Question for blood donors 🩸

[Tommy999]

I think I’ll do that. Thanks, Irishmom2.

By the way, I like your screen name. My ancestry is mainly German, Dutch, and English but I really like Irish music for whatever reason. Celtic Thunder and Celtic Woman are favorites of mine, among others. When I hear Irish music, I get the feeling that the music is coming from the depths of the soul instead of just from the voice.

 

[Glennon_P]

If I may ask, did your cardiologist indicate your heart attack was in any way related to your low hemoglobin?

No…like my anemia (Mom’s side) my heart attack was hereditary (Dad’s family has lousy cardiac history). I really had no risk factors (not overweight, nonsmoker, good blood pressure, cholesterol was at the upper end of the normal range but still in the normal range). I just didn’t choose my parents wisely.

 

[Tommy999]

Very true that we cannot choose our biological parents and have to live with the consequences.

My mother’s family has a history of heart disease - she died at age 76 from a ruptured aorta. My father’s side has less issues - my dad lived to 91 and only suffered from a terminal case of “cussedness”.

I’m rooting for having my father’s genes when it comes to the heart.

 

[Irishmom2]

You have to submit the proper paperwork with your request. ( Perhaps in the form of a question)

 

[Pattylt]

Is taking iron supplements dangerous at all?

It can be…it’s definitely not a supplement where if one is good, two are better! The typical amounts in supplements are safe. You could always begin with one every other day as well.

A couple of things to keep in mind. It is better to take it with food as it can be hard on some sensitive stomachs and it can tend to make some people constipated. Both of these are good reasons to start at every other day and see if you have any problems.

The best part of taking it as a supplement is that you don’t have to worry over your diet as much. Trying to get iron rich foods everyday takes more effort than taking a pill and knowing you’ve taken enough. I tend to be lazy like that at times. Take some vitamin C as well…doesn’t have to be at the same time…as C helps your body utilize the iron. It needn’t be the extremely high vitamin C that some preparations include. Just enough to make sure you aren’t deficient.

Keep up with the walks and weights! You’re doing just fine and don’t risk injuries!

With stretching out the time between donations, supplements or diet and continued activities, your Hgb will be normal again in no time.

Blood banks are always in need…it’s the nature of the business as each part of whole blood has specific shelf lives. Don’t feel guilty for saying no! Donors want healthy donors or what’s the point? No one wants a transfusion of someone else’s anemic blood…that doesn’t help!

I’m not sure why donor rooms try and push six weeks all the time. It takes three months for all your red blood cells to turn over and I always though that donation every three months makes better sense. But, they never asked me! Many times, what they are most desperate for are the platelets they get from the blood. Platelets have the shortest life span and are often desperately needed in many surgeries. Have you ever looked into doing just a platelet donation?

 

[Irishmom2]

I am feeling like we need to have a seniors room off the lounge!

 

[Tommy999]

Not really. They keep asking me if I would like to do “Double Red” or something like that, but I’ve only given whole blood in my life and didn’t feel adventurous enough to do the other yet.

 

[Tommy999]

Have you ever looked into doing just a platelet donation?

Not really. I saw some donors who spend a few hours at a time covered with blankets and was told they were donating platelets. I was a little uncomfortable with doing that, to be honest, at least until I learn more about it.

 

[The_Old_Maid]

“Double-red” refers to donating twice as many red blood cells. Your iron (and your weight) have to be higher than the average donor to participate.

As to the telephone inquiries, seriously, all of you who are feeling pestered will have to delete your phone number IN PERSON AT YOUR NEXT APPOINTMENT. Anything else is a waste of time.

You will NOT be able to persuade the telephone solicitor to make this change. Like many large organizations, they sometimes give lists of telephone numbers to the minimum-wage staff. Those individuals have no power to make changes in your records. They also do not know that they have been given a list with disqualified donors (such as “fell ill” or “it’s too soon to donate.”)

There’s nothing gained by lecturing the phone jockey. They’ll feel awful, you’ll feel awful, and a different phone jockey will be given the same list next week.

Make the change the next time you are at the blood drive, as the nurse is confirming your information. Nothing else works.

You will still get the postcards. I trust everyone can handle that.

 

[Titivillus]

Pattylt:

Have you ever looked into doing just a platelet donation?

Not really. I saw some donors who spend a few hours at a time covered with blankets and was told they were donating platelets. I was a little uncomfortable with doing that, to be honest, at least until I learn more about it.

