Blood donors - show of hands? If not, why not?

[Highlander]

They won't let me any more, apparently my blood pressure is too high.

You'd think that dripping 470ml would go some way toward lowering your blood pressure.


I'm A+ and donate as often as they will let me, then I take their sticker and put it on the calendar to remind me when I'm due next (Tuesday).

[Fast Eddie]

Oooh I could try plasma. That might be easier. !

yea fuck I need some plasma, my tv screens shat itself

[unstuck]

Too many drugs in my system.

[Spyke]

only donated about 5 times but hope to be up there one day with a hundred donations.

[Sharry]

Although I have been allowed to recieve 3 units of a kind persons blood I am sadly not allowed to share mine,
I would like to top up the blood banks for others in need. I'm a B group so it would have been nice to share.. but on the bright side O is the most popular and the only type that any other can take outside of it's own group

[paturoa]

Been a donor for over 30 years. I'm now on a special donor prgramme as I have some unusual stuff in mine. They ring me up at avout 6 month intervals and gave me an umbrella last year!

[Scruffygit]

Used to back in the UK but had to stop when I had cancer. Now not allowed here because of the C and I'm English.

Bit of a shame as I'm O neg.

[mazz1972]

Have been donating for a couple of years now. I have a bloody type they always seem to want

[caspernz]

Good to see the sharing spirit is alive and well, even if some can't or aren't allowed to donate any more. And here's hoping we never have to receive any blood back...

[Donor]

Used to, but stopped some years back. Still have the card somewhere.


A mate has donated over 100 times and received a letter of thanks from the Govenor General. Most surprising.


Whatever happened to KB'er "Donor"?

Still here - lurking a little, what with being a filthy 4wd owner nowadays...

23 years a blood donor this year, dunno how many donations, and have just been given clearance to start again after shoulder surgery back in December last year, so I'm off to get my free cordial and bikkies!

(Hint, pick a late night to go, and turn up about 45 minutes before they close - less people around so you get through faster, and they usually encourage you to finish the leftovers so they don't go to waste! BONUS!)

I started donating at 16, my dad lost his leg under a train 66 years ago at the age of 3, and without blood transfusions, not only would I be non-existent, my awesome kids wouldn't be who or what they are today.

So blood donations don't just impact the donor or the recipient - they go WAY beyond that.

Good on you who donate, want to donate, or would like to but are unable - lifesavers the lot of ya.

[Hawkeye]

Was a blood doner for years in the UK. First time I donated here I had a discussion about my high platlet count. 3 days later was told I no longer donated blood but had just become their local platelet factory. Apparently I have the highest count they have ever seen. 55 donations later and personally attributed to 3 critical case recoveries, they decided I had mad cow and couldn't donate anymore.
The day the announcement came about the changes, I was in donating. Had TV1, TV3 news crews sticking cameras in my face ( 15 secs of fame on national news ) as well as Dominion and Herald articles.

I've never understood why they made that change. The risk is so low compared to the good that could be achieved. There are so many Brits here that can no longer donate because of the change in the rules. Ask the 3 that I saved if they would take the risk and I know what their answer would be.

[baffa]

So whats the story with giving blood if you've had Tattoos? Is there a standdown period?
I got a little work done in Ireland, so curious to see if that has any effect on things.

[Kickaha]

So whats the story with giving blood if you've had Tattoos? Is there a standdown period?

It used to be 12 month stand down, not sure if it makes any difference if they were done off shore

[caspernz]

So whats the story with giving blood if you've had Tattoos? Is there a standdown period?
I got a little work done in Ireland, so curious to see if that has any effect on things.

Still is 12 months unless I read the questions wrong last week.

[Corse1]

Yep I donate have very common blood type. A +. Been donating as long as I can remember.