Just gave blood again, do you?

Hades · 15 Feb 2016 at 23:07

I would love to give blood but due to an illness in 2011 I'm not eligible. I've also had to stop carrying a donor card

savagesam117 · 15 Feb 2016 at 23:16

I've never given blood, nor do I know my blood type. Maybe I'll give it a go. My mum does from time to time and does encourage me but I never get round to it

Muban · 7 Mar 2016 at 15:35

In again today. I'm in more often now than before, it used to be every 5 weeks but now in every 4. Not sure if that is due to a change in guidelines. Those of you that do platelets, how far apart are your sessions?

Today's predicted time is 67 minutes for a triple donation, not bad at all.

tom_e · 7 Mar 2016 at 15:42

Blood scoots out of me at rather a good rate apparently, and my blood drops to the bottom of the iron test before they can even start the timer. Finally found something I can do quickly

insane200 · 7 Mar 2016 at 15:47

Muban said:
In again today. I'm in more often now than before, it used to be every 5 weeks but now in every 4. Not sure if that is due to a change in guidelines. Those of you that do platelets, how far apart are your sessions?

Today's predicted time is 67 minutes for a triple donation, not bad at all.

I'm due for my 8th donation new month, never done the Platelets donation though, not even been asked about it.

Muban · 7 Mar 2016 at 16:04

They have a big poster on the wall in the main BTS centre. When I was doing whole blood donation I saw it and let them know I would be happy to do it if I met the criteria. They tested me that day and having a high count they asked me to start doing platelets at the next session.

mid_gen · 7 Mar 2016 at 16:15

Nope.

I would....but a lot of countries won't accept British blood. Hong Kong and Germany both included, not sure where else but it's pretty widespread.

Meridian · 7 Mar 2016 at 19:00

Muban said:
In again today. I'm in more often now than before, it used to be every 5 weeks but now in every 4. Not sure if that is due to a change in guidelines. Those of you that do platelets, how far apart are your sessions?

Four weeks. It used to every two, but it gave me anaemia after a few years. I gather it's a common issue, so most people seem to be every four weeks. I'd never heard of five week intervals.

Home stretch now (that's probably jinxed it): last donation on Thursday was 591.

Muban · 7 Mar 2016 at 19:30

Interesting. Maybe before they just had too many people for slots here. It's all good anyway, enforced timeout with free wifi and a cuppa every 4 weeks, no bad thing

Glaucus · 7 Mar 2016 at 19:32

Booked in for Friday, will have to talk to them about platelets. Although annoying despite giving blood in a huge hospital, platelets are somewhere else and a few miles further away.

Feek · 4 Apr 2016 at 15:45

Just made my second donation.

Kylevdm · 4 Apr 2016 at 16:21

I donated platelets the whole way though uni but I now live in the middle of no-where and need to work out where I can start donating again. Also need to move from Blood Scotland to whatever it is in England.

Muban · 11 Apr 2016 at 15:33

In again today for Platelets.

TheCrow · 11 Apr 2016 at 16:49

Mynight · 11 Apr 2016 at 17:41

tom_e said:
Finally found something I can do quickly

Too easy

.

23rd time as of today. Love getting up after its done I always get the drunk legs

.

thebennyboy · 12 Apr 2016 at 16:11

Booked an appointment for Thursday after college. Was a great feeling when i donated a couple of years ago. Time to make it a regular thing. How often can you donate?

Muban · 12 Apr 2016 at 18:33

For whole blood donations:
England & Wales - Men every 3 months, women every 4 months.
Scotland - At least 12 weeks between donations.

SexyGreyFox · 12 Apr 2016 at 21:00

Muban said:
For whole blood donations:
England & Wales - Men every 3 months, women every 4 months.

I've donated for decades 4 times a year but all the women I know (inc 2 daughters) only donate twice a year!

One · 12 Apr 2016 at 21:07

Just went today. Quite a coincidence this popping up. Here's what I got given the time before:

For whatever reason the next one near me is not until September :/ I'd go every 12 weeks if I could but they don't seem to give me the opportunity.

Muban · 13 Apr 2016 at 10:23

SexyGreyFox said:
I've donated for decades 4 times a year but all the women I know (inc 2 daughters) only donate twice a year!

Weird. I suppose there could be variation from place to place but that doesn't seem very often, there must be a reason though I suppose. When I did whole blood it was every 12 weeks.