selling their unusable blood.

 

[jhansman]

Every eight weeks, without fail. Occasionally my red count is not high enough and they won't take me. I see it as a civic duty, but I understand those who do not or feel they cannot.

 

[Thump553]

Like jhansman, but my problem is iron levels. Started taking an iron pill every other day, no problem since then.

Besides the Red Cross table is the only place I've seen Lorna Doones in years.

To the OP-it is remarkably easy and painless, the anticipation is far far worse than the actual event.

 

[zokudu]

Every 8 weeks on the dot. If I did platelets instead of whole blood I could pay for my gas with my blood they give a $30 gas card every 2 weeks when you donate platelets but it takes 2.5-3 hours maybe even more depending on how busy they are for platelets. As it stands though i do whole blood and get some snacks afterward and a coupon for a free pretzel from the pretzel factory.

 

[Blackjack200]

Besides the Red Cross table is the only place I've seen Lorna Doones in years.

There must be a huge stock of Lorna Doones fun size packages that they have to get through, that's the only explanation I can think of. They're good though.

To the OP-it is remarkably easy and painless, the anticipation is far far worse than the actual event.

Also, it helps you completely lose any fear of needles. When I go to the doctor shots and blood tests don't bother me at all anymore.

 

[l0cke]

I did it in high school, mainly to get out of class.

If they set up an event (they probably will) at my college I will donate again.

 

[Cookie]

I went once about 7 years ago. They asked me not to come back ever.

 

[FoBoT]

i can't do it, sorry
i almost go into shock when they take a blood sample for tests, if they took a pint, i'd shirley pass out completely

 

[mattpegher]

Donated every 57 days for 4 years then forgot one day that I was going the next day and had a few drinks. This was before we had definitive tests for Hep C, so my elevated liver functions suggested the possibility of Hep C and I was excluded. Testing proved no Hep C but to get back on the accepted donor list is to difficult so I was never able to.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank any of you that do donate. I give your blood to many a patient and can recall hundreds of times when some might have died if not for your generousity. Thank you.

 

[angminas]

:thumbsdown:

I think they would get more donors if instead of spending money on free icecream they gave the donors something like $5.

Yeah, the IV drug users would be lining up around the block.

 

[TakeNoPrisoners]

I gave a pint once. The nurse was scared to put the needle in because I was so tense, I just told her go for it anyway. Almost blacked out, they noticed I was getting close but I told them its almost full anyway so might as well finish.

Found out later my blood type was type AB+. If you know your blood types it is almost useless as donor blood.

However AB is considered the universal plasma donator so it isn't too useless.

Source: Wikipedia

 

[eersnherd]

1. You must eat at least 45 mins before you donate and don't skimp on the sugars/carbs.
2. Don't rush it, squeezing too fast can contribute to the dizziness, go slow.
3. Before you get off the donating table it might be a good idea to ask the nurse for a drink you can sip before you sit up.

I've donated about 5-6 times and each time I've almost passed out. My first time was a beauty and I got the ammonia treatment to the nose. It's a worthy cause, but I haven't donated in probably 2-3 years cause I can't seem to get my blood sugar right.

AB+ for all that hard work!