[Closed] Giving blood

Drink Guinness or your stout/porter of choice afterwards. Darker the better. It's a cheap piss-up if you start straight afterwards. 🙂

no, you'll be fine. I don't suffer any ill-effects at all. Give blood, free cup of tea and a biscuit and I'm off about 10 mins after the donation. The worst bit for me is getting the bloody plaster off my arm.

Don't plan a long ride the day after cos you'll feel it, but it's a great thing to do! I've done it 26 times and never had a problem

Get it done , eat and drink plenty on the day you donate and you'll be fine . mine normally takes just over 5 mins , have a cup of tea n a club biccie and your done . 😀

Thanks everyone. It's one of those things that I've (selfishly) always been too busy to do.

I need to change my ways and I'm making the call as soon as they open tomorrow.

I've always been on the opinion that if you'd accept blood in an emergency, then give as much as you can when it's not.

Get it done good men!

I second the advice of not to ride the day after - even better, don't ride the afternoon after giving blood that morning.......

The nurse said, don't plan any strenuous activity for the rest of the day - should have listened!!

Do it - I give blood every 4 months, we have the blood bus come to work for the day, so makes donating easy - my view is I'm likely to need some in a bike-related incident (given my injury history.......) so I might as well start banking it now!

A

I've never given blood. Now I can't, I wish I could.

Good work to each and everyone of you!

Have a laugh with the nurses! They are usually a right giggle and have a wonderful sense of humour - helps you be distracted if necessary. I always take my own goody treat as i don't find the biscuits do it for me. The tea does though 🙂
Good on ya!

I've been giving for 20+ years....

It's easy - just do it. I've NEVER had any problems 😀

I think of it like Taxes/National Insurance - if you don't pay in you shouldn't expect to get paid out (if you ever need it - let's hope you don't).

Afterwards, bypass the Club, Blue Riband and Penguin, and go straight for the Tunnocks Caramel Wafer

Only donated once. Will go again. It doesn't really hurt, and as a pretty big guy I didn't actually notice the difference after. Would give more if I could. A very good excuse to surround yourself with pretty nurses.

They're dragging me in every 10 weeks in a new trial to see if they can get away with reduced donation intervals. I see it as free altitude training, and I get to take the moral high ground as well.

In a similar vein (sorry...) to organ donation, I've always felt that if you're prepared to take the stuff, you should be prepared to donate as well (unless, of course, you're not allowed).

I gave blood for the first time a couple of weeks ago. Happened to be passing a sports centre where it was going on. Really easy, good laugh with the nurses. Don't worry it is fine. I am still wondering on my blood group. Does anyone who has given blood know how you find out?

Ask CountZero, he's probably been doing quite a bit of investigation today.

You normally get sent a letter asking you to donate again and your blood group is on that.
I've also been given a keyring in the past that had my blood group on it so it might be worth asking if they still have/do them.
Up to 40 pints now and still lie about how much I weigh....

The only side effect I feel is very thirsty in morning so drink plenty of fluid afterwards.

I donated last week: http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/im-bleeding

Just don't plan to commute on the same day!

Out of interest do large adults have more blood in their bodies than small people I presume they do.. I am 6'4" and about 15 stone and have never noticed any affect after giving blood. I have always followed the advice and avoided ridding on the same day as donating.

They used to to 'bleed' you in medieval times- maybe there is something in it.
Supposedly giving blood removes some of the iron concentration in the blood- which can contribute to the risk of heart disease.
Iron can speed up the oxidation of cholesterol, which is thought to increase the damage to arteries, and ultimately leads to cardiovascular disease.

I used to be a regular donor, but haven't given blood for over a year now. Partly because they closed down the venue near my work, but mostly because of the near insistance that you pre-book an appointment. It seems now that if you just turn up without an appointment, you will be turned away or told to wait for a couple of hours at least. Being turned away a few times is very demoralising.

Occasionally it can hurt. However the hardest part for me is the test prick at the beginning on the end of your finger.

