http://donateblood.tribe.net Tribe.net. Local Connections http://donateblood.tribe.net/thread/036e5eab-d3e6-41ca-b73e-ff63b803c05c#428389c2-d557-4240-b70f-f36555b9d9ad OK I have to get this off my “chest” I was giving blood in a town close by, where the blood bank sets up shop once a month. By the way I sure miss the bigger cities where I could go anytime… So prior I was working all morning in the yard, and I mean working, moving two yards of dirt from the front to the back.. So I shower, eat something, and head out. I am a bit amped, and worried about my BP. Well I get there go through the check sheet and a cute nurse calls me over for the sit down. All is well, until she takes my BP… She totally and deliberately moves my arm in front of her so that the back of my hand is right on her right boob! And I mean pushing into it, not the usual brush with fate type of thing. I am bending it as far as I can so that I don’t get my BP up any further than it already is, and what does she do? Pulls it further in! I am dieing here! Felt like a high school kid Now, she is flirting, making small talk “I like your shirt,” etc. Well my BP shot right up too 155, LOL! It was great! She starts asking me if I feel OK, etc. takes it again and again, but just keeps moving my hand to her boob She even went to get a bigger cuff! Well finally I got through it and moved on… Looking back it had to be some kind of game the cute bored nurses were playing with the old men. I am not new to this (3 Gallon guy) so I know what is involved with arm and hand placement. I know some of you will say it is totally wrong she takes an oath and all that, and others will say I should have grabbed it, but I say it was one of the best trips to the blood bank I have ever had. So there it is... Should have titled this thread, Sex and The Bloodbank Fri, 19 May 2006 16:01:51 GMT http://donateblood.tribe.net/thread/036e5eab-d3e6-41ca-b73e-ff63b803c05c#428389c2-d557-4240-b70f-f36555b9d9ad Phil 2006-05-19T16:01:51Z http://donateblood.tribe.net/thread/eea909fd-34d0-48ac-b096-bc7e96033899#a7f7d2a8-83cf-41ad-9d1d-59d158a3a632 Wowee, I'm not expert on donating blood by any means- I'm one of those masochists who likes watching it drain and the slight lightheadedness afterwards. You're hardcore running three miles afterwards though! Maybe you didn't eat enough to gain back some of your energy? Three hours really isn't a very long time to rebuild a pint, to me. Maybe next time eat a full meal and take it easy the rest of the day? I congratulate you on your donating excellentness! Fri, 17 Feb 2006 16:51:21 GMT http://donateblood.tribe.net/thread/eea909fd-34d0-48ac-b096-bc7e96033899#a7f7d2a8-83cf-41ad-9d1d-59d158a3a632 $item.owner.firstName 2006-02-17T16:51:21Z http://donateblood.tribe.net/thread/eea909fd-34d0-48ac-b096-bc7e96033899#72e59ed1-6ec8-48f0-8541-709fa6f6fc6a so i have a question, I'm new to this tribe, but I donated blood yesterday and twenty four hours later I ran three miles and almost literally DIED!!! I was so sick. I felt like I was going to pass out. I thought that people are supposed to wait only three hours after they donate to exercise again. When I was running today, I also could barely move along and I don't know why. Anyone else ever have this problem. I've donated 18 pints to date. So when would be a good time to start exercising again after one donates a pint of blood??? Amy Thu, 16 Feb 2006 03:42:33 GMT http://donateblood.tribe.net/thread/eea909fd-34d0-48ac-b096-bc7e96033899#72e59ed1-6ec8-48f0-8541-709fa6f6fc6a Amy 2006-02-16T03:42:33Z http://donateblood.tribe.net/thread/f8ccaa86-6d2c-4fcb-a318-a261958ea751#f7eba16d-4f92-41bf-9d1d-a6d5ca59d308 I donated one time when I was teaching at a college, and two of my students came in to donate. One passed out when she went behind the screen for evaluation, the other nearly did so. Needless to say, neither donated that day. Sun, 30 Oct 2005 23:58:34 GMT http://donateblood.tribe.net/thread/f8ccaa86-6d2c-4fcb-a318-a261958ea751#f7eba16d-4f92-41bf-9d1d-a6d5ca59d308 Stuthehistoryguy 2005-10-30T23:58:34Z http://donateblood.tribe.net/thread/f8ccaa86-6d2c-4fcb-a318-a261958ea751#e5dfa01d-3d79-4d81-9425-2e4bbe10532f Too good LOL! Sat, 13 Aug 2005 04:17:00 GMT http://donateblood.tribe.net/thread/f8ccaa86-6d2c-4fcb-a318-a261958ea751#e5dfa01d-3d79-4d81-9425-2e4bbe10532f