OT: Do You Donate Blood? Why Or Why Not?

[Patches]

I haven't in a long time. I have no problem with needles. In fact I actually really like needles (It's a weird quirk, I know). I sometimes get turned away for low iron, though.

Funny thing about my blood is that nobody can seem to agree on my blood type. Sometimes it comes out A+ and sometimes it's O+.....don't know why.

When I was pregnant with my second child, I was having blood work done and the blood type came out different from the one in my chart so the doctor said, "Ok, we'll take it again and call it best two out of three" :confused: And I also have two different blood donor cards with two different blood types on them

[mamac]

I donate as often as I can, when I'm well enough to.

I tried for years to donate dating way back to when I was in high school (early 90's) and I didn't weigh enough to give plus I have a chronic illness that was on the no-no list. I waited 10 years and called and asked again. Nope. Still couldn't donate. I tried again about 8 months ago and they said that I was cleared to give blood as long as I was healthy. I have also had a blood transfusion and they said I can still donate.

And for those with the small or wandering veins: Not sure why they told you not to bother. I am like a human pin cushion when I give samples for my illness and yet they have no problem when I donate blood. Just make sure you get enough sleep the night before, eat breakfast and have lots of fluids. It makes a huge difference. And if you are close on the finger stick, but low enough iron that they say no- have them stick another finger. It may be higher.

[mamac]

I used to donate regularly (every month) but I haven't recently due to scheduling conflicts (I have a small town and they do them only Thursdays every few weeks). Last time I was supposed to donate I got called in to babysit and by the time I got out it was pretty much over and I haven't scheduled since. A few times I tried to donate recently I got turned away because of low iron levels.

I donate when I can because I figure I don't need all my blood and it can help save up to 3 people. Plus, I think its good to give something back to people in need when you can. If you don't have money to give to the needy or time to donate, as long as your healthy and eligible, you can always give blood and make a huge difference.

Ummm....I hope you're not trying to donate whole blood every month.....

[mamac]

I haven't in a long time. I have no problem with needles. In fact I actually really like needles (It's a weird quirk, I know). I sometimes get turned away for low iron, though.

Funny thing about my blood is that nobody can seem to agree on my blood type. Sometimes it comes out A+ and sometimes it's O+.....don't know why.

When I was pregnant with my second child, I was having blood work done and the blood type came out different from the one in my chart so the doctor said, "Ok, we'll take it again and call it best two out of three" :confused: And I also have two different blood donor cards with two different blood types on them

Fascinating. Have you ever had your dna tested for a possible twin that was lost in utero? Are you a twin? It sounds like you might be a chimera.

http://www.babycenter.com/0_strange-but-true-one-person-born-with-two-sets-of-dna-a-chim_10364937.bc

[Patches]

Fascinating. Have you ever had your dna tested for a possible twin that was lost in utero? Are you a twin? It sounds like you might be a chimera.

http://www.babycenter.com/0_strange-...im_10364937.bc

I was extremely fascinated by this and did a lot of research online and the chimera thing was the conclusion I came to as well. It is not confirmed but I truly believe it. I always wanted so badly to be a twin since I was a kid and then when I started getting older and thinking about having kids myself one day, I wanted twin girls so much. (Had two boys instead, 3 years apart:

My great grandmother was a twin and there have been no twins in the family since. I have no idea about before her.

[JoseyJo]

I don't because I'm told i have tiny jumping veins. They always have a heck of a time when I need to have blood drawn for bloodwork so I asked if it would be worth the effort to donate blood. I was told it would be a lot of work for them so I should probably not bother. There have been times when it has taken 15 minutes and two people trying different spots on my arms and hands, so I don't donate.

That's me too- Every time I have given blood it has clotted in the bag before they could get enough. They say my veins are so little the needle gets stuck against the side of the vein and stops the blood flow.

[Starburst]

Ummm....I hope you're not trying to donate whole blood every month.....

Well, its about every 56 days, less then 2 months. Months seem to go by fast for me so two months sometimes feels like one month.

But there were a lot of times when my iron was low I did try for the next blood drive which was between my scheduled dates (I think they have one blood drive every month at the church).

[mamac]

I was extremely fascinated by this and did a lot of research online and the chimera thing was the conclusion I came to as well. It is not confirmed but I truly believe it. I always wanted so badly to be a twin since I was a kid and then when I started getting older and thinking about having kids myself one day, I wanted twin girls so much. (Had two boys instead, 3 years apart:
My great grandmother was a twin and there have been no twins in the family since. I have no idea about before her.

Lol. I wanted to be a twin, too! I guess it almost could have been a possibility. My mom had been pregnant with twins long before I was thought of but were stillborn. My first pregnancy was twins (possibly triplets they said) but they didn't make it past about 9 weeks.

As for the chimera thing, have you ever asked about getting tested? I don't know if they'd test you if not for a medical necessity though. I know (before I could donate blood) my dr's wouldn't type my blood because there was never a "need" to and insurance wouldn't pay for the test. I was so excited when I was able to donate so I would finally know my blood type. Turns out my first time I wasn't able to fill a whole bag and my card came in blank. ::

[coolconfidentme]

I can't donate blood. The minimum weight requirement is 110 lbs and unfortunately my normal weight is just under that so I unable to do so.

You can donate under 110 lbs.., I do. They spin your blood to make sure you have enough iron, etc. I'm pretty healthy & donate every chance I get. How often do you get the opportunity to save someone life???

[AnneCordelia]

I do. I'm healthy and able, so I do. Occasionally I get a new tattoo and then I have to wait a year before I can donate again.

[pandamom]

No, I can't. I lived in England in the early-mid 80's and in S. Korea in the mid-late 80's. Every once in a while when I see a blood drive, I'll go in and see if I qualify- which I never am

[Patches]

Lol. I wanted to be a twin, too! I guess it almost could have been a possibility. My mom had been pregnant with twins long before I was thought of but were stillborn. My first pregnancy was twins (possibly triplets they said) but they didn't make it past about 9 weeks.

As for the chimera thing, have you ever asked about getting tested? I don't know if they'd test you if not for a medical necessity though. I know (before I could donate blood) my dr's wouldn't type my blood because there was never a "need" to and insurance wouldn't pay for the test. I was so excited when I was able to donate so I would finally know my blood type. Turns out my first time I wasn't able to fill a whole bag and my card came in blank. ::

I haven't looked into getting tested. I want to because I'm really curious about it. Maybe I will someday. When I asked my dr. (the 2 out of 3 dr who is not my regular doctor, btw) what could cause this he said it was impossible. Well, it happened too many times and was too big a coincidence for me to think it was impossible So that's when I researched it. There really isn't a need for me to know for sure right now, but I sure would like to satisfy my curiosity some day.

[Willow]

Absolutely I do!!!

So does my husband and my children will as well when they are old enough.


I was raised to view it as a civic duty. Having O+ blood type makes me particularly drawn to donating as I know I can help save the lives of many with my donations.

[missy]

I know I should, but I never think of it, never see any ad campaigns or anything about it anymore now that I think about it. I'm a common type.

[ABCDaycareMN]

Absolutely I do!!!

So does my husband and my children will as well when they are old enough.


I was raised to view it as a civic duty. Having O+ blood type makes me particularly drawn to donating as I know I can help save the lives of many with my donations.

I too have O+ blood type but I can't handle needles. Hopefully one day I would be able to donate.

My husband donates blood and plasma occasionally.