I get to be a HERO tomorrow :)

I go once every 2 to 2.5 months and give up a little blood to give back.  My Grandpa wouldnt have made it long enough for me to hug and kiss him and say, "See you later..." if someone else hadn't given blood.  He needed 2 transfusions right before he died. 

If I can give that to someone in your family next month or next year, I'll do it.

Part of the Commit for Life program is to spread the word so if just one of you goes to give blood this month because of me I would just love it.  Let me know if you do!

Not to mention, you'll never have a guilty treat right after knowing you saved 3 lives.   And according to some, you burn extra calories replenishing glucose, etc.  Another sidebar bonus.

would if i could, but i`m excluded because i lived in the UK for awhile.  no sign of canadian blood services ever lifting that restriction. 

^ You're also on drugs.

oh yeah.

but, i mean, even before.  and even when i get off the drugs, i won`t be allowed.  my blood is untrustworthy.

stupid CJD.

I gave blood last week and I'll probably do it again when I'm ready. (:

I feel really good when I give blood even though I have the most common blood type in America.

I've given blood once...I really should do it more often, but I can't do it alone, plus I have a severe fear of needles :P

I would love to give blood every once in a while, but my community hospital rules say that a woman must weigh over 132 pounds in order to be considered. So if a girl is not taller than average, she can be at a perfectly healthy weight and still not be accepted. It has something to do with the amount of blood they need, as I understand it, it cannot exceed a certain percentage of the overall amount or total body weight, something like that.

Still, it stinks. I am a very energetic person by nature and I`m pretty sure I`d survive. But I see where they`re coming from, because they`d be held accountable in the unlikely event that something bad should happen.

I can't give blood because of medication and I was in the UK 3 years ago. My husband (who is English) said that someone told him after so many years of living in the US he can donate blood again (he used to donate every 3 months in the UK). So hopefully he can again soon.

I want to give blood, I've never done it! The one time I went to do it I apparently had a fever and they denied me. =/ I'm not a fan of needles but I don't think many people are actual "fans". I'm currently taking a very fancy medical cocktail everyday and well... till I don't need to anymore, my blood is considered yucky. =(

The only discouraging thing about giving blood is that I always have to give whole blood because my veins are small. And that kind of sucks, it leaves me drained for a few weeks. But as for needles, I'm indifferent to needles. I've been through so many procedures and I've had blood taken too many times, I'm desensitized. I can even stare at the needle going in. Maybe I'm just weird.

Every time there is blood donation going in my university campus, I always try to go and maybe bring my friends too. Unless you have fear of needles/blood, it's great to spend an hour to help others in their hour of need.

It's probably discouraging but my veins are apparently small and hard to find. I've had people poke me several times to get it right. And I don't think it helps that I'm one of those people who watches the needle.

You can go every 56 days, and make sure you eat lots of legumes and raisins for few days before you donate. Many times I was rejected due to low iron level :/

I give blood as often as I can.  My work actually has a mobile bus come out 4 times a year so I at least give that often.  Working full time and having three kids makes it diffucult to get to the blood bank, so this has been great for me.  I remember growing up as a kid and going to the blood bank with my mom when she would donate.  I hope to pass on this great responsibility to my own kids.

Wow, with the percentage of you that can't go, I'm realizing why its so important that I go!  As for the 132 pound limit in ily's area, you are right, you could still do it just fine.  I'm usually 110-120 when I give, and they just take 3/4 of a pint.  Today I'm a voluptuous 127 so I can give the whole pint.  I live in Texas so maybe there are just different req's.

Also, you small veined people, are you drinking your water??  I understand if you are well hydrated they do plump up.  That miracle magical H20 will  help that.  I'm sure some people just have thin veins though.  I, on the other hand have big huge plumped up veins on both arms, the phlebotomist always says, "Ooo-nice veins".   Wish I could get that complement on other body parts!!

Original Post by cptbunny:

I want to give blood, I've never done it! The one time I went to do it I apparently had a fever and they denied me. =/

This has happened to me too. Apparently I got so nervous that I gave myself a fever XD

Original Post by xtinamaries:

As for the 132 pound limit in ily's area, you are right, you could still do it just fine.  I'm usually 110-120 when I give, and they just take 3/4 of a pint.  Today I'm a voluptuous 127 so I can give the whole pint.  I live in Texas so maybe there are just different req's.

Thanks for the advice, but I actually called and talked to the doctor there, after I read the requirements online, and my first suggestion was for them to take less than a whole pint. Her response was 'we have no use for less than a full pint'. Kinda defeats the purpose, if you ask me, but what could I have said..

Oh, and I live in Romania, maybe that accounts for the ridiculousness of the situation.

I'm borderline anemic so I got denied for that once, and now I've been tattooed so I can't go for like another 8 months I think. But I've got my boyfriend going realy often since he's eligible :] My mom used to give blood all the time, but then SHE went and got a tattoo haha.

In Washington I think you have to weight 115.

Original Post by xtinamaries:

Wow, with the percentage of you that can't go, I'm realizing why its so important that I go!  As for the 132 pound limit in ily's area, you are right, you could still do it just fine.  I'm usually 110-120 when I give, and they just take 3/4 of a pint.  Today I'm a voluptuous 127 so I can give the whole pint.  I live in Texas so maybe there are just different req's.

Also, you small veined people, are you drinking your water??  I understand if you are well hydrated they do plump up.  That miracle magical H20 will  help that.  I'm sure some people just have thin veins though.  I, on the other hand have big huge plumped up veins on both arms, the phlebotomist always says, "Ooo-nice veins".   Wish I could get that complement on other body parts!!

Huh, that's interesting.. in NY the minimum weight is 110lbs regardless of height. And I believe they always take a whole pint, never less. Or if you are eligible, you can donate double the amount, I think 1minimum 80lbs for women.

And while I didn't know that veins plump up from drinking water, yes, I drink a lot of water. One time, I did get "Ohhh this is going to be challenging!!" but I couldn't donate because I was out of the country. She was very sad at my veins unchallenged...