So thats what it feels like to donate two units of blood at once.

[Viking 0]

Not whole blood though, just the red cells.

I went it and donated my blood for use in grandma's surgery. The nurses here got excited when they found out my iron lvl is at 17.9. The minimum for a normal whole blood donation is something like 12, the highest they take is 18.3. They were like "you need to come in as often as you can!!!

I swear you must have footprints on the back of your helmet - chicagoskydiver
My God has a bigger dick than your god -George Carlin

[wingnut 0]

dude i work with has to high of an iron count, hehas to donate blood like 1 a week so he doesn't die.. some wierd disorderhe has............

______________________________________
"i have no reader's digest version"

[RevJim 0]

I have no idea what my Iron levels are, ever, but I donate an absurdly large amount of platelets every 8 weeks. I do this because I know it goes straight to cancer patients in chemo.

My last donation was last week, and I think I may give whole blood next time, as they are really bugging me to do it (I'm O-).

I know I'm the universal donor, but giving, what is essentially directly to cancer patients is just so rewarding.

It's your life, live it!
Karma
RB#684 "Corcho", ASK#60, Muff#3520, NCB#398, NHDZ#4, C-33989, DG#1

[Viking 0]

thats awsome Jim

I swear you must have footprints on the back of your helmet - chicagoskydiver
My God has a bigger dick than your god -George Carlin

[RevJim 0]

Quote

thats awsome Jim

No morso than what you are doing, bud. It doesn't matter how any of us help, or how much, just that we help, period.

Good for you.

It's your life, live it!
Karma
RB#684 "Corcho", ASK#60, Muff#3520, NCB#398, NHDZ#4, C-33989, DG#1

[sum1mom 0]

I know what it feels like to receive your blood.

Donating saves lives...many. It doesn't feel good after you give, but, you should feel good later knowing that you have have helped someone.

kudos to you...........we may be related

[dorbie 0]

I can't give blood because I'm British.

There's a rule in the US that if you spent > 3 months in the U.K. since 1980 then you're seen as a risk for vCJD (mad cow disease). Other countries have exclusions too. If you've spent 6 monthis in Europe then you're also considered a risk.

Even in the UK now if you've *received* a blood donation since 1980 the health services won't accept donations from you. I guess they figure it's a compound risk.

[peacefuljeffrey 0]

Quote

I can't give blood because I'm British.

There's a rule in the US that if you spent > 3 months in the U.K. since 1980 then you're seen as a risk for vCJD (mad cow disease). Other countries have exclusions too. If you've spent 6 monthis in Europe then you're also considered a risk.

Even in the UK now if you've *received* a blood donation since 1980 the health services won't accept donations from you. I guess they figure it's a compound risk.

It pains me that I cannot give blood anymore, since I spent 3+ months in England in 1992. The rule is only a few years old, here. From 1988 until just a couple of years ago, I was a steady and regular blood donor. I went from giving whole blood regularly to giving platelets (via plateletpheresis) regularly, and did so all through college and afterward.

Then the bloodmobile came to my work and during the questionnaire I informed them about my stay in England, and they told me I could no longer donate. Damn!

Now, I don't understand: they won't let Brits or tourists who've stayed in Britain give blood here in the U.S... wouldn't you think that Brits would not be allowed to give blood IN BRITAIN, if there's a risk that blood carries vCJD? I mean, take a healthy Brit who needs blood -- he's not going to get blood that was imported from the U.S., right? He's gonna get British donor blood, I imagine! So if that's safe for him, why isn't it safe for me to give in the U.S.?

They're always running at a deficit for blood... I have to imagine that this makes it seriously hard to keep a good supply up. They need to develop a test to see if blood can carry this disease, and a test for vCJD in general, so they can start getting their donor base back up from so low. They must have lost a shitload of eligible donors with this rule. And because I know it costs them MILLIONS of dollars, I have to imagine that the blood centers would not have let this rule come to pass without a fight if there was not a legitimate worry about transmission of vCJD from blood. That's what scares me. Not a word of opposition made it 'round to me about it. I haven't read a news article about the blood centers protesting that there's no need to cut the donor base by fully one-third!

