Do Something Amazing- Give Blood

EmmaJ_3

torbrex wrote: »

If your platelet count is of a suitable level they would love to have you. I am O-neg and give platelets every 3-4 weeks depending on my shifts, normal minimum is 3 weeks. The sister at the transfusion unit I go to is always on the lookout for more platelet donors, as she says, she gets more and more often from us.
I have been doing this kind of donation now for a lot of years and it has got to the 'automatic' stage now where I dont even have to make a special trip, it is just part of my routine.

Cool, once the move is out of the way then I'll give them a ring about it

mousegirl

I gave blood a couple of weeks ago for the first time and despite having veins that collapse as soon as they see a needle, it was fine, completely painless and it will definitely be a regular thing for me to do, my employer arranges for the 'blood bus' to come on site, so it's really convenient anyway.

Wanted to ask what the platelet donation is - should I be doing that also, I'm A rhesus negative by the way.

torbrex

mousegirl wrote: »

Wanted to ask what the platelet donation is - should I be doing that also, I'm A rhesus negative by the way.

Great to get 'new blood' in the system
Platelets are the building blocks of your blood and can be seperated out of whole blood but it takes a special machine and can usually only be done at a donor centre in a hospital. You cant give whole blood and be a platelet donor at the same time.
It involves being connected to the machine for up to 90 minutes and your blood is drawn out and seperated through the machine and you are given backeverything but the platlets, sometimes plasma is kept but not often these days because of various restrictions.
Because platelets are constantly being produced by a healthy system it does mean that you recover more readily and time between donations is shorter. You do need good veins and and high platelet count to do this kind of donation, just ask the next time you are at a donor session and they will put a note on your file.

EmmaJ_3

Well went today and got my bronze award for 10 donations it does feel good to know you're helping. A man fainted whilst I was there though which wasn't good! He was gutted when they said he couldn't donate again.

Asked about platelets and they said as I'm moving to Wales to ring them up once I'm settled.

carol_a_3

I don't see why he shouldn't donate again just because he fainted. My OH had a type of fit once after donating, they just sorted him out and he still goes now about 25 donations later. I thought if the chap mentioned it when he next goes and they keep him lying down for longer it's no reason not to give again, no wonder there's a shortage!

torbrex

carol_a wrote: »

I don't see why he shouldn't donate again just because he fainted. My OH had a type of fit once after donating, they just sorted him out and he still goes now about 25 donations later. I thought if the chap mentioned it when he next goes and they keep him lying down for longer it's no reason not to give again, no wonder there's a shortage!

Good that yer man got sorted and has passed his silver donation.:T

Without knowing the history of the person concerned it is difficult to know why this gent was told that he is not suitable to try to donate again, it could be that they have already tried a number of times and a number of different recovery methods without success.

My young brother was a donor with no problems but suddenly he started to faint every time he gave and eventually was advised not to go back.

All situations are different and the BTS tries to do what is best for both donors and recipients.

Maisie

My husband got his gold bar and certificates and letters etc. He donated for about 25 years and had to give up when he was on medication.
He's O-neg.

I used to give blood but medication stopped that.

Our daughter has O-neg but we can't persuade her to donate. She says she needs all her blood!

savingsara_2

B Rh+

Its getting late so I havent read all the replies, but I think its sad that people assume they can't get to blood donation sessions because of work.
Generally they seem to run 2-4pm, 5-7.30pm and there are plenty of them!

I stopped going for a few years because of a bad experience, but that was in the days when it was Doctor-run, these days it's done by nurses and very good they are too!

I still occasionally feel a bit waffy if I see a bag of blood, especially mine :rolleyes: and I always request an extra 5 minutes lie down, which they understand about.

They will give you as many cold and hot drinks as you need and more than one packet of yummy biccies (there was even Bronte bix last time I went!) and they don't rush you off either.

My next local session is on my birthday next month - I'll be right there!
Good excuse to have a massive steak for dinner to renew my iron levels :j

carol_a_3

torbrex wrote: »

Good that yer man got sorted and has passed his silver donation.:T

Without knowing the history of the person concerned it is difficult to know why this gent was told that he is not suitable to try to donate again, it could be that they have already tried a number of times and a number of different recovery methods without success.

My young brother was a donor with no problems but suddenly he started to faint every time he gave and eventually was advised not to go back.

All situations are different and the BTS tries to do what is best for both donors and recipients.

Sorry, I jumped in a bit quick there, I didn't stop to think that it may be more complicated than just fainting. I suppose I just get a bit cross because I was a regular donor and had to stop due to them bringing in new rules about donors that had had transfusions (mine was in 1983). It seems mad because I gave loads between then and the new rules being introduced so I'm sure my blood is fine (I hope so for the people that had it). It seems they are sometimes a bit overcautious . It's my ex OH by the way but he still donates as far as I know. Blimey 251 units, are you 100 years old?? Well done that's brilliant.

torbrex

carol_a wrote: »

Blimey 251 units, are you 100 years old?? Well done that's brilliant.

I donate platelets so I give more often I am going every 4 weeks at the mo.:j