Donating Plasma?

Okay, so I've been on medical leave for three months, and my short term disability is not really cutting it when it comes to paying my bills. So I decided to try and start donating plasma.

I've been rejected in the past (about 6 years ago) several times because my heart rate was always too high. Even when I was younger, and very fit because I was a runner, I experienced a high heart rate. My doctor attributed it to medications. Now, I'm overweight and not fit at all so that's probably it. When I tried six years ago, I kept going back, and by the third time getting rejected, I just gave up.

Well, anyway, I went this time super hopeful and passed the physical. The nurse said I should fly through and be good to go...and then she looked at the interview I filled out. She said that unfortunately, because I answered "yes" to having bipolar disorder, they had to have a note from my doctor stating I am stable enough to give plasma.



Um, wat?

Have any of you experienced this? I honestly don't get it. Like, what do they expect me to do, freak out in the chair? Start running around the room? That is the dumbest thing I've ever heard.

They faxed a form to my pdocs office, but they are so disorganized that I know the form will never get filled out. I cried on the way home (OMG, I'm unstable!!) because I was counting on going twice a week, and having this money to start paying down some medical bills.

I knew in my gut as soon as I saw that question I should have lied and said no. But I guess I have too much integrity.

You did the right thing by telling the truth. Also, I can understand why they want a note. Some people in a manic state and/or psychosis might not be able to handle the entire process of donating. Perhaps someone who comes in to donate is manic and not in a stable frame of mind. Yes, they might freak out.
Basically, the clinic wants to protect both itself and you.

Makes sense. I have never been truly manic, so it never occurred to me.

I work in the medical field; I don't think I could truly lie about something on a medical form.

I guess it just kind of put me into an anxious state (heh, when they are questioning if I'm stable) since I was really counting on that money. Oh well. It'll be okay.

I was curious-apparently it could be harmful to me since I’m on lithium and it would remove it from my system. IF google is even correct.

Graystreet, yeah - getting the note is annoying, but once you have it everything should be a go-ahead.

key tones - I believe I have read that before about donating plasma. Interesting.

I didn't know that--I should check it out. They return your blood to your system, but if lithium binds to plasma (or...something like that. I'm forgetting my pharmacology), that could be a problem. Good researching!

Lying would be for me not an option - we are talking about someone else's life here.

Your motivation for donating blood and plasma should be for ethical reasons and a wish to help. It floors me that someone would do so for the sole reason of money. Perhaps you should evaluate your reasons for doing so. If you are doing so out of a sense of moral duty or need to help you wouldn't be feeling the need to lie - which in such a situation is incredibly self-serving and immoral.

I have an additional idea to point out here. Your medications may not permit you to donate in the first place. If you are the type to not disclose this? I am left speechless.

Are you picking on someone for being disabled and needing money? Seriously?

Am I reading this incorrectly?

I don’t see anything here about lying. What are you seeing??

Wait, what? I'm an RN. I'm aware of why people need plasma, have administered plasma in the ER more times than I can remember, and am aware of what medications do and do not prevent a person from donating. None of what I take are those meds--what excludes people from giving are chemo drugs and immunosuppressants, which the center makes very clear during your intake. I was being facetious (and venting frustration) about lying. Ethically, I would never lie about a medical issue. That's why I didn't and was frustrated because I told the truth. The RN I spoke do during my exam was frustrated for me. That's why I posted here, to let off some frustration.

Let's be honest, here. 90% or more of the people in that donation center are there because they need money. Every person I have spoken to is doing it for extra cash (including two of my friends from nursing school, including my T when she started her private practice)--the center has specials and gives out coupons increasing the amount donors get for donating if they donate so much in a certain span of time.

I don't think being judgmental is necessary. I'm not trying to be snappy at all, but don't know me from a hole in the ground, tbh.

Well, to be fair, I'm not disabled per se, I have been on short term disability for the last 3+ months after I broke my foot and couldn't work. Once savings ran out, the short term pay didn't cover everything so yes, I am doing what I can to supplement my income: selling things I don't need on Craigslist and eBay, and attempting to donate plasma. I figure it's better than sitting here crying and being depressed about how I can't afford to cover my bills. And yes, it helps someone.

