Give Blood. It may save a life...YOURS!
Oct 2, 2003, 5:26 am
#46
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: BNE, Australia...not too far from the nearest Qantas Pub err Club
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<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by dhammer53:
Shameless bump.
Give blood. It's important.</font>
Shameless bump.
Give blood. It's important.</font>
Donating blood is like having a regular check-up for free - you're weighed, blood pressure's taken, and you get a haemoglobin (ah hemoglobin for our US cousins
) count as well.It's good for you, and more importantly, it's good for your community...
(spelling, spelling...)
[This message has been edited by willyroo (edited 10-02-2003).]
Apr 14, 2004, 9:12 pm
#47
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Originally Posted by dhammer53
It's that time again. Time to donate a pint.
Remember, by giving blood, you can check to see if your iron level is high.
Some of you new folks may want to read this thread from the beginning for a better understanding on why you should give blood.
Dan
Remember, by giving blood, you can check to see if your iron level is high.
Some of you new folks may want to read this thread from the beginning for a better understanding on why you should give blood.
Dan
Apr 15, 2004, 5:53 am
#49
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Southwestern Va
Posts: 908
I'm donating next week. Makes me feel good, I'm doing something to benefit others!
My last donation was Dec. '03. The tech told me to go home & eat all I wanted 'cause when you give blood you lose about 2 lbs. & that my metabolisum would be reved up. I have a fast metabolisum anyway. (Thank you Lord) I went home, sat down to watch the news for about 30 mins., when I got up to start dinner for hubby I felt like I was going to pass out. I did this twice. Hubby ended up fixing my dinner. After dinner I snoozed for an hour and felt fine afterwards.
Went to the scales to weigh. I weighed 110, which is the minimum. I had lost 3 lbs.
What I learned from this experience: make sure I weigh MORE than 110, rest and eat a hearty meal afterwards.
My last donation was Dec. '03. The tech told me to go home & eat all I wanted 'cause when you give blood you lose about 2 lbs. & that my metabolisum would be reved up. I have a fast metabolisum anyway. (Thank you Lord) I went home, sat down to watch the news for about 30 mins., when I got up to start dinner for hubby I felt like I was going to pass out. I did this twice. Hubby ended up fixing my dinner. After dinner I snoozed for an hour and felt fine afterwards.
Went to the scales to weigh. I weighed 110, which is the minimum. I had lost 3 lbs.
What I learned from this experience: make sure I weigh MORE than 110, rest and eat a hearty meal afterwards.
Apr 16, 2004, 7:10 pm
#50
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Originally Posted by birdstrike
I don't think they ask about this, but if you've ever had unexplained nerological symptoms then blood donation is contra-indicated.
It seems there once was someone diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis who was killed in a car crash. His corneas were dontacted and transplanted into two different recipients.
Both recipiients later came down with rabies(!)
It seems there once was someone diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis who was killed in a car crash. His corneas were dontacted and transplanted into two different recipients.
Both recipiients later came down with rabies(!)
How does MS equate to rabies? Please explain....
Apr 16, 2004, 7:29 pm
#51
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Join Date: Oct 2000
Posts: 15,788
Originally Posted by techgirl
I'm surprised no one questioned this statement when it was originally made.
How does MS equate to rabies? Please explain....
How does MS equate to rabies? Please explain....
The patient in question had presented with symptoms suggestive of MS.
Rabies also affects the CNS. I can only presume that the person in question was actually suffering from rabies and was mis-diagnosed.
This was told to me by a neurologist and a second neurologist standing nearby confirmed it. I haven't looked for a citation recently but couldn't find one when I last looked.
Apr 16, 2004, 7:56 pm
#52
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: MCI
Programs: AA LT Gold; BA Silver; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 3,081
Blood donations
I wish I could.
I donated in December. In February I went to India on business. I'm now deferred for 6 months (malaria risk) and I'm likely to go to India within that time- I may end up deferred as long as I have this job. Really unfortunate- I'm gloriously healthy otherwise and would like to help those who aren't.
I donated in December. In February I went to India on business. I'm now deferred for 6 months (malaria risk) and I'm likely to go to India within that time- I may end up deferred as long as I have this job. Really unfortunate- I'm gloriously healthy otherwise and would like to help those who aren't.
Apr 16, 2004, 8:04 pm
#53
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Originally Posted by birdstrike
It doesn't equate, only relates. AFAIK, it is still impossible to definitivly diagnose MS short of an autopsy. The diagnosis is based on symptomology and none-definitive signs like oligiclonal banding in the CSF.
The patient in question had presented with symptoms suggestive of MS.
Rabies also affects the CNS. I can only presume that the person in question was actually suffering from rabies and was mis-diagnosed.
This was told to me by a neurologist and a second neurologist standing nearby confirmed it. I haven't looked for a citation recently but couldn't find one when I last looked.
The patient in question had presented with symptoms suggestive of MS.
Rabies also affects the CNS. I can only presume that the person in question was actually suffering from rabies and was mis-diagnosed.
This was told to me by a neurologist and a second neurologist standing nearby confirmed it. I haven't looked for a citation recently but couldn't find one when I last looked.
Some of us (*ahem*) might take that as a personal attack.
Apr 17, 2004, 12:35 am
#55
Join Date: May 2002
Location: In the home of the "brave"?
Programs: Whatever will get me out of Y and into C or F!
Posts: 3,748
Mooo!
Originally Posted by GK
I am astounded at the restrictions on giving blood if you lived in Europe. Total denial of BSE in the US ! Sorry then folks, that makes two reasons why your not getting my blood.
