Aids HIV FAQ

Blood donations and meds

Question:

>However, I have donated blood to myself when I had an operation for knee >replacements,I had to look around for a surgeon willing to accept this >procedure and got a lot of thanks from the donor service. This was in >London, England. maybe it is something to think about.

Its quite common here in the States to give blood pre-op for your own use. It is routine pre-op teaching for a Radical Prostatecomy. I gave two units for myself 6 years ago when I had my hysterectomy. Keep Smilin’ ~Krissy "The most thoroughly wasted of all days is that  in which one has not laughed." Nicolas Chamfort

Response:

>Hi >I used to donate blood but cannot do so anymore. >However, I have donated blood to myself when I had an operation for knee >replacements,I had to look around for a surgeon willing to accept this >procedure and got a lot of thanks from the donor service. This was in >London, England. maybe it is something to think about.

I don’t know how common this is now, but a few years ago this was a very common practice here in the states.  If I knew that I was going to have an operation in 3 months or so, I would very much rather get my own blood.  God knows, I’ve got enough things wrong with me now, I sure don’t need any more.<G> —- The Skipper To reply remove "remove".

Response:

> I tried to donate a couple times before RA, but either I had a temp, or > low blood count. Hmmm…think I shoulda figured something was wrong then? > Anyways I doubt very much that anyone would want my blood now, with all > the chemicals running through it!!!

Tee-hee… Maybe we should sell it for a high price as pretreated blood? — Best regards / Med vennlig hilsen,       Aase Marit ))))))            ("Aw-Se-Mareet" from Norway) http://w1.2380.telia.com/~u238000263/flaker/docs/index.html

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > : I use to donate blood regularly before I was diagnosed with RA.  They called me > : after my diagnosis and I asked if I would be allowed to donate.  They said that > : I could as long as I was only on nothing stronger than NSAIDS and was > : "symptom-free".  I have not tried to donate since then (4 years ago) because I > : cannot meet these 2 criteria.  This is the first post that I have read about > : this thread.  It would surprise me if people were allowed to donate if they > : didn’t meet these two criteria. > I’m actually pretty bummed that I can’t donate blood. My mom always used > to, and when I was in high school, I figured it was one of those things > that you did when you were a grownup. So the blood drive came around to > school, I went in, did all the tests, and was down to the final screening > with the nurse and she said the magic words "You take *HOW MANY* aspirin a > day?" "Twelve" i repeated. They didn’t want me. That was all I was on, but > nope. Since then I’ve gotten on other stronger drugs, so I haven’t tried > it again (I know* they don’t want me on the MTX… > betsy.

Hi I used to donate blood but cannot do so anymore. However, I have donated blood to myself when I had an operation for knee replacements,I had to look around for a surgeon willing to accept this procedure and got a lot of thanks from the donor service. This was in London, England. maybe it is something to think about.

Response:

>I used to donate blood but cannot do so anymore. >However, I have donated blood to myself when I had an operation for knee >replacements,I had to look around for a surgeon willing to accept this >procedure and got a lot of thanks from the donor service. This was in >London, England. maybe it is something to think about.

Gee, that’s strange… it seemed rather automatic that I gave autologous blood (for myself) for my two knee replacements.  First one, they ended up taking 4 units prior to the operation, as the date changed and the new date was past expiration for the first unit.  Second one they took 3 units.  For hip, they decided not to have me give any, as I had needed one unit each time after, and their reasoning was I could use it more inside me rather than removing it, then returning it. Although I was a little anemic after, and did take iron supplements both about 30 days before and after the operation, it all worked out fine.  Did seem a waste that they don’t use autologous blood for anybody else after though, although mine wouldn’t have been accepted for anybody because of the drugs. LadyAndy2

Response:

: I use to donate blood regularly before I was diagnosed with RA.  They called me : after my diagnosis and I asked if I would be allowed to donate.  They said that : I could as long as I was only on nothing stronger than NSAIDS and was : "symptom-free".  I have not tried to donate since then (4 years ago) because I : cannot meet these 2 criteria.  This is the first post that I have read about : this thread.  It would surprise me if people were allowed to donate if they : didn’t meet these two criteria. I’m actually pretty bummed that I can’t donate blood. My mom always used to, and when I was in high school, I figured it was one of those things that you did when you were a grownup. So the blood drive came around to school, I went in, did all the tests, and was down to the final screening with the nurse and she said the magic words "You take *HOW MANY* aspirin a day?" "Twelve" i repeated. They didn’t want me. That was all I was on, but nope. Since then I’ve gotten on other stronger drugs, so I haven’t tried it again (I know* they don’t want me on the MTX… betsy.

Response:

> I tried to donate a couple times before RA, but either I had a temp, or low > blood count. Hmmm…think I shoulda figured something was wrong then? Anyways I > doubt very much that anyone would want my blood now, with all the chemicals > running through it!!!

I don’t give blood anymore either but I stopped after I had a malignant melanoma (mole) removed from my arm. Luckily it was found in time.I went to give blood the following year and got up to where they stick the needle in and then I remembered the mole, mentioned it and "then" they said "no" you can’t give blood anymore. My point is if I hadn’t brought it up their screening process would not have caught me. Not a great thought is it. And you wonder how aids spread in the blood supply. Catherine "And the beat goes on."

Response:

I tried to donate a couple times before RA, but either I had a temp, or low blood count. Hmmm…think I shoulda figured something was wrong then? Anyways I doubt very much that anyone would want my blood now, with all the chemicals running through it!!! Keep Smilin’ ~krissy "The most thoroughly wasted of all days is that  in which one has not laughed." Nicolas Chamfort

Response:

I use to donate blood regularly before I was diagnosed with RA.  They called me after my diagnosis and I asked if I would be allowed to donate.  They said that I could as long as I was only on nothing stronger than NSAIDS and was "symptom-free".  I have not tried to donate since then (4 years ago) because I cannot meet these 2 criteria.  This is the first post that I have read about this thread.  It would surprise me if people were allowed to donate if they didn’t meet these two criteria. Sue

Response:

Have been following this thread and am amazed that some of you with RA are giving blood.  This is a big no no here in NZ no matter if you are not taking any meds at all.  They won’t take it under any circumstances as they say no one is really certain how you get the disease and it is too big a risk. Joan

Response:

> Have been following this thread and am amazed that some of you with RA are > giving blood.  This is a big no no here in NZ no matter if you are not taking > any meds at all.  They won’t take it under any circumstances as they say no > one is really certain how you get the disease and it is too big a risk. Joan

Soooo  true—-I have never given blood since I found out I have RA.    Just the thought that I might be giving someone what I have makes me have a cold sweat. Harv

Response:

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