Blimey! I don't remember the needle hurting like that!
You'd be lucky to even get a cup of tea and a poxy digestive out of them.
Blimey! I don't remember the needle hurting like that!
That'll be the alcohol from the wipey thing going in with the needle.
As I go through the tick list before you are allowed to give blood I always wonder what percentage of the population is actually eligible to give....and whether I live too unadventurous a life
The National Blood Service - Can I Give Blood (http://www.blood.co.uk/can-i-give-blood/donor-health-check/)
Have you had a serious illness or a procedure in the past or are you on medication at present?
Have you been outside the UK (including business) in the last 12 months?
If you have travelled outside Europe or to Ravenna province in North-east Italy, then you may not be able to give blood. For more information please call our 24 hour Donor Helpline
Have you ever stayed outside the UK for a continuous period of 6 months or more?
It's quite a long list of exclusions.QuoteHave you had a serious illness or a procedure in the past or are you on medication at present?
For this one, a yes gets you rejected - all medications?? How far back? I don't take any meds but I have had meningitis as an infant. If I include that, I'm out.QuoteHave you been outside the UK (including business) in the last 12 months?
What, away from the UK at all?QuoteIf you have travelled outside Europe or to Ravenna province in North-east Italy, then you may not be able to give blood. For more information please call our 24 hour Donor Helpline
What's the problem with Ravenna, out of curiosity?QuoteHave you ever stayed outside the UK for a continuous period of 6 months or more?
Another "no thanks" for me there.
It's quite a long list of exclusions.QuoteHave you had a serious illness or a procedure in the past or are you on medication at present?
For this one, a yes gets you rejected - all medications?? How far back? I don't take any meds but I have had meningitis as an infant. If I include that, I'm out.
It's quite a long list of exclusions.
They aren't exclusions, only questions that need following up and discussion with someone knowledgeable
Thank you for your time... but it seems that you are not able to give blood
Blimey! I don't remember the needle hurting like that!
Blimey! I don't remember the needle hurting like that!
They used to give you a bit of local anaesthetic before putting the big needle in. They stopped that about 6 years ago.
Yes I know ORh+ is very useful because, as it happens, I do remember my O level biology and all that 'universal donor' / 'universal recipient' guff.
and then forgot to wire up my needle correctly so that instead of draining my blood, she forced air into my veins. Which was excruciating.
Yes I know ORh+ is very useful because, as it happens, I do remember my O level biology and all that 'universal donor' / 'universal recipient' guff.
I thought it was ORh- that was the universal stuff, because you can't give Rh+ to an Rh- person.
Or have I got it the wrong way around?
major surgery? If you've *received* a transfusion, I think you are barred for life.
"You should NOT give blood if . . . . .
You have received blood or think you may have received blood during the course of any medical treatment or procedure anywhere in the world since 1st January 1980."
Think I must've done 40 or so by now, cycling gets in the way quite often- I'm going to donate in the gap between the last 'cross race and the first TT.
I'll donate close to work, are the blood service ever funny about people riding to and from the venue? normally I walk back to work and change into my lycra so they never know- this time the venue is a bit further away so it makes more sense to ride and go straight home.
I don't have a problem with riding, wondering if they might.
Wonder why surgery is 10 weeks
Wonder why surgery is 10 weeks
where did you hear that?
Most importantly I'd spent 2 months traveling around South America in the last 12 months (Chile, Argentina and brief visits to Uruguay and Brazil). The Brazil trip took me into a malarial zone.Whereas whenI tried (back in 2004) less than 6 months after I'd been to Kenya, I was rejected out of hand. It's perfectly understandable, but is an interesting inconsistency with your treatment.
All this triggered was someone asking me about it in person, asking if I'd had any problems, or slept in mud huts (Chagas disease and Malaria) and then deciding that it was still ok since it been 10 months since I'd been back from S America with no problems. They just submitted an extra sample of my blood for a Malaria test (as well as the usual things they test for).
