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The Blood Mobiles are a disgrace....2 summers ago I went into one in a hot summer's day and I am not inventing this, but the Bus was a freezer on wheels...A long story short I couldn't donate that day, the FIRST and ONLY time in my lifetime and it was because of the COLDNESS in there...I complained loudly and I was called 2 3 days later from a Supervisor isuing apologies and to tell me that the person in charge of the Bus that Day had been warned, because that day they had a HUGE influx of donors not qualifying like I did.
It's the Blood Center Labs or none for me.
I went to the Big Red Bus in the shopping center across the street from me today. Success, and they didn't have the bus temp at 50 degrees!
So they talked me into donating double red cells. When I got home I looked this up and read that I now can't donate for 16 weeks vs. the 8 weeks afterwards for donating whole blood. Does anyone know if double red cells are more beneficial to people receiving blood?
So they talked me into donating double red cells. When I got home I looked this up and read that I now can't donate for 16 weeks vs. the 8 weeks afterwards for donating whole blood. Does anyone know if double red cells are more beneficial to people receiving blood?
I'd never heard of a double red cell donation before you mentioned it here. So I looked it up and found it's essentially two units of red cells, and they give you back your plasma, white cells and platelets. Donating twice the normal unit of red cells is the reason, I'd say, you have to wait twice as long to donate again. It looks as though the double rbc donation ( they called it the Big Red on the site I looked at) is for people with type O, A negative and B negative types. ( the red cell types most in demand). I'd say your double donation at one session will give the blood center more bang for the buck. It might benefit one patient who needs two units of packed red cells, and would save the blood bank the expense of testing two separate units of blood, including the crossmatching of two separate units of blood for that patient.
I used to donate blood when I was younger, though my hemoglobin/hematocrit results were borderline for eligibility. I never knew whether I'd pass or fail the hemoglobin/hct test, seemed to be about half the time. Then as time went on I was turned away for low hemoglobin every time I went, so I quit going. Now I can't even remember when my hemoglobin even hit 12.0 grams ( lowest for a woman is 12.5) so I'd be turned away for sure now.
Then I read that taking prescription anticoagulants ( blood thinners) disqualifies a person from donating blood. As I'm taking Eliquis, that leaves me out.
So good on you that you're able and willing to donate blood!
I'd never heard of a double red cell donation before you mentioned it here. So I looked it up and found it's essentially two units of red cells, and they give you back your plasma, white cells and platelets. Donating twice the normal unit of red cells is the reason, I'd say, you have to wait twice as long to donate again. It looks as though the double rbc donation ( they called it the Big Red on the site I looked at) is for people with type O, A negative and B negative types. ( the red cell types most in demand). I'd say your double donation at one session will give the blood center more bang for the buck. It might benefit one patient who needs two units of packed red cells, and would save the blood bank the expense of testing two separate units of blood, including the crossmatching of two separate units of blood for that patient.
I used to donate blood when I was younger, though my hemoglobin/hematocrit results were borderline for eligibility. I never knew whether I'd pass or fail the hemoglobin/hct test, seemed to be about half the time. Then as time went on I was turned away for low hemoglobin every time I went, so I quit going. Now I can't even remember when my hemoglobin even hit 12.0 grams ( lowest for a woman is 12.5) so I'd be turned away for sure now.
Then I read that taking prescription anticoagulants ( blood thinners) disqualifies a person from donating blood. As I'm taking Eliquis, that leaves me out.
So good on you that you're able and willing to donate blood!
Since my dad needed platelets, it raised my awareness of the need for platelets, especially for critically injured patients and burn victims. Oh and premature babies, I believe. And cancer patients. And others of course, like my dad.
I always donate platelets now. It takes two hours and my platelet count is high so it can take longer. But you can donate every two weeks, which is great.
If you are over 110 lbs, and healthy, you should have no issues. It's easy....If you are underweight, or dehydrated, you could get dizzy afterwards. Make sure to hydrate prior to donating.
I totally agree with you. It is important to eat something healthy and hydrate before donating blood.
Since my dad needed platelets, it raised my awareness of the need for platelets, especially for critically injured patients and burn victims. Oh and premature babies, I believe. And cancer patients. And others of course, like my dad.
I always donate platelets now. It takes two hours and my platelet count is high so it can take longer. But you can donate every two weeks, which is great.
Yeah, your body replaces platelets quite a bit faster than it does red blood cells, so you can donate more often. And from what you have said before, your platelet count is on the higher side of normal, so you have enough to share with lots of people.
And I know all those people you help out with your platelet donations, those people who need them like the critically injured, burn patients, cancer patients, and yeah, premature babies too would thank you a thousand times over for your generous donations.
I'd never heard of a double red cell donation before you mentioned it here. So I looked it up and found it's essentially two units of red cells, and they give you back your plasma, white cells and platelets. Donating twice the normal unit of red cells is the reason, I'd say, you have to wait twice as long to donate again. It looks as though the double rbc donation ( they called it the Big Red on the site I looked at) is for people with type O, A negative and B negative types. ( the red cell types most in demand). I'd say your double donation at one session will give the blood center more bang for the buck. It might benefit one patient who needs two units of packed red cells, and would save the blood bank the expense of testing two separate units of blood, including the crossmatching of two separate units of blood for that patient.
I used to donate blood when I was younger, though my hemoglobin/hematocrit results were borderline for eligibility. I never knew whether I'd pass or fail the hemoglobin/hct test, seemed to be about half the time. Then as time went on I was turned away for low hemoglobin every time I went, so I quit going. Now I can't even remember when my hemoglobin even hit 12.0 grams ( lowest for a woman is 12.5) so I'd be turned away for sure now.
Then I read that taking prescription anticoagulants ( blood thinners) disqualifies a person from donating blood. As I'm taking Eliquis, that leaves me out.
So good on you that you're able and willing to donate blood!
I'm borderline too, and not eating meat doesn't help. I got some Ferrous Sulfate pills and take two a week, and a few extra the week before I donate.
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