Hi all, this has been bemusing me for a while. I am not allowed to give blood because I had an operation 7 years ago where I received blood. The NHS website doesn't give any explaination why I cannot give blood so does anyone here know? Surely they could do tests to see if my blood was ok to give to someone else.
Many Thanks
Andy
I dont see why you cant give blood. Any blood you had received from someone else would have been replaced with a couple of weeks by your body, and I'm assuming you dont have any disease.
Do you mind me asking what operation you had?
Not sure but I think it's to do with lowering the risk of passing diseases like vCJD which can be passed on through blood or blood products....
Give the donation helpline a ring, am sure they'd be able to clarify
Shelley is correct.
If you have received blood within the last 29 years, from January 1980 you are not allowed to give blood because you are at a higher risk of having vCJD (prions disease).
http://www.blood.co.uk/visually_impaired/vi_vcjd.html
yup, an old guy recently died of natural causes but when they looked at his brain they noticed that he also had vCJD. They found out he had got it from plasma.Originally Posted by shadowmaster
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I really need to start giving blood again.
When I worked at Unilever they had the blood people come to the building every few months but since leaving there its been harder to get to a place to give blood.
My missus cant give blood due to having receiving blood. Why is it 1980? Before then did they not do blood transfusions?
It's not necesarily the increased risk, it's done to simplify the epidemology of tracing back any issues such as vCJD. By banning people who've recieved blood products from donating, it means you don't end up with a chain of people infected from the same original source. Instead what you get is clusters all one step from the original source, making it a lot easier to contact, test and help those in need.
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This is bunny and friends. He is fed up waiting for everyone to help him out, and decided to help himself instead!
I've a feeling that a batch got contaminated with HIV back then, and they became ultra-cautious as a result.
I give blood, seeing as im only 17 thers no risk of me having any 1980s blood. I am coming up to my second donation in march.
Your a ton braver then me... ive got a donation actual place in middle of sheffield centre... and i want to do it but i suppose ill have to talk myself into it one day...
Anychance anyone feels like explaning what they do and how it feels?
Well, it's quite easy really - I've only done it once, but I'm doing it again.
The most painful part is when they do the wee test beforehand to make sure your Iron levels are high enough. They use one of those things that break the skin so they get a drop of blood from your finger and drop it in a solution (it might just be water, I'm not sure) and it has to hit the bottom in less then 15 seconds, it's a bit nippy - but the actual donation is pain-free.
At least my one was - the staff were very good. You could certainly feel that they were sticking something into your arm, but it wasn't painful or anything - you could just 'feel' it.
"If you're not on the edge, you're taking up too much room!"
- me, 2005
Best to book at appointment, then when you turn up they give you a folder to read which explains the process, and a form to fill in just checking all the things that might get in the way of donating. Then you wait a while, get called up by a nurse and have a preliminary test/interview where they'll go over your form and take a drop of blood (pin prick on end of finger type thing) to test for haemoglobin levels.
Then you wait around a bit more before being called to a doctors bed thingy, you lie down and put your arm on a cradle type thing. The nurse cleans the area on the inside of your elbow and puts a cuff on the top of your arm - you'll be asked to clench your fist, which together with the cuff makes the blood vessels stand out easily. They then insert a needle which is usually less painful than the initial pin prick to test for the haemoglobin, although it depends on the humidity in the room really - if it's humid then the alcohol swab doesn't evaporate and it stings a little bit.
Then the cuff is removed and you'll be asked to slowly clench and unclench your fist. Continue for however long it is - can't remember, but I'm doing it again this friday so can get back to you if you like - basically they fill up a container. They'll check on you a couple of times if it's your first time. Then when it's done they'll remove the needle (don't feel anything), and ask you to press a cotton ball to it firmly. Then this will be taped to your arm to stop the bleeding. You might be asked to sit half-up for a few minutes. Then very gradually sit right up and dangle your feet over the edge for a few minutes. Then eventually a nurse will accompany you to the drinks/food area, where you'll be asked to take it easy and drink some cold squash - tea and food is available, but not recommended especially for first timers. After a good 5-10 minutes of sitting around, you'll be allowed to go.
I didn't really feel much from the loss of blood first time - if anything it relieved a slight headache I hadSometimes you feel a bit light headed - like after a quick strong pint.
Giving blood is a great way of kickstarting a diet. The day after you are 1 pound lighter, guaranteed.
24" iMac & Macbook Air
but you feel the need to drink and eat more to gain energy back
ahh thanks for all the info ill be sure to read up and make myself do it.Best to book at appointment, then when you turn up they give you a folder to read which explains the process, and a form to fill in just checking all the things that might get in the way of donating. Then you wait a while, get called up by a nurse and have a preliminary test/interview where they'll go over your form and take a drop of blood (pin prick on end of finger type thing) to test for haemoglobin levels.
Then you wait around a bit more before being called to a doctors bed thingy, you lie down and put your arm on a cradle type thing. The nurse cleans the area on the inside of your elbow and puts a cuff on the top of your arm - you'll be asked to clench your fist, which together with the cuff makes the blood vessels stand out easily. They then insert a needle which is usually less painful than the initial pin prick to test for the haemoglobin, although it depends on the humidity in the room really - if it's humid then the alcohol swab doesn't evaporate and it stings a little bit.
Then the cuff is removed and you'll be asked to slowly clench and unclench your fist. Continue for however long it is - can't remember, but I'm doing it again this friday so can get back to you if you like - basically they fill up a container. They'll check on you a couple of times if it's your first time. Then when it's done they'll remove the needle (don't feel anything), and ask you to press a cotton ball to it firmly. Then this will be taped to your arm to stop the bleeding. You might be asked to sit half-up for a few minutes. Then very gradually sit right up and dangle your feet over the edge for a few minutes. Then eventually a nurse will accompany you to the drinks/food area, where you'll be asked to take it easy and drink some cold squash - tea and food is available, but not recommended especially for first timers. After a good 5-10 minutes of sitting around, you'll be allowed to go.
I didn't really feel much from the loss of blood first time - if anything it relieved a slight headache I had
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