I think I’ve done double-red a time or two, and I definitely went platelets for a while.

It wasn’t bad. They’d set up a movie to watch, stick a needle in each arm, and off to the races. The only bad part was a dialog that went like this

me: <watches movie>
machine:
tech: Okay, you’re getting your first return now
me: Okay
tech: You might be feeling a little cold?
me: Yeah, now that you mention it
tech: <gives me a blanket>
tech: And you might be getting a metallic taste in your mouth?
me: Um…yeah, now that you mention it
me: HEY! STOP OFFERING ME SYMPTOMS BEFORE YOU SUGGEST I MIGHT HAVE A STROKE OR SOMETHING!!
tech: <laughs, but shuts up>

 

[Titivillus]

Phone calls I can handle, but it took me the longest time to get them to forget my Social Security Number (which I had volunteered when I was young and foolish, but later decided: They are Not That Kind Of Bank)

My other favorite data recovery was once, when they gave me a scan-tron sheet to fill out for some kind of research survey:

me: Do I have to?
they: Yes
me: <fills out sheet, including SSN>
me: <gets to the bottom of the sheet, with the bubble that says “I CHOOSE NOT TO PARTICIPATE” or similar>
me: <pointing> It says it’s optional?
they: Oh, yeah
me: I’ll just keep this then
me: <begins to crumble sheet>
they: You can’t DO that!
me: Of course I can – It’s not titanium steel; It’s paper
me: <tears crumbled sheet into pieces>
they: <freak right out, but they get over it eventually>

 

[Tommy999]

Just fyi - I saw a video that said in China, observational data points to certain blood types being more susceptible to Covid-19. For example, they said that type ‘A’ is most susceptible and type ‘O‘ is least susceptible.

However, doctors in USA are saying that underlying medical issues are a much bigger factor than blood type. Just google blood type and coronavirus if you want more info on it. I just stumbled onto this yesterday.

Story here:

Your blood type may impact how hard you get hit by the coronavirus, new research shows

People with blood type A are 50% more likely to develop severe coronavirus symptoms than patients with other blood types.

news.yahoo.com

 

[Tommy999]

Good advice, The_Old_Maid. I will have them change the info the next time I go in.

In the meantime, I have blocked their texts and will block their phone calls, which have already started back again. Their annoying persistence has already made me want to quit donating altogether, but deep down I still want to help — but just need to wait for awhile until my hemoglobin levels get higher.

 

[Titivillus]

I just scheduled my next donation during a drive at work 2 weeks from now.

(If nothing bad happens pandemic-wise – In addition to the spiking around the area we had our first two positive reports of people in my building this week.
Yikes!)

 

[Tommy999]

Yes, also peaking where I live. May you and your loved ones (and everyone else, for that matter) stay safe and not catch the virus. If they do catch it, may it be the 2-day mild kind that doesn’t last long and has no lasting effects.

 

[Pattylt]

For example, they said that type ‘A’ is most susceptible and type ‘O‘ is least susceptible.

Oh great…I’m A pos! Cursed, I tell you!

I’m sorry you’re feeling harassed by the donor room. I wish they communicated better with the actual donor staff and the donors. Take off all the time you need and don’t feel guilty for a second! When your counts are up and stable again, they’ll welcome you with open arms. You might even ask to talk with a supervisor to tell them of your experience and how it made you feel. That certainly isn’t their goal and some changes in their call back protocol sounds like it’s desperately needed!

 

[Convert3]

I’m O+, but they don’t want my blood. I lived in the UK from 1983-86 and the American Red Cross thinks I have Mad Cow Disease. I’ve never been mad at a cow, so so don’t know what they’re talking about. They just don’t want my blood!

 

[Tommy999]

Wow, I didn’t realize that they didn’t have a way to check for that after all these years. That’s sorry to hear. Sounds like they are missing out on a willing donor.

 

[Pattylt]

I know they have restrictions on anyone that has been out of the US for a period of time but I don’t remember all the specifics. That seems a bit excessive but it just might mean a permanent disqualification due to Mad Cow disease…there is now way to test for it other than a brain autopsy which requires you to be dead.

It seems a bit ridiculous to permanently exclude anyone that visited the UK for a period of time but, it’s one of better to be safe than sorry reasons. It’s a shame…Opos is the most common blood type and being the universal donor, always needed!

 

[Tommy999]

Thanks for explaining, Patty. Your experience in this field is helpful and provides insight.