Blimey! I don't remember the needle hurting like that!
That'll be the alcohol from the wipey thing going in with the needle. Suprised me just how much it did hurt
No 90 today - the century is in sight(2 1/2 years away)
I gave blood yesterday. Mine never gets given to anyone else though.
Have an appointment for next weekend, let's see if I can shift this cold sore before then (skiing and dehydration don't help).
It was probably disgraceful ageist stereotyping of me to observe that almost all of the other donors present with appointments appeared to be elderly retired types that quite possibly weren't in desperate need of a quick turnaround.
My first time with the new flippy space-age chairs. Kewl! Waaay better than the rickety folding "beds".
I can't help thinking with today's Whatever generation that they'll be having to pay them in years to come :facepalm:
My first time with the new flippy space-age chairs. Kewl! Waaay better than the rickety folding "beds".
Tattoos are a problem. Piercings and tattoos are frowned on by NBS, so every time someone gets a tat, they can't donate for 4 months.It's a year in Scotland.
My lifetime ban still hasn't been lifted.
I read mrc's post and thought "it was a year when I had mine done, they must be more desperate these days".... but I was in Scotland then.Tattoos are a problem. Piercings and tattoos are frowned on by NBS, so every time someone gets a tat, they can't donate for 4 months.It's a year in Scotland.
The staff in the local mobile units recognise me now - last time they looked at the funny shoes a bit oddly, then looked at me, nodded and said "you've done this before, haven't you?"
I tend not to mention distance, just stick to "oh, it's only 20 or 25 minutes - I'll take it easy."
It sounds like they made more appointments than they could honour. I agree messing donors around should be a last resort as it is people giving up blood, time and putting up with some hassle for a good reason.This.
If it's a funding issue then why did it all go wrong under Labour when the NHS was getting a lot of money thrown at it and there wasn't a crisis?Your experience is completely at odds with mine. I was a regular donor back then and never had those problems.
They've just got rid of the bloodmobiles round our way though, so just waiting to see what the knock-on effect on session availability is.
younger guy just made his first donation.
I am A+. one child is A- and the other is O+, so I can have their blood but they can't have mine. This seems wrong, somehow.
Got my emerald award today. :)
Got my emerald award today. :)
I got to about 10 donations before I wsa told they didn't want my blood any more (rheumatoid arthritis, an auto-immune condition).
*ball bladder* ffs . Right autocorrect! That's it! I've told you before (insert rest of rant, I can't be arsed!)
To someone who has experienced the fun and mirth of epididymitis this is a less than joyful imagining young Helly 😨😨*ball bladder* ffs . Right autocorrect! That's it! I've told you before (insert rest of rant, I can't be arsed!)
'ball bladder' did make I larf...
Then I thought foopball originated by kicking a filled animal urinary bladder...
Got my emerald award today. :)Congratulations!
Nice. Congratulations. About 6 months ago I was at a platelet session where one of the other donors was at 997. The staff were planning a celebration for hitting the big one. Anything over 15 shows quite a lot of commitment, but that was something else.they count them both together then?
I guess he was coining an Audax-style ‘Platelet Donation Round The Year’ award.
Need to arrange next one but I think I'll wait until a few weeks after Swim Serpentine as I'll inevitably have a cold for a couple of weeks after that...
First failure, blood stopped flowing after 290 ml :'( :'(
I'm not allowed - T1D
Don't see why not really as it's not catching ;D
First failure, blood stopped flowing after 290 ml :'( :'(
That sounds a lot worse than your posting on here would suggest... :o
(Pardon my ignorance, I've never been allowed to give blood.)
I bet the USAnians would have it. They're notoriously non-fussy about such things. >:(
Similarly, as a recipient of a transfusion in the 80s, I'd love to be able to donate. I make do with encouraging other people to, and hope that if it comes to it they might be less fussy about organ donation.