Phil 2005-08-13T04:17:00Z http://donateblood.tribe.net/thread/f8ccaa86-6d2c-4fcb-a318-a261958ea751#a1d602da-cc92-4c6e-8ee5-128365c66a0c After giving blood, a few of my buddies and I went to hang out at a friends house. He had a skateboard ramp in the back and a couple of the guys started to skateboard and the majority of us stayed in the shade and watched them. Then one dude came back and had the weirdest expression on his face. I said "dude, it looks like someones gonna pass out" and then he did. Right onto a miniature cactus. Fri, 05 Aug 2005 20:31:28 GMT http://donateblood.tribe.net/thread/f8ccaa86-6d2c-4fcb-a318-a261958ea751#a1d602da-cc92-4c6e-8ee5-128365c66a0c J 2005-08-05T20:31:28Z http://donateblood.tribe.net/thread/1157e6c8-86fd-4ce4-89dc-9f01701b52e8#cc9a51fe-c352-4773-a193-b07ddf71357c I donate whole blood b/c I am O+ (a universal donor) and I can donate to premature babies. Thus, they prefer that I donate whole blood rather than apherisis donations (which I used to do). Anywho, if you are familiar with Apherisis donations, they centrifuge out platelets and you have to sit with a needle in each of your arms for about 100 minutes or so. You can't read, so they let you watch a movie. They had Dracula 2000 available to watch...how could I not. Also, if you do the Apherisis donations, they can put you into the bone marrow bank as a potential donor. The odds of you matching someone is low, but if you do you will be saving a life and how cool is that. Fri, 01 Jul 2005 23:06:30 GMT http://donateblood.tribe.net/thread/1157e6c8-86fd-4ce4-89dc-9f01701b52e8#cc9a51fe-c352-4773-a193-b07ddf71357c Mark 2005-07-01T23:06:30Z http://donateblood.tribe.net/thread/f8ccaa86-6d2c-4fcb-a318-a261958ea751#084e8561-f8fa-4fe2-92df-46fb1f0b35e6 Anyone have any good stories ? Mine isn't that great, but.. The only time I was able to talk one of my kids into going with me to watch and hopefully see how easy it is ... A lady passed out at the 15 min. rest area right next to her! She fell to the floor, and went into convulsions and of course threw up... It goes without saying that they have never gone again... Tue, 24 May 2005 14:35:56 GMT http://donateblood.tribe.net/thread/f8ccaa86-6d2c-4fcb-a318-a261958ea751#084e8561-f8fa-4fe2-92df-46fb1f0b35e6 Phil 2005-05-24T14:35:56Z http://donateblood.tribe.net/thread/1157e6c8-86fd-4ce4-89dc-9f01701b52e8#a9005a31-ae13-414c-bab5-c9a3bc175eaa try to spell phliboto...phleboto...phlybotimis...you know Mon, 08 Nov 2004 02:04:37 GMT http://donateblood.tribe.net/thread/1157e6c8-86fd-4ce4-89dc-9f01701b52e8#a9005a31-ae13-414c-bab5-c9a3bc175eaa M 2004-11-08T02:04:37Z http://donateblood.tribe.net/thread/1157e6c8-86fd-4ce4-89dc-9f01701b52e8#99338e45-4245-4755-b86d-79b4199193df 1. Lie on the table reading a vampire book. 2. Alter the heart-shaped sticker to read "Be nice to me- I DRANK blood today." 3. See how many of those little cheese crackers you can shovel into your mouth at once afterwards. 4. Say you've been reading up on old medicinal practices and beg them to take out another pint because you could really use a good bloodletting. 5. See how many different camera angles you can get of the process using only your one available hand. 6. Ask where they keep the straws. ---------- Anyone got any other good ones? Sat, 06 Nov 2004 14:37:53 GMT http://donateblood.tribe.net/thread/1157e6c8-86fd-4ce4-89dc-9f01701b52e8#99338e45-4245-4755-b86d-79b4199193df $item.owner.firstName 2004-11-06T14:37:53Z http://donateblood.tribe.net/thread/14cc2b20-1207-4f0d-aa69-679d104aa5b7#98487801-ee46-46b2-a4c2-81f965cf55a8 Hydration is generally the cause of slow blood draws. Try to drink an extra liter or 2 of water than normal the evening before your donation. Keeping active is a good way to get your blood flowing better, but be careful not to elevate your heart rate too much. Also, make sure you eat breakfast before you give! Wed, 27 Oct 2004 02:24:12 GMT http://donateblood.tribe.net/thread/14cc2b20-1207-4f0d-aa69-679d104aa5b7#98487801-ee46-46b2-a4c2-81f965cf55a8 Brenna 2004-10-27T02:24:12Z http://donateblood.tribe.net/thread/5afdef6b-ab5a-4017-be30-314664d1021e#41426255-e8bb-46cd-a29f-542961a0b293 >>So we are stuck with inadequate guidelines. This is something that I've tried to bring up with my superiors with no success. Unfortunately