Do you donate blood?

[andyd]

I never asked. I'm a breast cancer survivor. Before that, I couldn't bear to watch the needle. 5 vials of blood. After awhile, though, I would compliment the nurse on her skill. Some were darn near painless. Like a mosquito bite that didn't itch afterward. Others not so much. I hadn't seen a doctor in 15 years, before I started falling apart at 57 yrs old.

 

[Shannow]

Originally Posted By: Jarlaxle
The mad cow scare, I recall.


Originally Posted By: Trav
That makes sense. Maybe thats what happened to my wife.


What's the difference between BSE and PMT ?

One's Bovine Spongiform Encephalopothy....

The other's Mad Cow Disease !!!

 

[GumbyJarvis]

Do when they need A+ blood.
Though only on post, civilian blood services don't like deployments or smallpox shots within so many years

 

[Trav]

I'm living with the mad cow.

 

[MNgopher]

I donate my O+ whenever the bloodmobile comes around to work. Kind of luck of the draw on who's drawing blood that day, but its never been a big deal. I just don't watch when the go for the draw

Works fine.

I'm also not offended by the questions. Since I'm choosing to donate something that will be used by another human, its only reasonable they screen donors to ensure as little waste or chance of missing something as possible. Not like its any different than what a doctor might ask you...

 

[GMFan]

I donate when I can. It's a good thing to do and it's healthy for your body to produce new blood. I used to get light headed/faint when I saw blood but the trick for me is to simply look away. Just look the other direction and it doesn't bother me. However recently I was able to look and it didn't bother me. I guess I got used to it.

 

[dailydriver]

Originally Posted By: crinkles
Originally Posted By: asiancivicmaniac
I'm surprised at how many people are afraid of needles.


+1, especially since they can help so many people by getting over a little needle phobia. I bet those people dying from needing blood are afraid of that too.


It is NOT the fear of needles/pain/'pinch', but the THOUGHT of all of that life fluid draining out of me (and the resultant trauma/'working myself up' causing me to black out totally) that stops me from donating.
Maybe if they could lead me blindfolded into the donation room WITHOUT seeing all of the full/filling bottles, and did it QUICKLY. it could be possible.

But, according to other responses in this thread, it is a moot point for me anyway, having had prostate cancer, and treatment thereof, as well as other medications.