Giving Blood

I know there has been quite a few of these topics before but thought I may as well make another, now this section is here. If your 17 and in good health then give blood, use http://www.blood.co.uk to find the nearest place for it and just turn up or if you want to let them know your coming, you can fill in a form online and they will send you a letter with details of the next event and a medical questionaire to fill in. I've given it 3 times so far and going again on Monday, if you get nervous about needles and stuff then don't worry because I'm nervous everytime I go.

Reply 1

Vixen

12

I cant give blood :frown:

Reply 2

viviki

14

I gave blood for the first time (I haven't been allowed before) yesterday.

Reply 3

britishseapower

OP

14

what did you think of it? its not that bad really so I don't know why I always get stressed when I do it

Reply 4

viviki

14

Well i have major needle phobia. I had a really bad blood test at the doctors about 3 yrs ago and for some reason he couldn't get blood out and then he couldn't get the needle out of my arm and I ended up with a lump the size of a golf ball on my arm it was really bruised and swollen and I couldn't wear a long sleeved top for over a month, so I've steered clear of needles since. Anyway because I'm wimpy about it I opted to have local anasthetic before having the blood taken. It wasn't that bad at all though so I won't bother next time.
Anyway they had some problems with me my blood was flowing too slowly for some reason and my hand went numb and cold so they had to put some hot patches on my arm, and the machine broke so they had to get another one (these things always happen to me) but it didn't hurt and they were nice and professional and sorted me out and I only have the tiniest of bruises on my arm today, so i think I'd go again if everything comes out ok.
I'm asthmatic and have hayfever so they told me never to give blood if I feel at all wheezy and its prob best not to donate in the summer because of the hayfever but I think I'll donate when i can.

I went yesterday because someone I knew was going I'm too wimpy to go alone.

Reply 5

britishseapower

OP

14

My blood use to come out slowly but I think it was because I wasn't opening and closing my hand quick enough because it seemed to go quite quick the last two times

Reply 6

viviki

14

They moved the needle and then it was ok. I don't think they got my vein right. Mine are really awkward to get thats why I had the disasterous blood test.

I'd definitely go again though. I feel that its really important because if we don't do it who will, and if I ever need a transfusion I want to be sure that the blood is available for me. Call me selfish but thats the way it is.

Reply 7

britishseapower

OP

14

viviki

They moved the needle and then it was ok. I don't think they got my vein right. Mine are really awkward to get thats why I had the disasterous blood test.

I'd definitely go again though. I feel that its really important because if we don't do it who will, and if I ever need a transfusion I want to be sure that the blood is available for me. Call me selfish but thats the way it is.

Thats one reason I aint voting Conservative because even though I don't think their planning to abolish the National Blood Service, their definitely cutting funding or something

Reply 8

Checking for Spies

10

I'm too scared to do it.I had a blood test before and fainted! :eek:

Reply 9

eurasianfeline

13

i can't give blood cos i'm already slightly anaemic.

Reply 10

Irrational Pi

1

I'd love to do it, I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for blood transfusions.
But I can't. Bloody backwards Blood service questionnaire.

Reply 11

Peppi

I went for a blood test last week and fainted thats totally put me off giving bloody for quite sum time.... only thing I foned up for my result and they said i had to come back up to have a re-count!!! BOOO so I need to go through all that again :frown:

Reply 12

viviki

14

I've been anaemic before but they check your blood for it, so its not like it'll be used if you are anaemic.

They check your blood for STIs too HIV and syphillis anyway not sure about anything else and tell you the results so you've got the advantage of being tested too.

Reply 13

Angel_Cake

2

I once went to give blood. The woman was so darn rude that I'll never bother again. She treated me like some stupid kid - I was waiting to see my doctor, about HAYFEVER but because of that she completely dismissed me and wouldn't even let me explain that it was only a routine appointment and nothing serious, so I wasted all that time and money travelling there for nothing - I was only 17 at the time so I couldn't afford to just take trips out to health centres 20 miles from my home just for the fun of it.

I also get letters at least twice a week to my uni address, despite the fact that I've never ever given it out to them. It makes me so angry that they're allowed to do that, I can't believe that they actually get people to donate by pestering them by mail. I don't mean to sound heartless, but how important is it that I give blood anyway? I have the most common type around and we were always told at school that there was no shortage of that anyway.

Reply 14

viviki

14

If everyone had that attitude noone would give blood and then there wouldn't be any.
How would you feel if you were refused blood?

I will definitely give blood again, i've been refused before it didn't stop me going back its good that they have very stringent requirements. I have hayfever and it was explained to me that they'd rather I didn't give blood if I had any hayfever symptoms because it can make the people who have the blood ill (something to do with oxygen), you can't just assume that theres always going to be blood available, if everyone had your attitude there wouldn't be a blood service.

Reply 15

Angel_Cake

2

viviki

If everyone had that attitude noone would give blood and then there wouldn't be any.
How would you feel if you were refused blood?

I will definitely give blood again, i've been refused before it didn't stop me going back its good that they have very stringent requirements. I have hayfever and it was explained to me that they'd rather I didn't give blood if I had any hayfever symptoms because it can make the people who have the blood ill (something to do with oxygen), you can't just assume that theres always going to be blood available, if everyone had your attitude there wouldn't be a blood service.

Yeah...I know. But everyone doen't have my attitude so it's ok. I'm sorry, I know I probably sound cold and I know how important it is that people give blood but I had such a bad experience that it's really put me off - they should
be more careful who they employ. The woman never bothered to explain any of that to me, so I could have quite easily gone back when my hayfever was really bad and had another wasted journey. It's all very well and good to be all virtuous and just go along despite being treated like a complete idiot only good for squeezing blood out of, but in real life it doesn't always work like that.