Giving blood

[Mofo8]

Has anyone else on here ever given blood? Every 2nd Wednesday I finish work at 2.30pm. On my way home I often pass one of those Blood Donor thingies (first Wednesday of the month it must be). Yesterday on a whim I decided I would pop in, as it's something I've always said I would do.

Jebus.... I didn't realise how fucked you could feel after it though! I suppose it was my own fault, after waiting a while before filling the form out, I lied when they asked me if I'd had lunch. The only stuff to have passed my lips yesterday before giving blood was around 5 cups of tea and 2 packets of crisps (and a good few roll-ups - but I didn't eat them).

A pint doesn't seem like much when it's lager, but it seems a lot when it's blood and it's getting sucked out your arm. Maybe I was being paranoid, or perhaps it was to do with the lack of food, but as I lay there with the tube in my arm, I'm sure I could feel myself getting physically weaker. I've had a look to see what the average blood volume a person has is, both online and in the dusty recesses of my brain, and estimates vary from 8 to 12 pints for an average adult. I weight around 10 stone and am slightly built, so I reckon at least 10% of my blood was donated.

When finished they make you lie there for 5 minutes and give you a drink of juice, before asking you to sit in another area for a bit and have another drink. After that they asked me if I was fine, and I said yup. I went to stand up, felt a bit wobbly, and was asked to sit down for another 10 minutes. Someone who'd left just before me collapsed nearby and was taken to hospital.

I went out for a quiet pint last night and felt completely fucked after a couple of pints, so, if you want a cheap night out then get yourself down to a blood donor van. "Take 2 pints please nurse. I've got a night out tonight!"

I'll definately keep it up, although, the next time I'll make sure I've eaten well beforehand.

 

[Doomy]

Nice one chappy, people should give more blood. I only started due to personal circumstances but what i can say is that its used for far more than just pumping bleeding people full of blood.

I salute you.

 

[babs]

They wouldn't get blood out of me, just Gravy @ 5.0% ABV

 

[Mobius]

My uncle does. Everytime he does it he vomits and faints. Its hilarious.

 

[Stimpy]

I don't think I will ever give blood voluntarily, I know it's a worth while thing to do but it just scares the shit out of me, the one and only operation I have ever had the only thing that was worrying me was the fact they may need to take my blood, when the doctor was talking to me all I kept on saying was now you won't be taking my blood will you?

 

[Dr_Weasel]

I started giving blood at Uni as it was a cheap night out that evening. Two pints of cider that night and I was absolutely rat-arsed.

Ive been giving blood ever since. Ive never had a problem with it, but ive stopped drinking alcohol and smoking the evening after giving blood. It doesnt hurt at all, nothing to be scared of.

However, they keep writing to me to ask if I would donate platlets or bone marrow... That sounds rather too painful to me...

 

[leggy]

The only thing that scares me is finding out that I have AIDS or some other serious blood based illness. That or vCJD. :/

Saying that, I'm a rare blood group so I really should get my arse in gear.

 

[ArrrImmaPir8!]

A pint doesn't seem like much when it's lager, but it seems a lot when it's blood and it's getting sucked out your arm.

A pint? Why, that's very nearly an armful!

Donating plasma is pretty cool, they take the blood, filter out plasma and stick the rest back into you. There is also the added bonus of getting paid for it.

 

[mr.Blacky]

The only thing that scares me is finding out that I have AIDS or some other serious blood based illness. That or vCJD. :/

Saying that, I'm a rare blood group so I really should get my arse in gear.

I used to think that too, but (in Holland) they need the common blood groups more then the rare ones.

 

[Doh_boy]

I'd do it if they didn't insist on opening exclusively at times when any normal person is working!

And pir8...tony hancock!?

I was never a fan

 

[Wij]

Actually it does hurt when I do it. Apparently I have weedy little thin veins

 

[Tilda]

I read an article somewhere, probably a parents BMJ, about blood efficiency in the NHS. It was pretty shocking, for a single open heart surgery they use roughly 16-21* pints of blood, and regulations require they have even more on standby. It suggested that if the NHS sorted out its efficiency in using blood there wouldn't be as much of a shortage as there is now. Similarly it recommended increasing the research into artificial blood etc.
It was interesting stuff

There isnt a centre near me, however i intend to donate when i move nearer one \o/

Tilda

/edit *It should be noted that im not 100% about the exact figures, however it was certainly a lot, especially as there are 100's of operations like that carried out each year.

