Blood Donors, share your knowledge and experiences here.

The mobile drive I went to was at my city library. They were at quite a few places that day. Next time I plan to go to their main building though.

The thing is, they didn't know my blood type at the time, because I didn't know my blood type either, so they just suggested Power Red because they needed red cells the most. Now that they know my type, they may suggest something else on the next visit.

I didn't memorize the whole chart :) but I think they will continue with the Power Red.
 
So New Years Eve 2008/09 giving blood was my New Years resolution, after finding out I was 0-.
I went to the first blood drive of the year, turned out that you have to make an appointment so I did it for the next time, then found out I was pregnant and they don’t let you give blood while pregnant or breastfeeding, so that was the next 7 years, then I went to another blood drive, I was told it would take 45 minutes and that wasn’t going to work with 3 young kids.
Well 2 kids are at school, 1 at kindy and I have an appointment for next month!
 
I’ve given blood several times, and really should do it more often. There seems to always be a shortage. I know if I or a loved one needed it, I’d be very grateful to the donors.

So, I liked that suggestion about the Double Red, so I called the Red Cross and it turns out, I'm too short! I now see that on the website, but didn't see it when I was looking yesterday. The Red Cross representative told me that a woman needs to be at least 5'5" but I'm only 5'3!

Yes, I recently found out about this and I am also too short. LOL, back when I was in my 20’s, I couldn’t donate for years because I didn’t meet the minimum weight requirement of 110 lbs. but that’s not a problem anymore. ;)
 


I’ve given blood several times, and really should do it more often. There seems to always be a shortage. I know if I or a loved one needed it, I’d be very grateful to the donors.



Yes, I recently found out about this and I am also too short. LOL, back when I was in my 20’s, I couldn’t donate for years because I didn’t meet the minimum weight requirement of 110 lbs. but that’s not a problem anymore. ;)

I find it weird that males only have to be 5'1 and 130lbs to give Double Reds, whereas females have to be at least 5'5. The disparity is a bit strange.
 
I find it weird that males only have to be 5'1 and 130lbs to give Double Reds, whereas females have to be at least 5'5. The disparity is a bit strange.

I agree. It seems really strange and restrictive for women. I would guess that the vast majority of men meet the 5'1" requirement, but 5'4-5'5" I think is the average height for women, so that would exclude probably half of women here.
 


Just to be proactive about it, I went ahead and scheduled my next appointment months in advance. I'm set to donate again on Saturday, September 22nd, this time at the main donor bank instead of a mobile drive, the High Desert Donor Center. This way they can determine what type of donation would be best for me and my blood type and have the equipment on hand to do it.

Fifteen weeks is a long time to wait though. =(
 
Just to be proactive about it, I went ahead and scheduled my next appointment months in advance. I'm set to donate again on Saturday, September 22nd, this time at the main donor bank instead of a mobile drive, the High Desert Donor Center. This way they can determine what type of donation would be best for me and my blood type and have the equipment on hand to do it.

Fifteen weeks is a long time to wait though. =(
Once you've donated, they should be able to simply tell you what blood type you have. You shouldn't have to go to their main donation center.
 
Once you've donated, they should be able to simply tell you what blood type you have. You shouldn't have to go to their main donation center.

I already know my blood type: A-Positive. I would just rather do it at their main center this time. It's only about ten miles from my house, not out of the way at all.
 
I already know my blood type: A-Positive. I would just rather do it at their main center this time. It's only about ten miles from my house, not out of the way at all.
:thumbsup2
At our center they have better snacks, more comfortable tables and since you aren't on the "bus" everything is a little more stable.
 
Timely topic - DH's Lodge runs blood drives every few weeks, and he just worked one this morning. :goodvibes (He was cooking breakfast, by the way. - Cupcakes are great, but the Mason's here go all out!)

Anyway, thank you, OP, for sharing your experience and inspiring people, and thank you to all the donors here!! I needed a transfusion when I had DS because my platelet count went dangerously low. We're both here because of people like you! :cheer2::thanks::cheer2:
 
Our senior class did a blood drive and we all gave (who could) - in the middle of me giving blood, I got sick and lightheaded, so they had to put me kinda upside down for the remainder of the time.