In my case I'm not sure what effect T1D has on acceptability of body parts
In my case I'm not sure what effect T1D has on acceptability of body parts
They probably don't want your pancreas. ;D
AIUI the USAnians won't take blood from those who ate BRITISH beef in the '80s.
AIUI the USAnians won't take blood from those who ate BRITISH beef in the '80s.
Indeed. I couldn't give blood in the US when I lived there in the late 90s, despite being able to give blood in the UK with no problems.
I've never donated blood, to my shame, but been meaning to for a while. Just found out they're coming round here tomorrow and I could pop out in my lunch break. I actually have no idea what my blood type is, but I'm eligible to donate according to the website so I assume they should be able to take some.
I normally go to a spin class straight after work on a Tuesday evening - if I donate at lunchtime, would that be likely to cause any problems? (Or is this one of those "it depends on how you react" things...?)
I normally go to a spin class straight after work on a Tuesday evening - if I donate at lunchtime, would that be likely to cause any problems? (Or is this one of those "it depends on how you react" things...?)
Exercise – don’t do any vigorous exercise or heavy lifting the day of your donation, either before or afterwards. Keeping your body rested helps it to replenish lost fluids.
Everything else about it is not particularly good.
I belong to the 5% of "selfish blood owners", my AB+ is not particularly desirable and anyone with my blood type can take any other type, which makes it next to useless
I belong to the 5% of "selfish blood owners", my AB+ is not particularly desirable and anyone with my blood type can take any other type, which makes it next to useless
There are two positive outcomes of donating blood
1) it's good for others and society
2) you get regular blood checks
Everything else about it is not particularly good.
I belong to the 5% of "selfish blood owners", my AB+ is not particularly desirable and anyone with my blood type can take any other type, which makes it next to useless
So I never bothered
I can't donate any more, so there's a vacancy. ;)
I can't donate any more, so there's a vacancy. ;)
I cycle 25-30 miles a day to work and back... it's not a doddle ride at 10 mph around the flat streets of the capital. I can't really afford to have a couple of weeks of being tired and out of breath.
Slowing down means my commute becomes more dangerous, as more cars would take their chances at overtaking around bends... if I keep 20-25 mph they seem to be OK to wait until they find a suitable gap.
The vast majority of people out there do nothing physically demanding and could probably afford to donate blood more than I can. :thumbsup:
Fair enough - that sort of speed you'll need all your blood. At 15 mph commuting & doing long rides a few days later, I didn't really notice much effect.
Fair enough - that sort of speed you'll need all your blood. At 15 mph commuting & doing long rides a few days later, I didn't really notice much effect.
There's more... my dad became a donor and a couple of years later he developed a heart enlargement that doctors could not explain. Eventually with therapy things improved, but it changed his life.
Sometimes I have this simplistic view of the circulatory system as "basic plumbing" and I can see how suddenly removing a large quantity of fluid from the system can damage a pump...
It's stupid, but it's there at the back of my mind
Sometimes I have this simplistic view of the circulatory system as "basic plumbing" and I can see how suddenly removing a large quantity of fluid from the system can damage a pump...
Fair enough - that sort of speed you'll need all your blood. At 15 mph commuting & doing long rides a few days later, I didn't really notice much effect.
There's more... my dad became a donor and a couple of years later he developed a heart enlargement that doctors could not explain. Eventually with therapy things improved, but it changed his life.
Sometimes I have this simplistic view of the circulatory system as "basic plumbing" and I can see how suddenly removing a large quantity of fluid from the system can damage a pump...
It's stupid, but it's there at the back of my mind
No 80 :)
Not allowed to give blood in the UK, the same reason I can't in the UK doesn't apply in the Netherlands. Went to see about donating blood here, only to find that cos I grew up in the UK in the 80's and 90's, I can't give blood here. Turns out they are scared of BSE/vCJD.
Noone wants my blood...
