Who donates blood / marrow?

Mutch · Post by **Mutch** » Fri Sep 11, 2009 8:59 pm

Saw there was a blood type thread and it made me curious. Who here donates blood or marrow, how many times, experiences?

Ive done it a few times and have never had a problem, but have seen people pass out and start to get the spins.

One more thing, to those that havent donated blood, its so easy to do, it helps to save three lives, everywhere is short on blood.

If you can, try to donate

Brk · Post by **Brk** » Fri Sep 11, 2009 9:05 pm

I wasn't aware that marrow donation even existed. Wouldn't it require invasive surgery?

RoundEye · Post by **RoundEye** » Fri Sep 11, 2009 10:21 pm

Burke wrote:...Wouldn't it require invasive surgery?...

From what I hear, yes you need a surgery and it can be quite painful afterwards. Plus, you need some kind of shots every day for about a week before the surgery. I signed my driver’s license to become a donor after I die. Most people (or I did) think of major organs, such as a heart or eyes, but a donor saved me from having two surgeries when I had my neck operated on. If it not been for a donor I would’ve had to have a surgery on my hip to take a one centimeter square of bone out to put in my neck. So a donor saved me from a potentially painful surgery on my hip to take a little one centimeter square piece of bone out.

I used to donate blood until it was suggested that for various reasons I no longer donate. Another good reason to donate is that if you need blood for any reason over the next year it’s free. Blood is quite expensive if you should ever have to buy it for some reason.

Humboldt · Post by **Humboldt** » Fri Sep 11, 2009 11:19 pm

Would love to but would qualify under the "pass out" category.

Normally due to low blood sugar but in my case it'd be because needles freak me out and make my heart race like I just got hit by a car.

morbidpete · Post by **morbidpete** » Sat Sep 12, 2009 1:57 am

donated blood 5 times, then for a 6th during basic, pass out on the 6th and had a seizure. i was 2 weeks away from graduation and just did a PT test that morning. they think i had it cause of the strain that day lol. they wanted to sent me to the hospital but the DS said no cause i would have to start basic all over. thank you DS burke. donated once since basic with no issues

O+

mnosteele52 · Post by **mnosteele52** » Sat Sep 12, 2009 9:11 am

I donate blood atleast once a year, this year they told me I have a high platelet count and would be a good donor for it. So I donated platelets this past week for the first time. It took an hour and a half but it wasn't bad, I just put headphones on and watched tv.

Mutch · Post by **Mutch** » Sat Sep 12, 2009 9:59 am

Burke wrote:I wasn't aware that marrow donation even existed. Wouldn't it require invasive surgery?

I haven't been able to donate marrow but I have talked to my doctor about it and he explained how its done now. You take a drug for a week to two weeks prior and then its just like giving blood. There is no longer surgery required, the drug somehow makes the marrow available via I.V.

Only reason I know this is that I didnt want to be out of commission from the gym for a month and he explained that its only a 2 or 3 day downtime.

David · Post by **David** » Sat Sep 12, 2009 2:03 pm

I donate blood, about as often as my health permits.

fastchevy · Post by **fastchevy** » Mon Sep 14, 2009 10:10 am

I'm not able to, but would if I could.