Again, I'm shamelessly ripping off a topic from Radio 2, but it's a cause that is close to my heart, literally!

As some of you know I disappeared from the forum for most of the summer due to serious illness. Without multiple(and continued) blood transfusions, I'd be an ex-stan by now!

It's a bit frustrating that having been a blood donor in the past I'll never be able to donate again but it got me wondering how many people on here are blood donors?

Anyway, for all those that are blood donors can I just say a huge thank you, because without you, quite simply I would not be here now (I had less than a 5% chance of surviving the first night(s) due to how low my levels were!).

Oh, and for those people who don't donate blood can I ask why not? That's not being judgemental at all, just curious as to what puts you off doing it?

Thanks again to everyone who does donate......it's your fault I'm still here to bug the hell out of you lot!

I'm not, but I would be if I wasn't such a lazy git

me for one.

It does annoy me that more people don't do it. I work in a factory with approximately 60 people on site during daytime hours. The Transfusion service used to come and set up in our Social Club and you were allowed time off your job to go and donate blood. They've stopped coming now as there were never enough volunteers! shocking.

It's easy, painless, quick and you really do get a cup of tea and a biscuit. (probably why Stan used to go)

I used to be a blood donor, but due to the amount of chemicals which now circulate within me, I can no longer do so.

For anyone who is hesitating whether to or not, it does not take long, it doesn't hurt and you get a drink and biscuits afterwards.

So if you are healthy, there is really no reason not to donate blood.

It's also good for a cheap(er) night out. We used to donate prior to a heavy session as students.

uh-ho.....you're in the north west area, please, please tell me that you don't have O+ blood?

I could a unit of C2D in me!!

I'm not allowed unfortunely

Had Hepatitus a few years ago so that takes you off the list.

I was going to donate but that scene from Airplane haunts me!

Or was it The Naked Gun?

I am!!

well I am now after a 2 year hiatus due to Chemo.

Like everyone else has said really, it's quick, painless and if you're really lucky there's usually the odd hottie to look quite manly in front of

I did - once.

Came up with bruising on my arm from nearly my wrist to halfway up my upper arm, and couldn't bend my arm without pain for about a week!

Based on everyone else I've known who has done it, and the comments on here, I was just really unlucky (don't actually know what went wrong)..... but it did rather put me off unfortunately

You can't go far wrong with a bit of C2D in you

Me too! O Neg so quite popular with the NHS, they even want to harvest my platelets

I always remeber a Blood Donor poster when I was a mere slip which said effectively "If the blood bank was run like a regular bank, would you be entitled to make a withdrawal?"

Obviously I would be....

The bruising will have been from where they missed your vein or put the needle in wrong.

Happened to me on my first visit by an incompetent doctor and had happened to a few others too.

My Mum used to work as a blood doner attendant, so would be one of the 'hotties' taking your blood or giving you tea and biscuits

I used to until my blood pressure could only be controlled with drugs, now I apparently can't. Shame really, I started at 18 as a tribute to my boss who died when he was mentoring me, and only stopped about 6 years ago. Missed one or two sessions, but in all I reckon I've donated c60 donations

I am a regular-ish O+ donor, with short breaks after visiting nasty places with work (India, Pakistan, most recently Nigeria) so not quite got to 50 donations yet.

It's quite interesting to see how the process changes subtly each time, eg: they used to offer anaesthetic wipes, put on huge cotton wads, have to wait for a doctor to stick the needle in, get you to roll a perspex block, now you drink a pint of water first, etc., but one thing that doesn't change is the tea and biscuits, yummy

Bu I've never seen any hotties, only luke-warmies

You're welcome!

I've donated since my late teens, and am up to around 32 donations (I'm 33).

We have a mobile van which started coming round to our work a few years ago, which was very handy as it meant

1) I could duck out of work for half an hour during the day to donate
2) There was no queue
3) I didn't have to pay for parking
4) It was extremely convenient

Sadly, it's visit next week will be it's last as it's being stopped due to their budget cuts. Boo! This means I'll have to go back to donating at one of the centres after work, and will probably have to pay for the privilege as no free parking.

If I'm being frank, it's because it looks like medieval practice.

If your car was pissin oil, you don't just pump other 2nd hand oil into it. I know you can't exactly pump new blood into you, but they can increase the blood produced by your heart, store your own blood for future use or even recycle your blood during your operation.

Recovery times are longer for blood transfusion v non transfusion. Recipients are more likely to contract infections and spend longer in hospital as a result.

