OT–Are You Brother Lever Gunners Blood Donors?

cshold · Post by **cshold** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 6:35 pm

Just out of curiosity I was wondering how many of
you guys are regular blood donors.
I have been giving regularly every 3 months for years.
This evening for the first time I volunteered to give platelets.
Takes about 45 to 50 min. for the process.
Felt great about doing it, I was told that more than likely mine
would be used for infant babies.

Old Ironsights · Post by **Old Ironsights** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 6:42 pm

I used to be before the Odds caught up with me.

I had over a gallon donated by the time I was finally permenently DQ'd by a bad batch of test media.

When I protested to the head of the Red Cross I got a nice personal letter from her that comiserated with me... she is on the perment DQ list for the same reason.

The whole problem is the Gooberment Rules are engraved in stone but were done so about as long ago... i.e. the new tests are far more sensitive than the old testing criteria can account for - either for Hep or the Western Blot.

There are a HUGE number of "false positives" every year - but the "System" won't efer take you off the DQ list - no matter how many triple-blind tests prove that the "positive" was false.

So literally thousands of people get pulled out of the donor pool every year... particularly frequent donors.

The odds are against them/us.

J Miller · Post by **J Miller** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 6:44 pm

Nope. Got so much DR prescribed meds flowing through my veins even a starving vampyre would look elsewhere.

Joe

O.S.O.K. · Post by **O.S.O.K.** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 6:45 pm

So Joe, where do you live? Hmmm?

dr walker · Post by **dr walker** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 6:51 pm

That is a seriously scary Vampire.
Yes I donate blood, I have not done the platelets.

TedH · Post by **TedH** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 8:24 pm

Yep. Every three months or so the Red Cross sets up at Church. Feel good about it, but I always get a new T-shirt out of the deal too.

Tycer · Post by **Tycer** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 8:42 pm

Not every 3 months, but yes, I donate.

JReed · Post by **JReed** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 8:49 pm

I used to quite a bit until I had some strange antibodies pop up. Dont have anything just have imunities that the average guy dont have that red flags me on the testing.

Post by **Ysabel Kid** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 8:55 pm

I'm going to have to check into this again. I was told a long time ago, after a car accident, I could not give blood. I lost my spleen and damaged both my kidneys and liver in the accident. My numbers are all out of whack, and my white blood cell count is through the roof - always. Between all of that and the BP medication, I'm not sure I would be allowed. I'm pretty sure the Red Cross would tell me the truth, so I will check into this. Thanks for the reminder!

Old Ironsights · Post by **Old Ironsights** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 8:56 pm

JReed wrote:I used to quite a bit until I had some strange antibodies pop up. Dont have anything just have imunities that the average guy dont have that red flags me on the testing.

Sometimes I think it's some of the funky stuff Unka Sugar shot us up with before playing overseas...

Never had any trouble until just after I got out.

Maybe Military Blood Testing takes some of our shots into account?

Post by **Hobie** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 8:57 pm

I had some sort of "fever" in the ROK (so long ago I don't remember what it was but it used to recur every 6 months or so until the intervals lengthened to the point I haven't had a relapse in years) and have been told I'm a no go for donations.

kimwcook · Post by **kimwcook** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 9:17 pm

I've given for years to the Red Cross. Lately, I haven't had the time.

JReed · Post by **JReed** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 9:25 pm

Old Ironsights wrote:
JReed wrote:I used to quite a bit until I had some strange antibodies pop up. Dont have anything just have imunities that the average guy dont have that red flags me on the testing.
Sometimes I think it's some of the funky stuff Unka Sugar shot us up with before playing overseas...

Never had any trouble until just after I got out.

Maybe Military Blood Testing takes some of our shots into account?

Nothin Uncle Sam related. I popped for Hep-C 10 years ago when I donated blood. Well after much testing and lots of liver function tests it turns out that I am one of the 3% of the world population that carries the antibodies with out having or ever had Hep-C. So I guess I am safe to have a date with Pamela Anderson.

Andrew · Post by **Andrew** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 9:27 pm

I should but don't. I might have to check about my crohn's before I go though.

JReed, um......no.

