Giving Blood..

[Ean Austral]

Gday All,

I must start by saying that I admire anyone who give's blood and have wanted to do so for a while..I always thought that it was 1 thing that you can donate and 100% of the donation goes to the cause.

This is my try, and please dont let it put you off if you have thought about it.

I was going to donate on monday, but after a hectic day at work, I decided that I would do it today... I had already gone into the blood bank and discussed my thoughts and went thru all the pre donation things.

It started on monday night when I ate dinner quite late and my daughter decided to watch some movie about vampire's. I must've had it in the back of my mind as when I woke today not feeling hungry skipped brekkie and after a couple of quick jobs go to donate my precious life juice. I get lead into a room and sat in a nice comfy relining type seat and waited what seemed like age's.. Dracula then appeared in the shape of a nurse of about mid 50's and all of 4 ft tall. Needle in and all seemed good, until I hear dracula tell me to breath normally then after some deep breaths , things settled down.

After my share of blood was taken and me feeling what seemed like normal, and being given a nice cup of tea and a bickie, decided it was time to leave, so I stood up and after a few steps decided things were not good, so with the help of the 4 ft tall blood sucker, who only came up to my armpit, was sat down , then laid down for another 10 or 15 mins.

By this stage I was wondering why, and when 2 nurse's keep asking me if I was ok , decided I could make it out.I am walking out and as I go thru the waiting room see a kid about 10 yrs old sitting with his grandad, and hear him say , " look how white that man is grandad, they must've taken nearly all his blood.. great, I must look a real pretty site if others can see it. After getting to the car, decided a call to the wife is a safe bet, and home for some food and another lay down.:eek::eek:

This is not mean to put anyone off, and I intend to try again, but maybe next time will have some food and not watch dracula movie's the night before.

My hat goes off to anyone who donate blood, and admire you even more after my first go

Cheers Ean

[weeds]

yep i have been donating for as long as i can remember, have been a bit slack the last couple of year......

i used to donated plasma for kids.....now that cool watching your blood go out and back in

[101RRS]

I used to regularly give blood but then I went and lived in England for a year and was still able to give blood for a while after I got back but then was told I could not - apparently anyone who was in the UK for a little while might have been exposed to Mad Cow disease (but I believe humans cannot catch it) so cannot give blood.

I lived for 12 months in the UK 30 years ago but still I am not allowed to give blood. I appreciate the integrity of the blood supply needs to be maintained but I don't believe Mad Cow disease is actually an issue for humans or the blood supply.

Garry

[digger]

Ive donated blood for years and never had a problem BUT it is because on one of my first donations (at Coober Pedy mind you) one of the toughest opal miners I have ever known made it about 4 steps from standing up to having a "wee lay down" and sleep on the floor!

He dropped like a stone! Although he thought he'd drunk enough he realised later he had had very little to drink during the day, and he hadnt eaten at all. As a result I drink extra the night before and the day of and have a good breakky and or lunch before I donate.

In SA theyve just introduced a plasma donation machine into the blood bus, I do that and honestly feel even better after donating plasma than I did after straight blood!
Good on you for getting in and letting them "suck your blood"
Dont let the one bad experience deter you.!!

[George130]

I used to donate all the time. Then they brought in the mad cow ban so I'm not allowed to anymore. I could fill the bag in just over 2 mins:eek:. They would never believe me so every time the nurse would have to come running over to unhook me:D.

Good on you for having a go.
Wife has tried 4 times now and they can't get much out of her.

[uninformed]

There is a reason you can donate plasma every 2 week's and whole blood every 6...... Drink plenty of water in the 24hrs leading up to. Eat normally and within no more than 2 hrs of donations.

Giving isn't for everyone, but way more should.

[Lotz-A-Landies]

I used to regularly give blood but then I went and lived in England for a year and was still able to give blood for a while after I got back but then was told I could not - apparently anyone who was in the UK for a little while might have been exposed to Mad Cow disease (but I believe humans cannot catch it) so cannot give blood.
Hi Garry

The human form of mad cow disease (Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy) is CJD or Creutzfeldt–Jakob Disease and is transferred by miniscule particles called prions. It's true anyone who lived in the UK (or other parts of Europe) for six months or more between 1980 and 1996 are excluded from the Australian Red Cross donor pool.