Now I'm no doctor, I'm sure someone will come up with some clever link stating the opposite, but when a doctor says that refusing a blood transfusion just makes the medical practise work harder, rather than your signing a death warrant, I think I'll just refuse.

Ross

I do - still overdrawn at the bank from Charlie's surgery but will repay and continue to do so.

No shizzle? You had me fooled

And if the patient can't produce blood or is suffering from catastrophic blood loss due to trauma from say a car crash, what does he do then H2ypr?

I'm the biggest of big girls' blouses when it comes to needles and I bruise like a peach. Sorry, it's a no from me.

Blood transfusion isn't a magical cure. You can still die with one.

Everyone has their own choice to make. Bloodless surgery/medical care is now seen as the pinnacle of technology and ability.

Ross

True, but a patient with a large blood loss is more likely to die without the blood transfusion. It also has the advantage of being readily available unlike some newer alternatives.

Errr... yeah sure. Tell that with people waiting for a heart, liver, kidney,... Blood is an essential fluid in your body. You need blood to operate. Your organs and tissue need blood to operate. Producing blood requires a LOT of energy of your body - energy you need to keep yourself alive when in surgery.




So? Blood transfusions are not often done during 'normal' surgery, except for organ transplants. Blood transfusions are a necessity in large trauma. Bloodless surgery is one thing. A bloodless body is quite the oposite.


And in addition...

1/ Blood is not only used as pure simple blood. You can have plasma donations to produce drugs - look up coagulation factors. You can have red blood cells - look up anemia. etcetera.

2/ I think you're really having a brain freeze at the moment.

Probably religion related

Tbh, I posted as noone posted about why they don't. I'm happy with my decision. I don't need some Internet friends to question me.

With all due respect.

Ross

That rolleyes smiley could viewed as religious intolerance.

But no. Its a decision made on pros and cons.

Ross

Clearly

At least you managed to link an organ involved in the circulatory system with blood!




If it kept your engine alive then you'd be happy to put any type of oil in there until it was repaired.



So is the use of maggots but there's no better way of removing rotting flesh than putting some nice sterile maggots in the wound.

It saddens me to say I'm not surprised you'd answer as you have Ross.
I'm guessing you don't carry a donor card either?

Rubbish.

Stan, I would love to donate blood.

But I'm the biggest pu$$y when it comes to needles.

I passed out when they had to do a blood test for a possible infection ect......

If I could be put to sleep then drained I'm happy, but they don't do it...

feeble.............

I am a serial recipient of whole blood and platelets in particular. Have been for most of my life on and off. I am therefore enormously grateful for blood donors and would have died may times over by now without them. If I was allowed to donate then I would.

I know transfusion isn't a perfect solution, but there are many situations where there is simply no time to sit back and let the body produce more blood (which happens in the bone marrow btw). I have suffered from auto-immune reactions which have destroyed all my platelets and haemoglobin in a matter of a couple of days. There was no other option but to transfuse at the same time as other treatments.

James

^^^ one of many reasons to do so, and why I have to date given blood over 50 times. James you could have some of me in you, worrying thought

Every story of a life saved makes me glad to be able to donate.

Man up Marco!

To all those who could, but don't, poor show. Some very badly justified excuses

James i bet you used those lines on that barmaid at the AGM eh? dirrrrrty boy

I think I've probably got too many STD's to be a suitable donor...

Giggady

What is? The decision to post something completely consisting of errors, or the fact YOU have made the decision YOU don't want someobody else's blood in YOUR body? Really, the last thing is YOUR decision and would have made me roll my eyes in the privacy of my room. The first one made me quite mad.

Sorry guys, I just have a massive problem with needles.

Other wise I would happily give blood.

i donated once and never again,felt really ill for about 2 weeks afterwards,really run down.had to have a few days off work,couldnt climb for 3 weeks

psychological issues, not physical ones i'd suggest

Is the gayest thing I've read today

Do you feel ok now princess?

dont see what its got to do with you like but if you must know i have a lung condition and the lack of blood caused me to collapse(blood deoxygenation etc).no wonder people on here think your a d**khead with comments like that

nope physical ones,i have blood oxygenation problems

I've been donating blood since 1985. Normally I donate 6 times a year, but because I'm a fairly rare blood group (B-) I get called in more often. This year I've donated 8 times.

Giving blood is usually pain free. Ok you may get a bleed (bruise) but tbh it's not a big deal.

Reading through this thread has made me quite sad. My Mother was saved by a blood transfusion as it would appear has stan.