the FDA makes all of the US blood guidelines, which I think is pretty stupid considering sterilization laws vary from state-to-state. What I've been told is that it has little to do with the sterilization, but actually with the inks, and how long trace residue can stay in your system. I've asked about getting new guidelines implemented, but unfortunatly it would again have to go thru the FDA. Another problem is the people that are completely ignorant about sterilization techniques, that have no clue whether the guy at the parlor opened up a new needle or used an autoclave. So the FDA/ARC has to make a blanket guideline to make it safe for the blood recipients. As far as the "homosexual contact" stuff, I personally think they should be asking about all sexual contact. There are a helluva lot more people having unsafe sex than just gay men--like the people that call us up asking if we just do STD testing, or do they have to give blood to be tested for HIV/AIDS. (Apparently we have better HIV tests than the clinics, we actually test for dormant antibodies.) Scary, scary, scary. >>In your case, I'd totally agree and do the same thing you are doing (lie). But I don't trust the general public to make a decision about how clean or healthy they are. So while the rules are overly restrictive, I don't think I would want most people making these decisions themselves. I agree. Wed, 27 Oct 2004 02:17:15 GMT http://donateblood.tribe.net/thread/5afdef6b-ab5a-4017-be30-314664d1021e#41426255-e8bb-46cd-a29f-542961a0b293 Brenna 2004-10-27T02:17:15Z http://donateblood.tribe.net/thread/b7beb8f0-8bed-4b14-83af-b3c82ba10b7d#c39ffc60-2de4-44f8-b6a5-c796527ae5e2 Well, ARC blood services doesn't make *that* much money selling blood to hospitals. Especially in areas where there are frequent shortages due to lack of interested donors (ie No. California) and blood is imported from other states. (And just to give everyone an idea of the numbers we work with on a daily basis, our daily goal is 48 hours' worth of whole blood, and we've been averaging between 2 and 20 hours' for the past several months. Quite often we don't make our collection goals for the month.) We "sell" the donated blood for about $350-450/unit. It takes 2-4 days to process a unit of blood. From start to finish there are about 12 people involved in the collection of that unit. And I know this question is coming, so I'll just answer it now: "Why can't I get paid for giving blood?" A: The FDA mandates that paid plasma collections cannot be used for general consumption. Note that I said plasma, not whole blood. AFAIK there aren't any places that pay for whole blood, and generally the only places that pay for plasma are private hospitals and clinics. Whole blood for general public usage must be collected on a voluntary-only basis. Most likely the real reason is litigation of some sort. I can only imagine what hospitals would charge patients if the ARC raised prices so they could pay donors to give blood. Wed, 27 Oct 2004 01:54:49 GMT http://donateblood.tribe.net/thread/b7beb8f0-8bed-4b14-83af-b3c82ba10b7d#c39ffc60-2de4-44f8-b6a5-c796527ae5e2 Brenna 2004-10-27T01:54:49Z http://donateblood.tribe.net/thread/b7beb8f0-8bed-4b14-83af-b3c82ba10b7d#7c06e736-1428-4c2f-8b22-e465da2d1745 Well, when you donate to the Red Cross, they sell the blood to hospitals. The money goes into the general Red Cross funds (disaster relief, etc). I thought that was where hospitals get most, if not all, of their blood. My understanding was that hosptials charge for blood what they pay the Red Cross for, but that they add fees for its use (such as, charge you for the transfusion). I didn't think that they actually made a profit on the sale of blood. Anyone else? Wed, 15 Sep 2004 16:31:52 GMT http://donateblood.tribe.net/thread/b7beb8f0-8bed-4b14-83af-b3c82ba10b7d#7c06e736-1428-4c2f-8b22-e465da2d1745 My Body is a Temple 2004-09-15T16:31:52Z http://donateblood.tribe.net/thread/b7beb8f0-8bed-4b14-83af-b3c82ba10b7d#5451b223-6110-469f-ada7-d54b33f4af06 I was having a debate w/ my old man the other day. We were talking about how much money hospitals make with our blood that we give freely. It made me think that selling blood wasnt so bad. Hospitals charge enoumous amounts for care, when we donate, I think the blood should be donated to the one