Have You Ever Given Blood?

Having turned 17 last June, I have been eligible to donate blood about five or six times. It is unfortunate that at the moment, whilst studying at university, it is not feasible for me to attend the Methodist church which holds sessions on a Thursday evening due to lectures. I would have thought a university campus would have been an ideal location for a session to be held - lots of willing candidates who wouldn't have to travel too far (if living in halls of residence) who would be of an ideal age and peak physical condition to donate. However, I digress. My experiences of the sessions thus far have been generally wholly positive. Although I was nervous before my first donation, the atmosphere is always welcoming and reassuring. There is not one particular part of the experience that I could honestly say I "enjoy" but it is something I feel I have a moral obligation to do seeing as I am an eligible donor and that makes it worthwhile for me. Once or twice, I have had issues with blood clotting and low iron levels which meant that my circulation was poor but only once have I ever felt faint. The team of nurses and practitioners always make sure you get a plentiful serving of refreshments before and after donations to prevent this happening as much as they can. I think it is a tremendous shame that you are not able to donate when you are such a willing donor and can provide resources that aren't readily available. (I myself am A Rh positive so supplies aren't exactly "short" but every little counts, hey?) Perhaps in the future when you are not taking any medications you will become eligible, just as I hope to be able to when I can find a time and a date which fits into my schedule! Sometimes get the impression they don't want my blood!

It's interesting that I am seeing this discussion, because earlier today i was thinking that since i finally have gotten rid of a cold that has been bugging me for weeks, I should go and donate blood. I used to donate about every 3-4 months. I know, that's not as often as I should, but sometimes life just gets in the way. I am O negative, so I am the universal donor and I feel it's a responsibility to go and donate. I think I'll go on my next day off from work. I only had one bad experience and that was the first time I donated. I almost passed out after, but it's because i hadn't really eaten that day and I stood up too fast. Since then, no problems.

Sorry I'm so late with this. Yes, I used to give blood. Now I can't because I am on medications that could cause problems for someone receiving my blood. I did vasovagle, that's when you knock yourself out, they would prevent me from vasovagling (can it be a verb?), but not by much. But even with that, I was glad I could do it. Saving someone's life is worth the inconvience. I, too am 0 positive. My Father was 0 negative and he used to give to people because so few people have 0 negative and while they are the universal donor (anyone can take their blood because there is no positive protein or AB proteins), but unfortunately, they can't take anything but 0 negative or the incompatable blood will most likely kill them. In the older days, people would thank my Dad because they knew whose blood they got. Now they don't tell you. He saved a woman who was hermorhaging after having a baby one time and she came to thank him. Another time, a man came into square dancing, he didn't have the right blood to save his wife who had been in a car accident. So he went to the square dance hoping someone would have 0 negative. Both my father and my cousin left to try to save her. She lived.

I had wanted too really badly for a lot of years but I did not weigh enough. They said you had to be over 110 pounds and I was not, then when I put on a little more weight later I never had the time to do it. Then I was pregnant, and then pregnant again, and then I developed diabetes and now I can not donate blood. I would if I could but I guess even though my diabetes is not bad my blood is tainted now.

I can not give blood as i have a condition so that i can not give blood.

Hi carolbee,No,because i am not capable in donating blood. I would love to give ,but i have hypertension.Thanks,Have a nice day!

I have not given a blood yet, but I intend to. I have not received any blood either. I always admire people who donates blood. It saves lives. I am not scared of needles so I have no problems with that.

No I have not....I have had a problem with my blood since I was a little girl....if I were a man I would be considered a hemophliac....My blood doesn't clot the way other peoples does and sometimes I am very anemic....but it's mostly controled by diet so have to take in some vitamin k on a regular basis...so I can't....I need it myself! LOL

For years I gave blood every chance I could. I was working on my second gallon when I had heart surgery and the medication that I have to take now I am no longer able to give blood. I always gave at the red cross drives when they came to the workplace and set up. They have a great staff and have seen them do great things for those, like you, who faint easily when the blood was given.

I have had good experiences and bad. The worst was one time they gave me a newbie and she couldn't find a vein and by the time she was done poking around I had just about passed out. I can't give blood now unless I get an OK from my cardiologist and I keep forgetting to ask.

Hello, No I haven't although I've been thinking maybe it's time I did? I have a brother that goes every so often. They will come to his workplace and pick him up and take him to the blood bank place. I forget what's it's called? Anyway, my brother mentioned that he almost fainted before, and that you're supposed to lie down afterward and sip some juice or something. What does CMV negative mean? I'm also O positive myself as is my husband, although with his health issues, not sure that I'd want his blood. Probably not a good idea if you're on lots of meds. I think I will go one day because after all isn't blood type O very much in need? Or is it O negative?

no i haven't given blood yet but i'd like to, first of all i need to know my blood type, and secondly i usually have headache so i must undergo a chekup first...

Everytime i want to give blood, but the doctors always say that You are too thin, and have no condition to give.

I donated blood my first time 2 years ago, ive never been afraid of needles so it was pretty easy. Im just a little squeamish about blood so i didnt look at the bag at all during it.

I have never donated blood. I'm not scared of needles or have any type of medical reason to not do it. I have no idea why I don't. Now I've got to think about why I haven't since it helps 3 people because whole blood can be processed into red cells, platelets, plasma and something else but I can't remember its name.

Dear friend, I have donated few times and two times to my relatives and other to those who were in critical conditions. I just donated this as a part of our welfare trust which had helped me lot especially when my grandparents were in critical stages. Moreover, even now I am willing to donate blood.

I remember donating blood once before while I was in college. I'm not afraid of seeing blood but I didn't look when they took blood from me. I donated it to the red cross. After that they provided us food probably to help us rebuild the blood we lost from donating. It was generally a good experience.

Yes I did it,, will do again if needed,,, the belief is that ur body makes new blood,,and should be no problem,its normal to drink some water, juices,or maybe milk,while we give blood,to help our body

Hi carolbee, I have volunteered a couple of times, but my blood was not taken because it didnt match that of the persons who needed it. In our subcontinent, O+ve is very easy to get, while B+, B-, and AB+, and AB- are quite rare. I dont think hospitals out here have any shortage in O+. May be you all can source blood from here, and likewise we can get B+ from your countries! I dont think they are using O+ for any other group anymore. Though O+ is the universal donor, they prefer the exact match nowadays.

I want to give blood, but I don't have the courage to give it.