I'm not going to preach about the positives of blood donating but if anyone her has any doubts or worries please talk to your GP or practice nurse. It does make a difference and does save lives.

Oh and Ross, it doesn't put the donator in ANY danger.

I've been trying for years but they don't like my travel habits - too many years in less than salubrious bits of the world, and Dengue fever is a no-no...

but I would like most sincerely to thank all the A Rh(d)+ donors in Surrey who filled me full again after my spleen burst while recovering from the paraglider crash.

Having seen the frankly piss poor level of care given to both my parents by the NHS over the last year (not to mention the even worse level of care supplied by local council "carers") I wouldn't volunteer to let any of them put a needle anywhere near me.

I've been tattooed every year for about the last 12 years and they're a bit sticky about that, so probably wouldn't want my blood anyway.

It can do actually, depending on the person, surroundings, etc.

It can cause you to faint or have a fit, which can be a danger, hence being 'made' to drink tea and eat a biscuit afterwards.

It's to make sure the donor is fit to leave the session and those who give out the drinks and biscuits are as trained as those who take the blood, it's just they rotate their jobs.

I used to, but I stopped. Two reasons -
1. I had one of the epic bruises, and it made me go ouch for a week. That put me off a bit, but you can manage that by saying no to the students.
2. Despite making appointments I twice had to wait in excess of 90 mins to start donating. Sorry, that's not good enough.

I have never given blood, because (like others on this thread) I'm a complete wimp when it comes to needles.

However, the attitude of others on this thread (positive and negative) has convinced me that I'm going to go for it. I'll try not to knock the plate of biscuits over when I faint

@Ross - please bear in mind that outside of A&E blood-loss is common in child-birth. Do you think you'll feel the same way about blood transfusions when you're looking at the possibility of losing a partner and your child?

My wife tells me that a lot of Jehovah's Witnesses do tell maternity services that they're not to be given a blood transfusion, and her hospital does have a (very expensive) machine to clean their own blood and pump it back into them, but it's not always possible. If push comes to shove then it's apparently normally the new fathers who put pragmatism ahead of faith.

I no longer donate thanks to a malaria scare (with me, not with the blood bank lol)

I must say, its not exactly an amazing experience but free brew and biscuits and they generally come to some of the most convienient places going now theres no excuse not to.

Especially if youve got some super rare blood group, you might never need it, but thousands of others do.

I do,
Most rare blood group of them all.

i collapsed about a week after donating,my blood oxygen had dropped alot and my body was struggling to replace the blood so there obviously is a danger when donating,infact people die from it every year-im making sure im not going to be one of those reagardless if its viewed as being gay by site moderators or not

AB- ? im AB+ so fairly rare

10/60 fully?

T, if you're given correct advice before donating then those donating are free* from risk.

* upto 3% of donators may have a 'problem'. If properly screened then the worst than can happen can be light headiness, nausea or soreness. Although complications may and DO occur.

The tea and biscuits are to increase the blood sugar in the body, after all you've just lost 'an armful!!!!'

Just to clarify my view/position on this, I volunteer for the Warwickshire blood transfusion unit so my views, experiences and gratitude may be biased.

50/50 methanol i was thinking

Bezzer, I understand where you're coming from, but needed to state that donators 'can' come into danger, although as you say, very few and far between, but the danger is present.

My Mum worked taking the blood on sessions for 20 odd years and I spent quite a bit of my time with her and her workmates at local sessions, when I was younger and as I got older

I saw perfectly normal acting people go from drinking their tea to fainting and/or fitting within seconds.

It's never put me off though, as I knew how well trained my Mum and the other staff were

Lol

A+(The plus sign in mine stands for added Gin), not as rare a blood group as you may think

I do it when i get a chance, not as often as i'd like to though. Love the free biscuits and i make a point of telling awful jokes to the nurses as i know they are a captive audience!
Last visits was:
Me: Nurse, after you take my blood will i be able to play the piano?
Nurse: Yes, no problem.
Me: Great, I've never been able to play and always wanted to!
Nurse: Groan
Wife: Paul, shut up!

T, yes as I said, it isn't 'complication' free but for the majority of people it's a great way of giving something back.

I'm biased because my Mother would've died without a BT, as it would appear would stan.

For anyone thinking about donating, talk to your doctor/practice nurse or the nurse heading up the donation unit.

People, please don't be put off by anything you've heard or read, go and talk to those who know. Have the test beforehand (that should eliminate the problem beast had) and donate.

