I can't donate blood (a rant)

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ruveyn
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27 Jun 2009, 8:18 am

Kajjie wrote:

I went to give blood today, so I had planned to do that, and due to some confusion, waiting and preparing for it took up quite a bit of my day. When I got there, I filled out the form, and had to tick yes to a couple of questions, including "Have you ever had a serious illness or seen a doctor about your heart?" Why on Earth they chose to merge those two questions into one I don't know. I have never had a serious illness (I interpreted this to mean one that required hospital care, although the form didn't define things like this), but I did go to see my GP about palpitations a while ago, as I used to suffer from anxiety, and they were freaking me out. I've just started considering myself recovered from anxiety problems. I then had to sit down and wait for a while before I spoke to a nurse to go through the form. I explained about the palpitations appointment, and that the GP found that there is nothing wrong with my heart: it's just caused by stress. She asked when this appointment was. I am very bad at knowing/guessing when things happened; my sense of time is rubbish, so that was awkward. She then asked when the last time I had palpitations was. I explained I'd had palpitations two days ago, nothing really bad, just a bit weird and uncomfortable. I was then told this prevents me from giving blood. To give blood, I will apparently have to be free of palpitations for six months. I'm not sure that'll ever happen.
I feel a bit annoyed, because loads of people probably have palpitations like the ones I have now (infrequent and mild), and the blood service just never know about it because those people haven't gone to a doctor about it. The other thing is, my blood is probably some of the safest out there. I'm a virgin, I don't travel abroad, I'm not on medication and I don't drink caffiene or alcohol. And others just lie and give blood, risking others. My friend feels a bit ill, maybe is getting a cold, but said that she didn't because she wanted to give blood. And though it's not serious, it means whoever recieves that blood will get a cold virus in them when they're already weak. I've known others use the blood service for a HIV test. And others just lie about their own health, so they don't have the problem I have - they overreact to any slight problem to protect you. I feel like my honesty has got me in trouble again.
The rules for this don't seem to make any sense. It's okay to give blood if you take medication, usually. I can't imagine that it's that good for the person recieving the blood to recieve a dose of someone else's medication. You can't give blood if you've ever had homosexual sex, not just 'with a new partner in the last 6 months' which would ensure the HIV test was valid. They never asked me if I suffer from dizzy spells or have ever fainted, although these would probably mean someone shouldn't give blood because they'd faint from the blood loss.
Ugh. Not enough logic.

I had atrial tachycardia last year. The folks at the Red Cross said I had to wait six months with no recurrence of any heart condition before I could donate again. Part of the policy is to protect the donor. Part is to protect the Red Cross from possible law suits.

The Red Cross will also disqualify anyone who has spent extensive time in Africa or in European countries where they have had Mad Cow disease. And they definitely disqualify anyone with aids, and anyone who has or has lived with anyone who has had hepatitis.

ruveyn

LostAlien
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27 Jun 2009, 8:42 am

Irish blood donation forms seem to make more sense (I donated once approx 4/5 years ago). Asking about sexual habits (ie. one question: are you in a monogamas relationship), have you problems with anemia (plus giving an iron test) and lots of other stuff that I can't remember, though no questions about blood pressure (to my recollection). Though I didn't react well to the blood donation, I was fine when they took the blood (a full pint yea), but when I tried to sit up the room spun and it took three days to recover properly. Though I hadn't eaten anything much that day and that probably caused my bad reaction.

They should ask about if someone has eaten that day and seperately about the blood pressure because they are important. Though they gave most people iron tablets to help the blood regeneration and bottles of coke, crisps and stuff. Though they used to give out Guiness (I heard), high in iron and other minerals, it is alcohol though so I understand why they stopped but it's supposed to be very good to help regenerate the blood.

b9
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27 Jun 2009, 10:23 am

despite what i said earlier, i would give my blood to save the life of someone if i was asked. if i am not asked, all my blood stays in my veins and arteries.