who needs it, not the hospitals pocketbooks... What do you think? Can anyone shed some light on this for me? Mon, 09 Aug 2004 19:42:29 GMT http://donateblood.tribe.net/thread/b7beb8f0-8bed-4b14-83af-b3c82ba10b7d#5451b223-6110-469f-ada7-d54b33f4af06 J 2004-08-09T19:42:29Z http://donateblood.tribe.net/thread/5afdef6b-ab5a-4017-be30-314664d1021e#21fdeadc-b9c4-4c65-aff2-8fe10f414c9e T - Agreed - the blanket prohibition against tatoos is stupid. But how to word otherwise? Tattoos in non-western countries still are a needle and a pot of ink in an alley. And home done tattoos (prisoners & gangsters) are a problem as well. In your case, I'd totally agree and do the same thing you are doing (lie). But I don't trust the general public to make a decision about how clean or healthy they are. So while the rules are overly restrictive, I don't think I would want most people making these decisions themselves. So we are stuck with inadequate guidelines. Mon, 28 Jun 2004 21:26:44 GMT http://donateblood.tribe.net/thread/5afdef6b-ab5a-4017-be30-314664d1021e#21fdeadc-b9c4-4c65-aff2-8fe10f414c9e My Body is a Temple 2004-06-28T21:26:44Z http://donateblood.tribe.net/thread/5afdef6b-ab5a-4017-be30-314664d1021e#07cfa628-6a34-470a-bac3-f9da40944a38 I struggled with the whole tattoo/piercing thing as well. I haven't gotten anything else pierced in a long time, but I get tattooed pretty regularly. The attitude of the Canadian Blood Services is so antiquated it is truly sad. I think they still imagine tattooing is done in a back alley hovel by drunken carny trash, with a filthy needle, a common pot of ink, and a sponge and bucket to wipe you down. I work in a tattoo shop and the truth couldn't be further from the truth. The health department in my city requires that we run a test strip through our autoclave once a month. We do it once a week. It goes without saying that needles are used once and thrown out. Ink is poured into little caps and thrown out when the tattoo is done. Once the tattoo is finished, the entire machine is autoclaved, not just the tube and the bars. Everyone here has gone to the expense of getting two sets of machines, each one tweaked and tuned just right so that one can be autoclaved while the other is in use. Even still, the gun is still wrapped in a plastic bag, as is the cord. Antiseptic spray is used with gleeful abandon. The walls and floors are cleaned with boring regularity. If my lunch fell on the floor here, I would not hesitate for a moment to eat it right off the floor, it is that clean. We don't throw out a horrifying amount of garbage because we are scrimping on materials. We exceed the standards required by the health department, whose staff incidentally come to our shop to have work done. I guess that fact alone speaks volumes. I have no doubt whatsoever that I am at no risk for catching any sort of disease from my shop. I have the utmost confidence in this. So I lie. I answer all the other questions very truthfully. No I don't use any of these prescription drugs, no I have none of these conditions, no I have never been in prison, no I have never had sex with a man, no I have never taken illicit drugs intravenously, etc, etc. But when they come to the question "have you been tattooed in the last year?" I say no. Knowing full well that I sat for a two hour session just a month previously. I am absurdly healthy, I have no conditions whatsoever, I get checked out pretty regularly. The CBS checks the blood for hepatitis and HIV anyway. They are not going to find any in my system. My conscience is clear about the matter. They are in desperate need of blood, but they would turn me away for some silly antiquated notion? I wonder how it will be when I start to have my forearms done though. I may have to go to some clinics other than my regular one. Thomas the Pigmented Plasma Provider Mon, 14 Jun 2004 02:41:50 GMT http://donateblood.tribe.net/thread/5afdef6b-ab5a-4017-be30-314664d1021e#07cfa628-6a34-470a-bac3-f9da40944a38 Exploriment 2004-06-14T02:41:50Z http://donateblood.tribe.net/thread/5afdef6b-ab5a-4017-be30-314664d1021e#78cc4b8e-f607-4dc7-a5da-095ae8f7cb8c No CJD isn't sexually transmitted but at my blood bank they have been asking more and more questions related to CJD. Most of the travel restrictions seem to be about catching "mad