Do Something Amazing- Give Blood

Marty_J

Rikki wrote: »

I made inquires too, but unfortunately I can't give platelets. They will have to make do with just my blood.

I also signed up for the bone marrow donor register; you might consider asking them about it at your next donation session if you'd like to do more.

I was pretty annoyed I couldn't donate platelets any more actually, but there's nothing I can do about it I guess. It seems odd though that they're crying out for platelet donors, while they're also disqualifying people who have already donated multiple times before. When I went up there to enquire about it, they did a blood test to check my platelet count, and I couldn't help but notice that most of the aphaeresis machines we empty, which was pretty sad (and just a bit worrying). When I asked the staff about it, I got the impression they weren't too happy with the situation.

Bob63

Marty_J wrote: »

I couldn't help but notice that most of the aphaeresis machines we empty, which was pretty sad (and just a bit worrying). When I asked the staff about it, I got the impression they weren't too happy with the situation.

Certainly the machines will be empty on a Friday afternoon. Platelets need to be processed and transfused within a very short time as they only live for 5 days and there just isn't enough time to process them if they are donated on a Friday afternoon.

That short life of platelets is why frequent donations are needed - they don't last long inside the recipient, and why you can make another donation after just two weeks - because they grow back again quickly in your own body.

regards,

Mike

lisyloo

Can anyone tell me what is involved in giving platelets?
How does it compare with giving blood?
How do you volunteer for it?

I sometimes get light headed after giving blood and once fainted.
Is this likely to rule me out or is it not related to that?

torbrex

lisyloo wrote: »

Can anyone tell me what is involved in giving platelets?
How does it compare with giving blood?
How do you volunteer for it?

I sometimes get light headed after giving blood and once fainted.
Is this likely to rule me out or is it not related to that?

I have just got home from giving my latest donation of platelets (266).
To start with you dont really volunteer, let the staff know that you are interested and if you meet the criteria you will be asked.
The criteria for being a platelet donor are simple, you must be of a certain minimum weight which for the life of me I cant remember and you must have a high enough platelet count and you must also have good veins as the needle is in for longer.

The main differences between giving platelets and whole blood are the time you are actually donating, today I gave a double dose and was on the machine for just under an hour, sometimes I give a triple and it takes nearer 1.5 hours.
Another is the fact that the machine only keeps the platelets and gives you the rest back so your recovery time is a lot quicker and it is done in a cycle so you dont lose a lot in one go.
Also because you recover your 'lost' platelets quite quickly you can donate more often, I go about every 3 weeks.

Any other things I can help with, just ask and I will do my best, I dont pretend to know it all but I have been doing this for a while and I do know some things.

LilacPixie

Sorry to butt in but I thought you may like to know something.

I have a recently had a baby. She was born 6 weeks ago after a particularly difficult pregnancy. I have a blood disorder, monoblasic anemia, and usually it is managed effectivly but pregnancy put an additional strain on my body and as a result i needed 3 transfusions of platelets during the final months.

During the birth of my daughter i heamorraged and lost a litre of blood and needed a transfusion of blood.

Sorry for the ramble, my point is without donors like yourselves i doubt either my daughter or myself would of survived and thatis not being melodramaic.

:beer: :beer: :beer:

marsupial_mama

helen21 wrote: »

Yes it would as i am one of those that cannot repay the blood i received

Yep, same here. Have been donor before, but not since receiving transfusion in 2001.#

Andreja

surreysaver

lisyloo wrote: »

Can anyone tell me what is involved in giving platelets?
How does it compare with giving blood?
How do you volunteer for it?

After I first gave blood, I received a letter asking if I was willing to consider donating platelets, as I am CMV negative which means my blood is suitable for babies and those with depleted immune systems. Unfortunately, my veins weren't suitable as they didn't think they would be able to cope with the machine returning the blood to them at high pressure.

ChelseaGirl

Hi, i have a quick question. I realise it may have been answered in previous posts but i don't currently have time to trawl my way through them right now - so i apologise in advance if i'm being a pain.

I'm a regular blood donor and i'm on the bone marrow register. However, i had sugery 5 weeks ago. It was supposed to be keyhole surgery but because of complications, the surgeon had to convert to open surgery.
Anyway before i was discharged, i asked when i'd be allowed to give blood again. I was told by the nurse i spoke to that i'd have to wait 3 months. When i had a follow up appointment with my GP, she said i'd have to wait 6 months.
Does anyone know which is right? I'll phone the blood service if no-one is sure. Just thought i'd pop on here for a quick answer if anyone knows. Thanks! x

Bob63

ChelseaGirl wrote: »

However, i had sugery 5 weeks ago. It was supposed to be keyhole surgery but because of complications, the surgeon had to convert to open surgery.

Hope you are recovering from your surgery. You have my sympathies - I had my gall bladder removed in April via keyhole surgery and I too had complications which meant I needed two more surgical procedures and a total of 24 days in hospital.

Surgery means you cannot donate for 6 months from the date of the operation - it doesn't matter whether it is keyhole or open.

ChelseaGirl

Thanks. Yeah, mine was gallbladder removal too. The surgeon that did it had performed over 2000 gallbladder removal ops, mostly by keyhole surgery. My GP encouraged me to go for the op and said that she hadn't seen anyone in the past few years that needed open surgery.
Well, it had to be me didn't it! I've got the keyhole scars and a lovely big scar under my rib cage. Apparently, the surgeon removed my gallbladder by keyhole surgery, but I wouldn't stop bleeding, so he had to open me up to find the source of the bleed - my liver. So my 30-45 minute op took 2 hours 45 minutes...Argh!
I too had complications and had to be readmitted. Hope you're ok now and fully recovered. I'm still struggling. I've got to see my consultant in a week to see if i can start lifting stuff and go back to work yet.
Thanks for your help. x