Casual Conversation

Most of my life I've not been allowed to donate blood because I'm a man who has sex with men. I believe I can now, but after decades of ineligibility it still feels weird to think about.

As someone who has received a blood transfusion, thank you random stranger whose blood is now inside me!

I want to "give back" somehow, but I obviously can't donate blood (yet?).

Biannually. We have 2 big national holidays, and m blood donation camps are set in my university. (have donated 6 times till now)

I tried and found a cheat code! It turns out that if you pass out during the draw and then pass out again while recovering they'll call and pay for a cab to take you home! They did imply that I shouldn't come back for a while though...

On a more serious note I had donated blood twice before that with less dramatic results. I like helping people and they give me free snacks afterward. I'd been going every three months because I was in university and had a lot of time for such things. I seem to feel quite tired for the rest of the day following a donation, which I found nice and relaxing. Needle anxiety (and my weak-ass hemoglobin level) aside, it was a positive experience and I'd recommend it!

I would but they don't want it.

Yes. I try to catch the blood mobile when it comes to town.

I think it's helpful to someone and I like to think of it as an "oil change" for myself. Generating a fresh pint.

Started last year and donated twice so far. The first time I got dizzy, so I did a half bag the next time and felt better. Felt better the second time, even after a long day at work.

No specific reason other than feeling good about yourself and reap any health benefit to it, if at all. Surely it must be good somehow to stimulate blood creation ? I'm happy to do it, I feel a better person for it.

You are weak the day and the next day, so better not plan any long hike or strenuous activities. But it's okay for another long day in office.

In college we would donate then go get drunk off one beer at the campus pub then go to class

I tried once. But they said they couldn't take it in a bucket and wouldn't stop asking where I got it from.

I've tried three times and passed out twice. I pass out with simple blood draws, so they don't like me at the Red Cross.

Yes. I used to donate the maximum amount of 4 times a year, but due to my inability to reasonably eat the required iron supplements, I'm now only allowed to donate once a year.

I do it for a mix of reasons - it makes me feel good about myself, I get a gift and a little bit of food, and I've told myself that it's probably not a bad thing to do health-wise, although the last one is completely unfounded.

After having donated, I feel noticeably weaker when trying to do things like bike or walk fast. Usually nothing major, though.

no. im a needlephobe.

I do. I donate as often as I'm allowed, which is about 4 times a year. The only effect I've felt is that exercise, especially cardio, is a bit harder. My time on a 5k run dropped noticeably.

Donated 60 times in total so far, which means there's more of my blood in other people, than in me. By quite a lot.

Can't, iron levels are always too low because I have to get blood drawn for medicine every 3 months

I tried once and got a horrible headache and generally felt like crap the next day. That's dissuaded my from trying again.

O+ over here so I know I am able to help a lot of people. When I donate, I do a "power red" which gives more than a standard pull. Using the American red cross app makes it a bit more fun since I collect badges and can track all my visits. Also, since I read it can reduce plastic in your system, I see that as a double win.

Unfortunately I was rejected as a donor, the nurse had too much trouble hitting a vein (mine are difficult to spot and tend to roll when sticking a needle in them) for drawing blood for the pre-donation bloodwork. So that meant an automatic rejection as they prefer not turning the donors into living pincushions. ☹️

Ive donated about a dozen times, mostly when its convienent like when they call our local donation bus out to where ever im working.

For the feeling, almost no effect. I mostly spend my time there cracking jokes about how this is a good way to lose weight, or how im only really there because I want a juice box and a cookie. Its more of an excuse to not have to be 100% mentally there for the rest of the work day.

As for the why, Ill sign up and donate when I can, but I dont seek it out. I know its important, but it is a donation, which because of the US insurance and medical industries will be sold to the person who needs it most. (Someone who knows more about this please correct me on it if that assumption is wrong).

I donate 2-3 times a year. I take a break every few years, things like tattoos and such. I’m O- and they don’t let me forget to donate for too long.

My dad was shot in high school (hunting incident) and received donations. He became a regular donor after, and i guess just set a good example of donating for us to see as kids.

I would, but I can't. I am medicated for my ADHD and depression. Both disqualify me in that regard

I used to. "Why not?" would be the reason. I never felt anything at all afterwards. I would schedule my donations so I don't have any hard exercise later the same day, but otherwise it wouldn't impact my life at all.

I stopped after going to my GP for an entirely unrelated reason and being told that I had severely low iron levels. I don't believe it was related to donating, but it does mean they couldn't use my blood.

Fun fact. People from the UK who lived there while BSE was a thing cannot donate blood in the US, pretty much ever.

Financial incentive plus I have a blood group that's beneficial to patients

Once around every 2ish to 3 months - essentially however often I'm allowed to

Usually good. Don't feel dizzy or sick afterwards since I eat and drink well before donating.

I do donate plasma quite regularly too - around once a week - but have not four a couple months now since I got a new tattoo in November. For similar reasons as with blood donations

Donation also reduces plastic in your blood so there is a health benefits to you as well as to others

I donate plasma once a week but right now have to take a break for a bit cause I got a tattoo. Only real Side effect is a craving for snacks and some additional cash in my wallet.

I donated three times. The first was through a campaign at my workplace. Absolutely nothing worth noting happened. The second was through a campaign at my university. I fainted and my blood pressure went way down. The third time, a friend needed transfusion, so, the hospital asks for friends and family to replenish it. Since I fainted the second time, they took less blood. I was still a little dizzy but ok.

Just to add to the conversation I'm in school to be a med tech and transfusion is one of the proficiencies! Its pretty cool how it works, basically after the donation we spin it down into packed red cells and plasma. Plasma gets pooled and treated and can be fractionated out into specific coagulation products or used as a suspension for platelets. Packed red cells are filtered (leukocyte reduced), sometimes treated or irradiated and have SAGM added (saline, adenine, glucose, mannitol) to stabilize the cells for storage.

In the lab we test and crossmatch to make sure everything is compatible before giving the ok! Sometimes it is just ABO and Rh grouping but there are a bunch of other antigens on red cells that recipients can develop antibodies to with repeat transfusion so sometimes we need to identify if that antibody is present and match with units that don't have it so it won't react.

There are also a bunch of complications with testing like nonspecific antibodies, cold reacting antibodies, subgroups of antigens, Its really interesting!

I haven't been able to for the last few years due to low blood pressure. So when they do blood drives at work or in my local community, I look for chances to volunteer in lieu of donating myself.

I do. As often as I can. But sometimes the demand is so high for blood type that they call me up and email me even though I do donate regularly. My grandfather was a lifelong donor also.

I feel fine, the only discomfort is when the needle goes in but it’s fine once it’s done.

I used to, but since I have contracted Long Covid, I've stopped, as both would sap my energy too much.

But in the past I have donated about 20-25 times. (once every 3-4 or so months)

How I felt afterwards depended a little bit on the nurse administering the needle, some are really careful and it's a painfree experience, others are a little less careful and then it can hurt like a motherfucker. (but for first timers they're always extra careful is my experience)
And for me, I just get a bit tired afterwards. Never really gotten woozy, but do take your time to recover in the waiting area after donating, and ask for something to drink (I recommend tea or fruit juice)

But it's also very important to drink and eat enough during the day before donating.

And the meme in The Netherlands is that you do it for the "pink cookie", which is a small cake-like cookie with pink icing on top. We don't get any financial benefits (other than reimbursement for any parking costs at the hospital)

I have done in the past, donated 26 times, then got ill and couldn't do it for while, then the blood drive moved, and I gotta get my arse back at it.