[BeccaAnne94]

Hey guys!

So I signed up as a blood donor last year and donated for the first time in November.
I went back in April for my second donation, four different people tried to find a vein in both arms but couldn't so they sent me away and mentioned that I may be withdrawn if it happened again.
I went back again last week, three people tried to find a vein, the third went rooting with a needle but only managed to give me a bruise as he didn't find the vein. Therefore they've withdrawn me from their register.
I've always known that I have deep veins, I seem to have inherited them from my Gran as both she, my mum and my aunt have them (although my aunt is still able to donate).
I spoke to the woman at the refreshments table afterwards and she said that they're only trained to take blood from the arm, not the hands or feet like they do for blood tests.
I feel so disappointed!

Anyway....anyone else in the same situation?

[ihaveyourcat]

I can't either- I also have ridiculous veins. I've tried twice now and both times they were unable to find a vein big enough.

EDIT: negged for having small veins? harsh!

[BeccaAnne94]

(Original post by ihaveyourcat)
I can't either- I also have ridiculous veins. I've tried twice now and both times they were unable to find a vein big enough.

It's a shame , they have a hard enough time finding willing donors without considering those who try but have bad veins

[ily_em]

They couldn't find my brother's vein when he went, he hasn't mentioned that he may be withdrawn if it happens again. Maybe they didn't tell him I'll ask.

[Samus2]

(Original post by BeccaAnne94)
It's a shame , they have a hard enough time finding willing donors without considering those who try but have bad veins

Sorry to hear this OP, It's amazing that you still tried to give blood.

Sadly, you're not alone in this problem. There are so many reasons that people can't give blood that seem trivial, but at the end of the day it's all about safety.

again, sorry to hear.

[Nutty_Psychologist]

Hi OP,
I was "banned" for a year for low iron when I went and yeah I know how you feel. I just want to do something good and my family all donate and I was gutted because I'd always gone and watched them give blood when I was a kid and as soon as I turned 17 I went and felt really proud that I had contriburted. Especially when all the adverts are on telly and saying how much they need it I felt good to know that I had played my part so I know exactly how you feel as I felt awful when I couldn't do it. I have given twice since then ok, so hopefully it won't happen again but I do find it so silly that they have just taken you off the register. I have increasingly found they make it really difficult to donate these days. I understand why they do but I know a couple of people who would like to do it who can't. One of them is gay and he feels very discriminated against just because he's homosexual that he can't give blood when all he wants to do is help people.
I know this is only little consideration but maybe you could help in other ways like do a charity run or support others that are doing things for the british heart foundation etc. As I found that rewarding when I couldn't give. I think you may still be able to give bone marrow though by joining the bone marrow register and then if your a close match to someone they call you and you go donate some.

My mum is on the register and she was rushed to london where she was a match with a baby and she was told she saved it's life
So don't worry OP giving blood is only one way of helping people

[BeccaAnne94]

(Original post by Nutty_Psychologist)
I know this is only little consideration but maybe you could help in other ways like do a charity run or support others that are doing things for the british heart foundation etc. As I found that rewarding when I couldn't give. I think you may still be able to give bone marrow though by joining the bone marrow register and then if your a close match to someone they call you and you go donate some.

My mum is on the register and she was rushed to london where she was a match with a baby and she was told she saved it's life
So don't worry OP giving blood is only one way of helping people

I'll look into donating bone marrow . I do currently volunteer with a children's hospice which I love, I guess giving blood was just another way to help that didn't take up much time.

[Nutty_Psychologist]

(Original post by BeccaAnne94)
I'll look into donating bone marrow . I do currently volunteer with a children's hospice which I love, I guess giving blood was just another way to help that didn't take up much time.

Yeah I completely agree OP I do find it very rewarding and it's not like you have to do much really, they take the blood for you sort of thing lol. I currently can't give at the minute because I am on some tablets that would have an effect on the recipient. And as soon as I come off them I'm off to donate.
Also join the organ donar register as well if your not already on it, you can then keep giving even in death thats what I've also done. I know there is an option on your provisional driving licence but I know you can also do it online.

[callum9999]

(Original post by Nutty_Psychologist)
Hi OP,
I was "banned" for a year for low iron when I went and yeah I know how you feel. I just want to do something good and my family all donate and I was gutted because I'd always gone and watched them give blood when I was a kid and as soon as I turned 17 I went and felt really proud that I had contriburted. Especially when all the adverts are on telly and saying how much they need it I felt good to know that I had played my part so I know exactly how you feel as I felt awful when I couldn't do it. I have given twice since then ok, so hopefully it won't happen again but I do find it so silly that they have just taken you off the register. I have increasingly found they make it really difficult to donate these days. I understand why they do but I know a couple of people who would like to do it who can't. One of them is gay and he feels very discriminated against just because he's homosexual that he can't give blood when all he wants to do is help people.
I know this is only little consideration but maybe you could help in other ways like do a charity run or support others that are doing things for the british heart foundation etc. As I found that rewarding when I couldn't give. I think you may still be able to give bone marrow though by joining the bone marrow register and then if your a close match to someone they call you and you go donate some.

