Donating Blood

If you've been meaning to go and donate blood, now is a great time to do so!! Summer is a time of nationwide shortages in the blood supply, because more people are scheduling surgeries or hurting themselves, and less people take the time to donate. Also, highschool blood drives are a major source of blood, and the lack of school drives in summer adds to the problem.

I used to work in the lab at a blood bank, and I've seen the shortages. I am also a donor myself: I have donated whole blood and platelets, a part of your blood that aids in clotting. And I have a degree in Biology. I would be more than happy to answer any questions you might have!

60% of people are eligible to donate blood, and only 5% do. Let's see if we can work together to boost those numbers and save lives!

i haven'y been able to donate blood in the past because I was on various anti-seizure medications since I was a child until I had brain surgery 5 years ago for epilepsy. I had been seizure free for 5 years but a year ago experienced 2 auras during the night. The neurologist
started me on Lamictal. I take 100 mg twice a day. Will my blood still be accepted?

Jordung, I'm glad to hear you've been doing better! I called our blood bank to find out what they would say in your situation, and they said your blood would be accepted if you had a note from your doctor saying you could donate. However, different blood banks may handle eligibility situations differently, so you probably would want to call your local blood bank to make sure it would be okay there. Good luck!

Thanks,
Dana

My father in law was in a school bus/train accident a year ago January and LIVED. He received 11 units of blood in the ER to save his life. I am so grateful to those people who donated blood to save him! Since that day, I have donated blood every time I am eligible to do so. I hope I have helped to save other people's loved ones.

I used to donate blood as often as they'd let me. Since I've been diagnosed with MS, they no longer accept my blood. But, I hope others see this post and do so. It is something we all have to give...

Barb

Sylvi, it's nice to hear a 'closer to home' story about donations saving a life.

The blood bank loves me ~ I have O neg (everyone's fave) and I'm also CMV neg which is another bonus. You never know just how precious your blood may be until you donate. Besides, if you're extra special (like me) once in a while it might get you out of work for a couple of hours. ;)

Just hit the 4 gallons mark last year. Do I like needles? Heck no! But think how many lives you may touch and all it takes is a little time and a bit discomfort.

Moby, congratulations on being O neg CMV neg. Those units are especially needed for surgeries on infants. My mom has your blood type, too, and is always proud to go in and donate. But everyone's blood is extra special, so if you're not O neg, don't feel like your blood is worth less! O neg units are reserved for people who really need that type, so most recipients receive their own type of blood. Each type is extra special to the patients who have that type! And in interesting side note: AB blood is the universal donor for plasma (whereas O neg is the universal donor for red blood cells), so it kind of evens out.

It was really neat working in the lab of the blood bank, because sometimes we knew exactly where the blood was going: new mothers after birthing complications, neonatal surgeries, cancer patients, etc. One time at lunch I heard about a really bad car accident on the radio, and the only survivor, a young child, was air lifted to the local childrens' hospital. When I got back to work I heard the helicopter land, and then we got orders for a lot of blood. It's so rewarding to know how much the blood helps.

Another helpful hint: if you don't live very close to a blood bank and it's inconvenient to go and donate, call anyway. Blood banks get a lot (ours got most) of their blood from mobile units that collect blood in convenient locations all over!

I always get rejected - never high enough in iron. :(

Want some of mine, Laura? Mine is high enough I'm allowed to do a double unit. (I get the fluid [plasma] back tho.) Last time the nurse made a crack that she could take 7 units off me and I'd still be fine.

I'll swap ya for a lily!

It's a plan! ...might be a bit messy tho if we do it on our own LOL

I've been donating plasma once a month for almost 5 years now. We drive 54 miles from here to Beaumont to donate. They always ask "Who are you donating for?" My answer is always the same, "Whoever needs it!" My better half donates red blood cells, platelets and plasma since he has the right type of blood for that. I am AB neg so only give plasma. This is just something that we do and it makes us feel great. I would recommend it to anyone. We have made many friends through our donations. It seems as if the same people are there each time we are. Jenny

My father has O neg blood too (as do I).....I think O neg was considered special because years ago they used to call him into the hospital to do direct transfussions when there was a shortage (or none available) of one blood type (not just O neg). He really enjoyed doing it since they gave him a glass of brandy afterwards. He received a plaque for giving over 400 donations before they considered him too old (it broke his heart).

I've done it a couple of times but tend to get really light headed a couple of hours later ....it's not the seeing it done that makes me faint. They now have my name down for emergency donations only.


This message was edited Jun 21, 2005 8:52 PM

Gosh such a great thread!! I'm so pround of all of you that give. I can't give anymore they won't take mine because the last couple of time my blood pressure has been to high, and some of the meds I am on now. In the past I gave blood and platlets.

