Just curious. I no longer do, have donated over 100 times myself (not actually blood- gave plasma). Also, got called once because I was a somewhat close match for donating bone marrow- turned out that someone else was a closer match I guess as I never got called back.

The reason I stopped was because it was getting too painful (scar tissue).

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The world breaks everyone and afterward many are strong in the broken places. ~ Ernest Hemingway ...

Twice- The first was in High school. Something didn't go right and I ended up with a bruise that covered the entire inside of my forearm. Either the hole in the vein didn't seal quite right, or they went a bit too far and made a tiny hole in the other side.

The second time was in the army. Things went well that time, but as luck would have it, I broke my nose the following day (about 18 hours later) and lost another pint or so. Whatever three handfuls (two hands cupped together) is, plus some gushing. Stupid doors all had to be pulled open, so I dropped what I had collected at each one. A few days later we had a PT test that included a 2 mile run. That was unpleasant given the blood loss I'd had over the weekend.

A month or so later I got a letter saying that my donation could not be accepted due to:
( ) Gonorrhea
( ) Hepatitis A
( ) Hepatitis C
(x) ALT
( ) HIV

I was able to find out that ALT stood for Alanine Amino-transferase, but that didn't really seem to comfort me all that much, as I still didn't know what it was. Something about an Iron enzyme that isn't as bad as HIV but worse than Hep C? By the time I got in to see Dr. a few weeks had passed and they told me that is was just a harmless enzyme that was produces in excess when muscle tissue breaks down, such as with constant strenuous exercise. I never bothered to check up on it. Pretty evil spot to put something harmless on that list though...

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I'm not evil.
An evil person would do the things I think up.

I got rejected a couple of times years ago due to low iron, but then I ate more iron-enriched foods and I don't get rejected anymore. We have Blood Drives at work every year. My veins are very easy to see - if someone can't get it right on the first poke, I'll ask for a different person.

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Sunset

Die Sonne scheidet hinter dem Gebirge. In alle Täler steigt der Abend nieder
mit seinen Schatten, die voll Kühlung sind.

I have donated blood. Afterwards, I was very hungry.

A friend of my donated blood and passed out on the way home while driving her car. She ended up in a body cast for months.

I gave 25 units of whole blood before moving to Australia. They won't take my blood here because I'm from the UK and there is a risk that I am infected with CJD. Hopefully they will soon develop an immunoassay to test for it in donors. It's ironic that I am the engineer who maintains the operation of the very machines that test all South Australian and Tasmanian blood donations for infections.

clop

I´ve donated blood 1 1/2 times. The first time as an obligation upon [obligatorily] joining the army (~ 300 ml). On the second time, trying to donate to a relative with leukemia, I started to tremble and have difficulty to breathe. The procedure had to be aborted. I don´t know why it happened. Maybe I was so nervous with the situation, or maybe my problems with blood sight took over. I´d wish I donated more.

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There’s probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life.

When we have blood drives at our office we always have juice and cookies for the donors. Maybe we should have Subway sandwiches or something!

That's awful about your friend - here she was giving her blood and ended up in the hospital. They always suggest to hang around and eat afterwards. My blood pressure shot way up from day surgery once because I was awake and "excited" over the surgery; they made me sit for some time, but I was feeling all sorts of queasy driving myself home, and it probably wasn't safe to do so.

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Sunset

Die Sonne scheidet hinter dem Gebirge. In alle Täler steigt der Abend nieder
mit seinen Schatten, die voll Kühlung sind.

Never have. I'd love to, but my health problems mean there's always a lot of meds in my system that would be problematic in a blood transfer.

My ex-gf used to donate, and being just a bit over the minimum weight/size limit, she'd faint every single time she went. She really hated the embarassment and day-long wooziness. She eventually stopped.

I have, however, registered as an organ doner, and my folks know my intention and reasoning. Just so I don't wake up in a tub full of ice.

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. o O ( "Quote that 'Blazing Saddles' scene at Mike, and the BAUTer gets it! " )

Quite a few times when I worked in a large office which the Blood Transfusion Service visited every 6 months.

Used to go just before lunch if possible - and then straight down the pub afterwards

I've not donated blood since I left there though - mainly through lack of time and opportunity.

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Andy

Manager Ukweatherworld

Yeah, they kinda warn you about the severe fatigue when you do this. I personally ended up taking a half hour nap, and slept like a log, the night after the one time I donated.

