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I always want to, but had 2 BAD experiences, so I am not in a hurry to do it again. They have a hard time finding my veins, and they had to move the needle in the middle of the process.

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I saw a sign posted at my job today about this... they do blood drives at my job all the time but I haven't donated since I started there. It's time to donate again.

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I know that I am AB- and that is usually in demand. I have to ask 2 questions- how much more does it hurt then getting blood drawn. The other is I have a thyroid condition does anyone know if I can still donate if I wanted to.

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I just told my husband today that we should go. Maybe tomorrow! Stupid question...can I donate if I am BF?

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Unfortunatly I cannot. I have a factor 11 deficiency which pretty much makes my blood useless to them

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OK I can with my Hashimoto's because I am on meds but how bad does it hurt. I am a chicken I can handle my blood being drawn but I can't handle IV's

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I voted no since I lived in the UK in the early 1980's and am not allowed to donate blood in the United States. Fear of mad cow disease.

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Posted by neenie

Posted by Jamie

OK I can with my Hashimoto's because I am on meds but how bad does it hurt. I am a chicken I can handle my blood being drawn but I can't handle IV's

it's really NOT bad at all. i hate needles- i used to get such anxiety around them (though, i've gotten used to them). you just feel an initial pinch, but it doesnt hurt while the needle is in your arm for the blood to flow out. Its funny, afterwards its just like "that was it?!"

back when it still worried me, i just told myself- There are cancer patients who need transfusions and they're suffering a hell of a lot more than I will... it used to get me through it

i promise- its not that bad though, and it really does feel SO rewarding!!

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Posted by neenie

back when it still worried me, i just told myself- There are cancer patients who need transfusions and they're suffering a hell of a lot more than I will... it used to get me through it

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I am O neg so they always want me, but i have to say i dont donate. Last time i tried, my veins collapsed.

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I never have- I was going to once, but I'd just been in the hospital, had been on a lot of steroids, and felt sick from that. I never tried again, and I do feel bad about it.

I can't donate at the moment, but plan to after the baby comes. Oddly, I never knew my blood type and it turns out that I am A-, which is kind of rare. I've had so much blood taken with all these prenatal tests that donating shouldn't be a big deal. Don't know why I'd been such a chicken.

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i cant because of the meds i take but dh does all the time.

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I'll be donating this Tuesday at my Church's blood drive. Although, I *wish* I could say I was under the weight limit!

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I never did because of my fear of needles.....but since becoming pregnant, I got over that fear!
I knew I had to give blood so they could check that everything was ok with my baby and that was more important than my being uncomfortable for a few minutes.
So, I think I'll start giving blood once after I give birth!

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Posted by CheeChee

I am O neg so they always want me, but i have to say i dont donate. Last time i tried, my veins collapsed.

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Posted by neenie

Posted by june262004

I donated in high school and passed out Otherwise I so would

oh.. i pass out half of the times that i donate

i'm getting better at it, and haven't really passed out much in the last year or so... i just chug a big thing of apple juice right before i donate, and i let them know that i have a tendency to pass out, so they make adjustments (lay me down more and watch me closer).

the 1st time it happened though, i thought i had died... and i must've said that out loud, because the nurse assured me that i was alive (though, i could hear her laughing at me )

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My father and I were in the gallon club twice over. We donated for years, just about every 56 days.

Then my Dad got very sick and was scheduled for a major operation. I flew to Florida to be with them and donated blood just for him. He wound up using 3x what I donated but it was great, knowing I was able to help him and that my blood was flowing through his veins.

But 6 months later, he was here in NY and needed another serious operation. I called the NY Blood Center to inquire about my sister and I donating blood again.

And I was told that they were going to charge me $103.00 per person. For what, I asked. They said "for tracking". I asked for them to explain and they could not - apparently they didn't know the specifics. I asked them to have someone call me who could explain. I never heard anything.

And they were annoyed that I was questioning them about it, after my father and I gave them gallons of our blood. For no charge.

When they want it, they don't charge for tracking. But when you ask them for something in return, you have to pay. I understand fees. But SOME concession should be made for those who have given of themselves selflessly for so many years.

Neither of us have given blood since.

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I'm not sure if I can give blood because I have Epstein barr

Does anyone know? I've been told conflicting things

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i can't at the moment...i'm anemic - on meds to fix that, though!

eta: I have in the past, though!

Message edited 1/14/2007 12:45:28 PM.