[AwsomePossum]

(Original post by littleone271)
You only have to be 17.

one more year then they can have my blood then

Not sure why im so excited about this :s

[RobertWhite]

(Original post by Angry cucumber)
You shouldn't faint.... It is extremely rare for someone to faint whilst giving blood for someone who is above 7.5 stone.

My identical twin brother was on the verge of it. I'd rather not risk it.

[Angry cucumber]

(Original post by RobertWhite)
My identical twin brother was on the verge of it. I'd rather not risk it.

Even if you did faint - you'd be out for a few minutes. You won't be in a coma or anything silly. You get used to the feeling of being dizzy after your first donation.

I have a pint of blood taken off every month (more than 3 times more regular than a blood donor) I don't even notice the after effects!!

[roseroserose.]

If they knocked my unconscious I'd be happy to do it. I'm anaemic like my sister though, and they reject her nearly every session

[RobertWhite]

(Original post by Angry cucumber)
Even if you did faint - you'd be out for a few minutes. You won't be in a coma or anything silly. You get used to the feeling of being dizzy after your first donation.

I have a pint of blood taken off every month (more than 3 times more regular than a blood donor) I don't even notice the after effects!!

I'd rather help in other ways. Giving blood really isn't my thing and doesn't appeal to me.

[robo donkey]

(Original post by AwsomePossum)
one more year then they can have my blood then

Not sure why im so excited about this :s

Because you're a good person I would guess.

[AndroidLight]

first time i did this i strut like boss in college afterwards
i smile big at a girl who is hot
she look at me
i look at her
tbc..

[littleone271]

(Original post by roseroserose.)
If they knocked my unconscious I'd be happy to do it. I'm anaemic like my sister though, and they reject her nearly every session

Can you not just eat a beef burger and have a glass of red wine?

[Vohamanah]

I want to give blood. I always thought I couldn't, because I had a major heart operation when I was 5 and assumed I would have had a blood transfusion, but the doctor says I can.

So I'm planning to go soon. They have a mobile blood van come round to my office every 3 months, but stupidly all the appointments are in the morning during working hours =/ But I will do, next time they come round. Out of interest how long does it normally take? And how long before I could go back to work afterwards, without risking fainting etc?

[littleone271]

(Original post by RobertWhite)
I'd rather help in other ways. Giving blood really isn't my thing and doesn't appeal to me.

I bet receiving blood would appeal to you if you were dying and needed a blood transfusion. I've given blood at 9 stone before.

[littleone271]

(Original post by Vohamanah)
I want to give blood. I always thought I couldn't, because I had a major heart operation when I was 5 and assumed I would have had a blood transfusion, but the doctor says I can.

So I'm planning to go soon. They have a mobile blood van come round to my office every 3 months, but stupidly all the appointments are in the morning during working hours =/ But I will do, next time they come round. Out of interest how long does it normally take? And how long before I could go back to work afterwards, without risking fainting etc?

It depends really. I only weigh around 9 and a half stone and I don't feel any different after giving blood. But some people are much bigger than me and they faint afterwards. You won't know unless you do it I guess. My advice is to eat loads of iron and vitamin C before you give blood. I normally just eat a beefburger and drink a glass of red wine and maybe some orange juice earlier on in the day. It takes about 10 mins to actually get a pint of blood out and then you've got the time of filling in forms and the iron test ontop of that. When I go to a centre it takes about 30 mins I'd say but I've never done it in a van.

You don't have to do it in the morning. Phone up and make an appointment for when it suits you.

[EffieFlowers]

(Original post by TattyBoJangles)
If you hadn't actually lost any / much fluid then it wasn't hypovolaemic shock - probably a panic attack, as you said. Hypovolaemic shock is caused by a loss of bodily fluids

I got told by my doctor that I am essentially a freak, as it happens rarely.

A panic attack is a period of intense fear where you believe that you may well die.

I doubt it was that.

[chessu]

I've donated once, in school. I was scared as hell, I can't stand needles or blood too much, but it's really not that big of a deal. I did faint, but not because I was scared. If the needle's in, it's a bit uncomfortable, but the fear passes. Most people don't pass out either and even if you do, you're gonna feel VERY dizzy before (not just like, ooh light-headed, it's actually dizzy and the world actually goes around). And then you feel really sick for a second and then you're being waken up already. They'll keep an eye on you, so you won't hurt yourself, plus unconcious person doesn't HIT the ground, it's more like flowing.

[EffieFlowers]

(Original post by JordanadroJ)
Just reading these stories is making me feel sick

It's made me feel like cringing into a ball.

[EffieFlowers]

I'm too puny.

[Annie72]

Why are people going on about being small and it affecting them giving blood?.I assume they are referring to their weight as I'm only 5ft tall and it doesnt affect me at all.But then I'm a heffer in terms of weight.......

[Vohamanah]

(Original post by littleone271)
It depends really. I only weigh around 9 and a half stone and I don't feel any different after giving blood. But some people are much bigger than me and they faint afterwards. You won't know unless you do it I guess. My advice is to eat loads of iron and vitamin C before you give blood. I normally just eat a beefburger and drink a glass of red wine and maybe some orange juice earlier on in the day. It takes about 10 mins to actually get a pint of blood out and then you've got the time of filling in forms and the iron test ontop of that. When I go to a centre it takes about 30 mins I'd say but I've never done it in a van.

You don't have to do it in the morning. Phone up and make an appointment for when it suits you.

Ah thanks for the advice. I think the van is only there for the morning, but I'll see about making an appointment next time it comes =)

[ALazyThracian]

I can't do it

I have blood transfusions so i can't donate as much as i want too, signed up to the organ donor list though!

[roseroserose.]

(Original post by littleone271)
Can you not just eat a beef burger and have a glass of red wine?

I'm taking iron tablets to build myself back up again, I eat enough meat. GP says its more likely to do with my periods, which I won't go into detail about

i hope il be able to one day, I'm 0- so its a waste not to

[gagaslilmonsteruk]

I'd consider it, but due to being diabetic I can't :/