Oh and we now have Bourbons as well as custard creams

Exactly - think of Bezzer's mother and don't let the thought that blood transfusions saved Stan's life put you off!

Well how about that! You're welcome bud

AndrewR, make sure you're well hydrated leading up to donating...it helps the blood flow quicker! (At least that's what the nurse told me affects how long it takes for a pint to come out).

Cheers, Mark - a pint for you next time we meet!

I've probably got a bit of every O+ donor in the country of the last 20 years in me by now I've received so much blood that I tend to reject anything that isn't HLA matched to my own cell-surface antigens now though. That means that I rely on a much smaller pool of donors now than just those of the same blood type.

Cue the mandatory "Ive had most of the forum in me at some point" jokes

I'll be giving blood at the weekend.......


....sweat and lots of tears.
Cam sensor to replace (according to the widget) which died in North Wales, I live in London! It was a long day. So, going to replace the manifold I have been putting off as it would be silly not too, hence tears.

I did give blood, seem to of fallen off the map of late? Anybody who can donate, should!

The chances of a serious complication to giving blood are virtually zero. The faints and "fits" seen (not true seizures) are due more to the psychological effects of the situation. A healthy adult would have to give over 25% of their blood volume to have a true effect on their blood pressure.

Don't be put off and don't assume everyone else will do it so you don't have to.

I'm sorry to hear you have a lung condition Beast, however, this thread is about giving blood and why people dont do it, if you have a lung condition then that will be the reason you don't do it, what you originally said was;



Which to someone thinking of giving blood could really put them off!
If you'd said in your original post that you had a complication which caused you to be ill I wouldn't have been a sarcastic mofo, but that's just me.



Adding a wink after calling me a dickhead doesn't really diffuse the comment, I wouldn't type anything on here that I wouldn't say to someone face to face.


Back on topic, I may ask if it's possible for me to give blood again now it's been over ten years since I had Hepatitis, is there a time limit on those sort of things or is it one strike and you're out?

Jim, if you've had Hepatitis B or C, unfortunately you can't ever give blood.

The National Blood Service FAQs

Exactly,personally i have 3 family members who wouldnt be here if it werent for donors.
I think time and hectic lifestyles for most reduce the amount of donors currently.

Ah

Let that be a valuable lesson to you all, Nairobi girls aren't as clean as they would let you believe they are!!


I think mine was Hep A but I will have to double check that.

www.nairobi-brides.com must have standards, couldn't you make a claim?

well,obviously if i had known there would be problems i wouldnt have been to donate blood would i?
i would happily call you a d**khead to your face

Well I've been called much worse but usually by people who know me, close family, friends, etc.

Anyway, I'm not going to bite as you would like me to so we'll just leave it at that.

By 'eck Stan did you have half an idea this topic could have unleashed such emotive talk?
I don't see why some that don't give blood should be given a hard time especially if they're being "up-front" about it. The arguments may be spurious or they are just not at that stage yet. Perhaps if a close relative or even they suddenly needed a transfusion it would be enough to pop them over the edge and queue up for the caravan.

Me, I've not given blood either but this is a good topic and is making me rethink it. Do they accept stuff from old codgers? What say you Jimboy mate?

I'm scared of tea.

I'm scared of being called a dickhead.

I spend most of my life terrified.

Well to lighten things up a bit, my sister got a nickname "half pint" because they used to only take half a pint of blood from her rather than the full pint, or three-quarters or whatever it is, on account of her being smaller/slimmer than average.

And why no links to the classic Hancock sketch? (For our junior members to enjoy )

WHAT? The whole sketch??

No just the first bit where he thinks the pin prick is the whole donation (for our less brave members like Brewster and roly)

Just watching it now... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPHhHyoOhjU with a lovely young June Whitfield

and the bit you need starting at 4:00 in part 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAtKjuiMpRk&feature=related

But that's nearly an armful!

Nurse June

I give when i can, infact am due to give next week, however the last couple of times i have been ill

Are there risks........ yes, TINY ones, but the way i see it, I personally am prepared to take a 0.000001% chance of *serious* illness in the knowledge that by giving blood it have a huge chance of saving lives.

and hyper mate, no one can force you to give blood, its your body & your choice BUT your logic is pants!.

A few years back a jehovah witness came knocking on my door. Normally I politely say not interested, but this woman had a badge saying please DO NOT give blood.

I asked why, and her comments were that there is medically NO need what so ever for blood, and that it is highly dangerous and spreads diseases. She also said that there was a complete synthetic alternative which totally replaced any need for blood.