Diana

[Homestar]

Me and the missus donate regularly, the trick is (as you have found out) is to eat well, and drink plenty of water the day of the donation. I don't drink much water usually, but I get down the best part of 2 litres the day of the donation, so I can get the bag full in under 3 minutes.:)

Good on you for having a go, and even after that experience, I hope you go back again.

Cheers - Gav.

[seano87]

I donate plasma every fortnight or so. I used to give whole blood but now just do plasma.

Definitely eat well and keep hydrated the day of giving, although I typically drink a fair amount every day, more habit now than anything else, typically 3+ litres a day.

My brother has had a few fainting episodes, so they just take less from him now for plasma. Not sure about whole blood.

I think donating is great for those who can - I tend to think the exclusion criteria are a little extreme, but if that's what's required to maintain an extremely safe blood supply than so be it.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

[RisingSun]

I always have good food and flood my system with water before donating.
If your completely hydrated makes the finding of veins that much easier.

I am of the opinion that if my family or myself would accept a blood donation in need, it would be great to have put enough in the bank to cover a withdrawal.

As a universal donor (O-) I usually get a letter, text, email and phone call to let me know I can donate again.

Not so long ago my brother had a motorbike accident and he required in excess of 48 bags of blood in the initial surgery. When we polled the family only me and my father had ever donated regularly, and Dad had donated over 100 times.
He just said "I always donated hoping my family would never need it, but prefer to be in credit"

I hold the same belief with organs, if I am prepared to accept one for me or my family I should also be prepared to donate. My wife doesn't hold the same opinion, but if I could stop the heartache of 1 family. Hell I don't need them anymore.
If you are able bodied and able to give blood I would strongly recommend it, follow the advice and see how you go, the thought of giving is always more daunting then the act itself.

[slug_burner]

I too am a mad cow candidate so have not donated for many years.

Good on you for giving it a go. Get back in there and see if some prep will make a difference.

I did not have issues at the time of the visit but on a few occasions had some pain around the site from where they stuck the needle in. I put it down to the nurse's technique and a small issue given the community benefit.

[Blknight.aus]

I always found you need to be properly hydrated.

I like to ensure that Im over hydrated within the 48 hour window prior to giving, steered clear of diuretics for the 48 hours and urniated clear within 90 minutes prior to donating.

I dont drink tea so I go for apple juice and water.

[Lotz-A-Landies]

My blood group (B-) is only about 3% of the population, but they used to send me the reminders as well. It was a regular occurrence to donate every 3 months, frequently at work, till I had about 40 donations. But then my cumulative time in the UK added up to over the six months limit. They don't like losing donors.

Earn - don't worry, the fact that you collapsed this time, is frequently only the stress of the first donation. It usually improves so it's nothing.

Diana

[jx2mad]

Good on you. I donated for years until I came down with my latest problem which requires prednizone. That wiped me out. Jim

[Bearman]

Good on you for donating Ean, there are not enough donors these days. I have just stopped being a donor after 42 years of regular visits to the BB. Only reason I stopped was because they have been having trouble getting the needle into my artery, maybe something to do with age and the blood vessels shrinking. Used to joke about not being able to donate after a night out on the town but the nurses reckoned that it was better as the turps would make the blood flow quicker:D

[bob10]

Well done, proper hydration is the key. Afterwards I recommend infusion of medicinal Guiness , preferably in a relaxed atmosphere . Bob

[blackbuttdisco]

I have just done my 105th donation and there were as few that were not recorded, they were on a passenger ship years ago. I have only had an issue once but I did overdo it a bit after the donation. Yes you do have to drink plenty of water and yes you do have to go for a pee nearly every 5 minutes, especially when you get older!! Ha ha. :angel:

[kenleyfred]

I also donate. It's a very worthy cause,so I do it. But I am petrified of needles and always insist on asking for the most gentle nurse there. Even the initial pinprick test scares the hell out of me. Admittedly though it is generally already done before I notice and then I wonder what I was so scared of.

On three occasions despite me insisting I was fine they have noticed something and made me lie down again. Glad they did too, cos I'm sure I was close to having a little lie down on my own.

Kenley

[vnx205]

I also donate. It's a very worthy cause,so I do it. But I am petrified of needles and always insist on asking for the most gentle nurse there.

I suppose you can tell that she is the most gentle one there because she is the best looking one. :D:D:D

I used to give blood regularly, starting when I was at university, but no longer live where it is easy to do.

