Donating Plasma

greeneyedgirl829 · February 2009

Hello everybody!

So, I'm considering donating plasma. My reasons are because 1.) It's a good thing to do, along with blood 2.) It can get me a little extra money, which I am in extreme need of since I've been laid off.

Is this healthy? Will it affect my metabolism or my weightloss? Has anybody here done it and what was your experience? Thanks!

greeneyedgirl829 · February 2009

Hello everybody!

So, I'm considering donating plasma. My reasons are because 1.) It's a good thing to do, along with blood 2.) It can get me a little extra money, which I am in extreme need of since I've been laid off.

Is this healthy? Will it affect my metabolism or my weightloss? Has anybody here done it and what was your experience? Thanks!

kerrilucko · February 2009

you get money for it :huh: all I got was a cookie and a glass of juice. That must be an american thing. It's not particularly healthy to do it, but it won't harm you either as long as you take the proper measures- eat a good sized meal at some point before going, and make sure you're well hydrated. I've given 6 times, but the last time I went something went wrong. I got very dizzy afterwards and fainted (while lying down). The nurse was very harsh with me telling me I hadn't had enough to drink that day, but in a very rude way considering I was DONATEING MY BLOOD TO STRANGERS! So I havn't been back, 1) because it scared me like crazy and 2) because I don't feel like subjecting myself to a rude nurse again. (it's always the same ones in my town... small town.)

ocupeach · February 2009

Hi greeneyedgirl,

I've donated plasma and had no problems.

It's not only a way to make a little extra money... people desperately need medications made from plasma. You'll be doing a good thing!

greeneyedgirl829 · February 2009

Thanks guys :flowerforyou: !!!

pettmybunny · February 2009

I donated for years. We joked when I got married that I looked like an addict with track marks. Well, not that bad, but if you go quite a bit, you will get a little concave scar where they put the needle all the time. That being said, it's not unhealthy, make sure you drink lots of water, not just the day you go, but in general. I drank about a gallon a day of water, and I would be on for only half the time other people would be. I agree to eat something a bit before you go. I would drink a slimfast shake between work and the plasma place and be fine. The amount of plasma they take is based on your weight, so it was a good incentive when I was going to lose the weight. I loved when I dropped below 170 and they took less. I quit going just before they would have dropped me to the lowest amount.

By the way Kerri, sounds like you just donated blood, not plasma. Plasma is the clear (or slighty yellowish) liquid that your blood cells flow through. It takes anywhere from half an hour to an hour and a half to donate, and you can go twice a week to do it. At our local place, you can earn 200 (I think they raised it to 240) a month. 20 bucks the first time in a week and 30 the second time. I donate blood now, and do not get paid for it, and have to go 8 weeks between donations.

keiko · February 2009

Just a side note on donating plasma for money. Check to see how much you can donate before it's taxed. My DH made to much one year and had to claim it.
Also where he went if you took a tetanus shot he made extra money.
I wish we lived close to one of those places now.

get_fit2009 · February 2009

My son is donating platelets. I think it is a similar procedure. He gets $60 a pop (which is great for a college kid!). He gets his cookies and juice after. He has had no problems, other than being really thirsty (I have heard it can dehydrate you). He can study while the process is going on (he said with the wait time and all, it takes him about 2 hours each time).

If you are concerned, give your doctor's office a call, just in case. Can't hurt!

kerrilucko · February 2009

I donated for years. We joked when I got married that I looked like an addict with track marks. Well, not that bad, but if you go quite a bit, you will get a little concave scar where they put the needle all the time. That being said, it's not unhealthy, make sure you drink lots of water, not just the day you go, but in general. I drank about a gallon a day of water, and I would be on for only half the time other people would be. I agree to eat something a bit before you go. I would drink a slimfast shake between work and the plasma place and be fine. The amount of plasma they take is based on your weight, so it was a good incentive when I was going to lose the weight. I loved when I dropped below 170 and they took less. I quit going just before they would have dropped me to the lowest amount.

By the way Kerri, sounds like you just donated blood, not plasma. Plasma is the clear (or slighty yellowish) liquid that your blood cells flow through. It takes anywhere from half an hour to an hour and a half to donate, and you can go twice a week to do it. At our local place, you can earn 200 (I think they raised it to 240) a month. 20 bucks the first time in a week and 30 the second time. I donate blood now, and do not get paid for it, and have to go 8 weeks between donations.

