Mike-C:
I don’t donate because i faint at the sight of needles coming near me,
That’s the same half-arsed reason I didn’t do it for a long time. Then some sneaky secretary put me on the list for the work donation minibus, so I went along anyway. Twentyish years on, I’ve just done my 25th donation this afternoon, never fainted but never seen the needle yet either - I just look at the ceiling and think of England.
Definitely worth doing, and definitely not gory or painful.
But it doesn’t. No more than certain types of ■■■ men and women get up to yet they are still allowed
I understand that point, but it seems more likely that someone with that kind of lifestyle is more prone to having certain infections, in much the same way as drug injectors and I suppose tattoo fans.
I can well understand that you do feel discriminated against as I imagine no one asks a heterosexual how they have ■■■.
I am not restricted now but at one stage I was, simply because I was a blood relative of someone who was banned.
I also had to notify doctors and dentists or anyone who may have come into contact with my blood that I was restricted.
I guess it is fair to be really careful about blood transfusion, as once it is in the veins you cannot get it back out again.
del949:
But it doesn’t. No more than certain types of ■■■ men and women get up to yet they are still allowed
“I understand that point, but it seems more likely that someone with that kind of lifestyle is more prone to having certain infections, in much the same way as drug injectors and I suppose tattoo fans.”
Indeed but I think it’s (extreme) promiscuity that’s more relevant than ■■■■■■■■■ - and I’m not being puritanical here - just in relation to blood donation. I’d far rather have a blood transfusion from a gay man who lives monogomously with one long-term partner than have it from a straight person who’s up something new round the back of a club every week, or who’s a ■■■■■■■/dogger etc etc and can barely remember who he’s/she’s shared fluids with. I vaguely recall that they ask you if you’ve slept with a prostitute, but not how many ■■■■■■ partners you’ve had! (my answer would be depressingly low btw…)
On another subject I was next door to another driver at my last blood donation. I say he was a driver, I assumed it because:
a: I overheard the short, fat, bald, 50-something tell the nurse he’d just come out of 20 years in the SAS
b: He turned to me and said that once they’d forgotten him and come back to find he’d done 5 pints, so they called a consultant from Harley Street who told them not to move him for nine hours and put chalk marks on the bed to make sure.
I believed him.
wilbur:
switchlogic:
But it doesn’t. No more than certain types of ■■■ men and women get up to yet they are still allowed.It’s just maths. It’s the probability that the donor has HIV multiplied by the probability that the screening for HIV gives a false negative.
They’re trying to keep the product of those two numbers below a certain (extremely low) level, and so they use statistical data to estimate the first number by looking at a bunch of risk factors, including male homosexual ■■■. Obviously as the screening for HIV approaches perfect accuracy, then they’ll care less and less about the donor’s lifestyle.
In the not too distant past, a whole bunch of people were killed by HIV contracted through contaminated blood projects, so caution is justified.
Donations are refused for dozens of reasons - it doesn’t have to be thought of as discrimination against gays, the tattood, international travellers or those who recently had fillings…
That would be fine if the STD rates in gay men were dramatically higher, but they aren’t. A lot of much better informed people than me consider this stupid rule just that, stupid, and discrimatory. When they ask every person that enters about their ■■■■■■ history I will simply see it as discrimination.
switchlogic:
That would be fine if the STD rates in gay men were dramatically higher, but they aren’t. A lot of much better informed people than me consider this stupid rule just that, stupid, and discrimatory. When they ask every person that enters about their ■■■■■■ history I will simply see it as discrimination.
I understand your frustration. I’d be certain that they could check anyones blood AFTER its been donated anyway. But by not doing so and relying on some sort of guess questionarre they are playing a numbers game. They should just check the stuff anyway? I’d be concerned if they never and they relied on some sort of questionare to guarantee the purity of the blood for the reasons you state above.