J
No 80 :)
Well done! Great that you're fit enough to achieve this!
Blocked for a year due to terbinafine. Boo.
No hot drinks at all today >:(My son got that when he was 7 weeks old (not from a transfusion). It's incredibly nasty in babies. :( Fortunately it's also easy to cure, once it's been identified. And in adults it goes unnoticed.
Was informed that my blood goes to the neo-natal unit cos I don't got cytomegalovirus (https://www.blood.co.uk/news-and-campaigns/the-donor/special-blood-for-babies/).
No hot drinks at all today >:(My son got that when he was 7 weeks old (not from a transfusion). It's incredibly nasty in babies. :( Fortunately it's also easy to cure, once it's been identified. And in adults it goes unnoticed.
Was informed that my blood goes to the neo-natal unit cos I don't got cytomegalovirus (https://www.blood.co.uk/news-and-campaigns/the-donor/special-blood-for-babies/).
#18 today.
#18 today.
Top tip of the day - don't attempt hill intervals (running) the day after giving blood. I did this 2 weeks ago. It got to the very hard stage pretty quickly.
Benefit of having been in blood donor - knowing your blood group.
Good news for all of use 'O' type - there's evidence emerging that O-people are better at resisting COVID19.
I heard this on the BBCR4 inside science but it's also elsewhere on the media.
My appointment is a week on Sunday. Booked oh so many months ago. Treating me as new donor as they lost over 30 years of donation history. Hey ho.I did platelets a couple of weeks ago at St George's Tooting, which shares with whole blood donating. Yes, face covering plus a few questions about whether you have The Disease and so on.
I’m presuming face coverings etc.
Had to cancel mine earlier this week as I'd been ill (not Covid) over the weekend. Need to rebook for #19.
My appointment is a week on Sunday. Booked oh so many months ago. Treating me as new donor as they lost over 30 years of donation history. Hey ho.I did platelets a couple of weeks ago at St George's Tooting, which shares with whole blood donating. Yes, face covering plus a few questions about whether you have The Disease and so on.
I’m presuming face coverings etc.
And are you invited to take part from regular blood donation or is it something you have to ask / volunteer for?
I can confirm you will find the answers on the aforementioned site, hidden in plain view under the "Can I donate?" link in the nav bar at the top.
I guess they're desparate for A+ blood.They'll get mine tomorrow (also A+).
Got a letter about the Dutch organ donor registry. Not sure there's much point, being British, my organs and blood are not acceptable for donation in this country.
I don't know if in the event of me snuffing it they can get organs on a plane to the UK where they are accepted...
:(
J
That's interesting. What's the rationale behind that?
Had to cancel mine earlier this week as I'd been ill (not Covid) over the weekend. Need to rebook for #19.
Less talk, more booking.
Sunday 4th October is the next appointment at my preferred location.
Booked.
Got a letter about the Dutch organ donor registry. Not sure there's much point, being British, my organs and blood are not acceptable for donation in this country.That's interesting. What's the rationale behind that?
I don't know if in the event of me snuffing it they can get organs on a plane to the UK where they are accepted...
:(
J
Got a letter about the Dutch organ donor registry. Not sure there's much point, being British, my organs and blood are not acceptable for donation in this country.That's interesting. What's the rationale behind that?
I don't know if in the event of me snuffing it they can get organs on a plane to the UK where they are accepted...
:(
J
The USA and many other countries do not accept blood from those who ate beef in Britain in the 1980s due to BSE/prion risk.
Cancellation letter but incomplete:-
"We regret to let you know that we have had to cancel your appointment to give blood at Donor Centre, 75 Cranmer Terrace (Tooting), Tooing, London, SW17 0RB on ."
Website still has my appointment on it, will check in a few days to see if that changes otherwise I'll give them a ring (still 12 days to go until that appointment).
