Just looking for a pat on the back Just been to give my 16th pint of blood. I love the excuse to eat chocolate :D :D

Congratulations:) I went to do that and as I'm rhesus negative (quite rare) they'd love mine but unfortunately I'm also anaemic (lack of iron) so it's a no go;)

Stacey x x x

Keep eating that liver then Stacey

FAINT

I did that once. I was giving blood at Lancaster Town Hall and the fire alarms went off. I passed out on the stairs and when I came round, I'd missed all the firemen

Did they just trample all over the top of you then? :D

Dunno. I woke up on the stone steps outside Lancaster town hall, with loads of fussing nurses.

Irritating thing was that they took me home in an ambulance and I was then stuck at home, miles outside Lancaster without my car

Funnily enough I'm one of the very few people I know that likes liver:o liver and onions- yum:D Leigh are you fainting at me being anaemic or the thought of giving blood:p

Stacey x x x

It's not so much the blood as the neeeeedles .. :cringe:

and as for liver ..yuk yuk yuk

Anaemic? ... Guinness and blackcurrant ... works for me

@ Leigh

Stacey x x x

They won't take mine because I'm asthmatic. They say there's something in the blood?!
LynnT

The blood Transfusion service take from people with asthma here

Pam n the boys

If you use Steroids for your Asthma or use your Asthma pumps more than once a day then the blood service won't let you give blood.

Fiona
x x x

According to the written stuff they give you to check when I used to go along (developed asthma as an adult, by the way) it said that if you'd used a steroid inhaler in the last five days they couldn't take you're blood. I cleared it with my gp that I'd come off the inhaler for that period to be able to donate, but they didn't want it, and sent a letter explaining that there was something in the blood of asthmatics that made it insuitable. It was a long time ago so I don't still have the letter. I was just disappointed that I couldn't donate anymore because Laura got through quite a bit of blood during her two major heart ops.
LynnT

The NBS site says -

"Asthma
If all you need for your asthma is to use an inhaler from time to time, then there's nothing stopping you from being a donor"

I have to use inhalers all the time so they prob won't accept me. We have sessions at work annually - I went to donate this year and they were too busy:-( So we never got round to the level of asthma or medication I take, but I do know of other asthmatics who have given so it prob does depend on how bad and what treatment you have to take. I'm still gonna go along and see what they say next time as it's something I've wanted to do for a long time as I've had two lots of major surgery where blood was on call - thankfully not needed - but even so - it would be nice to put something back and make my deposit in the bank should we ever need to make a withdrawal.

I'm so glad this thread was brought up as I wouldn't have thought there might be a problem so I've written to the NBS to see what they say. I'll let you know when I get a reply.

In the meantime, a HUGE pat on the back for all you donors out there - you are heros/heroines.

Pam n the boys

Hi Pam, yes, I would be interested in the reply you get. If it's allowed then I'll donate again.
LynnT

I have finally had a reply from the NBS about giving blood. They have sent me a letter saying they'll let me know when the next donor session is in my area!!! so it looks like even with my asthma and level of medication - two inhalers twice a day - they are interested.

Pam n the boys

Hi Pam, that's great. Do you mind me asking, which inhalers do you use? Are they steroid based, or not?
LynnT

HI

I use a steriod based inhaler and a reliever - Pulmicort is the steroid and Bricanyl the reliever.

It'll be interesting to see what happens when I get there;)

Pam n the boys

Pammy you get interviewed by a Doctor, as it's your first visit and then they make the decision whether or not to take blood. Let me know how you get on, I stopped going after they got so choosy about it and wouldn't take mine 3 times in a row for minor reasons like colds, when I first started going you had to be really ill. Ingrid

I'll be very interested to hear how you get on then. Good luck.
LynnT

Well done 9th, I used to give blood until they tightened up the rules & everytime I went was turned away because I just had a cold or something minor.
And Leigh there's me thinking you fainted at the thought of missing the firemen ) Ingrid

Shhhhhhh you'll get me into trouble

It's a shame though really because I know not many people are Rhesus Negative- apparently only 15% of all European women:o

Stacey x x x

I always fail the part when they ask if I've been exposed to anyone with BSE...my mate Sheilagh's a bit of a mad cow so I never get anywhere LOL!!!

