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Post by bianca42 on Jul 18, 2018 13:17:28 GMT
Every time I try, I wind up being on the wrong side of borderline anemic. I tried again last month and was told the same thing. I've had that problem a few times. I eat tons of spinach leading up to the visits and haven't had the issue since. (Spinach salads for lunch and spinach in my breakfast smoothie.) I've donated 14 times and just signed up to donate again after reading this thread. I've been meaning to call and just haven't had a chance. Who am I kidding...I just haven't made it a priority. I gave platelets the last time and after the whole process they said there is something in my platelets that make them unable to use them. But, I can donate whole blood.
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redhana
Junior Member
Posts: 60
Jul 28, 2014 1:25:32 GMT
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Post by redhana on Jul 18, 2018 13:18:26 GMT
I can't because I don't weigh enough.
DH has donated every 54 days like clockwork for the last few years but recently his iron levels have been on the low side so he's probably going to start spacing out the donations a bit more.
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Post by lisacharlotte on Jul 18, 2018 13:22:10 GMT
I’m ineligible due to living in England for two years in the mid-80s.
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Post by newfcathy on Jul 18, 2018 13:32:27 GMT
I donated my first pint in hs. In college, they came at least 3 times a year & stayed for 3 days. The university provided a quarter of the bank’s needs each year. The dorms & frats would hold competitions to see who could donate more, in pints &hours.
After college and hitting the one gallon mark, I stopped giving as often. Had my workplace offered it though, I would have given more regularly.
I am O neg, my dh is O neg as well, so is ds. HD’s sister is also O neg. Dh had chicken pox as a kid so they particularly want his blood.
I have recently started giving again. I am scheduled for a double donation next week at a blood center. I hope it will be more comfortable & efficient than the local monthly drive at the VFW Hall.
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Post by sean&marysmommy on Jul 18, 2018 13:34:33 GMT
Back when I could donate, I went regularly. My son needed a blood transfusion when he was just a few weeks old, and I'm very grateful for people that donate if they can.
I had hepatitis in 2005, which has made me unable to donate since then. I was sad when I realized I couldn't do this one, small thing anymore, that has so much potential for good.
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Post by PolarGreen12 on Jul 18, 2018 13:41:00 GMT
are the platelets the things they pay for? Plasma is what they pay you for. ARC doesn't pay for plasma. The companies that do pay for plasma, that product isn't going to people. Its usually sold to companies who do testing, or make other products with the plasma like pharmaceuticals and skincare.
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Post by Darcy Collins on Jul 18, 2018 14:03:20 GMT
I should check if I'm eligible again. I travel often enough to destinations that require a 12 month waiting period that I haven't been able to donate regularly.
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Post by workingclassdog on Jul 18, 2018 14:06:55 GMT
Yep I donate.. it's random but my current employer has the blood mobile come to the facility three or four times a year.. so far since I have been here I haven't been able to donate. First time I had a cold and second time on an antibiotic. So hopefully the next time I will be able to.
I encouraged my DD to give because she has a very rare blood type. I didn't know but she does donate through her work as well. (So proud!)
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 19, 2024 1:14:46 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jul 18, 2018 14:23:37 GMT
I so wish I could. I have tried and tried...no matter how much water I drink before donating, I still turn pale white get dizzy and the staff ends up attending to me instead of getting additional donations. They thanked me and asked that I not return ..... (which I agree with)
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PrettyInPeank
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,691
Jun 25, 2014 21:31:58 GMT
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Post by PrettyInPeank on Jul 18, 2018 14:56:27 GMT
I have donated 2 gallons. They gave me a 2 gallon gold drop when I hit that mark. I haven't donated in years because I had 3 kids and was breastfeeding. I am not up do donating right now because I feel so tired and off, donating drains you and I just can't afford that right now.
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PrettyInPeank
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,691
Jun 25, 2014 21:31:58 GMT
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Post by PrettyInPeank on Jul 18, 2018 14:59:02 GMT
Every time I try, I wind up being on the wrong side of borderline anemic. I tried again last month and was told the same thing. I had really low iron until I started taking a prenatal vitamin. The pure iron pills didn't absorb well or something, but the multivitamins did. Maybe try that?
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Post by seikashaven on Jul 18, 2018 15:00:20 GMT
I donate every three months. I have terrible veins but they're so experienced that they eventually get there.
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Post by candygurl on Jul 18, 2018 15:07:24 GMT
I used to when I was just out of high school but haven’t in a long time. Next time they are at my church, I will. I know how important it is for people who need it.
