Blood Drive sighting

[Salted Grump]

AB- here, and perma-banned from Donating due to a false positive.

But, up here, a False positive is enough of a 'holy shit' moment, Esp. with the Blood Scandal in the early 80's (Which is why the Red Cross does not have any control over CDN. Blood Supply any more, BTW) that It's perfectly understandable why there would be a 'blacklist' even for False positives.

[Hitokiri Akins]

The last time a blood drive came around, I had a tattoo 3 months earlier. And here's the paradoxical thing about me; I can't stand needles. I know, you're all thinking, "How can you get a tattoo if you're scared of needles?" Simple; tattoo needles don't feel like injection needles, nor do they penetrate as far.

Yeah, I know I'm just rationalizing. But the fact remains that I can't stand needles that go that far into my skin and tickle my blood vessels.

[Zombi]

I know, you're all thinking, "How can you get a tattoo if you're scared of needles?" Simple; tattoo needles don't feel like injection needles, nor do they penetrate as far.

Yeah, I'm the same. Plenty of piercings, but if anyone wants blood out of me they need to be using the baby needle. I had a lot of blood tests done when I was younger, and I freaked out so many times that the phlebotomist used to just ignore me and let me scream once she figured out that I wasn't actually in pain.

[PepperElf]

The last time a blood drive came around, I had a tattoo 3 months earlier. And here's the paradoxical thing about me; I can't stand needles. I know, you're all thinking, "How can you get a tattoo if you're scared of needles?" Simple; tattoo needles don't feel like injection needles, nor do they penetrate as far.

Yeah, I know I'm just rationalizing. But the fact remains that I can't stand needles that go that far into my skin and tickle my blood vessels.

not sure where you are, but in the US you can't give blood within a year of tattoos or piercings.

thats the only reason why i haven't had my second-piercings on my ears fixed

[smileyeagle1021]

may I say, this thread has been extremely difficult for me to read. I also have a bit of PTSDish phobia of needles... the very first time I had a blood test the phlebotomist missed and hit a nerve... this is something that has occurred twice since then when I've had blood tests... so even thinking about needles get's my heart racing, my stomach fluttering, and me a bit woozy... I know I'd pass out during a blood draw because I do every single time (when I have a medical draw I have to sign a waiver that the phlebotomist may continue after I pass out). Most people are understanding when I explain this phobia to them as to why I can't donate, because it most definitely is a real phobia, but then there are the assholes who will insist on telling me to just man up and get over it, those people piss me off, because trust me, if I could get over it, I would.

Oh, and as Sheldon pointed out, gay guys aren't exactly on the VIP list at the blood drive.

[ADoyle90815]

I found that if I'm going to donate blood, it's better to do so at a blood drive that's not at the Red Cross donation center because the people at the Red Cross building don't always know what they're doing. My mom had such a bad experience, she refuses to donate anymore.

[Yfandes]

Little hint to get the veins up: drink a litre of water on the way to the appointment. Always works for me.

I'm not eligible for blood donation due to the fact that I lived in the UK in the '80's, and have had chemotherapy.

Which is ok, because I'm basically down to the one reliable "lucky vein" which is in the crook of my dominant arm, and it goes sideways. ALL the phlebotomists want the lucky vein, and they get one chance at it - but the last one put the needle in sideways to the vein!!! She now gets to poke around elsewhere for a cooperative vein.

[boringscreenname]

I've donated blood and plasma before. The hospital had a blood drive about a month or two ago but I didn't donate because it was a couple hours in the morning, and I had worked the night before and didn't want to hang out for a couple hours when I could be sleeping. But I wanted to donate because they were giving away prizes like a grocery store gift card and tickets.

Anyway all the times I've donated I've had good experiences. My veins are fairly to easy to stick and I always drink water before hand just in case. My son has had to get a lot of vaccinations and a finger stick which he hated, but we never make a big deal out of the needles and just comfort him when he's done.

[telecom_goddess]

I used to love donating blood. Always felt great afterward. Then I made the unforgivable mistake of coming out of the closet and having sex.

Doesn't matter how many blood test prove you're healthy; if you're gay and sexually active, even if you wrap yourself in 10 body condoms each time, you're not allowed to donate.

That's bullshit....you sure they can't just screen it like they do everyone else? Damn it sucks that it pays to just lie....

[jjllbb]

I'm AB negative.

It's supposedly rare, but it doesn't really do anyone else any good.

In most cases you can save my life but I can't save yours unless you're AB as well.

le sigh.

I have donated before and had a good experience though. I like the idea of being able to help.

At least you tried.

[raw456]

I was a regular blood donor until my doctor advised I was anaemic and really shouldnt The last time I went to give blood the woman had obviously had a bad day and took her bad mood out on me. First, she went to my right arm (after I directed her to my left as it was the best one for veins) she then stuffed up the insertion and nearly snapped the needle off in my arm. After a second failed attempt, she told me it was my fault and sent me on my way. I ended up with a huge lump and bruise where she stuck me. Had to go to the doctors to get it all sorted. (that was when he advised me not to give blood)

[Not_a_Miracleworker]

I'd like to say THANK YOU to all those who donate - I had to receive 2 units a couple of years ago due to massive prolonged blood loss b/c of unidentified medical condition involving female parts. I know I'd be dead or comatose without it.

I've wanted to donate since that time, but I've had so many other health issues and had to take so many meds I don't think they could use it.

[KiaKat]

Smiley, I'm with you.

I have a phobia of needles that rivals, well, just about anything.

And it goes back to when I was a baby. During a vaccination session, I started holding my breath. I turned blue. The doctor and my mom had to blow in my face to get me breathing again.

It's just gotten worse from there. I had a full panic attack, complete with passing out from hyperventilation when I was 13. A few years ago, when I had to have a blood draw, they didn't believe me and I passed out again.

They've learned. Dope me up on atavan before anything involving needles.

[Pagan]

I tried to give blood a couple of months ago and they wouldn't let me because of my pulse rate. It was around 90bpm, where it always is (I've got the pulse rate of a bird and the blood pressure of a dead person). And I told them this, but no go.

I used to be able to donate, but I haven't in a long while since I started taking the Pill for...women's issues. I don't think I'd be able to just because of the way the drug works (risks of clotting, etc.)

That doesn't stop you from donating. If it did, there would be very few women eligible to donate.

My Dad is A+, my Mom is B- and they made all the blood types they could...A-, B-, AB- & O-. I'm B- and my hubby is O+, our daughter came out with O+ so I had to get the Rh factor shot.

Huh. My mom is O- and I'm B+ (so's my dad) and she didn't have to get the Rh factor shot. Actually, none of us knew my blood type until after my recent aborted attempt to give blood. I had last given blood several years before, but I almost passed out. Turns out I was still too close to the weight limit.

I always thought that if you had type AB- blood you could only be transfused with type AB-. Turns out AB- can accept A-, B-, AB- and O-. AB+ on they other hand can accept all blood types no matter the Rh factor.

O- is the universal donor and AB+ are universal receivers.

[PepperElf]

That's bullshit....you sure they can't just screen it like they do everyone else? Damn it sucks that it pays to just lie....

yeah that's one of the stipulations for accepting blood.

i somewhat know the real stories behind how it happened, as explained in a college micro-biology class
but that might be better for fratching