At uni a friend of mine passed out on the bed while giving blood. His story was that he was fine as the needle went in; he was fine watching the blood flow out; but when he nurse left the room, he panicked at the thought of what would happen if she didn't come back. :D

[zwitter]

Good on you. And yes drink lots then drink some more and only water, no tea & coffee :(

I am up to donation 23 for plasma and think it is probably the purest donation you can make, really giving of your self.

I know kids that require plasma products to survive and it makes me cry. I have my next 4 appointments booked in.

Never fainted yet but they refused to let me get up one day as machine had died and taken well over the maximum amount more than a litre. Made me sit there for 20 min and then asked I be picked up. I was fine.

James


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

[1976_michelle]

... skipped brekkie and after a couple of quick jobs go to donate my precious life juice.

This...

So the break down is
1) after a rejuvinating sleep, you don't nourish to replenish your energy
2) you run around busy bee like doing jobs (running on fumes fromthe night before)
3) You feed the vampires (burning excess energy due to nerves of first time around)
4) you have caffeine after the ordeal (and unless you scoffed several bikkies you might as well have not had one at all with stages1 thru 3 behind you lol)

But good job for taking the plunge! Next time eat before hand, and skip the caffeinated drink after

[1976_michelle]

I too am a mad cow candidate so have not donated for many years.

Good on you for giving it a go. Get back in there and see if some prep will make a difference.

I did not have issues at the time of the visit but on a few occasions had some pain around the site from where they stuck the needle in. I put it down to the nurse's technique and a small issue given the community benefit.

Sometimes it may not be the nurses technique but the bedside assistants needle removal methods. If they press ont he cotton ball before they take the needle out they can cause it to come out rough if I remember rightly (used to be a volunteer way back when). I only had one person fade out, everyone else was fine especially if you kept them nattering

[THE BOOGER]

I used to donate but unfortunatly have crossed over to recieving both blood and organs so cant donate whole blood or organs now but still get called help when the bank is short of factor 12 a plasma product :)

[Basil135]

I have been donating for years.

Recently, a bout of illness required a few blood tests. First lot was fine, but then the Doc wanted to check something else.

Had 1 vial pulled from my right arm, until that stopped flowing, and then next from my left. They still needed to get a third one, but the collection centre is only allowed to stick you twice, evidently.

Got up to leave, and did a lovely 180 degree spin, with the nurse catching me & pushing me towards the bed to lay down. I actually felt like I was going into shock.

Basically, I hadn't been eating or drinking for a few days, pancreatitis will do that to you, and it all caught up with me. Biggest problem was, I couldn't drive, so had to ring the kids & get them to walk. Of course, the rain started bucketing down at that point... oh well... they needed a wash anyway...

[numpty]

There is a reason you can donate plasma every 2 week's and whole blood every 6...... Drink plenty of water in the 24hrs leading up to. Eat normally and within no more than 2 hrs of donations.

Giving isn't for everyone, but way more should.

More like every 12 weeks for whole blood. I've never been allowed to donate more often than that.

Have been donating for years (70 + donations) and always whole blood and never had a problem ;) As others have said, hydration is the key.

[bob10]

Many years ago a few of us gave blood each time our ship pulled into Hong Kong. Afterwards they sat us down and gave us bottles of the local beer, never a shortage of volunteers :D Bob [ and no, it wasn't me who offered to donate from the other arm, for more of the same ]

[mox]

It seems that giving regular whole blood donations tends to condition the body to withstanding a sudden blood supply reduction, with regular donors less susceptable to adverse after effects than people who are not when other factors are similar. I don't have any problems. 110 whole blood donations but have yet to get around to trying giving plasma, which is less suited to my normal habit of fronting up at a blood bank without notice while I am in the area near one for other reasons.

I have also heard it claimed that if similar traumas causing shock occurred to a regular and a non blood donor, symptoms are usually less severe for the donor because either organs susceptable to reduced blood supply cope better or the circulatory system has become more conditioned to adapt.

[RisingSun]

It is also a good thing to work out the best donating side. As standard they will choose the opposite to your handidness.

For me that doesn't work, always gotta use the Right, even gave the work experience kid 5 goes before he believed me that he would only get it in the right. Poor kid was shaking and becoming more tentative with each attempt. Nothing like poking the big 6'4" guy with a needle and then finally admitting he might have known what he was talking about at the start.