Post by **AmBraCol** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 10:24 pm

I would if I could. Here I might be able to. Had the hepatitis type A WAY back when and that disqualifies me in the US of A. I'd always assumed it would anywhere, but a friend had the same thing as a kid and they accept his here. I'll look into it, just in case I can. They do a drive down on the square every month or so, next time I'll drop in and ask. My grandma gave gallons of blood over the years and I would too, if I could.

Cosmoline · Post by **Cosmoline** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 10:55 pm

Those guys have more restrictions than I can count. If you were in Belgium between '52 and '85 you're out. If you were in Upper Volta with your oldest brother in '74 you're out. If you visited your wife's aunt Veva in Illinois and her tap water was rusty you're out. etc etc etc

Thankfully I have no life and I've never gone anywhere or done anything, so my O+ is just fine. They bug me all the time and I usually give once every three months or so.

MikeS. · Post by **MikeS.** » Wed Aug 13, 2008 8:06 am

I did for years and years until I had to start shooting insulin. I had given over 7 gallons when forced to quit. In Fresno they had a private non-profit that was the blood bank. Never gave to the Red Cross.

jeepnik · Post by **jeepnik** » Wed Aug 13, 2008 5:08 pm

Fairly regularly. In the service, I think the base hospital kept a list of who had what types, and what their job was. Seems firefighters are usually pretty easy to lay their hands on. So whenever they needed A- they came a callin. Did you know that way back when, the military didn't have the same restrictions on frequency of donation as the Red Cross. And never got a snack afterward. Donate at a children's hospital these days. They pretty much will take it whenever you can find the time. Kids, gets to me seeing the wee ones that are ill. Yea, they found a sucker.

Mokwaw · Post by **Mokwaw** » Wed Aug 13, 2008 8:37 pm

Used to donate regularly. The last time they nearly wrecked my arm. The "nurse" (???) jabbed me so many times trying to hit the vein, that my entire arm turned purple, thought I was going to loose it. Have never been back.

Bruce Scott · Post by **Bruce Scott** » Thu Aug 14, 2008 4:22 am

Nope. I was living in the UK during the Mad Cow business around 1985 and cannot give blood in Oz -

1894 · Post by **1894** » Thu Aug 14, 2008 8:21 am

Nope , can't . If they had not dragged their feet (the red cross ) untill the mid 80's for better screening I'd be able to donate and would be in a lot better shape now.

Beat cancer back then and ended up with something they can't cure.

Old Ironsights · Post by **Old Ironsights** » Thu Aug 14, 2008 8:47 am

1894 wrote:Nope , can't . If they had not dragged their feet (the red cross ) untill the mid 80's for better screening I'd be able to donate and would be in a lot better shape now.
Beat cancer back then and ended up with something they can't cure.

And now they go the other way and exclude people willy-nilly.

morgan in nm · Post by **morgan in nm** » Thu Aug 14, 2008 10:48 am

Diabetes and cancer killed my donating. Before that, always. The army medics used to say that there are 2 things they want from you, BLOOD and URINE.

Idahoser · Post by **Idahoser** » Sun Aug 17, 2008 10:22 am

I didn't stay in one place more than a couple years during my time in the service so I dont know how many gallons I gave, but they finally sent me some place that made them not want my blood anymore so I no longer give.

ArkyKen · Post by **ArkyKen** » Sun Aug 17, 2008 3:35 pm

Yes, well over 5 gallons now.That's a big bucket of blood,ha. Regards,Ken

TCB in TN · Post by **TCB in TN** » Sun Aug 17, 2008 7:23 pm

Old Ironsights wrote:I used to be before the Odds caught up with me.

I had over a gallon donated by the time I was finally permenently DQ'd by a bad batch of test media.

When I protested to the head of the Red Cross I got a nice personal letter from her that comiserated with me... she is on the perment DQ list for the same reason.

The whole problem is the Gooberment Rules are engraved in stone but were done so about as long ago... i.e. the new tests are far more sensitive than the old testing criteria can account for - either for Hep or the Western Blot.

There are a HUGE number of "false positives" every year - but the "System" won't efer take you off the DQ list - no matter how many triple-blind tests prove that the "positive" was false.