 

[yaruar]

I want to give blood but they refuse to take it from me.

Which means they obviously don't want it all that much.

 

[venus]

I read an article somewhere, probably a parents BMJ, about blood efficiency in the NHS. It was pretty shocking, for a single open heart surgery they use roughly 16-21* pints of blood, and regulations require they have even more on standby. It suggested that if the NHS sorted out its efficiency in using blood there wouldn't be as much of a shortage as there is now. Similarly it recommended increasing the research into artificial blood etc.
It was interesting stuff

There isnt a centre near me, however i intend to donate when i move nearer one \o/

Tilda

/edit *It should be noted that im not 100% about the exact figures, however it was certainly a lot, especially as there are 100's of operations like that carried out each year.

as you say i am not sure that those figures are correct. However Sometimes it is possible to collect blood that is lost during or after an operation and return it back to the patient. If the NHS can develop this so that there is a high success rate then hopefully there wont be much need for us to give a lot of blood.

 

[snake75]

oh i guess im more than a bit squeamish cos im feelin faint and sick just readin about it

uke:

 

[Mofo8]

I want to give blood but they refuse to take it from me.

Which means they obviously don't want it all that much.

I take it it's either recent tattoos or piercings that makes you not eligible to give blood? I guess they're just erring on the side of caution.

 

[Wazzerphuk]

I take it it's either recent tattoos or piercings that makes you not eligible to give blood? I guess they're just erring on the side of caution.

Or he likes eating crack whore needles.

I'm going for the needles.

 

[venus]

I take it it's either recent tattoos or piercings that makes you not eligible to give blood? I guess they're just erring on the side of caution.

they will accept you six months after you have had a tattoo

 

[~Yuckfou~]

Me and needles don't get on too well :/
I'm a wuss !

 

[Jupitus]

Yuarar is really just a woossey

 

[SoWat]

Giving blood is one of the easiest things you can do that really makes a difference.

I've given blood for over 20 years now, with no ill effects whatsoever. I used to hate the 'stab in the finger with a scalpel' thing, but these days they have a springy needle device which doesn't hurt at all.

 

[Trebz]

I've no problem with needles but I'm the kinda guy who vomits and faints when I bleed. That's what puts me off, otherwise I'd happily do it.

 

[pcg79]

ive given blood a few times.
the last time, i got on a tube, boiling hot, and i stood up.

i was on the floor within seconds of the train leaving the platform. then i tried to get up again and i passsed out again
no fucker helped me up! i hope none of them bastards get my blood

 

[SawTooTH]

Ive taken blood a few times. I have no problems sticking needles into people.

 

[JBP|]

"a pint? Thats nearly an arm full"


sorry but as no one else was gonna slip in the classic blood doner quote i thought id do it myself

 

[Wazzerphuk]

I always mean to do it, it's certainly something I'd like to do. I'm just really not all that keen on giving someone my blood knowing full well what I put into it.

 

[Doh_boy]

"a pint? Thats nearly an arm full"


sorry but as no one else was gonna slip in the classic blood doner quote i thought id do it myself

Take another look at arrrrimmapir8's post...

Look again

 

[Custodian]

I got a little bronze badge somewhere that they gave me for my 15th pint
That was about 10 years ago, and I hardly given any since cos of moving around and stuff. Really must get back into the habit again.

People, it is a good thing, it don't hurt, you only go funny if you ignore their advice (move around too much too soon after, drink booze, etc.). Even if you just do it 1 time per year that is 1 good thing you did that year

 

[Lester]

The only thing that scares me is finding out that I have AIDS or some other serious blood based illness. That or vCJD. :/

Saying that, I'm a rare blood group so I really should get my arse in gear.

I believe they take it out of your arm actually you spoon.

 

[Damini]

They don't test the blood for vCJD anyways. I don't think they have plans to implement testing either, because they are worried people will stop donation because they don't want to know.