Lammastide said:

I work for the American Red Cross...rumor is they are trying to lift that defferal.

thekidsgirl said:

I am B neg too. We are very rare. About 1 percent of the population. When I found out, I was like oh shit! If I EVER need it, please let there be some o neg or b neg cause that's IT!

At work, it is ALWAYS the hardest to keep in supply.

Cinnie said:

Most doctor's offices don't test type unless you request it, and it usually costs $300. If there was no type on the blood, it may mean a glitch in typing, or you did not have a successful donation.

My first time donating I filled the bag, but fainted and they could not fill the little vials to test for HIV, Hepatitis, and others. It looked like a successful donation, but it was not used.

I am conquering my fear of needles. I finally donated successfully in NOV and will donate again next week.

obsessed said:

He hadn't donated yet and it was his first time, he got nervous.

KatSkrizzle said:

Ohhhhh, this post made me queasy. Even if I could donate, I'm not so good around large volumes of blood.

Lammastide said:

I wasn't either. In fact, during orientation we had to watch a video of a woman that would have lost her life had it not been for donated blood. I had to leave the room and go to the bathroom and put my head between my legs. I was seriously about to faint.

All my co-workers rallied around me each time we had a drive. I did it slowly. I watched a few blood drives until I could handle looking at blood. And then when I tried i fainted and then when i got out of the chair fainted again. It has been very traumatic, but my fear is getting smaller and smaller. I have to have the techs put cold compresses on my head and chest to prevent from fainting while donating.

I'm a big weenie too, but i guess I just wanted to conquer it. Plus, I get out of working for a few hours, so why not do it?
[Edited 1/18/09 11:24am]

I've tried to donate but have chronic anemia ~ couldn't even donate blood for my own surgery. My doctor and I can't seem to find the cause of the anemia which is very frustrating because I would love to give. (and it would be nice to not be so exhausted all the time).

MoonSongs said:

Do you have a partner? Is s/he a vampire perhaps?

PaisleyPark5083 said:

Get some green veg and red meat down yer neck. You are a universal donor!!!

I am boring O+

I have donated loads but can't these days cus I am on steroids. Tats and piercings prevented me for a while too.

PREDOMINANT said:

why?!

ZombieKitten said:

Flabby pecs

PREDOMINANT said:

ZombieKitten said:

Yea right!

Asthma, boring geeky asthma.

PREDOMINANT said:

ZombieKitten said:

I like giving blood, it really feels like you are doing such a massive thing, and it's so easy. Great feel good gesture. I will have to re-examine the restrictions cus I am onto inhaled steroids and they might be permitted.

PREDOMINANT said:

You know I didnt think about it but I just re-pierced my nose....I can't give blood for a year now either.

Muse2NOPharaoh said:

Does re- piercing count?

Teacher said:

I wish.

PREDOMINANT said:

What kind of steriods are you on? I don't see it deffering you. Org note me and I'll do some investigating at work tomorrow. If they are from humans (the steriods) then yes, it will deffer you.
[Edited 1/19/09 17:35pm]

O- I dont regularly donate because I have needle issues, and because I have seen how rough the red cross employees are here. I donated a few years back when a close friend had leukemia and needed it, which of course I would do again...I just don't stop in to let them poke a needle in my vein and drain my blood.

Muse2NOPharaoh said:

That all DEPENDS on what state you live in. I will look up Cali tomorrow.

People think it automatically deffers them and it may not.

AB+ and nope, I'm a firm believer of non blood medical management.....people recover from it faster. But to each their own