I think he may have learnt a little lesson that day. :angel:

[dobbo]

They wont touch my blood, the way I see it beggers cannot be choosers and if only 30% of the populous donates surely they could use my blood even if only on other people who lived in the UK. If it were I and my choices were potentially get infected with mad cow disease or die I'd be signing a stat dec instantly.


MOO

[numpty]

It is also a good thing to work out the best donating side. As standard they will choose the opposite to your handidness.

For me that doesn't work, always gotta use the Right, even gave the work experience kid 5 goes before he believed me that he would only get it in the right. Poor kid was shaking and becoming more tentative with each attempt. Nothing like poking the big 6'4" guy with a needle and then finally admitting he might have known what he was talking about at the start.

I think he may have learnt a little lesson that day. :angel:

Have never found this. They always ask me which arm I'd like to use and I alternate at each visit.

[uninformed]

They wont touch my blood, the way I see it beggers cannot be choosers and if only 30% of the populous donates surely they could use my blood even if only on other people who lived in the UK. If it were I and my choices were potentially get infected with mad cow disease or die I'd be signing a stat dec instantly.


MOO
alot of people requiring blood arent able of signing a stat dec or giving back ground......maybe something to do with the sudden loss of blood.

It would require ALOT more administration and also offer another potential mistake leading to Liability....read this as its not worth the rish

[uninformed]

re hydration....

all though it takes 4 ltrs to make a stubbie of beer.......it doesnt work.

soft drink = no
corrdial = no
gatorade etc = no
tea = no (yes tea is de hydrating)
coffee = no
red bull etc = no
juices = no

guess what....yep try water :angel:

[Ean Austral]

Gday All,

Well went back for round 2, and armed with all the info gained here went in full of confidence.

Walked out alot better than the first try, but will need to have a few more goes before I say im a easy seasoned doner.

Anyway feeling good about giving it a go.

Cheers Ean

[Homestar]

Good on ya for going back for a second crack after the problems you had first up.:BigThumb:

[ATH]

I haven't given blood for years as they knocked me back because of the drugs I take.
It's of a fairly rare variety apparently (blue?) but they can't use it.
AlanH.

[Plane Fixer]

I used to give blood but because all my years in Africa and Asia I could only give plasma.
This I have not done for years, so before I get too old I must do it again.
When I did give whole blood I used to get asked to come in often as I am AB+ which is fairly rare.
I did have one episode like Ean and that was purely the fact I had not eaten prior. I remember waking up on the floor as they were trying to move me.

[ramblingboy42]

When I was in the 6th Battallion, there was a blood shortage, so the then CO put every digger on a truck and went into the Brissy blood bank and offered our donations. The National hotel was close and quite a few of us had a beer to resupply our lost fluids.
Its a pity that the whole of the armed forces cant be engaged once or twice a year to donate blood.....it would solve a lot of problems.

[digger]

Gday All,

Well went back for round 2, and armed with all the info gained here went in full of confidence.

Walked out alot better than the first try, but will need to have a few more goes before I say im a easy seasoned doner.

Anyway feeling good about giving it a go.

Cheers Ean

Well done and congrats!

It may be worth enquiring about plasma donation.. the blood bus staff here
reckon its much more needed and useful than straight blood, and as they take plasma but replace with saline (or whatever that stuff is!) as they do
you feel quite good as you leave.

I think it is very important to have drunk a minimum of 3 litres within the last three hours before donating (this is because they ask that question now before you donate) and to have had a good feed..

Apparently looking at the plasma donation a seasoned blood bus person (title of these people?) can usually tell how you are going for sugar/cholesterol (<-Sp?) etc..

They start at a low volume and up it to the max over a series of donations..

As for drinks afterwards?
Our blood bus has iced coffee, iced chocolate, or strawberry milk drinks, a series of juices (as you would expect in the riverland!) and water if people prefer. They also have bikkies, cake and sometimes chockie bars for afterwards...

But the best bit?
Lately they have been showing buster keaton & chaplin etc movies (silent movies) on the tele during your donation...
so no real problems with not being up with the movie or not being able to hear etc, its piano music and its great old cinema all in a comfy chair with nice people there to help you!