So literally thousands of people get pulled out of the donor pool every year... particularly frequent donors.

The odds are against them/us.

I am another one of these. Got me on a false positive for Hepatitis, scared the stuff outta me. I went to the Dr. the next day, got tested and figured out it was one of the medicines I was on. (Known to give false positives.) Still won't let me give anymore! Until that time I gave every 3 months for almost 5 years. Really ticks me off! They cry of O+ blood all the time and won't take mine anymore!

bj94 · Post by **bj94** » Mon Aug 18, 2008 7:42 pm

I used to be a regular donor, up to about 3 gallons. A lady that worked for one of the local blood centers would call me regularly because my block was CMV negative, in demand for tranfusions to newborns. She retired, the blood center changed their procedures that made it a lot more time consuming for me to donate, so I haven't been back much since then. It seems that I don't need much excuse to avoid people that want to poke needles into me.

Paladin · Post by **Paladin** » Tue Aug 19, 2008 5:25 am

Used to go in every three months when they called. After some of the places I was required to go they told me to try back in 5 years. I haven’t been home long enough since from areas they don't like.

jazman · Post by **jazman** » Tue Aug 19, 2008 1:49 pm

Yep, almost to 7 gallons for me. Restrictions are a pain, but I'd hate worse to hear even more stories of folks receiving bad blood. It's a good thing to do, donate, blood being one of the few things they can't yet make.

papabear · Post by **papabear** » Tue Aug 19, 2008 4:25 pm

i just gave another one working om three gallons now

Steelbanger · Post by **Steelbanger** » Tue Aug 19, 2008 4:30 pm

I've given exactly one gallon since I turned 60, but none in the past two years. Great feeling of satisfaction afterwards, isn't it?

Just sign me O+.

cshold · Post by **cshold** » Tue Aug 19, 2008 4:55 pm

jazman wrote:Yep, almost to 7 gallons for me. Restrictions are a pain, but I'd hate worse to hear even more stories of folks receiving bad blood. It's a good thing to do, donate, blood being one of the few things they can't yet make.

WOW!! A++ for you.

My Motto is “I’d sooner give than to receive”
(seems to me there's a song there somewhere

)

Birdman · Post by **Birdman** » Wed Aug 20, 2008 2:12 pm

I just hit my 4 gallon mark on my last donation. That ain't near as much as some, but I will keep it up.

cjm135 · Post by **cjm135** » Fri Aug 22, 2008 8:09 pm

Yes. Sometimes the local gun shop offers a promotion for a free 6 month range pass or $50 off a gun purchase for that day if you donate. They always have a good turn out with or with out the promotions. They also have a free BBQ for the blood drive.

w30wcf · Post by **w30wcf** » Sun Aug 24, 2008 1:23 pm

Yes, usually at least once / yr. I do need to go more often.

w30wcf

slimster · Post by **slimster** » Sun Aug 24, 2008 3:45 pm

I have donated every time the Bloodmobile comes to my workplace 3 times a year. I am also on the Bone Marrow Donor registry, though I have never been matched up.

ohwin94_61 · Post by **ohwin94_61** » Sun Aug 24, 2008 7:15 pm

I used to donate my blood at work but the last time about a yaer ago some nurse could not get the vein right and keep moving the needle around i finely got feed up and told them im done remove the needle and left

Lefty Dude · Post by **Lefty Dude** » Sun Aug 24, 2008 7:36 pm

Wished I could, I am a cancer patient. They don't much care for my Blood.

Tennessee Hayre · Post by **Tennessee Hayre** » Sun Aug 24, 2008 9:16 pm

I use to when i was in the service. I have not in the past 13 years.

CraigC · Post by **CraigC** » Sun Aug 24, 2008 10:42 pm

When I go to donate blood they tell me they got no use for bacon grease!

Rexster · Post by **Rexster** » Mon Aug 25, 2008 11:40 am

I used to donate fairly often, at church and at work. Eventually, though, I felt so bad and light-headed afterward that I stopped. I worried about crashing on the way home. I have quite low blood pressure, so I figure that combined with lower volume after the donation was a bit much. I might look into donating platelets, as I have heard that does not leave a guy so depleted.