Do Something Amazing- Give Blood

rinoa778

marshall2k wrote: »

Ohh! I see!

What I mean is that I always make my own appointment online (though not using blood donor online) for as soon as possible after 16 weeks from my last donation. When are 12 weeks acceptable?

I asked them this question last week; My reason being I was surprised they set me a date 12 weeks after my last donation rather than the usual 16 that I get.
Their reply:

"Thank you for your recent e-mail. The accepted interval between donations is 16 weeks. This means most people can give between one and three blood donations a year. The absolute minimum interval is 12 weeks. You may occasionally be invited to donate between 12 and 16 weeks.

Repeated donations at short intervals can potentially make you anaemic and feel tired and weak. So although we test you every time you attend to ensure you are not anaemic and can “afford” to donate it is best to be aware of the time that should elapse."

HTH

marshall2k

Thank you noonesperfect and rinoa!

I understand now :beer:

noonesperfect

One thing to bear in mind is when you have a cuppa! (specially for us ladies :rolleyes: )

Apparently it's best not to have tea with meals or within an hour afterwards(I think) as it interferes with the absorption of iron from your food. Better to have something high in vitamin C I believe.

milkybars

torbrex wrote: »

Last time I donated platelets I was outnumbered 2-1 and it was a female that was waiting to take my place.
It is dependant on your weight and platelet count rather than sex whether you are able to become a platelet donor.

Sure they're looking for people with a high platelet content but I am certain that the first time you donate platelets, they check your donation for TRALI antigens. Even if you are carrying it, it is of no harm to yourself and you can still donate platelet-free components of blood without risk to the recipient.

Bayblue

I signed up as a blood donor years ago but I must admit that my attendance lapsed in recent years. I went to a session 5 years ago but at that time my haemoglobin was too low to donate. Anyway, inspired by this thread I went back last Monday........and had the same problem .

I'm a bit frustrated by it but I'm going back in a few weeks, I really really want to give blood because I feel that it's such a simple thing to do but it can make such a big difference to someone else.

Apparently I'm not ill or unusually low just too low to donate- some peoples are apparently. So I'm eating spinach and keeping my fingers crossed.

Bob63

Bayblue wrote: »

I'm a bit frustrated by it but I'm going back in a few weeks, I really really want to give blood because I feel that it's such a simple thing to do but it can make such a big difference to someone else.

Apparently I'm not ill or unusually low just too low to donate- some peoples are apparently. So I'm eating spinach and keeping my fingers crossed.

Not being a doom merchant, but are you certain you aren't ill or don't have some condition? There are genetic conditions such as Alpha Thalassemia (or Alpha Thalassemia Trait), where you have small or unusually shaped red blood cells, which can present themselves in this way and which can lead to serious complications such a liver damage if you don't know you have it and take iron supplements. That same condition could have serious (potentially fatal) effects on your offspring if you had a partner with the same condition.

Like I say, I don't want to be alarmist but if you have low haemoglobin levels you should see your doctor and find out why.

milkybars

There's hope even if you can't make a blood bank donation quite often still might be able to make a donation for medical research purposes. For research, they tend to only take 50-100ml and are often interested in donors with above or below average blood features. Check out your local universities or hospital research facilities. It's still a good cause.

Bayblue

cheesy.mike wrote: »

Not being a doom merchant, but are you certain you aren't ill or don't have some condition? There are genetic conditions such as Alpha Thalassemia (or Alpha Thalassemia Trait), where you have small or unusually shaped red blood cells, which can present themselves in this way and which can lead to serious complications such a liver damage if you don't know you have it and take iron supplements. That same condition could have serious (potentially fatal) effects on your offspring if you had a partner with the same condition.

Like I say, I don't want to be alarmist but if you have low haemoglobin levels you should see your doctor and find out why.

Thanks mike. Um well no, I'm not too concerned TBH because apparently it was only a point or two below the accepted haemoglobin level. Plus, I've just googled it and I have had tests (for summit else- I'm a bit of less than perfect specimen) years ago and I think that it would have been picked up, so it doesn't sound likely.

The nurse even said that there's no need to visit a doctor. Interestingly when my first response was to say that I'd take iron tablets she took great pains to tell me that that's not what they recommend, you've got to change your diet, which is sensible enough I suppose. I said that I would and I have but I'm also taking some multivitamins as well.

I really want to 'pass' next time.

GlasweJen

I would love to give blood but because i black out the service wont take it. Up until November 2007 when I got my pacemaker implanted they had no good reason not to accept my blood, it's as good as anyone elses and my heart condition is far from catching but the blood nurses didn't want the inconvenience that i might faint while they take it (when in reality needles don't make me faint, a cardiac arrythmia does).

If i had the same arrythmia minus the blackouts they'd snap my very rare AB- blood up but as it is they don't but still they want my organs????

noonesperfect

Bayblue wrote: »

Thanks mike. Um well no, I'm not too concerned TBH because apparently it was only a point or two below the accepted haemoglobin level. Plus, I've just googled it and I have had tests (for summit else- I'm a bit of less than perfect specimen) years ago and I think that it would have been picked up, so it doesn't sound likely.

The nurse even said that there's no need to visit a doctor. Interestingly when my first response was to say that I'd take iron tablets she took great pains to tell me that that's not what they recommend, you've got to change your diet, which is sensible enough I suppose. I said that I would and I have but I'm also taking some multivitamins as well.

I really want to 'pass' next time.

There's some quite pleasant ways of ensuring your iron intake is as good as poss, dried apricots and figs are two. I'm not sure how it works, but I believe you get more iron from beans on toast than you do from beans or toast alone . Luckily out of thie list the only things I dislike are offal, game faggots and some of the fish products. Like I said in an earlier post, don't drink tea with your meals it interferes with the absorption of iron. Here's some info on getting more iron into your diet:-


Animal Foods Rich in Iron

Eggs - especially the yolk
Oily fish e.g. tuna, sardines, pilchards, cockles and mussels
Kidney, liver, heart
Lamb, game, beef
Black pudding, corned beef, faggots
Oxo, Bovril


Vegetable Foods Rich in Iron

Wholemeal bread and flour
Iron-fortified cereals - Bran, Branflakes, Weetabix
Beans and pulses e.g. lentils, chick peas, haricot, kidney, pinto, baked, butter, peas
Nuts - almonds, cashews, Brazils, walnuts
Dried fruit - apricots, figs, dates
Green vegetables - watercress, spinach
Rich fruit cake, gingerbread, ginger biscuits
Curry powder
Cocoa, chocolate, black treacle