Or am I considered contaminated by living under the Bush regime?
Apr 17, 2004, 6:41 am
#56
Suspended
Join Date: Feb 2000
Posts: 13,344
Regardless of where I live, my travel patterns etc., I am not allowed to give blood period. I used to be a regular donor, aphersis as well, but because of one simple fact, I am gay, they don't want my blood.
Surely they could take it, screen it and use it. Yes safeguards need to be in place but with the tests around for HIV etc., why can't they check my blood, confirm it is ok and then use it. I have always found it appaling that a female can be friendly and unsafe and give blood regularly, while a gay male cannot give at all.
Surely they could take it, screen it and use it. Yes safeguards need to be in place but with the tests around for HIV etc., why can't they check my blood, confirm it is ok and then use it. I have always found it appaling that a female can be friendly and unsafe and give blood regularly, while a gay male cannot give at all.
Jul 11, 2004, 9:49 pm
#57
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Originally Posted by dhammer53
It's that time again. Time to donate a pint.
Remember, by giving blood, you can check to see if your iron level is high.
Some of you new folks may want to read this thread from the beginning for a better understanding on why you should give blood.
Dan
Remember, by giving blood, you can check to see if your iron level is high.
Some of you new folks may want to read this thread from the beginning for a better understanding on why you should give blood.
Dan
With all the bloodletting going on here these days, I suggest you take some time off from Omni and go give blood.
Jul 12, 2004, 6:49 am
#58
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Join Date: Apr 1999
Location: Bryn Mawr PA & Wailea HI
Posts: 15,726
quote:
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".....Before they take your blood, the do a test of your 'iron'. Your iron level should be between 15 and 16. That's healthy. So today, my iron level was 17. http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/eek.gif
When you give blood, you reduce your iron level. So by giving blood today, I was able to bring down my iron level.
I wouldn't even know that my iron level was high unless I gave blood, or went for a check-u....."
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The body has a (usually wonderful) feedback mechanism and your blood iron level will be back to exactly where it started in a few days. There are more medically approved and efficient ways to lower blood iron levels (in addition to home blood-letting, leeches and visits to the neighberhood vampire.
I am not fond of the mega-organization called the Red Cross Assoc. Too many scandels and too much bureaurcracy. I occasionally give my blood to a smaller non-profit outfit in Delaware. Its much more user friendly and charges me a small annual fee too.
Lastly when giving blood, there are increasingly too many intrusive pages to read, questions to answer and overall invasion of my privacy. Each year I have to read more and more and answer more and and of my private life. Medical testing of the blood is still required (or it should be) to insure blood safety. Questions, travels, intimacy etc insure absolutely nothing toward any blood safety.
MisterNice
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".....Before they take your blood, the do a test of your 'iron'. Your iron level should be between 15 and 16. That's healthy. So today, my iron level was 17. http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/eek.gif
When you give blood, you reduce your iron level. So by giving blood today, I was able to bring down my iron level.
I wouldn't even know that my iron level was high unless I gave blood, or went for a check-u....."
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The body has a (usually wonderful) feedback mechanism and your blood iron level will be back to exactly where it started in a few days. There are more medically approved and efficient ways to lower blood iron levels (in addition to home blood-letting, leeches and visits to the neighberhood vampire.
I am not fond of the mega-organization called the Red Cross Assoc. Too many scandels and too much bureaurcracy. I occasionally give my blood to a smaller non-profit outfit in Delaware. Its much more user friendly and charges me a small annual fee too.
Lastly when giving blood, there are increasingly too many intrusive pages to read, questions to answer and overall invasion of my privacy. Each year I have to read more and more and answer more and and of my private life. Medical testing of the blood is still required (or it should be) to insure blood safety. Questions, travels, intimacy etc insure absolutely nothing toward any blood safety.
MisterNice
Jul 12, 2004, 1:53 pm
#60
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 4,531
It Really Matters
Dear Colleagues,
As someone who deals with patients suffering from leukemias, lymphomas, and other blood-related cancers, I can tell you your donations of blood products are vitally important. Thank you so much for taking the time to volunteer.
I cannot tell you the number of patients whose lives have been saved - almost single-handedly - by platelets, plasma, and red blood cells obtained through volunteer donations.
For those of you who enjoy donating and have no ill effects, please consider contacting the local red cross (or your major cancer centers) to donote platelets. These are truly the life saving products for many cancer patients.
Also, we are in urgent need of donors to the National Bone Marrow Donor Program. By adding a tube which contains a few teaspoonsful of blood to your donation, your HLA typing will be placed in a national registry for cancer patients who require life-save bone marrow transplants. More information can be found here. Folks of minority and multiple ethnic groups are especially encouraged to apply.
As someone who deals with patients suffering from leukemias, lymphomas, and other blood-related cancers, I can tell you your donations of blood products are vitally important. Thank you so much for taking the time to volunteer.
I cannot tell you the number of patients whose lives have been saved - almost single-handedly - by platelets, plasma, and red blood cells obtained through volunteer donations.
For those of you who enjoy donating and have no ill effects, please consider contacting the local red cross (or your major cancer centers) to donote platelets. These are truly the life saving products for many cancer patients.
Also, we are in urgent need of donors to the National Bone Marrow Donor Program. By adding a tube which contains a few teaspoonsful of blood to your donation, your HLA typing will be placed in a national registry for cancer patients who require life-save bone marrow transplants. More information can be found here. Folks of minority and multiple ethnic groups are especially encouraged to apply.