Two birds, one stone. Thanks for the post.

I know a number of people who are very caring human beings and donate plasma to make ends meet. I think one can be both ethical and wish to help by giving plasma, while at the same time glad to make some extra $.

As I understood it, the OP did clarify that she would not have lied on the application form.

I'm not trying to be confrontational. I'm just putting my thoughts out there.

Picking on some one? I am merely stating the obvious.

I reiterate my (personal) point of view that doing such a thing purely for the motivation of the cash is unethical. Please provide me a valid and true argument suggesting such a thing is in fact based in ethical grounds. This sort of thing is upsetting hence the harsh criticism.

Upsetting? You are the one that stepped into a thread of someone seeking support and setting it off with an upsetting post.

This is not a ethical debate forum so no one needs to argue ethics with you. Again, not the purpose of this thread.

I will give some background.

I have been in the situation of sweating out whether a loved one was going to receive enough transfusions. My late husband (who died in an artificial heart transplant) had mysterious anemia they could not figure out. They couldn't figure out why they couldn't actually see blood because his anemia was so severe and continued even after several transfusions. It turned out to be his kidneys not making erythropoietin.

One is thankful there are such programs to get the plasma into the system. I sure you have never sat in a hospital sweating this out.

I used to review cases of mentally ill, injured/disabled, veterans etc. that were wards of the court. There are many people that need money that don't have a way to get help, and this is a way for them to do that.

I didn't think Greystreet should have to defend herself against you.

And this is a support forum. If you don't have something supportive to say, go read something else.

You had no reason to comment here.

It's a *support* forum. It's not an ethical argument forum.

I am sure there are such places for you to go and enjoy yourself.

justafriend, Honestly, in the long run, motivation for donating plasma doesn't really matter, does it? The purpose, whatever the motivation, is achieved: Someone receives the needed plasma. It's a question of logic, not ethics.

If it were unethical, then the myriad of plasma centers in the United States, headed up by members of the medical community, would not be paying people.

Full stop.

I'm sorry for whatever happened to have caused such feelings against people who choose to give plasma for their own benefit.

Have you ever heard the saying you catch more bees with honey than with vinegar? It was totally possible to express your contrary opinion without jumping to attack.

Thank you to the rest of you for your helpful responses.

I think the purpose for this thread has been achieved, and the mods can close it, now.

Blood Donations are only voluntary in my Country, there is no payment. This said, there is forever a shortfall with availability of most all blood types, so I laud anyone willing to donate paid or not. I used to donate periodically, but am unable to do so lately as I have failing physical health.

yes I have donated plasma, some medications for bipolar stay in the blood even after it goes through the machines separating and cleaning system. if someone receives that plasma that still contains lithium or other bipolar meds it can be harmful. it used to be donation locations did not ask about health and meds and ended disposing the donated plasma, when testing the plasma for tissue typing and toxins. it costs donation centers money and time to collect and screen tainted or toxic donation due to medications, not to mention could leave their supply short on supplies if they keep having to dispose of it due to medications.

now they do screening for health and require doctors to fill out a form, the form usually asks what medications the person is on and whether removing plasma is harmful to that person.

But is blood donation the same as plasma donation...does anyone know?

plasma is the whitish/clear part of the blood.

when a person is donating at a donation center the intake is the same, the screening process is the same regardless of if you are giving ....

whole blood (all 4 parts of the blood),
just platelets (clear disk shaped help with clotting and healing),
just plasma (the liquid part of the blood that has nutrients)
Just red blood cells (red disk like parts of the blood) or
white blood cells (leukocytes that fight infection)

most at regular city donation centers give plasma, or whole
red cross donation centers usually do whole blood
Hospitals take donations for all of the above.

I'm sorry you had to take crap for starting this thread, graystreet. Poverty (short-term, or otherwise) is something privileged people can't understand. I have a friend who was laid off & the $40 he made for 3 hours of his time helped his family make ends meet.