Not Everyone Eligible to Donate Blood--Even the Healthy
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free skin care · Sun Apr 22, 2007 10:55 am

Got this article in the email today. I didn't know there're so many restrictions to donate blood. Thought I should share:

Quote:

(HealthDay News) -- People who have blood diseases, infections, or other serious medical problems are poor candidates to donate blood, but are healthy donors always welcome?

Not necessarily, the Community Blood Services of Illinois says. Here are common reasons for being turned down as a prospective blood donor:

* Recent dental work or surgery.
* Recent travel outside of the United States, or recent vaccination.
* Recent illness.
* Recent tattoo, electrolysis or piercing.
* Low blood iron levels.
* Weighing less than 110 pounds, or generally being underweight.
* Breast feeding currently.
* Transient high blood pressure or irregularities in your pulse rate.

By the way, I tried to donate blood last time and since I was under 110 lbs, they said they could either take my blood with a qualification to be saved for myself, or take a certain amount only. I told them with clothes I was 105.

free skin care · Sun Apr 22, 2007 11:02 am

I donated blood whenever there was a blood drive when I was in college . . . until I went to study in Ireland.

Now I've been told by numerous blood drive screeners that I am no longer eligible because I lived there for more than 6 months during a span of years and they're unable to adequately test for the prions that cause mad cow disease (or something to that effect).

While I am secretly a little glad I can no longer be stuck (I have really hard to find veins and there were a few donations that were painful when the nurse would miss the vein or have to try a bunch of times to find it), I think it's so unfortunate. Blood donation is very important and I wish I could still contribute because I would.

Maybe one day they'll remove this restriction...

free skin care · Sun Apr 22, 2007 1:03 pm

tularyn wrote:

I donated blood whenever there was a blood drive when I was in college . . . until I went to study in Ireland.

Now I've been told by numerous blood drive screeners that I am no longer eligible because I lived there for more than 6 months during a span of years and they're unable to adequately test for the prions that cause mad cow disease (or something to that effect).

While I am secretly a little glad I can no longer be stuck (I have really hard to find veins and there were a few donations that were painful when the nurse would miss the vein or have to try a bunch of times to find it), I think it's so unfortunate. Blood donation is very important and I wish I could still contribute because I would.

Maybe one day they'll remove this restriction...

I used to have hidden veins, too, and the nurse would have to dig for them. I hated that when I was pregnant since they had to do a ton of blood tests, and the way an inexperienced nurse kept digging inside my skin to look for a vein was painful and ridiculous. However since I started lifting weights (not heavy - just 5 lbs dumbbells), my veins popped right up. So now no problem!

I wonder if you could donate with a qualification to save it for yourself? I work for Kaiser, and when they had the blood drive last time, they said I could donate if I were to qualify it can be used only for me. I have O+ type, so it's a universal one that can be used for anyone. Too bad I can't donate.

free skin care · Sun Apr 22, 2007 1:37 pm

Anything would be worth putting up with just to live in Ireland.

free skin care · Sun Apr 22, 2007 1:57 pm

I tried giving blood once in high school and while I was over the weight limit by like 5 or 10 lbs...I passed out three times while giving blood and again after they took the needle out again. The nurse basically told me never to give again b/c it could be dangerous for my health even though she wasn't sure why I had fainted. I guess some people just can't give blood. Apparently though there is some new process by which they can turn some other blood types into the universal O so I feel a bit better.

free skin care · Sun Apr 22, 2007 6:54 pm

based from the criteria above, i cant give blood anyway but arent u guys scared of giving blood? i dont mean scared of needles but scared ul catch a disease or something? cos here, theres sometimes a van that u can just go in and donate blood...but iv always found them to be dirty and unhygienic Doubt

free skin care · Sun Apr 22, 2007 7:08 pm

Definitely not scared of giving blood in terms of catching something mainly just b/c all blood drives I have seen are monitored by the Red Cross or a hospital and have to keep to very high standards of hygiene and public health and safety. To be honest that is not something I had even thought about with giving blood. Confused

free skin care · Mon Apr 23, 2007 4:46 am

gigiab6 wrote:

Definitely not scared of giving blood in terms of catching something mainly just b/c all blood drives I have seen are monitored by the Red Cross or a hospital and have to keep to very high standards of hygiene and public health and safety. To be honest that is not something I had even thought about with giving blood. Confused

maybe im just being selfish and just thinking about ME ME ME, the most important person in the world Laughing

free skin care · Mon Apr 23, 2007 7:46 am

Blood donation is such a wonderful gift to give to people you will never meet but whose life and health will be forever better because of your generosity. My husband and I used to donate regularly until the rules came in restricting donors who had spent significant time in the UK during the mad cow years. In fact, our daughter is also not allowed to donate even though she was a vegetarian during those years and never ate any cow products at all. Rules are rules, I guess.

free skin care · Mon Apr 23, 2007 8:36 am

I always wanted to give blood, but never made the 110-pound restriction. Finally, in my early 30s, I reached the weight, but they turned me down because they said my blood vessels were too small. Dang rejection! Sad

free skin care · Mon Apr 23, 2007 11:37 am

my blood vessel is too small too and I am underweight.

free skin care · Mon Apr 23, 2007 4:15 pm

For those that are underweight and still want to help, you can become a bone marrow donor. I dragged all my family and friends to a local bone marrow drive. The nurse just took 1 vial of blood and that was it.