I don't do it for Karma. I do it as its an easy, quick way of putting something into society. Something that you may need one day yourself as well.

Well tbh I do it to keep DD topped up.

HS125, I know exactly what you mean. I noticed that even with an appointment time I was often kept waiting. I now donate platelets instead - takes about 90mins to donate but has the benefit of only taking platelets (and putting the rest of the blood back in) so I never feel faint like I used to with blood donation.

I've also never given blood and once I'd realised it would be a good thing to do I was (coincidentally) diagnosed with a condition that means I can never give blood!

So if you can give blood please do, people like me who can't but need transfusions (very likely if I have further surgery) really appreciate it.

Done it dozens of times now including platelets too
not done it for a while though due to a load of foreign travel but can again now so must get my finger out and book one up.

I usually cycle to and from the hospital to do mine. only started doing it after donating plenty of times so know I'm fine after. I do take it easy coming back and it's downhill all the back to work. never had any ill affect the following day. good excuse for a treat for dinner nice steak, chips and a pint of dark stuff 🙂

I gave blood for the first time last year. It didn't hurt, but I felt very fuzzy and sick afterwards, which lasted until the following morning. Cycling home was a really bad idea...

[i]but mostly because of the near insistance that you pre-book an appointment. It seems now that if you just turn up without an appointment, you will be turned away[/i]

You can book online. Surely it's not that hard to plan an appointment?

http://www.blood.co.uk/SessionSearcher/Search.aspx

Last time I tried to book on-line for a local session it was fully booked, which is sort of good. the website did then tell me I could just turn up and wait to probably be turned away so I didn't

I will go soon though

Judging by the pic on the main page, you can opt for the vampire method these days!
http://www.blood.co.uk/giving-blood/

😯

I always ride to my blood donor sessions as I add it to my commute but I just take it easy on the way home.

Unfortunately the Scottish blood service don't do online bookings.

I've got an appointment on Monday morning though.

At least I'm not alone in cycling

Probably not best done for your first few donation though, people respond very differently.

One of mates who's healthy has donated twice, both times he felt awful and had to wait a long time before they let him go home. After the second time he was politely told to not come back again. Some people's body's just really don't like it at all.
good on him for going and giving it a second go too

I go all feint afterwards - so much so that I've been told not to bother in future 😳
I wouldn't assume you'd be able to cycle home.

There is a maximum speed you can cycle home at after - I found this last Tuesday, my heart was racing and I got an ache in my chest. Think next time I'll just go back to taking it easier!

Drinking lots of water before and after us for the best.

As for booking appointments, it's no hardship, at the session I book up for the next one, stick a reminder in my phone and job done.

And last session I had to wait a while to get seen, but sh*t if if saves a life what the hell do I care. People take different times to bleed, the staff that work these sessions are doing the best that they can, they are, as has been said all great people and I'm assuming aren't on massive salaries, they work outside regular hours to make it easier for us - GIVE THEM A BREAK. Nearly shouted that at a woman who hadn't booked and was whinging about having to wait last time.

Before donating you have to wait 24 hours before doing hazardous activities - rock climbing, skydiving etc. It has motorcycling on the list but not cycling - wonder if this is because cycling isnt considered as dangerous? Surely they should ask "..how rad/gnar are you?" 😀

I'm not a great fan of the actual insertion of the needle.

I find this helps: Just before the insertion, take a deep breath. As the needle starts to go in, exhale slowly...

For the OP, read the info they have sent you regarding colds, taking drugs (headache pills etc) in the days before donation so you don't waste a trip/take a slot you can't use. Once there the nurses will tell you what to do, it's nothing to worry about.

Good thing there are people like you donating for no reward beyond a tea and an unhealthy snack 🙂

Good thing there are people like you donating for no reward beyond a tea and an unhealthy snack

Little trb has cottoned on to this and now insists on joining me so that he can blag free squash and crisps.