That means I'm still on for next weekend.
when I tried to book the next appointment, all the nearby venues (within about 10 miles) were fully booked, no matter how much I extended the date range. If I extended the range there were slots available at Slough and Petersfield. No thanks. But this morning by magic there are appointments available at Basingstoke (a little bit more than 10 miles) in March, so I'm in. I'm the same group as you:I'm the same blood group and often find when I try to book, there are no slots. When I asked about this i was told at a donation session that if they have a lot of blood of one group, donors with that group find slots to donate become very much fewer. When you sign in the website knows your group. I bet if you were a rare group you'd have no problem finding a slot. Which when you think about it, does make sense.
I'm sure this is true. I suspect they have become very good at matching supply to expected demand. And that's why walk-in donations with a random group seem to be a thing of the past.when I tried to book the next appointment, all the nearby venues (within about 10 miles) were fully booked, no matter how much I extended the date range. If I extended the range there were slots available at Slough and Petersfield. No thanks. But this morning by magic there are appointments available at Basingstoke (a little bit more than 10 miles) in March, so I'm in.I'm the same blood group and often find when I try to book, there are no slots. When I asked about this i was told at a donation session that if they have a lot of blood of one group, donors with that group find slots to donate become very much fewer. When you sign in the website knows your group. I bet if you were a rare group you'd have no problem finding a slot. Which when you think about it, does make sense.
There are three reasons why you might not get an appointment straight away:
- we only collect the amount of blood that's needed and don't want to waste your donation.
- we prioritise the most needed blood types and your blood group is not yet known
- as a safety precaution, we've reduced the number of donation chairs per session to give more space between donors - this means there are fewer appointments available
How do you guys find cycling after giving blood?
I always avoided because the consensus seems to be that there is a 2-3 week period of poor performance afterwards, which is annoying if you do structured training and even worse if you have races planned.
How do you guys find cycling after giving blood?
I always avoided because the consensus seems to be that there is a 2-3 week period of poor performance afterwards, which is annoying if you do structured training and even worse if you have races planned.
How do you guys find cycling after giving blood?
I always avoided because the consensus seems to be that there is a 2-3 week period of poor performance afterwards, which is annoying if you do structured training and even worse if you have races planned.
I haven't donated for over 20 years but felt my performance was sub-optimal for up to a fortnight after donation.
I don't think this would decondition you in the long term and as many blood donations are needed as possible.
I'd suggest donating but expecting a little reduced performance for a few days. Athletes elsewhere train at high altitudes to acclimatise to lower oxygen tension in the air. Training with lower haemoglobin will help stimulate your marrow to produce MOAR red cells.
Athletes elsewhere train at high altitudes to acclimatise to lower oxygen tension in the air. Training with lower haemoglobin will help stimulate your marrow to produce MOAR red cells.
according to studies it takes 4-6 weeks to rebuild the red cell count after donation. personally i find i'm back to full strength after ~2-3 weeks.
i haven't practiced keto diet, but from what i gather the effect might be similar - not a lot of difference endurance-wise, only hard efforts feel much harder.
according to studies it takes 4-6 weeks to rebuild the red cell count after donation. personally i find i'm back to full strength after ~2-3 weeks.
i haven't practiced keto diet, but from what i gather the effect might be similar - not a lot of difference endurance-wise, only hard efforts feel much harder.
according to studies it takes 4-6 weeks to rebuild the red cell count after donation. personally i find i'm back to full strength after ~2-3 weeks.
i haven't practiced keto diet, but from what i gather the effect might be similar - not a lot of difference endurance-wise, only hard efforts feel much harder.
Memory suggests that blood donation had a far greater effect in the first few days than keto on burst capability. However, time makes actual comparison harder. Plus, I was running 800m up to 5,000m so oxygen transport was pretty critical and I wasn’t doing any sort of keto.
I'm not allowed to give blood, but I certainlysufferedhad to take up the slack on the tandem if Mr Smith had done his part.
Lasted at max a week, I think.