I recommend the plasma donation if they have it available and if you arent feeling 100% after straight blood

cheers (and again), well done, the life you may be saving could be mine! (and I prefer Landy loving blood thanks!)


PS:- If we all donate and start to keep a tab on it we can challange the cruiser and toyota , nissan , mitsi etc mobs to get off their arse...
Good harmless (in fact quite the opposite) way to get some blood supplies up? I'm not sure how you'd do it though...

[digger]

When I was in the 6th Battallion, there was a blood shortage, so the then CO put every digger on a truck and went into the Brissy blood bank and offered our donations. The National hotel was close and quite a few of us had a beer to resupply our lost fluids.
Its a pity that the whole of the armed forces cant be engaged once or twice a year to donate blood.....it would solve a lot of problems.

The Adelaide blood bank used to supply a number of different options for a drink after donating... including your choice of about 4 different Coopers beers (donated by Coopers "with thanks!") ...

Unfortunately I think the political correctness crowd have stopped that..

[digger]

double post... sorry

allow me to fill the space with these...

funny blood bank commercial - YouTube

Holiday Blood Donation Video - YouTube

The Perfect Gift - YouTube
(I know they are American but they have the right message)

[JohnF]

I used to regularly give blood but then I went and lived in England for a year and was still able to give blood for a while after I got back but then was told I could not - apparently anyone who was in the UK for a little while might have been exposed to Mad Cow disease (but I believe humans cannot catch it) so cannot give blood.

I lived for 12 months in the UK 30 years ago but still I am not allowed to give blood. I appreciate the integrity of the blood supply needs to be maintained but I don't believe Mad Cow disease is actually an issue for humans or the blood supply.

Garry

In Britain a great number of people have died from thehuman form of Bovine Spongiform Encelopathy--Mad Cow Disease. And as it takes humans a few years to show the symptoms. That is the Blood bank is just being Cautious, not wanting to infect us, as this disease can be passed in blood-- we humans do get it from Eating the blood in beef from infected cows. Cooking will not destroy the causative agent, a Prion in the Cows Blood. You do need the heat of a Oxy-Actalyne torch to kill a Prion, and that will burn that meat to Charcoal. And every bit of beef you eat does contain blood-- unless you eat Kosher or Halel.
If you do doubt this put the next steak you have under the tap and squeze it and do see the blood come out.



I can no longer donate as I am positive for Hepetitus B core antibody, that is I was exposed to Hepatitus B but never Caught it, and my immune systen fought the disease off, so I am no longer permitted to give blood.

However, I am negative for every other test that does indicate that I have had Hepititus B. So the Blood bank told me that my Hep B core Antibody is almost certainly a false Positive, but untill they are sure they cannot use my blood.

I do think Donating blood is worth-while and do encourage every one, who is acceptable to the Blood bank to do this, as you can be saving lives.

As a pathology technician I learnt of patients who are alive becaiuse of blood transfusions, who would be dead if they did not get a transfusion.

For example on another theread in the Soapbox, I did mention I have a Phoytograph of a blood smear, taken through the microscope of a six year old Boy who had inherited B-Thalessemia from one parent, and Sickle Cell Anemia from the other parent. This child will be dead if he does not get a blood Transfusion every 3 months. So giving blood could save a Childs life.

So do please give blood.

[JohnF]

Good on ya for going back for a second crack after the problems you had first up.:BigThumb:

X2.

[JohnF]

Oh, I also often donated small amounts of blood for other things. For example the Pathology Lab where I worked used my blood as a control when testing "Prothrombin Times."

I also let Lab Technicians learn to do a Venepuncture on me, as I was yet to learn to do that myself-- I did learn later, and took blood from patients, the youngest being a six year old.

[digger]

sorry about my double post at no. 40.

I replaced it with some fun/thought provoking vids on this topic

Chuck Norris is a regular donator of blood to the Red Cross...... Just never his own...

Last time I donated, I took my three kids as the minister for war and finance was busy...

as they argued about nothing in the background I filled in the compulsory questionairre

when the question..
HAVE YOU EVER PAID FOR SEX?
came up, I looked at my kids... and wrote...."every time"....



I dont think they saw the funny side....

[Disco Muppet]

Chuck Norris is a regular donator of blood to the Red Cross...... Just never his own...


When Chuck Norris donates blood, he declines the syringe and instead requests a handgun and a bucket. :cool: