I (John) give blood pretty regular, got a silver badge somewhere as well.
But I absolutly hate needles!! Can't watch them do it, either to me or other people, have to look all round the room and anywhere but my arm. Its not the blood, just the thought of the f**king needles!!
The reason why so many people are prevented from giving is pure statistical anlysis. If you rule out drug users / homosexuals / bi-men then statistically your ruling out the groups with the biggest exposure to HIV etc. They don't care about how safe individuals are its all about risk assessments.
In the NE the nurses are usually pretty friendly and chatty.
John & Shel
I used to give blood when I was younger and got to about 30 pints I think, but that was more or less pre aids scares days. Had to give up cos I started taking long term medication. Never found it painful and don't have a needle phobia thank god cos I now have to self inject twice a day. Shame they went over the top with their restrictions as it can and often is a life saver for some people
Have they changed the rules about people who have had sex with bisexual man not being able to give blood?
X
Well done all of you who`ve given blood. Had considered doing it myself, but am now prevented from doing so due to my heart op and drugs. Cant be an organ donor for the same reasons.
Ooooooooo I was talking to somebody on Saturday morning after I'd just found out that I've finally been accepted to go on the bone marrow register for the Anthony Nolan trust! :bounce:
I'm so pleased, I had to jump through a few extra hoops due to my Aspergers - they wanted to make sure I was capable of making the decision, fair enough I suppose.
I have quite a rare blood group (1:10,000) so I may be able to help somebody - hopefully I will.
I joined because a colleague of Mrs Kiss' died last year - she was only 39 and left behind a husband and young family.
Please don't believe the myths about being a bone marrow donor, it isn't painful. I would urge anyway who is under 40 and in good health to check out as you could save a persons life.
I gave blood pretty regularly. But I seem to have let it slip when I changed jobs. It's a really easy way ordinary people can save lives. I should start again.
When I was donating, I used to find the sight of the blood leaving my body and the feeling the warmth of the blood through the tube resting against my arm a rewarding experience.
I wonder if I have a bit of a blood fetish? :shock:
I have been giving blood for many many years now.
I have quite rare blood and following the first donation they sent me a letter saying that I had helped save someone's life.
Certainly I have had some bad experiences giving blood, but all my own fault. I once left without having my tea and biccies, 30 minutes later I feinted, falling onto a convector heater ..... I resembled a Zebra after that one.
I also always carry my donor card in the event that I pop my clogs.
I used to give blood before i moved from kent to near rugby and will find out if it is possible for me still to be able to donate blood as both my parents needed blood when they had operations and because of those op's couldnt donate themselves
Will let you know if i am able as for now i dont know
Wayward1
Also just found this. Which might help some people, to see if theycan donate blood.
Thanks sarah
Will let you know if i can :P
I heard that the National Blood Service was selling some of the blood abroad....just something someone told me,didn't know where to believe them or not....has this actually happened?
Actually donating tomorrow lunchtime - platelets, nice relax for an hour.
Been giving blood since i was 18 on and off, pretty much regularly for the last 10yrs, got a silver badge and a yellow card (platelets) now. Started doing apheresis about 5 yrs ago, after my mum had a few donations after cancer treatment, doing my bit to give back, feels good too. Had to stop a couple of times for tattoos and piercings - tended to coordinate tattoo and a piercing to cut down the gap.
May have to stop soon though, cos of the bi-sexual man rule, even if protected!! Shame really, as much as i want to help other people I also want to enjoy my life and so far this swinging lark has been too much fun to stop. I will feel guilty when i do stop though, i've looked at the question the last couple of times and thought, oh-oh, that's going to be a problem sometime soon.
c'est la vie
tc,
h xx
while looking for other things... i noticed this....
Did you know there is actually a petition on the number 10 website calling for the National Blood Service (NBS) to overturn then ban stopping Gay and Bi (G&B) Men giving Blood
obviously if that happened.... then they would have to overturn the rest....
i ve been giving blood for over 13 years now, had my silver badge for 25 units and i am very proud of the fact that i do something amazing.
you never know when you will need it, so i urge everyone who can to do so.