my co-worker has donated blood, plasma and bone marrow for over 20 years and has the scars to prove it

Hag, no offence, but I never know with you, joke or otherwise.... is he a lab animal?

I would but don't trust the staff to follow sterilization procedures. I do not want to get HIV because of their carelessness.

I donated blood once but that was only because the girl I was dating at the time was working for one of those mobile blood bank companies.


Oh, and I got a free Subway sandwich.

While I was being pre-screened, a woman who had just made her donation was having a very rough time. People first started to notice because she had a bit of blood dripping from where the needle went in and someone was cleaning it off the floor. Then they had to get her a cot to lie down on as she was feeling very bad. I consider myself very brave to not have bolted right then and there! LOL I guess everyone reacts differently, but it sounds like the majority of donors do just fine.

Wizard

I have a friend who donated marrow and it didn't go well. Wrecked him pretty good for 6 months.

That is a rare result. While the process is painful and involves anesthesia, and the associated risks, there is no reason for the average person to suffer long term debilitation under normal circumstances.

I do, 3 times a year max. A+ , so I usually get the "another one, fine, fine, thank you" look :-P
Had a 7-year hiatus while living in Shanghai. Although backed by semi-hard facts and definitive urban legends, I am still a bit ashamed to say I could never fully trust mainland Chinese clinics / hospitals / doctors anywhere near me with a needle or a tongue depressor !

Cheers,
Slug

He doesn't go a month without giving at least blood ...... after decades of doing that you can see small marks on his arms

He probably has over the many decades given more blood than found in the veins of all the members of SimHQ

http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20060125191211/uncyclopedia/images/0/08/River_of_blood.jpg

After 5 years of no cancer they wanted my blood again.

I remember back almost 40 years ago when I was going to vo-tech, our class would donate and the instructors wouldn't let us work in the shop for the rest of the day, so we would all sign out and go to the local bar to replenish our fluids with beer and drinks. ANYTHING for a cheap drunk while going to school. LOL

I went to my local blood bank's website, there is nothing listed about cancer/chemo being a disqualifier.

I need to go talk to them to be sure, maybe I can donate after all!

Well I have been donating blood for something over 25 years now. I'm just one donation short of my 14 gallon pin. I donate for three reasons:

To honor my mother who would come home from a factory job, her left arm bruised as if it had been caught in a machine, but she would just laugh it off saying that she had given blood that day. (this was way back in the 50's)

Because blood is always needed and I am fortunately still pretty healthy at 72 and still able to donate.

Because I am not wealthy with lots of money to give to all the worthwhile health related research projects out there, so, instead, I donate to the more immediately helpful constant need for blood.

It used to be that the Red Cross would tell you nothing about what became of your donation other than to reassure you the it had been used. Now, they at least tell you where it had been sent and that it has helped someone with cancer, or had been in a terrible accident, or the like. Never giving personal info, but reassuring that your donation has been put to good use helping someone in need.

My own daughter need three pints as a result of complications during childbirth, recently. Both she and the boy are fine and healthy. She did not receive my blood but she received someone's and we are glad it was there for her.

I urge everyone who is healthy to donate blood. Don't worry if you are unsure, you will be very well screened before they take your blood.

Doesn’t hurt to get an update on your cholesterol too, although they didn’t specify LDL/HDL numbers. Still, in line with my last work up.
Finally found out my blood type, B-. Apparently it’s more beneficial to donate that type as I did rather than whole blood, so I guess that was lucky.

You can't catch HIV or anything else from giving blood. Everything used is one time use, disposable equipment. It's been ages since they reused needle's. The HIV outbreak decades ago was from people receiving blood from infected people. Your in more danger in catching an infection from a flu shot or something, where they just give a quick swipe from an alcohol gauze vs the scrub down your arm receives giving blood.

I would give blood again if they would not prick the end of my finger to test it first ....... i have a phobia about that and it just freaks me out. Giving blood is not so bad ......but start to prick the end of my finger and I'll freak out

I didn’t even feel that. They use one of those little spring loaded deals, not the old metal jabber thing.

Maybe they offer blindfolds, or bring your own.

I hate the finger jabbing thing too. Anytime I need an IV or have to get a blood test, it is an adventure finding a vein (and then not having it "blow out"). I got stuck four times today before they finally got one. It has always been my understanding that once you have had cancer and chemo, you couldn't give blood.

Can't, when you go where I have been...Well, they don't like us donating blood.

I bet! You’ve done your part. Donated a knee or two a while back didn’t you?