LostAlien
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27 Jun 2009, 11:26 am

b9 don't worry about it. It's a personal choice. It's something that should not be forced on anyone who doesn't want to. I wanted to because I'm o rhesus positive and it made me feel happy to do it. It's massively personal choice.

anna-banana
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27 Jun 2009, 11:38 am

Kajjie wrote:

anna-banana - Is there a reason you have small veins or is it just the way you are? It's rubbish that people like us with good blood can't donate any! I admittedly live off junk food, though.

nah it's just "the way I am".

I'm glad I tried though, at least I finally found the answer to the biggest mystery of my entire life - why mosquitoes don't bite me. turns out they just can't find a vein.

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Kajjie
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27 Jun 2009, 3:23 pm

ruveyn - I understand why they do it, I just don't think my health is really at risk!
They can't really exclude people who've been to countries affected by Mad Cow disease here in Britain :lol: , although they do ask if you've had CJD

LostAlien - They encourage you to eat and drink lots of water beforehand in England (although I don't think they actually ask, which is dumb, as my friend did the same thing you did - not eat and then feel faint), and also give you chocolate afterwards. Guiness, lol, how Irish!
The forms ask about sexual habits, and they test your blood for anaemia.

anna-banana - mosquitos just bite some people more than others anyway. I wasn't aware they went for veins.

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Kajjie
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27 Jun 2009, 3:25 pm

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anna-banana
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27 Jun 2009, 4:05 pm

Kajjie wrote:

anna-banana - mosquitos just bite some people more than others anyway. I wasn't aware they went for veins.

yeah I'm not sure that's the case either, it just seems like a logical conclusion.

either that, or they don't bite crazy people :p

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Nights_Like_These
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27 Jun 2009, 4:16 pm

I can't donate blood in Canada because i have a tattoo...

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hartzofspace
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27 Jun 2009, 5:17 pm

LostAlien wrote:

I have had to accept blood donations, 2 times in my life. It was the ickiest feeling, knowing that some stranger's blood was being pumped into my veins. It was very, very weird. Still, I am grateful to whomever donated that blood. They saved my life.

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ebec11
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27 Jun 2009, 6:01 pm

Nights_Like_These wrote:

I can't donate blood in Canada because i have a tattoo...

Why? I don't see how that has ANYTHING to do with blood donation!

Nights_Like_These
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27 Jun 2009, 6:05 pm

ebec11 wrote:

Nights_Like_These wrote:

I can't donate blood in Canada because i have a tattoo...

Why? I don't see how that has ANYTHING to do with blood donation!

Your guess is as good as mine. Even if I had caught some kind of disease from the tattoo needle, it's not like they don't test the blood for diseases before they use it..lol

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Keith
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27 Jun 2009, 6:09 pm

I love the way there are advertisements for "Give blood, and save a life" etc. But they turn down the ones that do...
I've never donated blood. I have no idea what blood type I am ... ahh, well.

Nights_Like_These
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27 Jun 2009, 11:16 pm

I don't know my blood type either :roll:

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Kajjie
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28 Jun 2009, 6:37 am

Keith wrote:

I love the way there are advertisements for "Give blood, and save a life" etc. But they turn down the ones that do...
I've never donated blood. I have no idea what blood type I am ... ahh, well.

Yeah, that's what bothers me. I would really encourage anyone who can give blood to do so as so many can't (also many people can't because they are terrified of needles, which they can't help)
If you donate blood they tell you your blood type

Nights_Like_These - In England you can't donate 6 months after having a tattoo done, which makes sense as it takes 6 months for a HIV test to be accurate. And I thought that was over the top! They inspect all piercing and tattoo places to make sure they are hygenic.

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ruveyn
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28 Jun 2009, 7:20 am

ebec11 wrote:

Nights_Like_These wrote:

I can't donate blood in Canada because i have a tattoo...

Why? I don't see how that has ANYTHING to do with blood donation!

Potential for being infected with hepatitis.

ruveyn

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