-Jeffrey

-Jeffrey
"With tha thoughts of a militant mind... Hard line, hard line after hard line!"

[bob.dino 1]

As an Irishman who lived in the UK for four years, I can't give blood in Oz either. That sucks.

[JustaBill 0]

Everytime I donate they comment on how high my iron level is. Last time I went in the girl said they almost expect me to rust LOL

------------------------------------------------
I've done so much, with so little, for so long
I'm now expected to do everything with nothing forever

[peacefuljeffrey 0]

Quote

Everytime I donate they comment on how high my iron level is. Last time I went in the girl said they almost expect me to rust LOL

"Iiiiis heeee live or dead?
Has he thoughts within his head?!"

Youuuu arrrrrre IRON MAN!!

-Jeffrey

-Jeffrey
"With tha thoughts of a militant mind... Hard line, hard line after hard line!"

[wmw999 2,452]

If your iron level is way high, you might want to check into hemochromatosis. It's not something dread, but yes, it's too much iron, and the best way to control it is to donate regularly.

The iron can damage your organs in the long run, and the earlier you find out, the smaller the impact (which can be truly neglibigle). I have a friend and a cousin with it. The friend found out through blood donation, and just changed from platelets to whole blood every 2 months. That's not a big impact on your life...

Wendy W.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[freakflyer9999 1]

Quote

I have no idea what my Iron levels are, ever, but I donate an absurdly large amount of platelets every 8 weeks. I do this because I know it goes straight to cancer patients in chemo.

My last donation was last week, and I think I may give whole blood next time, as they are really bugging me to do it (I'm O-).

I know I'm the universal donor, but giving, what is essentially directly to cancer patients is just so rewarding.

I too am a platelet donor. Platelet donors are allowed to donate more frequently than whole blood donors. At my local blood bank I'm allowed to give every two weeks with a maximum of 24 donations per year. With platelets you are also allowed to give multiple units at each donation. I generally give triples, but always make at least a double donation. So far this year I've made 12 donations for a total of 34 units. I'll make one more donation this year which will put me over the 20 gallon lifetime mark.

The vast majority of platelet donations at my local donor center goes directly to a local children's hospital for cancer patient treatment. They have a few pictures of these kids posted at the donor center which continue to be my inspiration to donate regularly.

[JustaBill 0]

Quote

If your iron level is way high, you might want to check into hemochromatosis. It's not something dread, but yes, it's too much iron, and the best way to control it is to donate regularly.

The iron can damage your organs in the long run, and the earlier you find out, the smaller the impact (which can be truly neglibigle). I have a friend and a cousin with it. The friend found out through blood donation, and just changed from platelets to whole blood every 2 months. That's not a big impact on your life...

Wendy W.

Next time I donate I'll be sure to ask them what my level is, and ask my doctor about it. Thanks Wendy, Of course I donate fairly regularly already, usually not right on the day, but within a couple of weeks, depends on work.

------------------------------------------------
I've done so much, with so little, for so long
I'm now expected to do everything with nothing forever

[SpeedRacer 1]

Quote

f your iron level is way high, you might want to check into hemochromatosis. It's not something dread, but yes, it's too much iron, and the best way to control it is to donate regularly.

The iron can damage your organs in the long run, and the earlier you find out, the smaller the impact (which can be truly neglibigle). I have a friend and a cousin with it. .

I hear this condition is much more common in men than women.

Speed Racer
--------------------------------------------------

[wmw999 2,452]

Quote

I hear this condition is much more common in men than women

It is; it's also more common in people of northern European ancestry. Both the people I know have both of those attributes.

Ferritin, rather than pure iron, is apparently what you should check for in the blood -- it's the real indicator that it's not just too many iron pills.

Wendy W.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)