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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 16 of 16. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Deneb on July 26, 2010, at 21:35:27
I tried donating blood during a blood drive in my early 20's, but I was rejected because I wasn't 110 pounds.
Now I'm way past 110 pounds lol. I'm at my heaviest ever at 132 pounds! I'm only 4'11"!!
I'm eating healthy now to lose all this weight I've gained. I hope to be 95 pounds by the end of 2 years time. At 95 pounds, I'd be ineligible to donate blood, so I was thinking I should donate now while I'm fat!
As a bonus, I just found out that donating a pint of blood is the equivalent of burning 600 kcal!
The only worry I have is my low blood pressure. Does anyone else who has low blood pressure donate blood?
I am take it easy after donating blood. I don't have work right now. I can lie in bed all day if needed.
Should I donate blood?
Posted by obsidian on July 27, 2010, at 0:14:40
In reply to Should I donate blood?, posted by Deneb on July 26, 2010, at 21:35:27
Posted by manic666 on July 27, 2010, at 2:53:34
In reply to no :-) (nm) » Deneb, posted by obsidian on July 27, 2010, at 0:14:40
they wont let you if your on meds,i was a blood donor for years. But when start ad,s no you carnt. Think obout it your blood with your meds in may kill someone who is in a life threaterning illness. I no the heat screen an test but it may slip through
Posted by 10derHeart on July 27, 2010, at 5:52:47
In reply to Re: no :-), posted by manic666 on July 27, 2010, at 2:53:34
Hey manic,
That's not correct - not in the U.S. anyway. Don't know anything about European rules or those in the U.K in particular.
Most meds are completely fine here. Google the American Red Cross (Canadian about the same, I think, but harder to find specific instructions) and/or criteria for blood donation, etc. and you can find details easily. A very few specific meds fall into that category of a complete deferral while you are on them, but definitely not ADs, and I don't think anything else Deneb currently takes bars her either. They will check BP, pulse, weight, and iron level in blood. I had to do BP 3 times once as was a little anxious, I guess. But it came down and they were okay with me donating then. I can't recall the lower limit for BP and can't find it online, but low BP *could* disqualify you.
This applies strictly to the ARC. Any other agency might have something slightly different. For example, I also used to donate to the Armed Services Blood Program (ASBP) and they were a bit stricter about some things. Mainly more stringent about time spent in Europe and even more specifically the U.K. because of CJD (often called "mad cow" disease). ARC does have the restriction also (and also to countries with malaria problems, if I recall) but you could donate sooner after having left the country. After I spent 3 years in Germany about 10 years back, I couldn't give blood for a while to the ASBP but the Red Cross was okay with it. Different philosophies about the extremely rare chance of infection with CJD from eating tainted beef. Probably way overdoing the abundance of caution, but I could understand....
It is a wonderful thing to do and so needed in the summer months, at least where I live. If you have type O you are a goldmine. Wish I did.
I can post some more about this later, but it's 3:30 am here and I have to go to frickin' sleep...why AM i up checking these boards????????
Posted by Dinah on July 27, 2010, at 8:15:04
In reply to Should I donate blood?, posted by Deneb on July 26, 2010, at 21:35:27
I donated blood with borderline low blood pressure. I passed out, took forever to be steady enough to leave, and the blood center suggested that I not do it in future.
If you're passing out or feeling faint all the time, I'm not sure why you wish to drain yourself of blood and go on a minimal carb diet. Giving blood under these circumstances would seem to be a recipe for passing out. I used to pass out when I was a teen. I hated the feeling and wished to avoid it as much as possible.
How is school? Does passing out and feeling faint make it difficult to do your studies?