The Yearbook Teacher (who was a JERK) was taking pictures and I said no, please dont, and he said whatever and continued to shoot, and the Red CRoss ladies lined up in front of me and told him to leave that he didn't have my permission to take my photo like that (i mean who would?) and he ACTUALLY SAID - who cares? She's an outcast and most of her class makes fun of her - just give them something to laugh about later on.

He was escorted out and repreminded by the principal and the superintendent after I told my parents (we were friends with the then superintendent)
 
I made a mistake it seems. My donor branch says that my best match as an A-Positive is for a Plasma donation. My Plasma benefits roughly 85% of the population, so I'm almost a universal donor if I give that specific component. And they say I can donate once a month, 12 times a year if I choose to go that route.

https://www.lstream.org/a-b-o-impact/donation-types/apheresis-donation/plasma/

I'm going to ask about that on my next appointment. I'd be proud to become a Plasma donor; I know Firefighters need it frequently to treat burns and I have incredible respect for them and what they do.
 
I’ve donated a few gallons over the course of my life, I’m O+ so a pretty common type. I donate ~4x a year, any more than that and it’s hard for my body to make up the missed iron. I am lucky that genetically my bp has stayed low even with family history of hbp and heart disease. I am of the mindset that it’s beneficial for my health too to donate so I have less buildup in my arteries.
 
Something I would like to get an informed opinion on: Multivitamins. I just started a Multivitamin routine a few days ago, taking Centrum for adults once a day. I have a fairly decent diet now, I don't eat much fast food and I consume junk food in moderation (a serving of chips with a sandwich, a pack of sour candy once a week, etc), so I wanted to know if taking a multivitamin to round out any nutrients I'm missing is a good idea, or even safe to do.
 
My story is similar to the OP. We had a blood drive at work and I volunteered to help and then decided to donate after asking some of the donors the questions I had. I had all these fears about fainting and that it was going to hurt, etc. It turned out not to be bad at all. The actual donation took about 10 mins. I would do it again especially if the location is convenient.
 
Something I would like to get an informed opinion on: Multivitamins. I just started a Multivitamin routine a few days ago, taking Centrum for adults once a day. I have a fairly decent diet now, I don't eat much fast food and I consume junk food in moderation (a serving of chips with a sandwich, a pack of sour candy once a week, etc), so I wanted to know if taking a multivitamin to round out any nutrients I'm missing is a good idea, or even safe to do.

Obviously, the best thing to do would be to ask your doctor. Have you had your vitamin levels tested? There have been some studies going around for a few years that seem to indicate that multivitamins will not make you healthier if you have no nutritional gaps without them. Without knowing all your vitamin levels though, many people won't have a clue if they're deficient in something. If you are, a multivitamin might not give you enough of what you're deficient in.

For some medical conditions, vitamins are metabolized differently or the condition necessitates different vitamin requirements. That's why it's always good to consult with a doctor, as in some cases a multi vitamin would not be a good choice.

I do take one, and I also take additional supplements of several other vitamins. I'm vegetarian and lactose intolerant though, and have some deficiencies. I also get regularly tested and my doctor prescribes my vitamins and changes the dosages as needed.
 
Had an appointment to donate today. Went in, got screened and cleared, and fifteen minutes into the procedure they turn off the machine and send me home. They said the machine couldn't infilitrate or something, whatever that means.

I feel bad about it now. I feel like I messed up or something. They said it wasn't my fault, it just happens sometimes, but it still makes me feel guilty that I made the effort to go and it didn't pan out. =(

Well, I go back in two weeks for the same thing, platelets and plasma. I'll try again then, and hopefully it'll go better.
 
Had an appointment to donate today. Went in, got screened and cleared, and fifteen minutes into the procedure they turn off the machine and send me home. They said the machine couldn't infilitrate or something, whatever that means.

I feel bad about it now. I feel like I messed up or something. They said it wasn't my fault, it just happens sometimes, but it still makes me feel guilty that I made the effort to go and it didn't pan out. =(

Well, I go back in two weeks for the same thing, platelets and plasma. I'll try again then, and hopefully it'll go better.
It really does happen. And it really isn't your fault.

Sometimes it just doesn't work out.

Hold your head high that you were willing to do it.
 

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