Donating blood with ileostomy?

I just walked past a sign for a blood drive and was curious so checked the Red Cross website to look at eligibility criteria. In terms of drugs, surgeries, blood transfusion, disease, etc. there is nothing there that says I'm ineligible, which is kind of astounding. It does say that the list is incomplete and people need to be evaluated on a case by case basis.

I was just curious if anyone here had donated blood with an ileostomy. I would worry about dehydration. Still, being able to donate seems like it'd be an amazing symbol of being better (I used to donate a lot when I was in my 20's and healthy).

I was in the bone marrow donation registry and I actually got a call several years ago that I matched someone. I was so excited, as I knew two people with leukemia, one who died from not getting a match and one who lived because she got one.... I was in my second or third ever IBD flare (back when they lasted two weeks), and I said I should be better soon and would happily go then for further testing, but the woman said that I was now permanently ineligible because I had an autoimmune disease..... that was the moment when I realized I'd crossed from being someone who helps sick people to being a sick person..... guess since then I've thought of donating blood in the same way....

Although, honestly, I think my friend with leukemia would have traded it for Crohn's in a second..... not to diminish how awful Crohn's is, but she died a year after diagnosis at 38.....

I was never told not to donate blood, neither before nor after colectomy. but I can see how several issues come up - dehydration and iron levels. The auto-immunity issue is more complex, and if bone marrow is ruled out, so is blood donation. Crohns and UC are not infectious disease, but lots of things can happen when blood mixes. I don't know if someone can get Crohns from a blood transfusion from someone who has Crohns, but it might cause other conditions. Even if it could transmit that way, and Crohns is a less scary alternative to leukemia, it would still be considered bad medicine. I think our GIs would be best for final answers.
But in the meantime, there are ways to donate other than with life fluid. Time, if you can spare a little, is also gratifying to donate and does a lot of good.

B'Dereh, good to hear from you too.

B'Dereh said...
The auto-immunity issue is more complex, and if bone marrow is ruled out, so is blood donation.

I don't think this is true. Here's what the Red Cross says about chronic illnesses: "Most chronic illnesses are acceptable as long as you feel well, the condition is under control, and you meet all other eligibility requirements."

You can donate if you've had cancer, as long as it's not a blood cancer. There's nothing on the site about auto immune diseases, and it's quite detailed regarding diabetes, asthma, malaria, HIV, etc.

I suspect with the bone marrow, the issue might not be catching Crohn's, but just not having a good enough immune system to donate..... although mine was good enough to keep me alive....

And yes, many ways to give back besides bodily fluids

I don't see why it would matter. I have always wanted to give blood and was worried about some of my meds, but those didn't matter. My problem is all my veins are so bad from so many years of ivs and blood draws. They have to literally use the needles for the nicu babies on me! So I can't give blood for that reason.
All they can do is tell you no.

I was also told no to donating blood too. We cannot afford to give up that much fluid due to the dehydration factor.

I was told by a doctor that it is still "OK" to donate blood. Hovever it's not encouraged (like other members here stated). It won't hurt the recipient but it might somewhat "hurt" you. Apart from the dehydration, it's also about electrolytes and other "ingredients". We aren't abundant with them.

I tried to be a bone marrow donor as well... When I turned 18 and applied to be one, I found out that I cannot be a donor because of my condition. I was very sad and disappointed. It used to be my dream ever since I was a kid :)