Do you Donate Blood on a regular basis?

[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!

[~ Mylitta ~]

Until I started TTCing I was a regular platelet donor. I started out as a blood donor then they asked if I was interested in plasma donation. I said yes, and the next time after that they asked to bump me up to platelet donor.

I always found the extra strong milkshakes were a great enticement to keep going back

Plus they looked after me sooo well in the apheresis area! I tend to get cold very easily, so they would rug me up in blankets, put heat packs under both my arms, and one time they even filled up a rubber glove with warm water for me to hold onto, lol. Oh, and because I used to get the coppery taste in my mouth lots, they would always bring me milkshakes while I was hooked up to the machine

Oh, but it's all about helping people... not the milkshakes

[paradise lost]

I did regularly from 17-20, then i got my tongue pierced and couldn't for a year, then i had a miscarriage and couldn't for a year, then i went once but hadn't had enough breakfast and fainted mid-donation, then another miscarriage, then a pregnancy, breastfeeding etc. I would do it now but i never have childcare.

I'm IN the UK, and we are apparently all fine to give CJD to one another as they're crying out for more blood over here.

I am a registered organ donor and on the bone-marrow donation list too, though when i signed up they said it was incredibly unlikely i'd ever be called unless a family member needed it.

Bx

[Gigi]

prior to a near fatal medical event, my veins were great and i don't think i ever got round to doing it.

after i nearly died and was in a coma for months, after years of rehab, i wanted to give blood, cos i realised how much blood had been pumped into me to save my life. But after having so much "blood work" myself, my own veins have shut down. I was hoping years after, my veins would recover and i could then donate. Even now, if i need a blood test, my GP sends me to a specialist blood place because my veins are so hard to find.

so i read this thread and feel very guilty.

[mr dad of many]

i donate blood every three months , give me pleasure doing it because i know it can help little kids and other people . but the other side of things the ladys there say i only come for a hot dog , cheeky buggers they are lol

[dusty]

I'm IN the UK, and we are apparently all fine to give CJD to one another as they're crying out for more blood over here.

They are crying out for blood here too Bec. The Australian policy is so bizarre when the risks are so so negligble. Perhaps the number of potential donors in Australia who 'may' carry CJD is so small they can exclude us, hence remove any risk and save money on not having to run tests on our blood. I am such a frustrated non blood donor. I hope they review that policy one day .

Gigi please don't feel bad. I think your post will help others that plan to donate but may have been putting it off over time, to realise that the time to donate is now not later. I am glad that others' donations saved your life. We are in this as a community .
xx

[Nai]

Dusty, I think there's an incubation period for CJD so they may start reviewing the policy after that time. There was a lot of trouble inthe 80's with the Blood Bank and HIV being transmitted through blood transfusions so they are proabably being on the cautious side as well.

[Lilly-Pilly]

I've just started again, i used to but then became anemic and couldn't for a while. Dontated on thusrday, booked a group of girls in at work so we all went together

I forgot how tired i get afterwards though! I was wiped out!