[Furrballz]

Today I have an appointment to go and donate blood.

I used to try and do it regularly, until pregnancies and high blood pressure happened!
My husband and Father are regular donators, so its not new to me to think of doing this. I rang to book not long after the first wave from the bushfires hit...and due to the response, I couldnt get in before now!

My point for this thread, is to remind people that blood donations will be needed after the threat has gone. There are people still in hospital needing blood products, so please consider becoming a regular donor.

If you havent got a lot of money, this is one way of giving and contributing to the greater good!

For a giving and generous society, blood donations is sadly lacking.

[Lela n Mitz's Servant]

I want to, but I'm on a waiting list for surgery...

Will have to wait till after..

[Furrballz]

Well...I went...

...waited

and

waited

and

waited


then finally got in and gave blood...

FILLING the bag in 7mins!!

I am a little Aussie Bleeder!! ROFL

[fleabag]

Boy that's quick ..you must have good veins.

[charleycat]

They'd always send me away because of low iron levels...

[NHill]

FILLING the bag in 7mins!!
I am a little Aussie Bleeder!! ROFL

ROFL!

But, seriously, good on you!!

I can't give blood due to vCJD risk (UK resident) but I applaud all those who can and do! Well done!

[burmeselover]

charleycat, why don't you start taking a regular iron supplement for your own health's sake and later on you should be eligible to donate blood?

[charleycat]

It seems to be a continual struggle with me - although I do have iron tablets in the cupboard I'm dreadful at remembering to take them! Both my parents had issues with anaemia as they got older, but nobody else has the problem in the family (that I know of).

[Furrballz]

Bronnie, Dad used to be called on my the blood bank whenever they had the need for some good quick bleeding blood...so I must take after him!

Charleycat I agree with Burmeselover...take iron suppliments!! At least yours is an excuse you can fix relatively easily.

I actually was worried that my blood pressure might play up, but it was good! I have made another appointment for May as well...may as well become a regular donor

[Anne ( Shakandah Birmans )]

Gosh you did well Terri - ann
I sometimes get sent away ( low blood count ) but last time I went RECENTLY time lapsed before I filled the bag. It is still used though and everyone is happy LOL

Anne

[Paulsragdoll]

I cant give mine because of past cancer (stomach)

[Merri]

I try to give regularly, but also have haemoglobin issues. Iron tablets don't always make a difference and they told me they won't take you if you are taking iron tablets because a doctor told you to (not sure what the difference is, but that's what they said). I find that if I wait four months instead of the three, I have a much better chance. It takes the body three months to restore the depleted iron levels, so I know I need extra time to get back up there.

I also have dreadful veins, so I am a horror for them! I usually go through a few nurses before one is game to try. Now they are only allowed to try once in each arm, so sometimes I just scrape through on the haemoglobin but they can't find a vein. Or I can't fill a bag. On a good day though I can fill a bag in five minutes (did this last time - yay!).

These days I do the baby packs. I used to do plasma (loved those machines!!) but my veins aren't good enough anymore.
I'm not due to donate again for a couple of months.

I hope that all the people who have donated for the first time because of the fires are able to continue doing so.

[Diz]

When we used to work at South Melbourne, a group of us always used to walk over to the donor centre there. We used to have comps to see who could donate the fastest. I always won! hehe

I used to be regular until I wanted to donate plasma.. donated once, they found that my immunogloblin G (I think, one of them anyways) was high, and I had to go to the doctors for other blood tests and couldn't go back to donate anything until I had the all clear from the docs...
Turns out that all the following tests I still have high levels... but I'm allowed back to donate again.
Now that we work a little further away, it is not as convenient to donate..

However I'm going to make an effort to donate within the next month!

[Rachelle]

No appointments free here in Darwin until the end of next week. I've taken the last appointment they have I think! So I'll be off to do my bit next Thursday