I gave blood!

[LeeB]

Another good donation. In and out in 20 minutes. I wish they all went that well.

[doc henderson]

Nicely done gentleman!

[Jim_Rogers]

I gave blood today, in a bus.


 
First time doing that.
It all went fine, I drank three bottle of water before going.

Jim Rogers

[doc henderson]

Thanks Jim from me and the rest of the country.  It is a civic duty.  

[kantuckid]

Not to get into medical stuff I know not much about but we have two choices in my area for blood donations other than the city based plasma businesses. 
Mobile collections are either Red Cross or Central Kentucky Blood Center. Leaving out the negatives I/m aware of, I NEVER donate to the Red Cross.
One huge aspect for me is simply this: "Who gets the blood they collect" and I feel better that it's people where I live and have worked. 
 
Following my recent Double red cell donation I got a nice email from my collector to say who got my donation in a regional hospital- was a young kid.

R.E. Blood donation-
 
I'll be candid here, I had given many gallons over the years and once I retired from industry and then educational work, I had a heart attack and stopped giving as I was briefly on blood thinners, then just never started back. "My bad" as they say nowadays. :

This thread on The Forestry Forum was the catalyst for me to return to giving my blood. 
Thanks! ;)

[doc henderson]

Thank You!  well if yours goes locally then the red cross national stuff can go other places.  it works out the same  I am sure they move it before it outdates somewhere.  It is a big system so none goes to waste.

[Jim_Rogers]

I get an email from the Red Cross saying where my blood goes. Like to which hospital in my state, for example.
It's nice to know.

Jim Rogers

[Ljohnsaw]

It is a big system so none goes to waste.

Well, I hope so. I've been giving for 10+ years now and somewhere close to 50 gallons (equivalent since I give platelets).  A year or so back Blood Source was absorbed by Vitalant.  Vitalant started sending messages that "your donation was used today".  That makes you feel good.  But I only see that every 4th or 5th donation (I go every 2 weeks).  So does that mean my other donations timed out and were discarded, they were possibly used in some other way or they just don't send the message every time?  A great idea to notify but...

[doc henderson]

I cannot claim to know that but in general, it is a big deal at hospitals I work at if even one unit outdates.  platelets last 7 days in the body, red blood cell 120.  but there are all different ages in a batch.  Of course no new ones added after the donation.  It has changed since the shortage.  now they know what type are setting at what hospital,.  so a little hospital has only a couple units, and call if they need more.  If a unit is getting close they will send it to a big hospital that can use it up.  Our Kansas highway Patrol curries it for us in an emergency, otherwise redcross.  we see the guys come at about 4 am.  Old retired guys usually with a part time job.

[Ed_K]

 Rita gives but I can't She goes to Brattleboro. Vt. to the red cross. She get a txt message in a few days saying where the blood went and who got it by gender an age. The red cross covers New England 7 states cause they cover part of N.Y. Her last one went to a boy in N.Y., can't remember the hospital.

[gspren]

Looks like we haven't been keeping up this post. I had been donating every 8 weeks and had sporadic low iron, after 2 times being 12.4 and 12.9 when you need to be 13 minimum I took some cheap iron pills from the Dollar store and yesterday my iron was 14.8 so I was able to give  8). I had asked my doctor about the low iron and she said it wasn't low enough to care about but I cared that I couldn't donate so it cost me a couple bucks for the pills and made me happier!

[Ianab]

I see "normal" iron levels are between 10.7 and 30.4, hence your Doc wasn't concerned, you were just at the low end of normal. I guess the blood service are concerned that if they draw blood from someone with a level of 12, they might be pushing them further towards the low end, as they are removing a % of their iron, and they don't really have any spare. If the supplement has boosted your level a bit, you now have some to spare, so all good. 

[LeeB]

I gave yesterday. My iron was 18.3.

[doc henderson]

great Lee.  I think we are confusing two levels.  the test at the time of giving blood is usually a Hg amount in grams per deciliter.  actual iron levels can be confusion. level vs % saturation to the binding proteins.  If you are low on iron, it will decrease your hemoglobin and supplements can help.  If you are low you can eat meat or take pills.  if you keep going low you may not be absorbing, or worse having subtle losses of red blood cells.  If you are loosing blood in you GI tract it can be infection or inflammation or even cancer.  that is why a simple problem may prompt you doc to do all kinds of things that may seem like over kill.  hg normal average for women is around 12 if menstruating (blood loss) and 14 for men.  

Iron and Blood Donation | Clinical Center Home Page (nih.gov)

[doc henderson]

@gspren thank you also.   I have several items made for your event auction.  I think it is in October.

[gspren]

Donated again Wednesday and my iron was in the upper 14 somethings so taking the iron supplements works for me.

[jb616]

made it to # 61  8)  over 7 gallons...

[gspren]

made it to # 61  8)  over 7 gallons...

Quite an accomplishment, you should be proud! I wish I knew how many gallons I have given but too many different collectors over too many years.

[jb616]

I had to stop for about 10 years as well because i had Melanoma. Originally a lifetime deferral. Thankful to be healthy enough to give.

[LeeB]

I gave Thursday. That one put me at two gallons with Red Cross. I had several gallons in the past at a different bank. 

[LeeB]

Went again today. All went well. I've started showing them where to get the best stick and it has really helped. Some have seemed a little surprised but none have seemed offended. 

[Ljohnsaw]

I tell them which finger to do the finger stick. My left ring finger never fails. They normally do the middle finger and, for me, it doesn't flow well.

[Jim_Rogers]

Last week I went in to donate and got sent away due to 12.7 level for iron. I rescheduled for tomorrow, and I have been eating some salads lately to increase my iron level.

Jim Rogers

[Old saw fixer]

I have been denied for low iron many times.  It wasn't too disheartening when the donation center was a short walk from the shop, but now to drive 45 miles and get denied is a bit much.  I've tried iron tablets but they cause other problems.
Maybe I need to try more salads, but I'm on a diabetic diet and get plenty of salads as it is. 
It is personally rewarding to make a donation, I don't need the Red Cross "bribes".  

[Ljohnsaw]

I love a straight spinach and shredded carrot salad. I have to layoff them for a few days before I donate because my iron pops over the 16.8 or so threshold and I get denied. Popeye was right, you needs to ears your spinach!