LaVisHh said:

my love is

blood

LaVisHh said:

They are considered "high risk" for carrying STI's or blood borne pathogens. Anyone who is at an increased risk is refused including, prostitutes, people who have been with prostitutes, those who have received blood transfusions, had piercings, operations, travelled in Africa, or like I said before just being British.

LaVisHh said:

They are considered high-risk for HIV (as if many straight people aren't). They test the blood for HIV anyway, so it seems stupid to me, but in the early days of AIDS they did NOT test the blood, hence the hemophiliacs and surgical patients contracting HIV, so I think the policy is just old and they never got rid of it.

madartista said:

I find it amusing during the interview process when they keep asking me if I've done certain things "since 1977." Since I wasn't born until 1978, I wasn't doing anything whatsoever before 1977.

Thanks for the answers to my why not gay blood question...

Sure seems odd, as they have beat it into our heads that AIDS in NOT a gay disease...

LaVisHh said:

has nothing to do with 'seeing' the blood.
the extraction of blood from my body is a

00769BAD said:

Ah...

tackam said:

I've thought of lying about it. Hmmm...

Yes. I'm AB+ so they have asked me to donate platelets instead of blood since only other AB+ people can use my blood. They use a process called apheresis.


What is Apheresis?
Apheresis (ay-fur-ee-sis) is a special kind of blood donation that allows a donor to give specific blood components, such as platelets. During the apheresis procedure, all but the needed blood component are returned to the donor.

LaVisHh said:

Because the Red Cross is afraid of spreading gayness...
(heaven forbid!)
I think it's a really stupid and discriminatory policy. If you've tested negative for HIV, Hepatitus and all of those other things, if you're gay or not, you should be able to give blood. Period.

I can't...had hepatitus as a kid, and they
forbid me from ever giving blood.

My sis is a nurse, however, and i recall being
her guinea pig when she first was learning how
to draw blood. Plenty of bruises...

She used to put the blood from the vial into her
plants...supposed to be good for them.
I wonder if my tainted blood killed any plants???

applekisses said:

Definately! I've heard that blood is a precious resource, why discriminate?

Well, I'll probably take heat from this, but this is how I feel.

I never have, nor will I ever donate blood (or organs). Now, I can safely say now that I'd not even do it if it was a loved-one that desperately needs it. However, you never know how you'll react to something unless it happens.

I think, personally, if it's in my body, it is supposed to be there, be it my blood, or my organs. It's not my problem if some fellow needs blood. It is my blood, and I am the only one that has my permission to use it.

That said, I've been thinking a lot about blood donation, ever since I saw this thing on TV. Not about actually doing it, but I keep seeing a needle going into my left arm, in the vein, and blood coming out. I can feel it in my arm, not pain, but a bad funny feeling. I was thinking so much about it in Chemistry today, I almost got sick.

Yes, twice, both in high school. I've still got the scars, believe it or not.

I would give blood more often but it's difficult to find blood donation centers around here, and even more of a pain to get over there.

However, I'm wary of giving it too often, as my aunt used to give it multiple times a year until they told her she could never come back - if they did it a few more times, her veins would collapse.

I don't mind it at all, as the feeling is very similar to getting a piercing. No kidding.

My type is B+.

Like me Nat, let's exchange some!

jnoel said:

BattierBeMyDaddy said:

This is a straight forward question. Would you accept blood to save your life?

LaVisHh said:

Wow, good call Lav...

I've given blood loads of times. I nwearly passed out the first time though.

I'm A positive.

bkw said:

Don't you have to be sober to donate?