Platelets! (blood donation pimpage)

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Chronos-X said:
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.
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It's an anaesthetic rub, so goes on the surface of the skin and soaks in, not an injection.

Hula-Hoops at my donations, and lots of chocolate bourbons :D
 
Just a quick thank you to people who especially donate platelets.
I have/had (it's still in me but not as bad) an illness called ITP, my antibodies attacked my platelets because platelets look a lot like a virus i had just recovered from, however my body got confused and continued to what it thought was a bad virus, when infact it was my platelets. I spent a year in and out of hospital being pumped full of platelets (3 bottles a day coming in at £600 each, obviously i didn't pay, just a shocking fact)
Without people donating i wouldn't be able to go out, get a proper job or play my sports.
So thank you to everyone who donates platelets.
 
Sadgeek said:
It's an anaesthetic rub, so goes on the surface of the skin and soaks in, not an injection.
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Unless things have changed a lot, that is a mediwipe soaked in isopropyl alcohol, and it is simply to clean the site. The local is a syringe of lignocaine and is the bit that actually hurts - if you ask for it. Without it, the main IV needle just feels like something pushing - I've done a couple of whole bloods with no local. Apheresis is always done with a local because the IV is in so long, but the local wears off after about twenty minutes.


M
 
badboy said:
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
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Do you have an MSN? I'd love to chat to you about it, never met someone with the same condition, ITP, as me.

nykampmp AT hotmail DOT COM
 
Meridian said:
Unless things have changed a lot, that is a mediwipe soaked in isopropyl alcohol, and it is simply to clean the site. The local is a syringe of lignocaine and is the bit that actually hurts - if you ask for it. Without it, the main IV needle just feels like something pushing - I've done a couple of whole bloods with no local. Apheresis is always done with a local because the IV is in so long, but the local wears off after about twenty minutes.


M
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:eek: I've never had a local with my apheresis! :eek: I couldn't stand the thought of having to deal with another needle :D

badboy & Freeman said:
thank you
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You're very welcome :) Nice to know that they're helping people.

p.s. You're right about the wipe Meridian. It's an isopropyl alcohol wipe and it just ensures that the skin is completely free of bacteria and germs so you don't get any infections. With us being special platelet donors who have the needles in for longer, we also get the iodine tincture wipe for 30 seconds. In my opinion, this is the worst part of the whole donation... the pad is all rough and makes my arm sore :(
 
Chronos-X said:
Can I just ask for a platelet test next time I go?

Why isn't it offered as standard?
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Yes you can. All they do is check to see how good your veins are (they have to be pretty big to be able to take the blood being pumped back in), and take an extra sample of blood. You'll hear by phone whether you've been sucessful, when they call you to make your first appointment :)

I don't think they offer it as standard, because they could stand the risk of people feeling pressured in to it, and then giving up donating. They always have leaflets about it, as well as red cell donations at my local centre, but I've never seen them pimping it.
 
Lostkat said:
:eek: I've never had a local with my apheresis!


With us being special platelet donors who have the needles in for longer, we also get the iodine tincture wipe for 30 seconds.
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I've never had it even suggested not to use the local! Shows how different clinics can be.

And I'm allergic to iodine, so I get two lots of IPA. You could try lying and saying the same...


M
 
Meridian said:
I've never had it even suggested not to use the local! Shows how different clinics can be.

And I'm allergic to iodine, so I get two lots of IPA. You could try lying and saying the same...


M
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Lol, bit late now :D

They always offer me the local, but I always say no. I've never seen any other donors have it either. Bizarre!!
 
Well I got a phonecall today from the Aspherises unit in and they had a 5PM cancellation and asked if I would fill it. I duly obliged and gave a triple donation as I usually do.

My platelet count was 319 today, the second highest behind 348 which was in July this year.
 
Von Smallhausen said:
Well I got a phonecall today from the Aspherises unit in and they had a 5PM cancellation and asked if I would fill it. I duly obliged and gave a triple donation as I usually do.

My platelet count was 319 today, the second highest behind 348 which was in July this year.
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Good man, nice one :) That's what I like about platelets... you don't have to wait 4 months before you can donate again. I can't remember what my platelet count has been. Will have to ask next Tues. I've also just gone up to triples :D

Will definitely ask about bone marrow whilst I'm there too. Thanks for the info!
 
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