Who's a blood donor?

[Philly Q]

It's the Dressing Room, so here's a random off-topic "off-topic" topic:

I went to give blood today, and just wondering - anyone else a regular blood donor?

[WezV]

i havnt for a while because of the regular tattoo work  going on at the moment

[dave_mc]

not a major fan of needles... i would be if it weren't for that.

[Philly Q]

You don't even have to see the needles!  :)

[gingataff]

I did it once, got a fair amount of internal bleeding and a very large painful bruise for several months and the nice plump vein they used seems to have disappeared forever. Sadly that put me off doing it again. :(

[MrBump]

It's a proud and noble thing to do - however, I'm such a wuss when it comes to anything medical...

[WezV]

I did it once, got a fair amount of internal bleeding and a very large painful bruise for several months and the nice plump vein they used seems to have disappeared forever. Sadly that put me off doing it again. :(

that happened to my girlfriend the time before last.. however, she still went back and they did a much better job this time - no bruise at all

[38thBeatle]

Yeah I go regularly-over 30 donations to date.The only time I have stopped is when I have had health issues or, for a while when the who;e process took two hours because of their awful organisation (put me off a little) but seems to be 0K now.  I would encourage anyone to go-doesn't hurt and you don't have to look and you get tea and biscuits after-what more could a person ask for?

[hamfist]

Yup, I'm a "20 something" donation guy.   I hate needles being stuck in me, but I just don't look.

Makes me feel good that I'm doing something completely for someone else and not myself.

As the needle is about to go in and that little bit a "sharpness" (which is over very quickly) is about to come, I just think "this is for you" (thinking of whoever will benefit from my blood), and that keeps me calm about things.

My thinking is that if I can put up with a 1/4 second of mild discomfort, then that can literally help save a life then I'm happy that I have the opportunity to do that.

I have worked a lot in operating theatres in the past, and can visualise exactly how vital it can be, which helps too.

[Philly Q]

I did it once, got a fair amount of internal bleeding and a very large painful bruise for several months and the nice plump vein they used seems to have disappeared forever. Sadly that put me off doing it again. :(

that happened to my girlfriend the time before last.. however, she still went back and they did a much better job this time - no bruise at all

Yeah, my brother once got a strange reaction where his legs swelled up!  But no long-term complications.  Touch wood, 21 times now and I've had no problems at all other than the occasional bruise. 

As Hamfist says, it feels good to know you're doing something useful for someone else (a very rare feeling for me). 

[_tom_]

I've only been once, think I will go again as its not that bad. I hate needles but as you dont have to see it, its fine :P My brother got a huge bruise on the side of his arm but mine was fine, though they had to do it on the left arm as they couldnt find the vein in the right arm at all :?

[Sifu Ben]

Unfortunately I keep having to have hepatitis vaccine, and I keep travelling to malaria zones, and I was once stabbed by a junkie with a needle (I love my job), so they don't really want mine :(

[ToneMonkey]

I went for the first time last Friday  :D Been meaning to get around to it for about 10 years now.

Now I'm on the Bone Marrow Register and if I'm the right group, I'll be doing platlet donations instead of blood donations.

[Kilby]

It's something I keep on trying to do but failing


The last time was the  most annoying reason though, I was booked to donate for the 1st time and 30 minutes before I was sent to another site to bring some failed kit back up (and the boss refused to wait)

Oreviously I have either been ill, or on meds at the time (though I also missed due to having had piercings (& tattoos) done in the couple of months prior)

I'm actually dissapointed in myself

[Philly Q]

Oreviously I have either been ill, or on meds at the time (though I also missed due to having had piercings (& tattoos) done in the couple of months prior)

I never imagined you as a piercings and tattoos man, Rob, for some reason.