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Post by Blind Squirrel on Jul 18, 2018 15:10:11 GMT
Thank you to those of you who donate. My dad always donated blood and platelets; he has one of the rarer blood types. Unfortunately, he was recently diagnosed with Leukemia and as others have said, has been the recipient of many, many transfusions.
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Post by jenis40 on Jul 18, 2018 15:44:59 GMT
Plasma is what they pay you for. ARC doesn't pay for plasma. The companies that do pay for plasma, that product isn't going to people. Its usually sold to companies who do testing, or make other products with the plasma like pharmaceuticals and skincare. Thanks! It was the one blood product I never used so I don’t know much about it. I just knew it was the one you could get money for based on the plasma centers in my city.
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Post by jenis40 on Jul 18, 2018 15:48:54 GMT
Thank you to those of you who donate. My dad always donated blood and platelets; he has one of the rarer blood types. Unfortunately, he was recently diagnosed with Leukemia and as others have said, has been the recipient of many, many transfusions. I am sorry to hear about your dad‘s diagnosis. Please feel free to pm me if you have any questions. I personally found it difficult to find people to talk to. It’s a less common cancer so it doesn’t have as large a group of survivors to reach out to.
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Post by mama2three on Jul 19, 2018 4:10:39 GMT
I haven't, because they can barely find a vein to stick me for a draw at the lab. They often need to resort to a butterfly (smaller, often used on kids) needle. The needles used for donation are much larger. This is why I don't donate. I don't think the back of my hand is the best place to go in for a blood donation, and that is where my blood draws usually happen. I have the same problem. I used to donate often when younger and have a gallon pin - but they always had some problem trying to locate a vein, having to use a tiny needle and the most experienced nurse. I'll admit I do have tiny veins, but the last two times I donated were agony. Multiple sticks and start overs in both arms. They eventually quit after just half a pint-the minimum they could keep. I ended up with huge bruises on both arms that lasted for weeks. Last time my hemoglobin was borderline, so that coupled with my vein problem has kept me from donating again. DH still donates regularly.
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Post by fredfreddy44 on Jul 19, 2018 4:40:50 GMT
I have a long history of giving blood. My mother and I are both O neg, the universal donor. I remember her many gallon pins on our bulletin board at home so I gave blood for the first time at 17 during a HS blood drive.
For two years in college, the local donation center was across the street from my apartment. I gave a lot then and until I got pregnant in 1999. I got pregnant again and didn't donate for awhile.
I started again around 2005 but around 2010 started getting denied due to low iron. The nearest BB was 40 minutes away and I was busy.
But 4 years ago my friends convinced me to try again and I passed! Since then I have given every 2-3 months. I also found out my O neg blood is CMV negative so all my blood is given to premie and young babies. I have hard time saying no to babies!
But I got rejected again last month. I take iron pills for 10 days and now don't drink coffee for 2 days before so hopefully I will have enough iron. I gave my blood away again 3 days ago.
I want to continue. I don't much volunteer wise and having a needle stuck in me for 6 minutes seems easy.
In the end, my mom gave away a lot. I have probably given blood 50-70 times in my life.
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Post by mom2samlibby on Jul 19, 2018 4:50:47 GMT
Dh had chicken pox as a kid so they particularly want his blood. Why is this? They never said anything about chicken pox when I donated.
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PaperAngel
Drama Llama
Posts: 7,357
Jun 27, 2014 23:04:06 GMT
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Post by PaperAngel on Jul 19, 2018 8:05:31 GMT
I cannot, since I'm anemic. Plus, just the thought of blood (even reading this thread!) makes me feel faint/lightheaded. :::shudder::
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Post by lauradrumm on Jul 19, 2018 8:52:15 GMT
I hate the fact that I had hepatitis A so I can’t donate. It doesn’t bother me at all so I wish I could! But my DD is O+ and donates regularly!
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Post by malibou on Jul 19, 2018 14:29:38 GMT
My mom is O- and donated regularly until she just got too small. I couldn't wait to start donating. I'm O+.
I was 17 when I joined the Army, and they love a blood drive. My first year in, I couldn't donate due to a wicked bout of poison oak that had me on dexamethasone for 9 months. Then they said I didn't weigh enough for the rest of my service.
As I got older, I put some weight on and went in with my sister. Once they got a stick, I filled my bag very very fast. Every time after that they couldn't ever get me started. Then I got Lymphoma, so I am a no dice person now.
My inability to give blood makes me very sad. I do volunteer to help at blood drives.
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