Have you ever donated blood?

I was up to the better part of a gallon when the Red Cross decided they didn't want my blood anymore. If and when they change their guidelines, I'll start donating again.

I used to, but they don't want my blood anymore...

no

plasma yes blood no

and to Romkey

Not to be nosey but do they have good reasons to refuse your blood?

see above comment

I don't particularly think so. There are actually a couple of different reasons (HIV and nvCJD) that the Red Cross doesn't want my blood: in both cases it has been longer than the latency period since I was in a high risk group. The HIV deferment is just silly: if I had it, I'd know by now. The nvCJD deferment is a bit more reasonable since the latency period is so long and there's no test other than to see if I start frothing and gibbering. Nonetheless, by being froth-free for so long, I can safely say that I don't have nvCJD either.

Not yet. I've only just realised I'm old enough (17).

I will definitely donate sooner or later - hopefully the first time will be sometime this year (school year) before I go to university.

Oh well at least you don't have to get stuck with a needle. I hate that.

No,I can't.They do not want me

Once, 22 years ago in Highschool. Ever since then they aways have some reason to not accept me like I got my ear pierced a couple months prior or something. Now that I'm transgendered they turn me away without even giving me an interview. They don't seem to realize that my sex life is about as strict as one finds these days.

Yes, a couple of times. I don't know whether or not I would be allowed to now, because I take blood thinner and other medications for heart disease, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.

No, but I would like too. I'm not allowed.

Yes, although I haven't done it in a while. I have a feeling my iron count would be too low now, though.

cause I don't know my blood type, and Bonfil's Blood Center has been turning away people who don't know.

Yes, once. My Eagle Scout project for Bay Scouts was a blood drive, so I gave blood there and that's it.

same thing here except I'm still in the high risk group and probably will remain there

It stinks that people who want to donate can't I guess they have to have rules to protect people though.

I'm not allowed yet. >

I want to go... I should go... but I havnt yet.

No, I went once, and it turned out that I didn't weigh enough. I still enjoy pretending that I'm too thin to donate.

Yes, 3 times. And I need to schedule an appointment soon, but the Red Cross here in the US is pretty much booked up for a while.

I did it fairly regularly for a few years until my iron level was too low and they wouldn't let me. Now that I'm not a vegetarian anymore I need to see if I can donate again.

Many years ago I donated plasma regularly. That was an interesting experience. They take a pint of blood and then separate the plasma out of it and put the rest back in your arm. It's usually cooled off a lot by the time it goes back in, so it feels REALLY strange coursing into your veins!

I understand the ex-vegetarian thing. My grandmother goes back to meat whenever a war starts. During the Gulf War she single handedly put those McDonald's kids through community college!

You donated plasma, too?! I did it fairly regularly for several months about 15 years ago, and my only regret is that I have needle tracks from it! I look like a heroin addict, which is ironic because I can't even stand the thought of shooting up.

Yes....four times........

I donated a couple times, but now they don't want my blood any more.

yes, i donated just about a week ago for the first time. i felt helpless and wanted to do something besides give money. i would do it again and may when i am able.

I did it a few times and my veins could not take it the last time I did it it blew up one of my veins like a balloon and I did not ever go back after that. I have small veins and it is very hard to even find one if I need an IV I hate needles.

No, but I want to.

Yes, but I have had to quit recently since I have trouble with anemia. They kept turning me down.

That sounds horrible! I wouldn't have gone back after that either.

When I can. Sometimes I don't weigh enough. I usually donate to other researchers in my department, because they take less blood and that's okay.

I only became old enough 1 month ago.

No, they won't take me because I prone to anemia and take thyroid medication as well.

I tried to once, but they said I didn't weigh enough.

Oh my word, you're so young! My brother's one of the youngest in his year - it puts him behind. In my experience it doesn't matter as much for girls as it does for boys

I never have.

But,I should cause my blood type (AB+ positive) is kinda hard to get.I will next month when they will need more to replenish their supplies,for the WTC tragedy.I too have small veins & hate needles!!

You can accept blood from anyone (A, B, or 0); Few can accept your blood (only those also AB+). Someone can make use of it though.

Hi babe! What blood type are you Kristal??

A+

Is your blood type unusual too?? I'm not familiar with the rare blood types & such.

In general people are transfused with the right blood group. Just because ABs are universal recipients doesn't mean they get given anything. In an emergency, people will be given O but only in an emergency.

Amongst caucasians, A is the second most common blood group. It's only a little rarer than O.

My wife drinks my blood every once so often. Does that count?

They won't let me because they don't like me. Actually, nobody likes me. Everybody just uses me for my incredible good looks and a whole myriad of other incredible talents. That's it!! I've discovered what it is that people don't like about me! They're just jealous! You are ALL just jealous!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi Biggles!! Thanks! I didn't know that.& what blood type might you be?

I'm B+ -- is that the most common one?

How appropriate.

Huh?

B+? Think about it.

I kinda thought so. I learned this stuff in 7th grade, 26 years ago.

I've heard of blood types being related to personality types (kind of like astrology).

For anyone still gung ho about donating blood, I urge you to think: The tranfusion requirements of victims of the WTC tragedy have probably been matched by now. Any more blood donation would be for people who haven't lost blood yet. As Einstein said "You can not simultaneously prevent and prepare for (nuclear) war".

lol And I've forgotten stuff over the summer!

lol lol lol

I don't know what mine is All I know is I'm not O because my mum's AB and my dad's A.

No. O is the most common, closely followed by A (amongst caucasians). The proportion of people that are B is significantly less but nothing like as little as he number who are AB - that's a fairly tiny proportion.

Ohhhhhh.Don'[t feel so bad most people don't know that type blood they are anyways.The reason why I know my blood type is because,I've had to have a blood transfusion when I was 19 years old.The doctors said,that I had lost almost half,of all the blood in my body.I was young & stupid then,I thought I was having an abnormal period,turns out that I had suffered a miscarriage & didn't know it.
But,hey Biggles,on a lighter note,just for the heck of it,tap this site.

http://www.shasta.com/shastablood/percent.htm

It'll tell you what percentage of the people are what types of blood.Kinda interesting.It's cartoony.....really cute!

Hi Ms.SueBee,check out this site,it'll tell you how many other people are your blood type.As I was telling Biggles,it's cartoony & really kinda cute.So your blood type is B+ way cool....mine is AB+

http://www.shasta.com/shastablood/percent.htm

I've always been the baby in my class! My birthday is August 15th so I was nearly in the year below! So I'm not 18 for almost a year yet

Like my brother - he's got an August birthday too.

Thanks for the link! It confirmed the info Biggles gave me, and told me the exact percentages. Very interesting. Now I really want to start donating blood again since only 8.5% of the population has my blood type.

Us Leos rule! Grrr

There now don't you feel special??? I know I did when I tapped my blood type.

Several of my favorite people are Leos. Kind of a bossy bunch though!

Yep, we are also temperamental and like to be centre of attention. But we are also generous and very caring!!

Very true!

Yes - to my fiance! Vampires mmm

No, but I want to soon.