Again, choosing not to give blood is one thing, but spreading lies and disinformation is completely wrong. It is the one and only time I ended up in a rage over a cold caller type person.

as for Donor cards - also mentioned on here.

I am of the opinion that the current system is ass over tit. Sometimes by the time a person is found to be a donor, it may be too late. I am of the opinion that you should carry a card and be on a database to NOT be an organ donor, and the assumption made that if you are brown bread your bits are assumed to be donatable.

I also think anyone who would sign up for such a system (for none medical reasons) is automatically placed behind anyone else in a donor list when possible matches come up...... ie let those people have an organ (if they want it (hypocrites) ) but only if there are no matching recipients who ARE prepared to donate organs on their death.

Normally donating is mild discomfort at worst. The only time I had a problem was when I got there and they had a student nurse and they asked me if I would be happy to let her try.

They have to learn somewhere (and she was fit! ) so I said yes, and she missed the vein. After much wiggling she gave up and the senior took over.

The student was so appologetic. I wont lie to you, if that happens, it hurts like a female dog and I had a bruise for ages, but come on guys, we are talking a few mins of pain (worst case) and an unsightly bruise to have the chance to help save a life.

BUT when you get there, if you are nervous, just tell the people there. Whether they admit it to you or not, generally some are more experienced than others, and if you are really worried they can normally make sure you get someone who is less likely to sting you.

Now bone marrow donations............................. I keep on trying to psyche myself up to put myself on that list, but - and I know I am a hypocrite myself as all the above is still true - but even my mate who is a doctor told me (off the record) not to do that. I hope to man up soon and get myself on it.

Good post. Although bone marrow donation is not as painful as it once was.

given blood 3 times now,used to be easy when i was in the RAF as they had them come to the base,but ive not seen any blood donor wagons in a while,but will do it anytime i can. i like the free coffee and biscuits

Ashamed to admit I have never given blood
Its something I feel I should do, but never seem to "have got round to" doing.

This thread has really made me look at myself in a different way and reassess my priorities, when I was younger I was attacked by some muppet from behind and if I hadn't been so close to home I WOULD have needed a transfusion, as it was I was in bed as white as a sheet for days afterwards due to the amount of blood I had lost.

Saddens me that even though I would expect blood to be available if I ever needed it that I've never made the time to donate myself

However, I'm now going to find out where and when I can do so as a direct result of this thread

Paul

@ big Mike - great post, fully agree. I signed up to organ donating a few years back in brum whereby they maintain a register not requiring cards....if when i croak, they can have the lot as far as i'm concerned

Hair transplant anyone

Didn't know you needed one, from what i've heard you be better buying a balaclava

Dammit you got me

Lmfao, very good you tosser

Just to bump this and add my own recent experience.

Now approaching my 2nd Blood donation although as I have a rare blood group they want me to donate platelets instead, and I can do that every month.

I hate needles, to the point that I have dental work done without injections. I wish I could explain why I am willing to risk sever tooth pain for the sake of a small pin prick in my gums. Weird

However even I, given what I have witnessed in various hospitals over the last year, could no longer deny other the benefit og my blood

The process was painless and as i advised them of my aversion to needles they did not do any puncture of veins till I was well settled and lying down. It took 20mins and the only side effect was a bit of tiredness over the next 24hrs.

Wife and Eldest daughter have now joined me too.

Go on, give it a go.

I'm a platelet donor. The only issue I have is that I travel from time-to-time and that can stop me donating due to potential disease risks from nasty countries like USA and Italy... Also had a slight cold last time I went which also stopped me.

They won't have me at all (unless they've changed the rules recently): diabetes, spleenlessness, far too much travel to such hellholes as, basically, everywhere around the world, and a history including dengue fever...

The last time I gave blood, I bumped into a woman I'd recently had 4 dates with (I ended it in a phone-call because she was a sponger, and a bit odd amongst other things).

I spotted her. She was ahead of me and I PRAYED she'd get seen and done before it was my turn, and I was quite happy to pretend we'd not seen each other. I was sitting with my back to her, she then called out my name and said hello, to which I felt obliged to reply. She was then in the drinks and snacks area for 5 minutes before I headed over, me hoping she'd left at that point but no, she was still there.

And the only free seat was next to her.

I politely asked how she was, but it was pretty awkward. As she left she said "Well, I'd better be off before I say something rude." She then posted over Facebook how she'd told the nurse all about me and could the nurse go and sort me out.

Suffice to say my next donation won't be at that centre!

So how did the nurse "sort you out" then, or did you sort him/her out instead?