I actually got called in for 2nd blood test because I was a potential donor for someone. Unfortunately I didn't match 100% Sad

I hope that person has found his/her donor.

free skin care · Mon Apr 23, 2007 8:08 pm

I am really want to do.
I used to donate blood. But I cannot do it now.
Because % hemoglobin is too low (about 10%).
I was rejected my donation during healthy checking many times. Sad

free skin care · Tue Apr 24, 2007 7:01 pm

[quote="mtview"]For those that are underweight and still want to help, you can become a bone marrow donor. I dragged all my family and friends to a local bone marrow drive. The nurse just took 1 vial of blood and that was it. quote]

bone marrow Shock

i heard it really hurts! and that not many people donate bone marrow cos of the pain! ur a brave lady!

Tue Apr 24, 2007 7:51 pm

bkkgirl - I had the same thing happen.

You know, I am terrified of needles. Back at uni one of my closest friends persuaded me to give blood. I usually faint after a blood test but this guy was really convincing - to the extent that we both went to the Blood Bank bus and we sat out the front filling out the paperwork. I was already getting lightheaded, queasy, stressed out, palms were sweating, but I told myself that no matter what I would go ahead and do it. After all that angst, the nurse takes one look at me, looks at the paperwork, and says "Sorry dear, you don't weigh enough - you can't give blood". I'm still in that category and I am still absolutely terrified of needles (and, yes, I still faint after blood tests). I would like to give blood one day though just because it's the right thing to do...

free skin care · Wed Apr 25, 2007 11:30 am

Mabsy wrote:

bkkgirl - I had the same thing happen.

You know, I am terrified of needles. Back at uni one of my closest friends persuaded me to give blood. I usually faint after a blood test but this guy was really convincing - to the extent that we both went to the Blood Bank bus and we sat out the front filling out the paperwork. I was already getting lightheaded, queasy, stressed out, palms were sweating, but I told myself that no matter what I would go ahead and do it. After all that angst, the nurse takes one look at me, looks at the paperwork, and says "Sorry dear, you don't weigh enough - you can't give blood". I'm still in that category and I am still absolutely terrified of needles (and, yes, I still faint after blood tests). I would like to give blood one day though just because it's the right thing to do...

Easy, Mabsy, eat a ton of Chinese food before giving blood. That seems to up my weight by 5 lbs instantly. There's something really heavy in Chinese food, particularly the two dishes I love: Kung Pao Chicken and Orange Chicken.

I probably would faint, too, if I give blood. I had that skin biopsy last time, and when I saw my blood, I became so lightheaded.

I don't faint when I get a blood test, but I try not to look.

free skin care · Wed Apr 25, 2007 1:23 pm

mtview wrote:

For those that are underweight and still want to help, you can become a bone marrow donor. I dragged all my family and friends to a local bone marrow drive. The nurse just took 1 vial of blood and that was it.

I actually got called in for 2nd blood test because I was a potential donor for someone. Unfortunately I didn't match 100% Sad

I hope that person has found his/her donor.

I never thought about being a bone marrow donor, but I would like to give in some way. So, I've now gone to do a bit of research. Signing up isn't that involved, but if they actually call you up to donate, donating the marrow looks more intense. They either take the some marrow out from the back of the pelvis (under anesthesia of course) or they get marrow from your blood. If they take it from the blood, you need several injections of a certain medication beforehand to beef up the desirables in your blood. This is going to take some thought. I wish I had larger blood vessels!

free skin care · Sun May 06, 2007 11:58 pm

LilLoco wrote:

I never thought about being a bone marrow donor, but I would like to give in some way. So, I've now gone to do a bit of research. Signing up isn't that involved, but if they actually call you up to donate, donating the marrow looks more intense. They either take the some marrow out from the back of the pelvis (under anesthesia of course) or they get marrow from your blood. If they take it from the blood, you need several injections of a certain medication beforehand to beef up the desirables in your blood. This is going to take some thought. I wish I had larger blood vessels!

I knew someone who donated via the aspirate. She said it felt like you fell on your butt really hard for a few days. I don't find a little pain if it means I will be saving a life. However I definitely would request full anesthesia (you can get local anesthesia if you want). I have seen enough ER episodes to know how big and long those needles are Shock

free skin care · Mon May 07, 2007 12:08 am

Apparently if you've had a tattoo...you have to wait 12 months if the state you are in does not regulate facilities. There aren't that many states that actually regulate the tattoo industry.

I'm out. My last tattoo was done in July. And I was planning on another one in June. Confused

I know it's a good thing though...I know where I got it done was sterile and they did just fine, but since AZ doesn't regulate...I have no proof to show the Red Cross. Boo.

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