I want to thank all of you that do. Our only child, well not a child (he is 26 now) was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia in 2002.
I lost track of how many units of blood and patlets he recieved during and after treatment. Sometimes it was 3 unites a day.

He's doing well, got married in April to the girl that stood by him all the time he was so sick, and yes, O neg is what our son is. There is always a demand for it.

So thanks to all for taking the time for sticking out that arm and saying." I'll give".

Annie



This message was edited Jun 22, 2005 8:49 AM

Yes, thank u to all who give. Wish I could ... it really bothered me that I couldn't give when I hemmorhaged in '98. I received 5 pints and then more during surgery - don't know how many.

It is great seeing all the people who give-- and the people who try, and care. Donating blood is such a big part of my life now: I have it, other people need it, it's free to do, it saves lives, and there's no substitute. Even though I've never known the recipients, it's more personal than donating money, and very fulfilling. I hope this thread will also encourage someone to try it for the first time, and if you already donate, remember to encourage others, too. Eat a good meal beforehand, and if you're scared of the needle, ask to have someone who's experienced do the stick. (They know who the best people are, and I've even had times when I absolutely could not feel the needle.)

Jenny, have you ever considered giving platelets? Your platelets are universal, too, because they live in the plasma. At my old blood bank they often needed AB neg platelets for baby surgeries, just like they need O neg red cells for babies. You're lucky to have such a rare and special type, and I'm so glad that you give!!

Thanks everyone for donating and for your stories. Keep them coming!

Evidently they need the plasma more. I believe we have a patient who needs a unit a day. They know I will give whatever. One of the problems is having enough machines. They have the machines that take all the stuff booked constantly, but the plasma only machines (which now they only have 2 of those since I guess they are phasing them out) are rarely both used at once. But I will mention this to them.
Another tip is to be fully hydrated. One time they could not get the blood to return and the problem stemmed from not enough fluid. We always have a big breakfast ( good excuse to eat eggs and bacon) and I drink plenty of water that morning. Thanks for the info about the platelets. Jenny

The shelf life for platlets is 5 days, I wish I knew each and every one responsible for donating when our son was going though his treatment.

LIFE IS GOOD,
Annie

This is such a great thread. I'm O positive, and they always want my blood, too. Last time I did the Double Red and it was really interesting. I could see the plasma running through the tube and mine was a very clear looking fluid.

The man in the chair next to me was also doing the Doube Red, and his plasma looked dark and kinda yellow-green compared to mine. I asked the nurse why mine looked so different than the other people. She quietly and discreetly said that is a result of my diet and good health. I told her that I eat a lot of fresh veggies (thanks to my garden) I don't eat much red meat, and I do eat fish at least once a week.

When you can actually see the difference that your diet creates in your blood and your body- you will be so inspired to go outside and plant veggies!

Good health to all of you!

Yes, you certainly can see a difference. Every now and then I'd run across a blood sample that stunk!

It's interesting how everyone's plasma is a little different in color. A lot of vitamins can make it bright orange, and birth control or hormone replacement therapy make it green. (When I worked at the blood bank and donated, it was no secret that I'm on birth control!) If people eat a really fatty meal beforehand, or have some sort of problem with their metabolism, their plasma is white from the fat. I'm glad that one has never happened to me!

Our blood bank is just getting ready to begin the double red cell program. It will be interesting to see how that goes.

Jenny, I'd be interested to hear what they say about plasma versus platelets. In our blood bank we never collected just plasma-- we just took the plasma out of the red cell units and froze it, giving it a shelf life of a year. So our need was always in the platelets, and due to the children's hospital, we always tried to have your type on hand in case a baby needed it. And like Annie mentioned, the shelf life is only five days (and the first day it's unusable due to testing), so it's important to manage them well, and special types are always in need. Please let me know what they say: I'm curious now. :)

It will be three weeks before my next appointment but I will try to remember to ask and let you know. I do know that right now mine is going to a specific person who will need plasma everyday for I don't know how long. Every once in awhile I have to go in earlier than the usual month because they are desperate. They have all these rules about how often for certain things as plasma, platelets, and red blood cells. But if they get in a real bind they will call the faithful donors in early. Jenny

Since college I have given a pint every year. Last year they asked if I ever had cancer. Yes, melanoma. 12 years ago, cut out, cured, gone. They won't take my blood anymore. I don't have cancer. The doctor monitored me for 6 years. I'm clean. They don't want my blood. I stood out in the sun for 6 summers in a row teaching swimming for the Red Cross. I got skin cancer. I got cured. My blood is no good? I would hate for anybody to get sick from my blood, I just don't see it posible. F.

It saddened me also to know that i cant give blood because of the cancers.

How interesting this thread is. Plasma colors... who'd a thunk? well, okay, maybe just not me, lol!

A heartfelt thanks to all who donate. What a gift you all are. I'm a reject but I find other things to do to feel like I'm not a total loser, lol! My mom is a reject, too, now that she spends so much of her time volunteering in countries with elevated AIDS levels. It drives her bananas that she can't donate anymore.