33 Years Old - Given Blood 3 Times a Year Since I was 18.
O Negative Blood. Universal Blood Type. 7% Population WIth O Neg
Can Be Given To Anyone With out Checking Blood Type & Even Unborn Children.
WhiteWhiteWhite:
33 Years Old - Given Blood 3 Times a Year Since I was 18.O Negative Blood. Universal Blood Type. 7% Population WIth O Neg
Can Be Given To Anyone With out Checking Blood Type & Even Unborn Children.
Same as me that’s half the reason I think it’s important for me to give it.
Being that rare though we should be charging for it 
.
I am AB positive not that common but as said cant give it now due to the drugs I take got to 25 times then have had to stop for medical reasons
Certainly cant atm due to the injections I had in my back yesterday
If I was going into hospital for an op I would donate my blood for self if I needed it as you can do this
Karl86:
WhiteWhiteWhite:
33 Years Old - Given Blood 3 Times a Year Since I was 18.O Negative Blood. Universal Blood Type. 7% Population WIth O Neg
Can Be Given To Anyone With out Checking Blood Type & Even Unborn Children.
Same as me that’s half the reason I think it’s important for me to give it.
Being that rare though we should be charging for it
+3 am also O Neg my 3rd time giving today, males can donate every 3 months now apparently
I would if I wasn’t ■■■■ scared of doctors/hospitals avoid them at all costs lol
Trucker-Lass22:
I would if I wasn’t [zb] scared of doctors/hospitals avoid them at all costs lol
Nothing wrong with that I’m not a fan off docs or hospitals either I’m more off a paracetomel and a plaster person but 1 needle every 4 months is about doable for me .
Trucker-Lass22:
I would if I wasn’t [zb] scared of doctors/hospitals avoid them at all costs lol
Hate needles if fact scared of them
You dont give blood in a hospital it normally a church hall or something similar
animal:
Trucker-Lass22:
I would if I wasn’t [zb] scared of doctors/hospitals avoid them at all costs lolHate needles if fact scared of them
You dont give blood in a hospital it normally a church hall or something similar
We are trying to get in done in the back room of the pub, then instead of tea and biscuits, they might buy a round 
Karl86:
Trucker-Lass22:
I would if I wasn’t [zb] scared of doctors/hospitals avoid them at all costs lolNothing wrong with that I’m not a fan off docs or hospitals either I’m more off a paracetomel and a plaster person but 1 needle every 4 months is about doable for me
The last time i went to hospital was when i shattered my knee into about 5 and even then i was gonna go home and strap it up (thought it was just bruised lol), refused air ambulance and land ambulance. As for needles im not a fan either expect for getting inked and not good with the sight of blood unless its animal blood that dosnt make me squirm just get on with what needs doing.
I donate three times a year.
The nonsense about donated bold being sold is just that. Nonsense. It’s sold she at or near it’s expiry date which I don’t have a problem with.
Surely it’s better sold to generate some revenue for NBS or NHS that thrown away.
As for being banned from giving blood I think unless you actually have a blood born disease you ought to be allowed.
Personally I think giving blood once a year ought to be compulsory. More often if you’re in an “at risk” occupation.
I donate platelets every 4-6 weeks. The biscuits are a lot posher (I get coconut macaroons) Being able to donate a triple dose don’t half bump up my donation count as well (currently on donation 47 in 3 years).
Sit on a bed for 80 minutes waited on hand and foot by some very lovely nurses and free wi-fi. Makes for a lovely relaxing morning off.
You get piece of mind of what is basically a free blood test / mini health check once a month as well.
Blimey. 
This thread was nearly in danger of falling into the thread resurrection category.
Ken.
I would donate - but having received it, I’m not allowed to give 
no idea why that is 
But thanks to those that do 
Quinny:
Blimey.This thread was nearly in danger of falling into the thread resurrection category.
Ken.
I think tapatalk is to blame for some of the thread resurrection as I saw this in my home screen on tapatalk
I would love to donate blood, it’s definitely going to be one of my new year’s resolutions.