I'm Out For Blood!

Over the years I've given blood. I felt it was a good thing to do since I was healthy and there is always a need. I lost track of how many units I've donated. You never really think about where it goes when you are doing it.

Well a year ago in October I found out first hand. I was in major surgery and things went a bit south so to speak. I ended up needing a transfusion to keep my head above water. 22 units of blood and blood products on the table. Thank God I had a great team working on me. Then a couple of days later, during recovery, 2 more whole units. I can tell you that you do a lot of thinking about the people that donate as you watch that red stuff go into your arm. It's a real mind bender. All of those thoughts are good thoughts. I owe a lot to 24 people I have never met.

In the year since I've thought that I owe the blood bank for the withdrawal that I made. Today, I made the first deposit on that debt. It felt great!

So what you ask. Good question, I'm not after a sympathy vote. I know that I can find that under S in the dictionary. (And I know that it comes between two semi-vulgar words.) What I am asking is some action on the part of the people I've come to know on this site. Its real simple. Could as many of you as possible go out and donate a unit of blood. Then come back here and post that you have done it. Don't do it in my name, I'm not asking that. Just do it for the sake of those people that need it.

I know that there are a number of people that for whatever reason can't donate. Your support of those that can would be appreciated.

All you get for doing this is the great feeling that you are doing something good.

So, go out there and bleed for a good cause.

Great post, T-Square.

I give every 12-14 weeks and have for about 15 years. It feels just as good every time I do it. I'm CMV-negative, which is pretty rare and my blood is often used for premature babies and transplant candidates.


For any of you who are thinking about it but have never actually donated, please give it a try. It's almost painless and doesn't really take very much of your time to accomplish.

It's enormously satisfying to know that something so deeply personal is going to help other people.

P.S.

Why not move this to the General forum where it would get a lot more eyes?

This is definitely a cause worth trumpeting.

I agree and for years I gave as they say "early and often", but since then I have traveled to and lived in some strange places and the Red Cross now asks that I not donate. Oh well, I still haven't made any withdrawls so I am a net gain for the blood system.

No can do in spite of best intentions. Mad cow restrictions are still in force.

9 Gallons and slow going.
I used to give every three months or so, on rainy days, when I owned and operated a landscaping service. Then since Aids and whatnot the process got to be too long and involved so now I am down to once or twice a year when they come on the news with a serious shortage announcement.

If anyone works for the red cross you guys need to figure out a way to identify those of us who have been regular donors for over ten years, have been monogomous for over ten years been keeping within the US for ten years and get us a frequent donor pass to leapfrog all those questions about our sex life and travel and drug use. Besides, it has been so long since I've had sex, I forget who gets tied up.

Still a very valuable post and challenge and I second moving it to Community.

+ it's a good way for men to avoid dietary iron overload (even hemachromatosis).

I can't donate, either. People with MS are not allowed since they can't pinpoint the 'cause' of MS, they don't know that it isn't blood-bourne.

I used to donate regularly before the diagnosis, though. If you can at all do this tremendous thing, please do.

I have A-B Positive blood type. Pretty much kills anyone without an exact match, so its not very desirable. On the other side of the coin, I can accept blood from anyone, but so far have not needed any. I used to donate some, but in 2003 was banned due to an in-situ melanoma. While that was fully removed, I share the same dilema as Bonni. I'm unwanted.

A horrible & embarrassing confession...

Am I the only person who gets violently sick at the sight of needles in my body?

I've always been that way, I have a hard time not throwing up whenever a blood sample is taken during a physical... If more than two viles are draw, my last meal is coming up fast.

Oddly enough when I was in school I had a part time job as a phlenotomist, though my adversion to giving blood goes much eariler than that.

Unfortunately I cannot imagine giving blood. Fortunately at age 48 I've never needed any.

What a thing to have a phobia about! Yikes! I hope that you can remedy that by the time you hit old age: it ain't for sissies, and needles may just well save your life.

I toss just before flying. I always have a dread of that first leg that makes me ill. This time, I was actually sick, too, but I didn't feel good for days. The rest of the trip, and going home, I'm fine. What's with that??

I donated again today. Any other takers out there?