Posted by manic666 on July 27, 2010, at 9:03:19
In reply to Re: no :-) » manic666, posted by 10derHeart on July 27, 2010, at 5:52:47
well you may be right then, i no my buddy is on gout meds an he was rejected. I just asumed as they ask if you have took cold meds before donateing. In these days in england we have more blood for test than the pint you give. Not really but thats how it seems, AIDS, STD,S MAD COW , HOSPITAL INFECTIONS, HEPITITES.ECT ECT We had a lot of trouble with blood for plasma comming from america with aids, before screening was updated when the junkies were selling there blood many years ago,Whats that all about,selling blood seems gross an open to all infections, we dont recieve payment its all voluntary. maybe uk ed could shed more light on the med rule. Once when donating i had whats called a bleeder , as i had the 10 minute lay down, the blood burst through the bandaid on my arm.i was unawere till i had lost another pint an some one spotted it . Ruined a cool shirt an layed my out. Its a cool way to help people ,an you get a free blood screen.And in todays world is not a bad thing
Posted by 8675309 on July 27, 2010, at 10:50:23
In reply to Should I donate blood?, posted by Deneb on July 26, 2010, at 21:35:27
Posted by manic666 on July 27, 2010, at 12:55:49
In reply to Re: no :-), posted by manic666 on July 27, 2010, at 9:03:19
That,s a straight answer,8675309 is that to the poster, or to blood giving.or religious belief,s .my wife is o positive an loves the idea she may have saved a babies life.
Posted by 8675309 on July 27, 2010, at 12:58:01
In reply to Re: no :-), posted by manic666 on July 27, 2010, at 12:55:49
That was to Deneb. I am a donor myself.
Posted by manic666 on July 27, 2010, at 13:02:07
In reply to Should I donate blood?, posted by Deneb on July 26, 2010, at 21:35:27
thanks for the answer, an yes Dehen is to fragile
Posted by 10derHeart on July 27, 2010, at 13:02:54
In reply to Should I donate blood?, posted by Deneb on July 26, 2010, at 21:35:27
I do agree with Dinah, though. This does not seem like the best time, eligible or not. It could be physically and emotionally a bit much. Doesn't mean never, just not right now. Why risk a bad experience considering the things Dinah mentioned?
What was the reason for thinking of blood donation? To be helpful and have a purpose? Can you find other volunteer opportunities that don't involve putting your body through that right now? With animals? Or whatever you like?
I commend you for wanting to; I have done it off and on for years and am about to later this week, I hope. But I don't faint or ever have low BP, either. I feel fine afterwards, just thirsty. I also had to slowly and gradually overcome anxiety (I can be a very hard stick for them to get the blood going at times...) so I had to forget about it during certain periods of my life, too.
Posted by manic666 on July 27, 2010, at 13:20:30
In reply to Re: Should I donate blood? » Deneb, posted by 10derHeart on July 27, 2010, at 13:02:54
Im like you, it takes an age to find a vain.Smack my wifes arm an they stick up like snakes. an yes it does hurt a bit,well a dull throbing ache.its a big neddle as its hollow for blood flow.If your suffering anxierty it can be a trama,I used to try to use it as theropy to beat anxierty ,as there are many triggers. ie, a waiting room full of people,an enemic test,blood, a big neddle, all in all a lot of triggers ,an thats just to people wihout a mental ilness.So 10 fold for us
Posted by Deneb on July 27, 2010, at 14:53:18
In reply to Re: Should I donate blood? » Deneb, posted by Dinah on July 27, 2010, at 8:15:04
Well, I was also thinking it would give an excuse to have a big carbohydrate filled meal before I donate and then cookies afterwards. :-)
I read that donating 1 pint of blood is like burning 600 kcal.
I'm pretty sure I have type O positive blood as I typed it myself in a high school lab. Donating blood is something I've always wanted to do, it's such an easy way to save a life!
I'm pretty sure my meds wouldn't disqualify me for donating, I read that most meds are OK.
I'm worried about my low blood pressure though, maybe I will give Canadian Blood Services a call and see if low blood pressure is OK.
I should study some even though my grades don't count for this class. I need to practice studying.
Posted by manic666 on July 28, 2010, at 3:09:43
In reply to Should I donate blood?, posted by Deneb on July 26, 2010, at 21:35:27
http://www.eiu.edu/~blddrive/cani.htm seems you were right about donateing on ad,s, her is the english list of do,s an donts.
Posted by Phillipa on July 28, 2010, at 12:25:55
In reply to Re: Should I donate blood?, posted by manic666 on July 28, 2010, at 3:09:43
I gave once age 20 and met my ob-gyn there who wasn't happy as I was anemic during pregnacy and he said til childbearing over no donating for me. Phillipa
Posted by manic666 on July 28, 2010, at 12:39:46
In reply to Re: Should I donate blood?, posted by Phillipa on July 28, 2010, at 12:25:55
> I gave once age 20 and met my ob-gyn there who wasn't happy as I was anemic during pregnacy and he said til childbearing over no donating for me. Phillipa
i think your safe now ????????????
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