Do you Donate Blood on a regular basis?

[luna moth]

I used to, but I've just been told to stop before TTC I have 40-something donations under my belt, so I feel good that I've been able to help so many.
Last time I went to do it, I was waiting at the bus stop, and this old dude tottered up to me and said "Are you going to the city? Can I offer you a lift in my taxi?" So his taxi pulls up, and he asks where I'm going. I told him it was to give blood, and he said "Well, how funny that we should meet. I'm on my way to receive a blood transfusion."
That made every needle worth it. Even the mega two-headed ones they use for plasma, over 40 donations worth of scar tissue.

[Lolli]

Last time I went to do it, I was waiting at the bus stop, and this old dude tottered up to me and said "Are you going to the city? Can I offer you a lift in my taxi?" So his taxi pulls up, and he asks where I'm going. I told him it was to give blood, and he said "Well, how funny that we should meet. I'm on my way to receive a blood transfusion."

Wow. That's amazing...

[C~Q]

I've tried to but i'm from the UK so they won't let me

[AngelPunks]

I'm not allowed to - Mad Cows used to live in the UK so I'm not allowed

[HotI]

Yep! When i was at uni, there was a donation place on campus and so i was a plasma donor (every 3 weeks) for a couple of years. Would like to say it was completely altruistic, but i was on a really limited budget, and the carrot cake was really good and that with a glass of orange juice was a top lunch.

I don't live so close to a donation centre anymore so have just gone back to 3 monthly donations.

My iron levels are usually borderline but there are only a couple of times, i haven't been able to donate. Plasma donation was actually pretty good because they return your red blood cells to you.

[MantaRay]

It's something I want to do. I donated once, and was really ill afterwards. I have low bp, I don't know if that was the problem, but I was fine for about half an hour, then felt really ill suddenly and fainted at work. I couldn't get up off the floor for ages. Someone brought me some tea and an orange which I had some of while lying on the floor and then after a while I could get up. So I'm scared to do it again. Most of the time since then I've been pg or bfing anyway so couldn't, but now I can again. I just don't know if I've brave enough!

Ironically too, I have high iron, and if my levels get too high the only thing I can do to lower it is donate blood. So I might have to start doing it again!!

[Nadine216]

I'll be very honest ... I have never donated blood I'm really scared of needles, but I do agree that it's not a good enough excuse

Maybe I should put that on my new year's resolutions list .... along with donating my organs. (Will have to chat to DH about this first, though) I am a big girl now and really should be able to control my fear of needles for a cause as good as this.

Thank you for bringing up the subject.

[Astrid]

I used to when I could, but stopped due to pregnancy and breastfeeding. Would like to start again as they absolutely love my veins!

[dusty]

I've tried to but i'm from the UK so they won't let me

Yeah I have the same problem CB as I lived in the UK in the 90s and ate meat off the bone while there, hence they try to reduce any risk of passing on Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (mad cow) which we are highly unlikely to be carrying!

I find it really frustrating to be so rejected!

Thanks to those of you that are able to and do donate. All Australians benefit from your generosity .