For reference, it doesn't work the other way round - I've failed a blood donation because my blood was basically rubbish a couple of days after a 600. I believe I posted about it here somewhere, but it was years ago.
For reference, it doesn't work the other way round - I've failed a blood donation because my blood was basically rubbish a couple of days after a 600. I believe I posted about it here somewhere, but it was years ago.
Interesting... I always thought long distance is basically self-destruction... running or cycling, same thing. Our relative apes don't seem to be too keen on long distance stuff, maybe there is something to learn there
High volumes of high intensity is key to the cardiac damage. At the least that’s what the evidence presented is.
High volumes of high intensity is key to the cardiac damage. At the least that’s what the evidence presented is.
Got you... no pyramid intervals then... ;D
High volumes of high intensity is key to the cardiac damage. At the least that’s what the evidence presented is.
Got you... no pyramid intervals then... ;D
I think it’s to do with having continual high levels of cortisol rather than just after the odd high intensity session. So if you do it every day for an extended period you’ll end up with chronic inflammation amongst other things. There also links between sustained high levels of cortisol and Alzheimer’s.
No. 74 today.
First time I have had the carer go hunting for a better vein. Left arm centre vein has a habbit of drying up, left outside vein is disliked by the 1+1 machine. Right middle vein is not much good so right inside vein it was, obviously not popular but it is the same vein that I have been donating from for the last 15 years.
#20 today. Will hope to get to the 25 award in early 2022.
Just booked #21 for late March.
thought: has anyone else wondered if they donate more slowly if the room is chillier? I'm suspecting there's at least as much contribution to speed of donation from how well the needle was inserted tbh.
gah! you have a better donation centre than I do. :'(
limited to one snack I was, and only cold drinks, sob. Having a leisurely chat & cuppa with multiple snacks makes it worthwhile/enjoyable, now banned.
thought: has anyone else wondered if they donate more slowly if the room is chillier? I'm suspecting there's at least as much contribution to speed of donation from how well the needle was inserted tbh.
I understand that this month a change in the 'rules' as to who can donate means that lots of people who previously couldn't give blood now can, such as this man (https://twitter.com/falcoretweets/status/1406051108485804034) and this one (https://twitter.com/EvertonGreens/status/1405505528114073602).
More details here (official blood.co.uk site) (https://www.blood.co.uk/news-and-campaigns/news-and-statements/landmark-change-to-blood-donation-eligibility-rules-on-today-s-world-blood-donor-day/)
I'm due to donate again next week. I find the process a little uncomfortable these days. The 'slight scratch' (why do they say that? It's not like a scratch at all. It's much more like a needle being stuck into your arm, which isn't - to my mind - something that requires a simile, much less an inaccurate one) is now a painful* jab, which remains painful throughout the donation, including the removal and shortly thereafter.Success! Right arm and Almost pain-free! The guy I had was so lovely, though, that I think he could have stuck it in my neck and I’d have been okay.
One member of staff told me that this is likely due to scar tissue. Another (different occasion) suggested a duff (cheap) batch of needles.
Whatever it is, I'm going to ask them to use the other arm next time, to see if that improves things.
(*FSVO pain. It's more painful than it used to be, but still only, say, 1.5 where renal cholic = 10)
These days they tell you where your blood ended up too. Mine went local: Royal Derby Hospital. That's about 11 crow miles. However, it went via Sheffield, Manchester and Stoke-on-Trent, so travelled 160 miles!
Don't think I've ever heard where my donation has gone.I get a text telling me which hospital got my blood, usually 2-3 weeks after donation. I donate in Hampshire and my last donations went to London, Birmingham and Dudley.
Though I did get no fewer than 4 texts to remind me to attend. And a 5th to thank me for having done so.
Nice. 6 mins 9 secs!
Uncomfortable skin where the plaster was though. I had to take it off after an hour because it was driving me potty. Raised red lumps. I wonder if I’ve become sensitive to the plasters, or if they are using different ones?