And yes, I'm am trying to shame you all into it. SO THERE!!!!! :

I have a genetic disorder that is very common and completely treatable. It's called Hemochromatosis and it is an elevated level of iron in the blood. The treatment is to take a pint of blood at intervals, depending on how severe the condition is. I have blood drawn every 3 months. You'd think you could use this stuff, but NOOO! The FDA says OK, but my great state of Washington says I can't do it. Why? I dunno, no reason really. You can't catch a genetic disorder from a transfusion. In fact you can't catch it from anything, but I still have to throw the blood away. What a waste.

Why do I gaze at pastures......

I always gave blood until the UK MADDKOW dictum was on the donation forms.....ate lots of beef and Fanny's Pub pissy steak and kidney pie, too!

Well, unit # 3 since I started this thread. Where are the rest of you guys?

I'm moving this to the Community Announcements to get some more press for it.

Come on y'all. Lets see who out there is participating!!!! This is a really good thing to do. Especially in the Summer when the supplies get low. For some reason, people take a break from donating in the summer.

Never even thought about it, but tks to YOU will at least think about it and MOST probably do it. My problem is I´m in the DR and afraid of un-sterile conditions, so I´ll research and ask friends for places that may be 100%.

I wish I had been the starter of this thread, you're way cool!

I keep trying but they keep rejecting me.

My mother had a blood borne illness that they don't know if it can be transmitted to offspring. I suspect in an dire emergency they would take my blood and I would gladly give it but until then, I'll have to give in other ways..

Volunteering my time and skills to worthy causes is my way of giving back..

I donated a couple of weeks ago. Like Cirquerider I also have AB+, but they want my plasma more than anything! It takes longer to donate plasma; a little over an hour, but it makes me feel good that I'm possibly helping others. I had one really bad accident when I was 16, and have been a donor ever since!

Excellent Thread T-Square!

I went to donate recently, but they said my blood sugar was too low(29), and suggested I get a check up.
I really wanted to donate .......

I used to donate routinely way back when---like in the 1950s and 60s. Last three times I went to a blood bank they turned me down because of a heart arrhythmia my doctor says is insignificant and something I had way back then too.

Any diabetes in your family, Trek?

I donate on a semi regular basis, about 3-4 times a year. I donated 6 weeks ago, and so will donate again soon.

Sadly, yes.
I had low blood sugar when I was in college and had it under control. Looks like I have to get back on track with it.

I too am a former donor, now disqualified due to medical conditions. Used to go in twice a year when the bloodmobile came to my office and then a few more times a year when the Red Cross would call asking me to come in because they needed my blood type (AB+). Funny to see three of us with AB+ blood posting in this thread since something like 3 - 4% of the total population has that blood type.

Everyone who can should donate. It's simple, quick and you get free juice and cookies. Not a bad deal for a 1/2 hour of your time!

Unit 4. I'm looking for more takers, givers, whatever.

Hey, Halloween is right around the corner. What a perfect time to go out and BLEED!

I'm a registered and regular donator with American Red Cross. They call me about every 4-6 weeks to remind me. (A+)

29? You should have been in a coma.

Johnny's Zoo, Good on ya! That's the way to do it. I have a friend who is O-. She gets the call on about the same frequency. I put a reminder in my calender to get my butt out and do it.

Here's the Red Cross site about blood donation.

Here's where you can find out if you are elegible to give blood.

Here's the Red Cross FAQs on donating.

Yes, I'm being my obnoxious self. No, you probably won't be able to shut me up on this. Now, if I start seeing a lot of people posting in here that they are donating, I'll be happy. I want to see this thread surface because you guys out there are keeping it going. Not because I'm posting in it.

Well, y'all I did it again the Wednesday before going out to the Snowmass ESA. (Unit 5) When I got out there I thought that might not have been a smart idea. Altitude, no oxygen, and a pint low. Oooo, boy that could have been interesting. Actually I had very few problems with the altitude. So, you never know.

Anyway, anyone else out there doing the blood donation thing???

Stumbled across this thread for the first time today. Persistence pays off, T-Square! I used to donate fairly regularly, but kinda have gotten out of the habit these past few years. I'll try to get 'er done soon and will post when successful. Thanks for the reminder!

Unit 6 since starting this thread. Come on all you out there. This is a call out. Think of all those people you see going down the hill on a sled. Do it for them.

BUELLER, BUELLER....