I've got something like 30 pints in the bank - last week I had to do an extra iron test as I'd been fettling the bike and the grease on my hands made the standard test fail - got stuck in both arms!!

I do find it frustrating when they send you marketing mail wailing about the shortage of donors, then I have to wait an hour to donate (even with an appointmant sometimes)

Although it's not been the same since they stopped providing:

[img] [/img]

I agree with the “if you’re prepared to take it you should be prepared to give it” sentiment. I’ve also just signed up to the Anthony Nolan register. I asked about platelet donation last time I gave blood, but apparently my veins are too ladylike.

Bigsurfer I’m 5ft2 and vary between 8.5 and 9 st and never notice affects from giving blood.

You get crisps after at our donation centre now.

Also they may ask you if you have eaten recently, if you haven't then you may have to go eat something prior to giving blood. Its best to make sure you are hydrated as this seems to speed up the process and avoid feeling dizzy/ faint. I have been told to avoid fatty foods 12 hours before giving platelets as it changes the quality of the donation (makes it cloudy and darker), don't know if this is the case with blood donation.
Rugbydick, I'm sure it will be straightforward and they take extra good care of first timers.
Well done for volunteering - Good karma on its way to you from whoever get your donation!

[i]Just before the insertion, take a deep breath. As the needle starts to go in, exhale slowly...[/i]

I prefer to watch, its fascinating...
The ripping off of the plaster at the end is far more painful!

I use to give blood but due to EU legislation I do not have enough iron; it has to have a high iron content now, I am just normal (apparently). They use to give you a card with your blood group on it not sure if they still do.
My recommendation is:
have a snack before hand
look away when they put the needle in (it doesn't hurt that way).
Squeeze your hand slowly you do not want the blood to pour out of you like a gushing tap, more just a small trickle.
Listen to the advice they give you

DezB - Member

Just before the insertion, take a deep breath. As the needle starts to go in, exhale slowly...

I prefer to watch, its fascinating...

Sick puppy!! 😀

I always try and avoid giving blood on the roadside

Only advice I can give is eat a good meal about 2 hours before and drink plenty of fluids before and after. The donation team at my sessions give you a pint of water before you donate. And insist that you drink it all. (this has reduced the fainting rate. Which is very low anyway, except for the college students who weigh about 8 stone, don't eat then turn up and faint!)

Yes, your iron levels do drop slightly after donating, but with a healthy diet will be back to normal within a week or 2. I've done a few different trials over the years, double red cell donation, monitoring iron levels after donation, reduced times between donations.

53 donations so far, so they've definitely taken more than an arm full.

bigblackshed - you must have an arm like a pin cushion 🙂

I think I'm at pint 18/19, but I had to have year off after bad behaviour (Africa and India).

I always drink shit loads of water before donation. I think it helps.

if everyone thinks someone else will do it then we may not have healthy stocks in the geographic areas that are needed.

It only takes a wee while as well and then its done for another 3months.

I like to race the other donors, thinking that how quickly the blood drains out of me is a indication of my superior fitness and heart health over the average human.

I find giving blood one of those activites where it is ok to finish quickly.

next time is number 20 for me.

I like to race the other donors, thinking that how quickly the blood drains out of me is a indication of my superior fitness and heart health over the average human.

I donated once....was told I wasn't allowed to donate again after they picked my convulsing body off the floor....I think I freaked everyone else out, but it felt like a super amazing far out trip.

They say a teaspoon of blood can save a newborn baby...by my reckoning I saved a hundred babies - job done.

I must have far too much blood flowing through my veins as I've always played a sport of some kind within a hr/s of giving (must be about 20 times now). Indoor footy or squash or cycling, not felt any side affects so far! I wouldnt go running though 🙂

Well, donation all went well and painlessly yesterday. I haven't even got a bruise from where the needle went in
And a Tunnock's Teacake to recover with... mmmm.

Already booked my next donation for 12 weeks time.

Good man. 🙂