The one I had after Sunday’s aborted attempt was fine.
Hydrocortisone cream is your friend!Me and hydrocortisone have been close for many years.
Hydrocortisone cream is your friend!Me and hydrocortisone have been close for many years.
Similarly. My 30gm tube of canesten HC was prescribed in 2016 and has some applications left. It’s still efficacious too: just dispatched an outbreak of (I think) angular cheilitis.Hydrocortisone cream is your friend!Me and hydrocortisone have been close for many years.
I am VERY sparing with my steroid use, having seen the paper-thin skin of 'steroid wrecks' as a junior doc.
I started using it in March 2019 and am not quite halfway through my second 15g tube of 1% hydrocortisone cream...
I donated yesterday in the Gudwara in Leamington. I much prefer giving at the dedicated centre in Brum, but it was easier in Leam yesterday.
I've recently found out that my O- blood always goes to a maternity unit. Is that because it's O-, or is there another reason?
I'm due to donate again next week. I find the process a little uncomfortable these days. The 'slight scratch' (why do they say that? It's not like a scratch at all. It's much more like a needle being stuck into your arm, which isn't - to my mind - something that requires a simile, much less an inaccurate one) is now a painful* jab, which remains painful throughout the donation, including the removal and shortly thereafter.
One member of staff told me that this is likely due to scar tissue. Another (different occasion) suggested a duff (cheap) batch of needles.
Whatever it is, I'm going to ask them to use the other arm next time, to see if that improves things.
(*FSVO pain. It's more painful than it used to be, but still only, say, 1.5 where renal colic = 10)
... Will stop once I have given my weight in blood is the plan.Apparently I was misinformed as to the weight of a donation and I passed the "given my weight" point at least 3 years ago. Today's answer was that a filled pack weighs 828g.
Ive got a booking next week for what I think will be my 43rd donation.
Finding a vein has been increasingly problematic in recent donations with one appointment being abandoned entirely so fingers crossed. I really want to get to 50.
So that's 49.
Number 51 on Tuesday.Again the blood drop test 'failed', twice, but the gadget measured 154, so donation went ahead.
Blood drop test was odd - it sank then changed its mind and some or all of it went upwards (I didn't see it, that's what the carer said). The little gadget said 171 so it went ahead.
Donation itself was quick and easy.
Then I got home and must have slept for 12 hours.
On Wednesday I didn't do much.
Yesterday I felt fine and went for a long (but slow) walk, searching for insects to photograph, then went out on my bike to buy food (4 miles max). I got home and felt completely exhausted, and went to bed early.
I'm coming to the conclusion that recovery is taking too long for it to be worth it. Nevertheless I've booked for November and no doubt I'll go through the experience all over again and come to the same conclusion again.
Are they still using the blood drop method? I've had my blood measured using the gadget (Hemocue to give it's proper name) for at least the last 4 years. This is in Scotland.When I go to St George's in Tooting it's normally blood drop. They have a gadget too, which I've had a go on once(out of many many times)
I got rejected as it was only 11.9 :-(As a regular donor, it could be worth twisting your GPs arm to have FBC and ferritin levels done. I've had to have abreak from donation as I had become anaemic, Following multiple blood tests, and poo stick, it was found to be iron based, with very low ferrin levels (20). Further discussion with the GP found the only possible cause was frequent regular donations (3+ per year over a decade) had depleted the iron stores, hence not able to make sufficient haemaglobin.
Try again in 3 months. It's not as if I've particularly been doing anything since the last donation at the end of July.
there could be something in that, thanks. I've been doing around 3 per year for the past couple of decades.I got rejected as it was only 11.9 :-(:
Try again in 3 months. It's not as if I've particularly been doing anything since the last donation at the end of July.
the only possible cause was frequent regular donations (3+ per year over a decade) had depleted the iron stores, hence not able to make sufficient haemaglobin.
: