Platelets! (blood donation pimpage)

pyro · 8 Nov 2005 at 12:52

Yay! Just got a letter confirming I can be a platelets donor! However they have some sort of a holdback so it might be some time till I actually donate.

Not sure how many of you know about this, but when you go to give blood, you can also donate platelets. You can only donate blood once every 16 weeks, however you can possibly donate platelets as much as every 2 weeks.

Platelets make you stop bleeding, when you cut yourself, the platelets in your blood (at the wound) brake apart and form a clot, so it's essensial you have enough in your bloodstream. Some people however don't have enough, which is where platelets donation come into play.

You can find more on www.blood.co.uk , or go to your local clinic, you need to be a blood donor to become a platelet donor. What happens is the take a blood sample during your blood donation and test to see if you have enough platelets to donate, if you do you will be sent a mail to confirm this, you fill in your phone number and when it's ok to call you, send it back, and a nurse will call you to let you know when you can donate.

Mundu · 8 Nov 2005 at 12:56

Out of curiosity I've got a blood test today can I donate blood then? I hate needles but as I have to have it done I might aswell donate some of that good red stuff!

Stringy · 8 Nov 2005 at 12:58

I give whole blood, I'm a sucker for the cards

Just got my Blue card (5th), one day I'll have my Gold....one day.....

Mundu said:
Out of curiosity I've got a blood test today can I donate blood then? I hate needles but as I have to have it done I might aswell donate some of that good red stuff!

It's less than likely that you can, look here for information of when and where you can give.

KaHn · 8 Nov 2005 at 13:01

Mundu said:
Out of curiosity I've got a blood test today can I donate blood then? I hate needles but as I have to have it done I might aswell donate some of that good red stuff!

the needles they use for dontation are a lot bigger than that used for blood samples, so probably not. Also it would have to be a registered blood donation site, where as any qualified nurse, and indeed any one with a vacuum needle (right thing?) pack can draw blood from you.

KaHn

pyro · 8 Nov 2005 at 16:01

Mundu said:
Out of curiosity I've got a blood test today can I donate blood then? I hate needles but as I have to have it done I might aswell donate some of that good red stuff!

Then don't be scared of needles you big girl

You need to go to a blood donation site, you can find one from their website, basically you fill in a questionnair, then they take two sampled and the bag of blood.

Von Smallhausen · 8 Nov 2005 at 16:43

Yaay.

I have posted before that I am a platelet donor. I am up to about 107 donations now.

Mundu · 8 Nov 2005 at 16:44

Bigger needles! Blimey now I am scared.

I go all woozie Jsut thinking about sticking needles in me.

LawfordLass · 8 Nov 2005 at 16:46

Yeah! Going for my 12th whole blood donation on 18th November. I've had to start booking appointments myself because the NBS don't seem to like writing to me anymore

They're not getting out of it that easily!

But they won't take platelet donations from me... apparently, my veins aren't good enough

Von Smallhausen · 8 Nov 2005 at 16:52

Kyzia said:
Yeah! Going for my 12th whole blood donation on 18th November. I've had to start booking appointments myself because the NBS don't seem to like writing to me anymore

They're not getting out of it that easily!

But they won't take platelet donations from me... apparently, my veins aren't good enough

Mine are like drainpoops, hence being suitable.

Oh, and next time you go folks, get on the bone marrow register as well.

cootuk · 8 Nov 2005 at 17:18

My platelets dropped right to the low end for donation so they stopped me.
They've now got some brand new machines that can handle the lower range better, so looks like I'm back on.
Just hope the Sister that ALWAYS misses the vein and has to jab around a little isn't on!

Meridian · 8 Nov 2005 at 18:26

KaHn said:
the needles they use for dontation are a lot bigger than that used for blood samples

There are slightly bigger, that's all. For everyone except Lostkat there's a pic of one in my arm here to give you an idea. The whole rig looks like this:

The main thing that stops most people is the time: about 90 minutes for a standard (double) draw, plus fifteen minutes health check plus connection time, and fifteen minutes recovery time. Some clinics now do saturday morning runs for those who can't get the time off work.

M

(333 donations)

VeNT · 8 Nov 2005 at 18:36

I can't do it, somthing to do with me running away every time I see the needle.

Lostkat · 8 Nov 2005 at 18:55

Meridian said:
arrrrrgh

WHY DID I CLICK THAT LINK?????? I feel sick now

My own fault, I know.

On a more positive note, next platelet donation is next Tues

The old platelets thread was very informative, but it looks like it's been pruned, and I forgot to archive it. D'oh!!

Meridian · 8 Nov 2005 at 19:43

Lostkat said:
My own fault, I know.

It's not like I didn't warn you....

M

Von Smallhausen · 8 Nov 2005 at 20:07

Lostkat said:
WHY DID I CLICK THAT LINK?????? I feel sick now My own fault, I know.

On a more positive note, next platelet donation is next Tues

The old platelets thread was very informative, but it looks like it's been pruned, and I forgot to archive it. D'oh!!

Are you on the bone marrow register LK ?

Lostkat · 8 Nov 2005 at 20:10

Von Smallhausen said:
Are you on the bone marrow register LK ?

I'm not, no. I did actually mean to ask about it last time I donated, but they were too busy telling me that I need to get my iron up that I didn't want to confuse them. Might ask when I'm there next Tues.

Are you on it? Is anyone here on it? What does it involve? Extra blood samples when you donate I presume.

Le_Petit_Lapin · 8 Nov 2005 at 20:14

I came here with the impression I'd see really tiny crockery.

I should have read the whole thread title.

Von Smallhausen · 8 Nov 2005 at 20:41

Lostkat said:
Are you on it? Is anyone here on it? What does it involve? Extra blood samples when you donate I presume.

I am on it, yes.

All it involves is taking an extra blood sample which is then tested to determine if you are suitable for the register. Ask when you next donate.

I got a letter through the post some time later say I was and also a card to carry, saying I was on the bone marrow register.

If you are required to donate, it is not the most pleasant of experiences and involves a hospital stay, but I have said before when someones life may depend on it there is no question about it for me. Any argument from work would go in one ear and out the other and I would go.

The chances of being used are remote LK, but you never know.

Get it done.

Chronos-X · 8 Nov 2005 at 20:46

I've donated a few times, but I could do with doing it a bit more.

What I find odd is the way you're offered anaesthetic - if you're gonna have any needles put into you it might as well be the blood one as you will still be able to use your arm afterwards and you dont really feel it anyway.

I always make sure to take a few fistfulls of custard creams afterwards for my trouble.

badboy · 9 Nov 2005 at 11:21

i am very greatfull to you people for doanting the platelets as i needed them my self as im an ITP sufferer

if im not mistaken an average persons platelets should be between 150-400 mine doesnt get above 50 lowest is 2 , so have had some platelets and immunoglobulin to keep my platelets up before i have me spleen out which is whats causing my ITP condition

sorry for whaffeling on i just think people giving blood and platelets are REAL life savers

thanks