My mum is on the register and she was rushed to london where she was a match with a baby and she was told she saved it's life
So don't worry OP giving blood is only one way of helping people

No they don't... If you have a low level of iron in your blood then it's dangerous for you to donate. While you may be fine, what do you think a more libellous person is going to do if the NHS take blood knowing it's not healthy and you later collapse because of it?

The homosexual thing on the other hand is a different issue (and the rules are only getting more and more lax as time goes by - not "getting harder"). There is no longer anything stopping homosexuals giving blood, but as they are in a high-risk group, they can only donate if they haven't slept with anyone for a year - just like straight people who have slept with others in high-risk countries can't do either.

It's still controversial because of equality etc., but the health of blood recipients must come before equality of donors every time.

[Jabberwox]

Don't worry too much OP. I didn't give blood again after just one donation because I got extremely sick the next day think it might have been too much for my body to cope with.

PS: There are some ***** on this thread

[SazzyJazzyApple]

I also was not able to give blood. I have a fear about needles so was very nervous and the centre was having to close early so they wouldn't take me. But they checked my veins and couldn't get any to come up anyway so.... My mum also sometimes has this problem when giving blood. I;m only 17 so they just said to come back in a year. Perhaps this is the same with you if you are still quite young?

[Nutty_Psychologist]

(Original post by callum9999)
No they don't... If you have a low level of iron in your blood then it's dangerous for you to donate. While you may be fine, what do you think a more libellous person is going to do if the NHS take blood knowing it's not healthy and you later collapse because of it?

The homosexual thing on the other hand is a different issue (and the rules are only getting more and more lax as time goes by - not "getting harder"). There is no longer anything stopping homosexuals giving blood, but as they are in a high-risk group, they can only donate if they haven't slept with anyone for a year - just like straight people who have slept with others in high-risk countries can't do either.

It's still controversial because of equality etc., but the health of blood recipients must come before equality of donors every time.

I am fully aware that the decision was due to the health and safety of myself yes. However what I was personally annoyed about was that it was unable to give for a whole year. After 2 months my iron was at a stable level and did not drop in that year (I was regularly checked at my doctors) which is why I am saying that it is making it difficult for me to donate when I was perfectly fine.

EDIT- the part where I said "increasingly make it difficult to donate" refers to the fact they did not use to ban you for a year it used to be 4 months the same as if you had actually given
Again- yes I know that they can give blood if they have not slept with someone for a year but statistics have shown that the incidents of hetrosexual people with HIV/AIDS is rising faster then homosexual, which seems a little out dated that they have stricter rules on their sexuality.

But finally, yes I completely 100% agree with you, the health of the recipient matters more then anythintg which is why even if I think I'm healthy but have say been around people with a cold a few days before I give blood I will delay it a little longer just to make sure I have not picked anything up.

[callum9999]

(Original post by Nutty_Psychologist)
I am fully aware that the decision was due to the health and safety of myself yes. However what I was personally annoyed about was that it was unable to give for a whole year. After 2 months my iron was at a stable level and did not drop in that year (I was regularly checked at my doctors) which is why I am saying that it is making it difficult for me to donate when I was perfectly fine.

EDIT- the part where I said "increasingly make it difficult to donate" refers to the fact they did not use to ban you for a year it used to be 4 months the same as if you had actually given
Again- yes I know that they can give blood if they have not slept with someone for a year but statistics have shown that there is a higher proportion of hetrosexual people in the UK with HIV/AIDs then homosexual, which seems a little out dated that they have stricter rules on their sexuality.

But finally, yes I completely 100% agree with you, the health of the recipient matters more then anythintg which is why even if I think I'm healthy but have say been around people with a cold a few days before I give blood I will delay it a little longer just to make sure I have not picked anything up.

Ah sorry, I didn't realise that. If you were assessed to be fine it's rather ridiculous to block you! Is that an NHS policy or was it just the people on the day? I guess they're worried that it might be fluctuating and wanted to make sure it was completely sorted before you donate?

Really? If that's the case then I'd agree with you, but I can't see a study that says that? A report I just read from a UK HIV charity says that 51% of people with HIV got it through heterosexual contact and 44% through homosexual contact. So although it's a higher percentage, proportionally it's much more likely to be through homosexual contact.