Well done 9th - do you get another award for that or an extra chocolate biscuit. We have three donors here - two humans and one of the Dobes

Christine

Well done 9th, It's a subject near to my heart. Donors saved my life a few (Quite a few) years ago.

Best wishes, John

I think except for real real problems they should tke your blood. if I was lying on my death bed and it was a question of dying or taken blood from someone who has asthma I know which I would take.

They could do a grading system a for 1at class and b for 2nd class. i knwo this would be hard but I hear constantly how there is just not enough blood.

Just a thought as a few of you sound like you have been refused so there must be thousands the same.

Pam

How do dogs get to be blood donors? I would like ours to be of some use to dogs who needed it. Carrie wouldn't notice some of hers was missing :D

Is it just a case of mentioning it to your local vet?

Kate I looked in to doing this and was told the dog had to weigh at least 25KG be healthy etc as my Border collie weighs 22KG he was out and was told even so my Lab weighed in at 27KG she should weigh 24KG and was overweight and would not be suitable how true this is I don't know as the vet was a grumpy so and so and I have since changed vets but admit not looked into dog blood doners since.

Karen

Have a word with your Vet Kate

Kate my GSD is a canine blood donor with my vets, their rules say the dog has to be over 18kg, between 1 & 7yo, healthy and calm, they have to put a large needle into the neck without any medication, and stay still while the blood is taken. Also you have to be reasonably close to the practice. They contact you if they need blood but this can be in an emergency at 2am on a cold wet night, I live about 8 miles away & it takes 10 minutes to get there.
There is a national register but I can't remember the address, will try and find it. Ingrid

The Holly Blood donor Appeal, PO Box 95, Builth Wells, Powys. Wales. LD2 3WR 01982 551144
Can't find a website for it!

Thanks Ingrid. I live 35 minutes away from the practice, but given where I live that's probably about as close as anyone.

I was thinking of registering Carrie. She's 27.5 kilos and as placid as they come. Stinky is too old and TH would scream the place down. Carrie would just lie there and be stroked though.

I'll give the vet a phone.

Bit like me then, I've got 2 dogs that qualify in size and age but Monty would be bouncing round the surgery, I suppose in a real emergency I could tie his legs together (lol), & he hates the vets with a vengeance.
Good luck, let me know how you get on. Ingrid

Ingrid

No go. The vets weren't interested, as they use their own dogs.

Oh well. You try to be helpful . . . .

9th

That's a real shame isn't it, my vet's use their own dogs too, but also put out a plea for us client's to register, I suppose like us humans there is a limit to how much blood a dog can donate in a given time.
Oh well at least you tried. Ingrid

We live in a very rural area, so the vet said that the need for emergency blood for RTAs etc. is very limited.

But. Someone at work has a daughter who is head nurse in a veterinary hospital on the outskirts of Aberdeen, so they are going to mention to her that Carrie is available and we'll see if that brings any results. I might also speak to the PDSA hospital.

I'll keep you posted.

Never thought about those places, do hope they take you on, it's nice to know the dogs can help each other too, Good Luck, if you do manage I might try Zen with them as well. Ingrid

Ingrid

The veterinary hospital (private practice) are putting her on their list, but I'm also going to phone the PDSA. I'll let you know how I get on with them.

9th & Carrie (who's going paler and paler at the thought)

Paler in this bright sunshine, you should be getting more and more tanned !!!! Glad you've had some success, I don't mind watching them take anyone elses blood it's mine that makes me feel funny. Will keep watching this space Ingrid