Donating blood

[carolp]

There is a terrible shortage right now. If you can donate, go for it. It doesn't affect me at all. I am anemic but I take iron so there is no problem. You could be saving a life. If you feel like **** for a little while it's totally worth it.

[Aquila]

Good for you!

I donate regularly, and haven't had a problem, but I do try to take it easy for the next day or so. I'll ride, but go easy. And of course, no housework is allowed. It's a rule!

Drink lots of water and such before and after. My donation center usually has homemade cookies from a volunteer, so that's a special treat.

[Crankin]

Shooting Star, I'm surprised you were allowed to donate. In the US, you have to weigh more than 110.

[lph]

I think that the reason there's a weight limit and the reason that petite folks might take it harder, is simply that you donate the same amount no matter the size of your body. I asked on my first trip if big tall guys donated more, but no, 500 ml is the standard size. So small people donate a slighter larger percentage of the total amount of blood in their body.

I also think (lotsa thinking going here!) that being fit is going to help you recover from donating, but fit people live active lives and will feel the lack of energy a lot more keenly.

[fetchspot]

It think the weight limit has to do with blood volume. A person under 110lb does not have the volume to give, hence my passing out while still on the table giving. I did have a nice story to tell after the "giving" (they had to stop before they got the full amount so it got tossed). When I went to college I was told I was type O. After the donation I found I was A+ so I did have a few questions for my mother when I got home. Plus, it was the only A-plus I got while at college.
fs

[emily_in_nc]

I have long been on the borderline on both weight and blood pressure for being able to give blood. There were regular blood drives at work, so one time I just decided to go for it to see what happened. I had successfully given a few years before when I was a bit heavier. This time, I only weighed around 105 but told them I weighed 110. Big mistake. They couldn't get enough blood out of me in the time limit, so the blood I did manage to donate (about 3/4 a bag) would have to be trashed. I had laid there for 45 minutes trying to give enough, and the needle was in kind of a painful position, so it was pretty miserable.

The requirements are there for a reason, and I learned my lesson at trying to get around them -- my intentions were good, but not worth it!

[Eden]

Long ago they used to take 1/2 pints - my very petite mom used to donate, but now with the amount of testing that they have to do on each donation it isn't worth the effort to take less than a full pint, so us small folks are no longer eligible.

My husband used to be a pretty regular donor (he's got a couple of those pins for # of gallons).... but they got him into platelets and plain wore him out, they were calling what felt like constantly (you can give much more often than whole blood), plus giving platelets is a longer and more involved process. He'll probably give again sometime, but at this point he's burned out...

[shootingstar]

Shooting Star, I'm surprised you were allowed to donate. In the US, you have to weigh more than 110.

I gave blood over 25 yrs. ago. Guess things have changed since then. I haven't checked the latest. I know..I need my blood.