cow". It is interesting that they don't ask if you are a vegetarian, which would be a quick way to find out if someone is not at risk for CJD. Anyhow ,I don't mean to say that people should protest and not give blood or anything- I just wish the blood banks would try to make it easier for more people to give. that might involve better testing of blood and changing some of their policies. I hope they do, but I will continue to give regardless, because the need is always great. Fri, 28 May 2004 19:14:45 GMT http://donateblood.tribe.net/thread/5afdef6b-ab5a-4017-be30-314664d1021e#78cc4b8e-f607-4dc7-a5da-095ae8f7cb8c M 2004-05-28T19:14:45Z http://donateblood.tribe.net/thread/5afdef6b-ab5a-4017-be30-314664d1021e#5b61a667-f4bc-4361-8188-f072ffe81719 M - I have kind of mixed feelings about the gay male issue as well. But statistically speaking, men who have had sex with men have the highest incidence of infection. The problem is that even gay men in monogomous relationships may not actually be monogomous (even if one of the partners doesn't know it!) and there is a greater chance that they HIV or Hep into their relationship that the average straight person. Curious that you included CJD. It's not sexually transmitted. Mon, 24 May 2004 22:01:33 GMT http://donateblood.tribe.net/thread/5afdef6b-ab5a-4017-be30-314664d1021e#5b61a667-f4bc-4361-8188-f072ffe81719 My Body is a Temple 2004-05-24T22:01:33Z http://donateblood.tribe.net/thread/14cc2b20-1207-4f0d-aa69-679d104aa5b7#25da6979-2317-4126-920a-2bab2e4e4530 It may have something to do with how hydrated you are - how much water, etc that you drink Mon, 24 May 2004 21:56:43 GMT http://donateblood.tribe.net/thread/14cc2b20-1207-4f0d-aa69-679d104aa5b7#25da6979-2317-4126-920a-2bab2e4e4530 My Body is a Temple 2004-05-24T21:56:43Z http://donateblood.tribe.net/thread/14cc2b20-1207-4f0d-aa69-679d104aa5b7#4b6323db-ca5b-4c3f-a253-c1b7eb5bf3aa My bag always fills up really quickly and one time the nurse commented on just how quick my blood was going and then asked me if I played any sports, which I do. I guess if you get a lot of exercise your blood flows quicker or some shit. I dunno though...you definitely don't look out of shape. At least you won't bleed to death as fast as us speedsters. Fri, 21 May 2004 00:15:50 GMT http://donateblood.tribe.net/thread/14cc2b20-1207-4f0d-aa69-679d104aa5b7#4b6323db-ca5b-4c3f-a253-c1b7eb5bf3aa $item.owner.firstName 2004-05-21T00:15:50Z http://donateblood.tribe.net/thread/14cc2b20-1207-4f0d-aa69-679d104aa5b7#6d759ab1-ffcb-4f9e-acbf-bebd3e40fc39 I know that if you sqeeze the ball really tight every five seconds like they tell you it does make it come out faster. A lot of people just kind of hold the ball and forget about it. Some people are naturally faster bleeders than others though. M Thu, 20 May 2004 00:38:14 GMT http://donateblood.tribe.net/thread/14cc2b20-1207-4f0d-aa69-679d104aa5b7#6d759ab1-ffcb-4f9e-acbf-bebd3e40fc39 M 2004-05-20T00:38:14Z http://donateblood.tribe.net/thread/14cc2b20-1207-4f0d-aa69-679d104aa5b7#a4a9db0f-f950-4902-b128-4eb17ce30769 No They comment on my plump veins, thanking me for making it so easy. Sun, 16 May 2004 18:12:11 GMT http://donateblood.tribe.net/thread/14cc2b20-1207-4f0d-aa69-679d104aa5b7#a4a9db0f-f950-4902-b128-4eb17ce30769 J 2004-05-16T18:12:11Z http://donateblood.tribe.net/thread/14cc2b20-1207-4f0d-aa69-679d104aa5b7#c9ac6fd5-3614-442a-bf5a-098a01203061 I'm no expert, but it may mean you have smallish veins. Whenever I go in, the technicians laugh and thank me for bringing in these "ropes" (big ol' veins) of mine, and my bag always fills up reaonsably quick. If it was hard for them to put the needle in as well, you have small veins. Sun, 16 May 2004 04:39:46 GMT http://donateblood.tribe.net/thread/14cc2b20-1207-4f0d-aa69-679d104aa5b7#c9ac6fd5-3614-442a-bf5a-098a01203061 $item.owner.firstName 2004-05-16T04:39:46Z http://donateblood.tribe.net/thread/5afdef6b-ab5a-4017-be30-314664d1021e#9e43523f-eec6-4c8b-855a-49913d1574d3 I hate waiting because of tattoos. I am very tempted to lie now that I was denied donating because of it. And the whole travel thing, geez what more do they want from us? Sun, 16 May 2004 02:08:27 GMT http://donateblood.tribe.net/thread/5afdef6b-ab5a-4017-be30-314664d1021e#9e43523f-eec6-4c8b-855a-49913d1574d3 J 2004-05-16T02:08:27Z