[Nutty_Psychologist]

(Original post by callum9999)
Ah sorry, I didn't realise that. If you were assessed to be fine it's rather ridiculous to block you! Is that an NHS policy or was it just the people on the day? I guess they're worried that it might be fluctuating and wanted to make sure it was completely sorted before you donate?

Really? If that's the case then I'd agree with you, but I can't see a study that says that? A report I just read from a UK HIV charity says that 51% of people with HIV got it through heterosexual contact and 44% through homosexual contact. So although it's a higher percentage, proportionally it's much more likely to be through homosexual contact.

Yeah it was the blood donation policy, I was so annoyed. I stopped getting letters and was told I wasn't allowed to book anything. After a year I got a letter through to say that I could donate again. They told me on the day and I rang up to get a bit more information about it, but they sent a letter to my doctor and everything saying my iron was low. Even my doctor said she thought it was ridiculous they wouldn't let me go.
Do you give blood then
No I changed what I put after I re read what I had wrote. What I meant to put was that HIV is rising faster in hetrosexual people then homosexual sorry. So what I meant to say was, it's clearly a massive issue in both of the sexes, and as you put those percentages aren't that far apart considering homosexuals have such stricter rules don't you think?
I would be very interested to know what the rules were like on this in other counteries and whether there was the same inequalities

[callum9999]

(Original post by Nutty_Psychologist)
Yeah it was the blood donation policy, I was so annoyed. I stopped getting letters and was told I wasn't allowed to book anything. After a year I got a letter through to say that I could donate again. They told me on the day and I rang up to get a bit more information about it, but they sent a letter to my doctor and everything saying my iron was low. Even my doctor said she thought it was ridiculous they wouldn't let me go.
Do you give blood then
No I changed what I put after I re read what I had wrote. What I meant to put was that HIV is rising faster in hetrosexual people then homosexual sorry. So what I meant to say was, it's clearly a massive issue in both of the sexes, and as you put those percentages aren't that far apart considering homosexuals have such stricter rules don't you think?
I would be very interested to know what the rules were like on this in other counteries and whether there was the same inequalities

Seems overly excessive! I guess they just have your best interests at heart though (which is kinda reassuring - despite it being annoying!).

I used to before university, but then the only blood drives near me were during my working hours. I will start again soon though - I feel a bit guilty over it!

I think the issue is, homosexuals aren't necessarily needed as they are such a small proportion of the donor pool, so the harsher rules on them probably do less harm than good. While those percentages look close when written like that - there is an enormous gulf between them when you realise that only around 2% (maybe a tad higher, but not an awful lot) of the country is gay. That basically means 2% of the population are responsible for 44% of the cases, and 98% of the population are responsible for 51% of the cases. So while I do feel sorry for them (and I'm sure the people who want to donate will often be the people who make sure they are protected), the science is clear that it's better off if they have heavier restrictions on them.

If I remember correctly from the news at the time our laws were changed, I think they said most countries still have blanket bans, though quite a few in Europe had the same 1 year rule. I could just be making that up though!

[Nutty_Psychologist]

(Original post by callum9999)
Seems overly excessive! I guess they just have your best interests at heart though (which is kinda reassuring - despite it being annoying!).

I used to before university, but then the only blood drives near me were during my working hours. I will start again soon though - I feel a bit guilty over it!

I think the issue is, homosexuals aren't necessarily needed as they are such a small proportion of the donor pool, so the harsher rules on them probably do less harm than good. While those percentages look close when written like that - there is an enormous gulf between them when you realise that only around 2% (maybe a tad higher, but not an awful lot) of the country is gay. That basically means 2% of the population are responsible for 44% of the cases, and 98% of the population are responsible for 51% of the cases. So while I do feel sorry for them (and I'm sure the people who want to donate will often be the people who make sure they are protected), the science is clear that it's better off if they have heavier restrictions on them.

If I remember correctly from the news at the time our laws were changed, I think they said most countries still have blanket bans, though quite a few in Europe had the same 1 year rule. I could just be making that up though!

Yeah I can see your point, it's a good point and I guess if ever in this country HIV/AIDs was transferred through blood donation all hell would break lose in the media.
I'm sure though we both agree also there was just a cure for it over anything else.
Aww well I'm sure you'll be rolling up your sleeve soon, I'm almost at my 10th.. I think I get a pen

[CallieCat]

I got told I had massive veins xD only problem is I passed out right at the end of my third donation, but I shall be back for a fourth!

[kpwxx]

Its frustrating not being able to isn't it! It took me a couple of years to work up the courage as I'm prone to fainting and friends' bad experiences discouraged me. But
when I went I wasn't allowed because of a heart condition I have. Its only a minor thing and I know (along with my doctor) that giving blood wouldn't affect it but I'm still not allowed just in case something happens.

I completely understand that they have to, its just very frustrating!

Xxx



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