Blood Donors

[Margaret]

Do you give, or have you ever donated blood?
(Your own. Intentionally.)

 

[VMan]

It's a pyramid scheme for Dracula and his minions.

 

[WN2]

Yes. I might need it one day. The screening is pretty tight, so I can't donate as often as I'd like to (for example, 6 months "quarantine" after visiting malaria regions, including Italy..).

 

[trogdor]

Nobody will take my British blood. It's unfair; I've been eating beef for years, and there's nothing wrong with moo.

 

[Condor]

I used to give reguarly, but they keep raising the standard
impossibly high. I want to give, but can't do to overseas service.
I think my blood is as good as anybody's and I'd like to give it.
I don't think its fair at all.

 

[lawyerdad]

Yes, although I've gotten pretty lazy about it. Used to be I'd go semi-regularly to donate. Now, I generally don't think about it unless there's a blood drive in our building or something.

 

[Quirk]

I used to donate platelets every couple of months, but have gotten a bit slacker about it in recent years. They also don't call me as aggressively to remind me anymore -- must be short on manpower. In fact, I really should go tomorrow, now that I'm thinking about it...

 

[Vintage Gent]

I once was a fairly regular donor (about 4-5 times a year), but a painful, botched insertion that left a fairly vicious looking bruise soured me on the experience.

 

[dirk diggler]

I felt dizzy once so they had me lie down. Woke up to a fat ugly Nurse Ratchet lookalike standing over me . . . . . I have bad memories.

 

[Concordia]

Gave a few times in college, until I felt a little lightheaded in recovery-- and leaned back instead of forward. Woke up a few minutes later, and spent a few hours in bed reviving.

Too bad, as I have a somewhat rare type and don't otherwise mind giving.

 

[Bandwagonesque]

I have needle panic. Flu shots, immunization, blood testing... usually results in me getting light headed, seeing floating spots, temperatures rising, and then blacking out.

 

[Fabienne]

They won't let me: I don't weigh enough. Which is a shame, as I have a relatively rare blood type.

 

[Dakota rube]

I've donated over 6 gallons of my blood, dating back 20+ years. But for some reason, I've stopped. The process kept getting longer and longer and longer (the pre-stick interview; not the actual draining).

 

[Tck13]

Can't do it. I am not smart enough to lie when answering the screening questions.

 

[FLMountainMan]

I used to a lot. Then in 2002, I slipped into pretty dire poverty and, as one way of helping keep the stomach and gas tank full, I began having to sell plasma as much as they would let me.
After eight months, I was able to get a great job and stop selling plasma. However, having to sell plasma and endure the hell-hole that was that blood clinic, I will never give blood or sell plasma gain unless someone in my family needs it.
Selfish, but that's just the way it is.