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Posted 6/29/2011 3:21 PM (GMT 0)
 

      Today, I donated blood to the ARC this morning...at work.

   I was surprised they let me donate while taking pain med's. Anyone else here donate?

     SE

Posted 6/29/2011 3:43 PM (GMT 0)
Good for you Mikey!:)

I can't donate due to my travels to West Africa for my mission work and have exposure to Malaria...as well as I get immunized frequently for many things like TB, etc. when traveling there.

I did also have Dengue Fever a few years ago that I got from there as well...

So, as a safety with all of these it's best I don't donate anymore...

I used to work for the American Red Cross and I was in charge of coordinating blood drives in my area with businesses like what Mikey did today:)

If you are able...it absolutely saves lives!!!
Posted 6/29/2011 3:48 PM (GMT 0)
 

     Yes...if you can donate..please do! I'm an "A-" which is rare...I think only 6 to 8 percent of the population have this type. So they are excited to see me when I come in. It has been a long time since my last donation...and I really did not feel like giving today...but I thought it might help another person in my shoes.

 SE

Posted 6/29/2011 3:53 PM (GMT 0)
So glad you did:)...As I'm sure you know, your donation alone can save up to 3 lives...And right now...blood donations have been down so there is an extreme need...

That's great that you have that blood type as well...did you get an extra cookie for that? LOL
Posted 6/29/2011 4:03 PM (GMT 0)
 

   ...I did ask the nurse...how the responce has been...and she said not good....I was surprised by that.

        ...only one cookie per person! rolleyes ...was allowed.

 SE

Posted 6/29/2011 4:35 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Mikey...


Good question.  I can't give blood for a variety of reasons, similar to SB and also that I'm severely anemic and just had a blood transfusion myself (so thank you to my anonymous donor!). 

Re: your pain med question - I found conflicting information....  One comprehensive website said the following:

Can I donate if I am taking pain relievers?   
You cannot donate while taking narcotics to relieve pain. You may donate blood while taking nonnarcotic pain relievers. Aspirin interferes with platelet function and should be discontinued prior to platelet donation as follows:

Other websites said in certain instances, it's ok.

If you put down your meds on the questionairre that they give you... and they accepted it - I guess it's ok?? 

--Tina

Posted 6/29/2011 4:45 PM (GMT 0)
I thought the same thing Mikey!! Especially when I told them that not only do I take pain pills and a bunch of other stuff but also get testosterone shots every three weeks!!! I still donate every chance I get! Back after I had prostate cancer in 2003, they told me I had to wait 5 years before I could donate. On the 5th year anniversary of my surgery, I went in and the lady told me it's only a year or 2 wait now!!> I was pissed cause I guess I didn't have to wait so long, but I didn't know they changed it!!!
I have a hard time donating though cause I have bad veins (small)! I tell them I need the "Best needler" when I go in and sometimes that doesn't help!
I lay there as people come and go and come and go as my blood trickles out! More than a couple times it slowed so much, they had to stop it and throw the blood away> GRRRRR! It's their policy that the blood bags have to be filled!
I'm about do for another trip to give blood but it will have to wait till I get back from Seattle for my Son's wedding!! I'll need all the energy I can muster for that trip!
Huggy~Wuggies!
Pete
Posted 6/29/2011 4:58 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Tina...if people go to the American Red Cross website and go to the blood donation page....it shows a list of alphabetical reasons that may preclude someone from donating...And then click on the one for Aspirin, and then the one for Medications....

Aspirin doesn't matter for whole blood, but for platelets by apheresis it does.

It shows which one's may preclude you from donating...But most pain medicine that doesn't contain aspirin, will not keep you from donating..

Before I started traveling to Africa...I was able to donate while being on narcotics...

No offense to other websites...but the ARC is the authority on blood donation in the US...I know certain hospitals or clinics have their own blood drives...but they usually used the ARC standards that are set for safety...

Post Edited (Snowbunny21) : 6/29/2011 11:03:21 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 6/29/2011 4:59 PM (GMT 0)
 

       Tina...they asked me excatly what med's I was taking...and said no problem..after I told them I was on the ocycontin, and Percocet....I just thought they might not allow me to donate with that in my system.

 I'm glad to see that some of our members are donating when they can though....they really do need it.