Yep, I gave blood. But I was told they split into into 3 parts, one of which is plasma, aftfer it is taken. How can they JUST take plasma?

pettmybunny · February 2009

They take out your blood, then it's put through a centrifuge, separating the plasma from the red blood cells. Every 5 minutes or so, the machine switches from sucking out your blood to putting the red cells back in. Then starts sucking again. Sometimes it would hurt if they had the machine set too high. It's actually a lot easier and less painful to donate whole blood.

marisa0918 · February 2009

I think it is a great thing. I never used to donate blood or plasma. My son spent his first (and only) year in the hospital and he had to have soo many blood and plasma transfusions, so after that I felt that I really needed to be giving back. It really is a great feeling knowing that something little you are doing is going to give another person a little longer in life.

Donating plasma does "hurt" a little more then just donating blood, but the plasma is really needed. There is a shortage on both blood and plasma, but more people are willing to donate just blood.

Thanks to anyone who donates!! :flowerforyou: You helped keep my son with me a little longer!

kerrilucko · February 2009

They take out your blood, then it's put through a centrifuge, separating the plasma from the red blood cells. Every 5 minutes or so, the machine switches from sucking out your blood to putting the red cells back in. Then starts sucking again. Sometimes it would hurt if they had the machine set too high. It's actually a lot easier and less painful to donate whole blood.

hmmmmmmmm if it's easier, would it not make more sense to just donate blood and then split it up afterwards? :laugh: sorry, I'm easilly confused.

marisa0918 · February 2009

[/quote]
hmmmmmmmm if it's easier, would it not make more sense to just donate blood and then split it up afterwards? :laugh: sorry, I'm easilly confused.
[/quote]

Then they would not have enough for a bag full of just plasma. They would have to take a lot more blood out of you to get enough plasma soo they have to give the blood back to you so that you can survive. I hope that makes sense lol I keep reading it but I'm not sure it even makes sense to me :laugh:

pettmybunny · February 2009

They take out your blood, then it's put through a centrifuge, separating the plasma from the red blood cells. Every 5 minutes or so, the machine switches from sucking out your blood to putting the red cells back in. Then starts sucking again. Sometimes it would hurt if they had the machine set too high. It's actually a lot easier and less painful to donate whole blood.

hmmmmmmmm if it's easier, would it not make more sense to just donate blood and then split it up afterwards? :laugh: sorry, I'm easilly confused.

The bags for plasma are easily 2-3 times the size of the bags for whole blood. Your body replaces the plasma faster than whole blood, so they can take more.

Another reason I donate blood now instead of plasma, is that I'm A-, and it's always posted that they are low on that at the local hospital. Heck, if I'm not there within 8-10 weeks, they usually call me and ask if I can come in.... lol

Edit* When I said less painful, I didn't mean that it hurts real bad or anything to donate plasma. I have small rolly veins, and if the machine is set too high, the needle vibrates and hurts. When the red cells get pumped back in, I would tingle a bit from the anti-coagulant (sp?) that they use, but it's not really super painful or anything.

kerrilucko · February 2009

hmmmmmmm ok, but then if they split up my blood into 3 parts after i donate, one of them being plasma... what happens to the plasma... if it's not enough I mean. That is very confusing to me. :laugh:

BettyBoopoo · February 2013

Hey ya!

Just make sure you eat enough. It's a relaxing way to earn a little extra cash. My Plasma bank takes 3 different amounts of plasma based on how much you weigh. You will have to ask your bank to see if their amounts are the same but here is the numbers for BioMetic

If you weight 110 lbs - 149 lbs
690 ml of Plasma: 483.69 calories
Protein 49.51 g
Carbohydrates 63.65 g
Fat 3.45 g

150 lbs -175 lbs
825ml Plasma: 578.33 calories
Protein 59.19 g
Carbohydrates 76.11 g
Fat 4.13 g

176 lbs - above
880ml Plasma: 616.88 calories
Protein 63.14 g
Carbohydrates 81.18 g
Fat 4.40 g

The site below has the % information you need you need to calculate a different amount
http://www.maynardlifeoutdoors.com/2010/09/calories-in-human-blood_15.html?m=1

cuterbee · February 2013

I'm a 2 gallon blood donor (it's probably more than that over my lifetime, but I have two 1 gallon pins that I've been awarded, so I know for sure it's at least that much). I've only given plasma once though; I passed out in the parking lot afterwards. Not sure why, but I haven't tried that again, and just went back to regular blood donations.

Donating Plasma

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