Lupus and donating blood?

Okay, hate to flood the boards...but.

Should people with lupus donate blood? I remember I tried twice in high school to give blood. The first time I successfully donated blood, and felt fine for the "holding period" afterwards. I thought this was because I made sure to drink a ton of water and I stocked up on OJ that day to make sure that I wasn't "that girl" who passed out...but about two hours later after I was already back in class, I started feeling really woozy. My teacher told me I didn't look well so she let me lay down and I ate some of my packed lunch.. one of the girls in my class even ran back to the blood donation station and got more OJ and cookies for me.

In the middle of my next class, I passed out. Had to be wheeled through the cafeteria in the middle of lunchtime. WONDERFUL.

I was feeling gutsy about a year and half later and decided to donate again.... but had a lot of problems and eventually was unable to donate. My blood clotted when they first started trying to draw blood- before it could even make it all the way down the tube to the bag. So I volunteered my other arm. It started filling the bag but was running slow so they told me to squeeze the ball a little more often than usual.

about a fourth of the way into the bag all flow completely stopped. My blood had clotted...


This also made me remember that the first time I gave blood, it was a struggle for them to get the test tubes full at the end because soon after the bag filled, my blood started to clot and she had to clamp and drag what was in the tube line into the test tubes, just barely getting enough to fill the testing tubes.

Is this something lupus related or does anyone know what would cause your blood to clot abnormally?

I was told never to donate blood unless it was for myself. This was by 2 red cross stations, they said they don't want blood from people with autoimmune diseases.

I was told I can certainly give blood, even on meds. I'm a regular donor and have never had problems, but now I'm just waiting for my year to be up from spending time in the "malaria zone." Have you had problems giving blood for regular tests? Sometimes they take 13 vials from me, so I'm glad there's no problem!

In Vancouver British Columbia Canada you can only donate blood if you are not in an active flare or in remission on the Red Cross website. When I went to donate I was flat out told I couldn't donate blood or bone marrow. My Dad has a blood condition that needs blood transfusions and a bone marrow transplant I'm a match, but can't donate either.

Bryan

*coughs thank goodness I'm not the only pass out during blood person* I mean, hey your not alone. I been told I have courage and I'm totally insane to give blood. Why? Imagine a tough stick, rolling viens, collapsing viens, fainter, all in one. Kid you not, I was told that I was insane and had lots of courage. After the sixth try I was like c'mon you can get it in this time. I am on hold on giving blood. I'm storing up to tell my dr where to put it and I want my dad to have some of my blood who is in kidney failure. For those who pray,please keep my dad, retired Minister Ron, in prayer. He has only a 8% chance to live. He is in kidney failure, needs kidneys on transplant list. Was a sudden diagnoses.