[Tart Cherry Jam]

Besides all the other reasons to do so, helping cancer patients, physical trauma survivors including those with multiple burns, sickle cell patients, surgery patients, and others, I recommend is a way of knowing how needed we are. It has helped me through recent depression and mixed mood times.

Here, I am donating platelets for cancer patients. I do this every other week for three times in a row, then I donate whole blood for those in need of multiple transfusions, then again platelets three times, and repeating the cycle.

It really, really helps me remember my value.

[unlived]

I’ve always wanted to donate but can’t due to being on lifelong anticoagulants. I needed multiple blood transfusions last year and they saved my life. I’m so grateful someone donated and would love to be able to do the same. I looked into plasma and platelets too but one I wasn’t allowed to do still and the other I’m too old for (they only accept up to 35?). I’m glad you’re able to do it and it makes you feel good

[Mountaindewed]

I used to have to give blood for medical reasons. I haven't had to since March. I don't think my blood is any good though and I'd probably just end up screwing someone over if they recieved it. Which is probably why they send me to a transfusion center at a doctors office instead of just telling me to go to a blood bank.

[MuddyBoots]

Good to keep in mind. Gotta wait a while and get tested for hepatitis/HIV first though apparently.

[Nammu]

I’m a regular donor. The Red Cross makes the whole process easy. Thankfully they send timely reminders. I’ve not got money to donate and since my back went bad volunteering is out so this is my one way of giving back now.

[Blue_Bird]

I have always wanted to donate blood. Never did it though due to being afraid of passing out. Just a question for anyone who knows, is it okay to donate blood if I'm on several psych meds? I would like to donate blood in possible next time the red cross is around here. Just want to get over my fear of it and want to be helpful

Edit:
Well I just looked up the eligibility reurements regarding medications and such on the Red Cross website and it looks like I'm eligible so I signed up to give blood next week at a local place that's hosting their blood drive

Sent from my M8L using Tapatalk

[Nammu]

I’m on psych meds and that’s not an issue. Though there are some drugs you can’t be on, they list them in the sign up sheets and information. One of them is a pimple medicine that common but most drugs I’ve never heard of, and of course blood thinners.there’s limitations on having lived outside the states or travel to certain areas but it’s straight forward. I think you can sign up though there online site now so it would all be private and no person involved in your looking over the information.

The big thing I recommend is drinking a lot of water before hand, it goes much quicker and you are less likely to have complications. I’m in and out in less than an hour. I do all my signing up and pre check in online.

[Tart Cherry Jam]

Originally Posted by Nammu

I’m a regular donor. The Red Cross makes the whole process easy. Thankfully they send timely reminders. I’ve not got money to donate and since my back went bad volunteering is out so this is my one way of giving back now.

Likewise, I've not got money to donate and volunteering is out of the question for other reasons. This is my way, too.

[Tart Cherry Jam]

Originally Posted by Blue_Bird

I have always wanted to donate blood. Never did it though due to being afraid of passing out. Just a question for anyone who knows, is it okay to donate blood if I'm on several psych meds? I would like to donate blood in possible next time the red cross is around here. Just want to get over my fear of it and want to be helpful

Edit:
Well I just looked up the eligibility reurements regarding medications and such on the Red Cross website and it looks like I'm eligible so I signed up to give blood next week at a local place that's hosting their blood drive

Sent from my M8L using Tapatalk

Wonderful! Psych meds are not in any way implicated. Good for you!

[divine1966]

I was never eligible to donate blood in the US because of mad cow disease risk (lived in Europe). Every time I think they lifted the ban, here it is. Still there. I just found out they lifted it just a few month ago but it looks like it’s lifted only if you lived in France, UK and Ireland. Not sure about other countries. I guess I’ll find out when I fill out all of location again, typically that’s when I was always stopped.

I stopped trying when covid 19 pandemics started so I tried to donate and it still said I can’t, so I called Red Cross and they confirmed nope still cannot donate. I haven’t checked since. My brother tried to donate once and found out he can’t ever donate because he had Hepatitis B. And it was in his first year of college almost 40 years ago and still can’t so he hasn’t checked since but I am sure that ban won’t be lifted. Too risky?

[Soupe du jour]

Thank you for doing that Tart Cherry Jam!

[*Beth*]

What a fabulous thread! I have wanted to donate blood for so many years...and the years have flown by. I'm a type A and always heard that A is needed. Something that held me back is the psych med thing. Deep inside I've been embarrassed to go to the blood bank, tell them the list of meds I'm on and get "the look," only to be told I can't donate, being on so many meds.

Thank you @Blue_Birdfor so courageously bringing up that subject! Never even dawned on me to check it out online. I have lots of tattoos, including my fingers and a hand; it always amuses me when a phlebotomist says, "Now how are you doing, dear, are you afraid of needles?" (Ummm...No...the tattoos are real...)

Thank you, Cherry

[Moose72]

Originally Posted by Tart Cherry Jam

Besides all the other reasons to do so, helping cancer patients, physical trauma survivors including those with multiple burns, sickle cell patients, surgery patients, and others, I recommend is a way of knowing how needed we are. It has helped me through recent depression and mixed mood times.

Here, I am donating platelets for cancer patients. I do this every other week for three times in a row, then I donate whole blood for those in need of multiple transfusions, then again platelets three times, and repeating the cycle.

It really, really helps me remember my value.

Whats up with the photo bomb nurse with the two thumbs up?

[Tart Cherry Jam]

Originally Posted by Moose72

Whats up with the photo bomb nurse with the two thumbs up?

That I was wondering myself!

[Tart Cherry Jam]

Originally Posted by *Beth*

What a fabulous thread! I have wanted to donate blood for so many years...and the years have flown by. I'm a type A and always heard that A is needed. Something that held me back is the psych med thing. Deep inside I've been embarrassed to go to the blood bank, tell them the list of meds I'm on and get "the look," only to be told I can't donate, being on so many meds.

You do not need to provide the list of medications you take! Not at all. You are asked about certain medications (as such, the medication to treat HIV infection disqualifies forever) and also asked a question about whether you take medications on the deferral list which can be found on the 2nd page of https://stanfordbloodcenter.org/wp-c...rial-v23.0.pdf. Some medications disqualify only for a short period of time. E.g. I am always asked if I have taken aspirin in the last 48 hours (I do not take aspirin at all). So, psych drugs are nowhere on that list!