I usually get a kick out of watching younger women do this kind of thing. All big talk about giving and whatnot like they're blowing sunshine up the posterior of a pageant judge, then the needle hits the arm and they're either out like Tyson suckerpunched them or they hurl.

Never fails to be entertaining.

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I'm not completely heartless, the doctor who removed it told me he'd never be able to get it all.

Here posts a man who knows how to drink.

I salute you, sir.

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I'm not completely heartless, the doctor who removed it told me he'd never be able to get it all.

They have this new machine called ALEX that processes the blood it takes and puts some of it back in along with saline, so that your blood pressure doesnt drop. They end up taking twice as much blood from you, but you don't get dizzy or anything. They prefer to use that machine now. The best part is, you can only do it twice a year. So, less scar tissue.

I've donated maybe half a dozen units. Aside from slight lightheadedness for a few minutes I've never had any ill effects, although once or twice the needle site has become sore and bruised. That seems to depend on the particular operator, or maybe just random chance.

I used to donate regularly when my company brought in a bloodmobile, but thanks to downsizing and consolidation we no longer have enough people to make it worth their while to come to us. To my discredit, I haven't sought out alternative ways to donate -- except once, when my Dad and I happened to run across a walk-in bloodmobile at a mall.

One funny story: at one of my company's blood drives, a colleague decided to try to donate, even though he knew that he was very blood-shy. He bravely filled out the questionnaire and went through the interview. Then they did the finger stick, and he passed out cold at the sight of that single drop of blood. Needless to say, that was the end of his attempts to donate.

Ironically, he was our department's first aid officer. Thank goodness he never had to deal with a major injury!

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Bring back Firefly!

"It is quite clear that Occam's razor does not sharpen in your pyramid." (Nicolas)

"Still, a man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest." (Paul Simon)

Yes, gallons of it. I have been donating fairly steadily since I was 18 (I'm almost 48). I didn't donate for about 5 years, because of the CJD - the rule had been if you lived in Europe for more than 6 months. They changed it about 1-1/2 years ago - it is now if you had lived in the UK for more than 6 months (I lived in France). But about the time they changed the rule, I went to a malaria area (Costa Rica) and had to wait another year. I've given twice already this year and will be able to again before the end of the year.

In all those times I've only had problems twice - low iron one time, and the site started bleeding again another time. It is such an easy thing to do and it helps so many people.

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At night the stars put on a show for free (Carole King)

One Earth, One Sky - IYA 2009
All moderation in purple

I donated blood several times a year for 20 years. Then, eleven years ago they told me that I couldn't donate any more due to a minor medical condition. It was a major disappointment. Donating blood is something I encourage others to do whenever possible.

I gave blood every chance I got. Couldn't donate for a year after I came back from the first Gulf War. Then they stopped accepting my blood after they put in restrictions for anyone who had lived in Europe for more than six months prior to 1990. I arrived in Germany in February 1989.

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Keeper of the Jabberwock

I have donated blood to the sidewalk, trees, my bicycle and many a hobby table.

But never on purpose. I felt like fainting on reading the first posts of this thread. I guess you know why I haven't donated blood .

I didn't have too much problems with the courses on surgery mechanics though. But I focused on the machinery. Actually being in the operation room like my sister does, would never work for me.

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To the regular visitor of internet bulletin boards it is clear that it's an excellent idea your parents get to choose your real name.

I used to donate a pint every three months (the argument was that by donating, I was putting my family in a higher place in the queue if blood was needed), and was on my way toward my second gallon when a doctor drawing blood choked up on the needle and infected me with phlebitis. I've gotten over the infection many years ago, but, since it is a blood disease, I am refused at blood banks.

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Forming opinions as we speak

My SO donates, and asked me to come along. I said no. She asks why. I say because I'm a total chicken when it comes to that. She fully agreed with that .

When I have no choice, I would do it without further discussion, but as long as we have the choice, no. I really can't stand the idea and feel my legs getting weak already.

Needles at the dentist are no problem at all. Choice factor again.

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To the regular visitor of internet bulletin boards it is clear that it's an excellent idea your parents get to choose your real name.

Whenever I can. That means I have to be in the town that has the facility on the day it's open, and that's about 100 km from my home. So it's been 30 times.

Once when I was visiting some friends in another town I was asked to give a unit at the local hospital because someone needed heaps of it and they'd run out. (Someone who worked at the hospital knew I was in town). Didn't help the fellow though.

I always feel very good after having donated blood. You never know who's going to recieve it, so you're helping total strangers.