Donating blood

My mom got a blood transfusion last week and wants me to donate since we share the same blood type. The thought makes me want to vomit but I think I'll try. What's the worst that can happen? That's rhetorical I don't want to know.

I just wanted to say thank you to all those that have and continue to donate blood! Without all of you I wouldn't be alive.

When I was 17 I was absolutely terrified of needles, I would literally scream and run away, had to be pinned down for my immunisations!! But then I got diagnosed with a condition called aplastic anaemia and MDS, which is basically bone marrow cancer.....

Over the last 10 years I have had hundreds of blood and platelet donations... I'm too scared to count!! Every other day I was having platelets and I was having 3 bags of red cells every 3 weeks! In 2011 I receieved a bone marrow transplant from a donor on the bone marrow register.

As you can imagine I am no longer phased by needles!! I even inject myself! Just shows that sometimes these fears feel very real at the time, but you are strong enough to defeat them if you want to!!

I feel so grateful to be alive, and if it wasn't for all you guys donating blood, platelets and bone marrow I certainly wouldn't be! My thanks to you all!!

Good timing for this thread! First, thanks to all who donate! That said, the bus will be at our office tomorrow (we have enough donors they come to us), and they always want to stuff some high calorie snack in my mouth when finished. They won't let me leave until I eat. How do I tell them there's not enough room in my daily calories (since I won't be exercising after)?

Can you save back some of your lunch and eat it after donating? They might be satisfied with that instead of the goodies they bring.

BTW: if anybody feels obligated to buy Girl Scout cookies from family, friends, or co-workers, buy them then donate them to your local blood bank and they will set them out for blood donors. Two good deeds in one!

Good for you!

The specialists at the blood donor centers do this so often they are the best in the industry. They are also very experienced at keeping nervous first timers calm, so no worries. Think of the lives you are saving/aiding.

I did a double RBC this morning and feel great. I've been donating regularly for over 25 years, so quite used to it. I've always suspected long term benefits over time to blood donation, but now there are studies proving this.

Good luck!

Thanks to all of you, I'm thinking about when I'm going to do it now. I am planning to by the end of next year. I have to find someone who will do it with me. I've seen a stock picture (actually it was in that article I posted the link to) And it really doesn't look so bad. The girl has a bandage on her arm, and you see the blood go through the tube, but it doesn't look too bad. She has her eyes closed and I'm sure they could cover the tube so I won't see blood go through, right? I'm personally a really cautious person, so I would make sure I'm good to go. It really does not seem like a big deal now!

One question though: I have anxiety, and when I have to do something I consider 'big' the next day, such as this, I tend not to sleep, I try to but can't, what would happen if I donate but would not have slept?

Not sleeping will not affect you donating but may affect the way you feel after donating. Its normal to feel a little woozy after the first couple of time so being tired might exagerate the feeling but its nothing to worry about. Just make sure you are hydrated drink plenty the morning of your donation eat plenty and you will be fine.

I'd suggest calling ahead to make sure you CAN donate blood. As a few others mentioned, there are some medications that will disqualify you as a donor. There are also other factors, such as overseas travel...I was deployed to Somalia/Rwanda and am permanently unable to donate as a result.

That's a good idea, because I do take 10mg of citalopram. Sorry you can't donate. Another reason not to go to Africa. Sorry I know that wasn't a good joke.

Most donor places these days have websites that you can go to and see if you qualify. I can say from experience (in my part of the US, at least) that citalopram will not make you ineligible. The biggest group that affect eligibility are blood thinners like Coumadin (warfarin) , heparin, Pradaxa (dabigatran), Xarelto (rivaroxaban), Lovenox (enoxaparin) because they can affect your ability to clot after the donation. Some medications have waiting periods from a few days to several months before you can donate, while others are no problem for whole blood but you cannot donate platelets by apheresis (aspirin falls into this category)

Also, things like tattoos, piercings, etc. affect your eligibility. In my state, tattoos and piercings are not a problem as long as they were done in the state by a licensed place that gets regular inspections. If it was done out of state or by a non-licensed facility you have to wait 12 months.

Another is if you received blood. I had a transfusion of four units back at the first of the year so I cannot donate until a year after that. At least I am still in the plus column since I have donated a couple of gallons and taken back only 1/2 gallon.