Do you donate blood?

[tjscraps]

If you do, wanted to say THANK YOU! Hubby needed blood products today, first time in our lives we've needed this. He had major surgery Friday and has been having issues with his recovery (can't get out of bed, when he tries to sit or stand he faints as his blood pressure drops to like 80/50). Hopefully the blood will help bulk up his volume and he can start to feel better and start recovering.

So big THANK YOU to anyone who donates blood!!!

[jaye]

Trina sending healing wishes and good thoughts your way!!

My son donates every time they call. My dad was a blood donor for many many years and has a drawer full of pins and certificates. He only stopped because they made him (age).

Sadly due to all my 'stuff' I am not eligible to donate. I wish I could as I am the same as my dad, A- which they are always short of. Braeden is O+ so he is universal.

[angbrey]

We donate!!! My husband and I have donated pretty regularly. I started donating when I was 18 (turning 53 this month). In the spring I donated platelets for the first time since they had a critical need. It wasn't a pleasant experience and it takes a few hours. I would still do it again though, just not as often. Maybe I'll get used to it the more I go. But in the meantime I still donate whole blood, or I can alternate. Just goes to show that we desperately need each other in this world. I'm healthy and very willing to donate, so I do. I can't go quite every 2 months because my iron drops too low and I have to give myself just a bit more time to build it up again, but I go about 3-4 times a year to donate, my husband goes 5-6x. It's very healthy to donate because you're forcing your body to create new healthy blood cells. I'm happy your husband was able to have a donation and I will say prayers for his recovery. I hope he feels better soon!!

[Dalis]

Trina, I hope he is feeling better soon! I can't donate blood, but do receive it once in a while and do appreciate those angels that do it!

[JillW]

I am so sorry to hear your hubby's recovery isn't going as planned. I am praying the blood transfusions do the trick!

I do not donate ... my veins do not like to cooperate. When I've gone in for bloodwork, they have had to get it out of the top of my hand ... so I've never given blood.

I have however; had blood transfusions and know they can make a huge difference ... please keep us posted!

[tjscraps]

I used to donate but now I'm too anemic to donate - maybe one day if I get back up there!

And thanks for the well wishes for my hubby. Baby steps is how it looks like it's gonna be!

[nietis]

I hope your husband recover soon, Trina. So sorry to hear he is not well.

I don't donate, because they said I am not eligible. I think my low blood pressure is the cause, the same with my mum. My dad donates every month, though. He has been doing it for at least 10 years, as far as I can remember.

[jacinda]

I'm a universal blood donor ( O negative) so they ask me to donate all the time, but my veins are terrible and it's hard to get blood out of me, so I only donate a few times a year. I have to plan ahead and drink lots of water beforehand to increase blood volume and vein pressure.

Hoping your husband recovers OK.

[Leablahblah]

I've wanted to do it so badly but I almost passed out and it hurt so badly.

It happens every time I need some blood work done too... they can't poke, nothing comes out and it ends up being so painful... even if I drink gallons of water prior.

[lovely1m]

Hope your husband is doing better.

I donate plasma and have for years.

[craftytam]

I'm so sorry he's having a hard time. I really hope the blood helps!
I've never been allowed to donate due to thyroid meds, and now blood thinners.

[CindyB]

Hope the transfusions help...sending healing vibes!

I actually donated for the first time last month...my work has a blood drive a few times a year and not sure what prompted me to finally do it...but I did

I've always been a tough draw...so it's not particularly pleasant. I had a nurse tell me once that my veins are deep and they roll...so if they get one to hold onto it. Otherwise they stab me multiple times and the vein just does a flip flop and collapses.

[EvelynD2]

Prayers that your husband is doing better. I did try to donate in the past but was always anemic. I also have harder veins to try to draw blood from and they have had, at times, to use the veins in my hands.