Going to give blood today

butzie

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I am off to give blood today. I get periodic emails saying that I am eligible to give because I am O negative. I get a free Giants tee shirt for donating! Even though I am an A's fan, I still root for our Bay Area Giants except when they play interleague against the A's!

Anyway, if you can, give blood. It is much needed this July 4th weekend.
 

mews2much

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That is good you are giving blood.
I am not allowed to because I am to Anemic.
My sister has given blood before.
If it was not for people giving blood my husband would have died from leukemia.
 

trillcat

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Also look into platlet donating, and plasma. They take a bit more time as your blood is spun around and bits put back into you. Plasmaherisis (I so did not spell that right). Well worth the time, and with plasma, they pay you, though your plasma will be used for research and making drugs that help people with clotting disorders and such, not for down and dirty "Gimme a bag of plasma, stat!"

ETA: please give blood in any form you wish. 4th of July is a big bad holiday for ER teams, lots of people blowing bits of themselves off.
 

darlili

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Good for you! I donate through Lifesource. I recently redeemed my donation points for a couple of $25 BP gas cards, which comes in handy. Now that I'm used to the process, I'm usually in and out within 40 minutes on a Sunday morning - which provides my excuse for a Panera Bread lunch afterwards!
 

strange_wings

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I hope you're healthy enough to do so.
Please make sure you have someone with you. With mews2much complaints about the heat I suspect it's just as hot (or close) where you are. Since you'll have a bit less blood after giving you could get light headed in the heat and even dehydrate a bit easier until your body fixes your levels.


I'm an O negative, too, but I can't give. Aside from taking a class C drug daily I simply do not have enough blood. I'm functioning on closer to 80 or maybe even 70% (or less, it's an uncommon and expensive test to find the exact amount) of what a healthy normal person has. I'm already drastically affected by it so I simply don't have any to spare.
 

cjh27

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Hi,

I donated two weeks ago- I go because it takes place in an elementry school which is quite beautifull with all the childrens drawings around and the small chairs- and because you get loads of yummie snacks for free afterwards
I had three sandwiches, coka cola and a yoghurt


regards,

Christine
 

ut0pia

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I tried to donate but am not allowed to because I was born in Europe and something about mad cow disease ...
 

darlili

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The questionnaire does have questions about numbers of years spent in Europe, Africa, and, umm, forget where else - it's basically about mad cow disease. They also ask about recent tattoos, etc. I've got to admit I'm usually feeling so healthy, and grateful, after filling out the darn survey that I feel I need to give blood!

Just make sure you hydrate well, eat up all the snacks at the donation point, and keep eating and drinking healthily this evening, etc. Today will not be your day to diet!
 

libby74

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Good for you, Rosemary! (geez, I hope I got your first name right!
)

I've been a donor for quite some time; I just checked my card and I've
donated 52 times. Of course, I've been turned away at least 25 times because of low iron. I eat my spinach and sunflower seeds, take a vitamin with iron, and sometimes it still doesn't help. It seem to get worse the older I get.

My DD can never be a donor because she was born in Bulgaria---go figure.

Hope everythng goes ok for you today; remember to take it easy afterwards.
 

yosemite

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I used to give regularly until I had cancer and then I could no longer give. Here in Canada it is totally voluntary - no cash for blood.


A lot of companies will set up a blood donor day for employees to donate.

Bless all you folks out there that give this gift of life.
 

ut0pia

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Originally Posted by libby74

Good for you, Rosemary! (geez, I hope I got your first name right!
)

I've been a donor for quite some time; I just checked my card and I've
donated 52 times. Of course, I've been turned away at least 25 times because of low iron. I eat my spinach and sunflower seeds, take a vitamin with iron, and sometimes it still doesn't help. It seem to get worse the older I get.

My DD can never be a donor because she was born in Bulgaria---go figure.

Hope everythng goes ok for you today; remember to take it easy afterwards.
That's where I was born too!
 

strange_wings

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Originally Posted by libby74

I've been a donor for quite some time; I just checked my card and I've
donated 52 times. Of course, I've been turned away at least 25 times because of low iron. I eat my spinach and sunflower seeds, take a vitamin with iron, and sometimes it still doesn't help. It seem to get worse the older I get.
Your B12 may be getting a bit low. There's more to anemia than just iron count.
The US and some countries are a bit behind on what is actually a healthy acceptable level, so if you decide to get that tested and are barely or low "normal" go ahead and supplement (discuss this with your doc of course).


Hopefully you can get back to donating without any problems then.
 

grogs

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I just checked and I'm not eligible to give until after 7/7 because I'm still in the 56 day window. They come out to our work location a few times a year and take donations. Their schedule is somewhat maddening though. They tend to come about every 3-1/2 months or so which is almost -- but not quite -- twice the 8-week waiting period, so if you try to give on your own in between, you won't be eligible the next time the bloodmobile comes by the office.
 

mews2much

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It is not as hot where Rosemary lives.
It should be 88 there today.
My sister fainted after giving blood once and has not given blood since then.
She said she will give blood soon.
It is great what all of you are doing.
 

weldrwomn

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It was 95 and humid today and I gave blood. I just make sure to drink plenty of fluids. In the last year, I have given about 7 or 8 times. I am A+ and they seem to like that I donate. I give my blood for free, I have never been paid for it.
 

tierre0

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Right up until two years ago I use to give blood twice a year. I have A- blood so they use to alway notify me when the Blood Donor Clinic were.
However now because of my medication and the issue's I have with my hemoglobin I have had to stop donating.
Not sure whether I will ever be able to donate again time will tell. I hope so though because it is a very important gift to give.
 

jaffacake

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Thats great!
Even though we are in different countries I`m very grateful to everyone who donates as I have had a few pint.

I wish I could still donate but they wont let me because of my medication and because I`ve had a transfusion
 

northernglow

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I'd like to donate but I'm not allowed 'coz I'm too small...
(The weight limit is 50 kg = approx. 110 lbs?)
 
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