Donated blood for my May 11th surgery yesterday

[Guest guest]

Well, I'm less than a month away from my Upper Lefort I on May 11th.

I'm not really nervous about the surgery at all.

HOWEVER, I'm irrationally terrified of the HIV testing that will be

done on my blood. I won't hear anything unless something is wrong.

Supposedly, the lab gets the results back this friday. I have not

been tested since 1999, so I guess I can't be sure of anything. I

also have not done anything considered risky. But yet, I am terrified

of the possibilities.

[Guest guest]

Perhaps or one of the other health care professionals in the

group can verify my perception, but I believe that there isn't a

requirement to do an HIV test for an autologous transfusion.

Dammit

p.s. Only 5% of the population donates blood on a regular basis. Now

that you see how simple it can be, consider doing it on a regular

basis. Brought to you by a 7 gallon donor.

> Well, I'm less than a month away from my Upper Lefort I on May

11th.

> I'm not really nervous about the surgery at all.

>

> HOWEVER, I'm irrationally terrified of the HIV testing that will be

> done on my blood. I won't hear anything unless something is wrong.

> Supposedly, the lab gets the results back this friday. I have not

> been tested since 1999, so I guess I can't be sure of anything. I

> also have not done anything considered risky. But yet, I am

terrified

> of the possibilities.

[Guest guest]

I don't exactly understand this post.

I think Dammit is right. I don't believe they routinely test for HIV

on autologous donations.

But I do believe that for a lot of reasons, if you have any reason to

believe you might have HIV you have not only your own self-interest

to serve by knowing, but an obligation to the doctors and nurses who

will be exposed to your blood to find out for sure.

They will use universal protections, I'm sure. Still... And YOU may

need extra precautions against infection, as well.

And I agree with Dammit about donating blood, as well. I, too, had

given many gallons until I built up scar tissue at the donor sites so

that I'm now more trouble than I'm worth to them.

Regards,

Cammie

> Well, I'm less than a month away from my Upper Lefort I on May

11th.

> I'm not really nervous about the surgery at all.

>

> HOWEVER, I'm irrationally terrified of the HIV testing that will be

> done on my blood. I won't hear anything unless something is wrong.

> Supposedly, the lab gets the results back this friday. I have not

> been tested since 1999, so I guess I can't be sure of anything. I

> also have not done anything considered risky. But yet, I am

terrified

> of the possibilities.

[Guest guest]

The only reason they are doing the testing is because the blood is

being shipped to another hospital. (The one where I'm having my

surgery). I actually had to sign something that acknowkedged that I

was aware it would be tested.

I agree that it is good to know 100%. My fears are really a little

overboard, as I do not have a good reason to believe that I have been

exposed. But, it's still causing me anxiety. The good thing is,

assuming I'm in the clear, I will definitely be happy to donate blood

from hear on out!

> > Well, I'm less than a month away from my Upper Lefort I on May

> 11th.

> > I'm not really nervous about the surgery at all.

> >

> > HOWEVER, I'm irrationally terrified of the HIV testing that will be

> > done on my blood. I won't hear anything unless something is wrong.

> > Supposedly, the lab gets the results back this friday. I have not

> > been tested since 1999, so I guess I can't be sure of anything. I

> > also have not done anything considered risky. But yet, I am

> terrified

> > of the possibilities.