 Pete when you leaving for the trip? Don't forget to take you're face mask. Are you sleeping better now with it?

     Huggy wuggies back to you Pete!

Posted 6/29/2011 5:22 PM (GMT 0)
I don't - not sure if I can with my medications or not, but I have terrible veins and I need every vein I have for hospital admissions. It would also be very painful, and there is a risk of it making the CRPS worse. I'm also anaemic.
Posted 6/29/2011 8:27 PM (GMT 0)
I was able to donate on all of my narcotic meds, but I did see a list of meds that were no-no's.

However, I was refused for donating blood due to having donor bone implanted for my fusion. According to the blood bank I went to, I needed to wait 1 year to donate after I received donor bone (cadaver).

I should actually be good now since I used my own blood for this last surgery, yippy!
Posted 6/29/2011 9:37 PM (GMT 0)
I was told that i could not donate since i take methotrexate for RA: ever. I looked at the website above, and did not see it on the list of no-no drugs. I am O- so they loved me when I used to go. If I thought i could donate I would start up again.
Posted 6/29/2011 10:42 PM (GMT 0)
Christina, you can always call your local ARC blood donation chapter and ask someone there to clarify if you choose...

Glad to see so many on here that even consider donating, even if they can't...yea HW members!!!
Posted 6/29/2011 10:45 PM (GMT 0)
SB - yeah, I get what you are saying.  Re: the aspirin part - I was just cutting/pasting - I didn't mean for that to be put in - I just was talking about the narcotic part.

Well, you learn something new each day!  I wouldn't have thought narcotics would have been ok - but it looks like they are tongue

Like I said, I know I'm leaning towards getting another blood transfusion.... so I'm thankful to hear of you all donating blood.  I would do it, too, if I could.  Besides all my health issues, though - my veins are HORRIBLE.  Most times, I have to have a PICC line.  Like I said, one day - I'm going to get that port that my doctor wants me to get.  Just another thing to do.....

Take care all. --Tina

 

Posted 6/30/2011 12:01 AM (GMT 0)
You know, I mentioned that I have bad/small veins in my arms but I have Gihugic ones in my hands!!! They will NOT use your hands for some reason though> Wish they would!!!
Pete
Posted 6/30/2011 12:15 AM (GMT 0)
Not me, my veins are easy. No rollers, big blue suckers you can see from the other side of the room. They can almost throw the needle like a dart and still get a good stick.
I often ask for traniees so they can get the practice on easy arms. I get blood drawn once a month, so, no big deal.

It was the person from Red Cross that told me that. They kept calling me asking to donate, and I had to tell them the people from the blood drive said I couldnt donate, so I was transfered to someone else who said MTX disqualifies you. I was then taken off the call list.

Its sad that I was always anemic before, and had to eat a special meal the night before, and even then the drop would float, and it would always spin to just over the cut-off. Now my blood tests have gotten better and I cant donate anymore.
Posted 6/30/2011 12:22 AM (GMT 0)
Sorry, I can't donate as I'm now on Methotrexate...can't risk getting an infection or
risks giving someone methotrexate meds...but my husband give when he can as he's a universal donor
Posted 6/30/2011 4:48 AM (GMT 0)
I'm on several meds and they often find it hard when I have to get my blood drawn at my doctor's office, so I don't think I could. I'm also a diabetic.

I would probably donate if I could. I don't have a problem with needles because I take insulin ever day.

I'm happy to hear that you donated Michael. That's great.

love and hugs
Loretta
Posted 7/6/2011 7:13 PM (GMT 0)
Great job Mikey!!! I have not given since being so ill but have given over 75 donations of whole blood,

platelets and plasma. It sure made me feel good knowing that I was helping someone. I am on the bone

marrow donor list but have never received the calling. Of course I went on that list way before becoming ill.
Posted 7/6/2011 10:19 PM (GMT 0)
Christina I know what you mean. When I get blood drawn they lick they're lips and smile. All they need to do is push the tube against my skin and it's done. Now that I'm off my narcotics I don't have to worry about that issue but another question is what about epilepsy? I take two different meds for that.
Posted 7/8/2011 6:39 PM (GMT 0)
Nope cannot do, would love to, but no one wants my blood, including me. Hep-c
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