There sure are a lot of things that prevent people from donating. I guess it's better to be safe than sorry, don't you think Frankay? I agree that the chance that you'd be giving anyone cancer has got to be extremely low but how much the medical community actually *knows* about cancer is pretty darn little compared to how much we need to learn about it.

Keep that blood pumping, folks!

Hmm, now you have me thinking about the cancer issue. I know some kinds of cancer are okay, but not others. I'm not sure why though.

Another thing that has caused a lot of people to be defered is mad cow disease (variant Creutzfeldt-Jacobs disease in humans) in Europe. Now people who've spent a lot of time in Europe or been to Europe in the military can no longer donate in the US. The disease is not well understood at this time-- it is precautionary at this point, but after HIV being transmitted through transfusions in the 1980s, the industry is very precautionary now. I've been defered for travel, too, but to malarial areas (even though I didn't even see one mosquito!). And my uncle is defered after having Hepatitis A eons ago, and he's even donated since then, but now the laws have changed and he's no longer eligible. It's hard to see people who are so willing to donate be defered, when so many people who are eligible won't even try.

One more note: the blood banking industry is heavily regulated by the FDA, so if your blood isn't acceptable for any reason (even to protect your own health), it's the law that determines that, not the actual blood bank. At least there are a lot of ways people can help out mankind and the world besides donating blood-- everyone can do good things in their own way, like TucsonJen said!

And Jenny, that answers the question if you're giving to a specific person! It's really admirable that you have that dedication. Good for you!!

My parents both had jaudice and were rejected for that. Guess we're just a bunch of rejects!

It used to be when donating a technician would ask all the questions. Now it is done by computer and all the questions must be asked each time. Each month there are changes and the questionnaire becomes longer. They now ask if you have had any contact with anyone who just had a smallpox vaccination. Another question is whether you have had a rabies shot. Some of the drugs they ask you about I have never heard of. The technicians tell me if I don't know what it is then I probably have never had it! Guess I've been doing this so long they don't worry. My point being they are really careful with the blood supply but I always wonder if people answer honestly. One time someone was donating plasma (next to me) and the color in the bag was very strange (almost looked like milk). Anyway after he left I overheard the technicians discussing the bag and the upshot was that they were throwing it away. So I'm supposing they knew something that I didn't.

Milky? Probably overloaded with triglycerides, and that isn't something a patient needs when they're already having health problems.

Yes, I mentioned above that milky plasma is called lipemic, due to the fat in it. One reason it has to be discarded is that the unit cannot be accurately tested-- the cloudiness interferes with interpreting the results. And because of the fat!

Our blood bank still asks questions in person, but it's true: some people don't pay close attention and end up answering a question wrong. That's why we still test every single unit for about fifteen different things.

But remember-- all those questions are required by law and help keep our blood supply safe. I'd be thankful for that process if I ever need a transfusion. Our blood supply is safer than it's ever been!

I used to donate frequently when lived in TX for many yrs. Used to donate every 7 wks at work in NY too (6 yrs). Both places had the mobile units brought in. However, since I was a military spouse and spent too much time in Germany, I am on permanent deferrment, which found out here in PA. At first, it was longer timeframe (overseas) then shortened.

The idea of not being able to donate after so many times was ludicrous and unbelievable, even insulting. But, the commissaries purchased meat from England when it was a problem, but before they knew about the problem. It could take decades to show up. My 19 y/o could be affected as well, since she was 4-6 while we lived there. My 7 y/o could also have it, from me... My ex and tons of military families and friends could have it too.

I read of one person that had the human form of mad cow, which is variant Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease (vCJD), but did not know. His organs were donated; transplant victims all died w/in 18 months of another variant of vCJD. No way I would want to do that to anyone, just in case.

So many of the military that used to donate, now can't. So many that can, don't, or won't... ~ Suzi :)
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The issue of vCJD is an interesting one, because not a lot is understood at this point. They're not even sure if it can be transmitted through blood transfusions, but since they have some evidence that it might be, they're being precautionary about it. Perhaps they'll someday come to the conclusion that it's not transmitted, and those people will once again be able to donate??? I know how it feels to have your blood rejected. Although I do donate now, I've been rejected for many reasons over the years. It does kind of hurt your feelings, even though you know there's a reason...

A reminder to those of you who do or can donate (or know someone who could): a holiday weekend is coming up! Blood is in such great need during holiday weekends, especially during the summer. For blood banks it's like living paycheck to paycheck with each day's worth of blood donations. Having a holiday with no blood drawn (when of course hospitals are still using blood, maybe even more than usual on a busy holiday weekend) is like a day off with no pay and really puts a strain on the blood supply. If you can get out and donate, this is a GREAT week to do so!