Guest guest Posted June 21, 2004 Report Share Posted June 21, 2004 Some docs want you to do this, as an autologous donation (you give the blood you use). And occasionally some folks do need a transfusion. (Often, though, those are folks who have indeed given their own blood for storage.) If you're having upper, I think, you're more likely to lose more blood than if you're only having lower. Ask your doc. The rules also may be different for giving blood for yourself. (I don't know about this one.) I do know that if you give it for yourself, and then you don't need it, it cannot alas be used for anyone else, because of the way it is tested and prepared. My doc said I could do it if I wanted, but that I was most unlikely to need it. I didn't, on either count. Cammie > Hey everyone~ > As I said earlier, I am probably looking at surgery in the next couple of > weeks. I have been reading in a few locations that I need to be donating > blood in the event that I need a transfusion. Did anyone else have to do > this? And what if I don't qualify to donate blood (I don't weigh enough?) I > really hate needles and anything dealing with blood. This whole surgery thing > has really got me down and scared. Any help would be greatly appreciated! > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 22, 2004 Report Share Posted June 22, 2004 They let you do autologous donations even if you're not heavy enough to qualify to donate to others. I did this even though I dont meet the weight limit to donate to the Red Cross or anything. They check your health, then they use a chart which saying how much they should take depending on your weight. For me that worked out to donating 47_ instead of the 500 they usually take. (I dont know what measure thats in. cc's?) It worked out fine. I wasnt dizzy or sick after and I booked it back to work. Call first and ask about it. That way they know you're coming and are prepared. You dont want to show up and find theres only a new person there who doesnt know what to do with us lighter people. > Hey everyone~ > As I said earlier, I am probably looking at surgery in the next couple of > weeks. I have been reading in a few locations that I need to be donating > blood in the event that I need a transfusion. Did anyone else have to do > this? And what if I don't qualify to donate blood (I don't weigh enough?) I > really hate needles and anything dealing with blood. This whole surgery thing > has really got me down and scared. Any help would be greatly appreciated! > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 22, 2004 Report Share Posted June 22, 2004 My daughter will be donating her own blood in case she needs a transfusion, although her surgeon said he has not had to transfuse any of his patients in about 10 years. It will cost me $135 to donate her blood. But it gives her peace of mind. Re: Blood donation They let you do autologous donations even if you're not heavy enough to qualify to donate to others. I did this even though I dont meet the weight limit to donate to the Red Cross or anything. They check your health, then they use a chart which saying how much they should take depending on your weight. For me that worked out to donating 47_ instead of the 500 they usually take. (I dont know what measure thats in. cc's?) It worked out fine. I wasnt dizzy or sick after and I booked it back to work. Call first and ask about it. That way they know you're coming and are prepared. You dont want to show up and find theres only a new person there who doesnt know what to do with us lighter people. > Hey everyone~ > As I said earlier, I am probably looking at surgery in the next couple of > weeks. I have been reading in a few locations that I need to be donating > blood in the event that I need a transfusion. Did anyone else have to do > this? And what if I don't qualify to donate blood (I don't weigh enough?) I > really hate needles and anything dealing with blood. This whole surgery thing > has really got me down and scared. Any help would be greatly appreciated! > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 22, 2004 Report Share Posted June 22, 2004 > My daughter will be donating her own blood in case she needs a > transfusion, although her surgeon said he has not had to transfuse any > of his patients in about 10 years. It will cost me $135 to donate her > blood. But it gives her peace of mind. > > I wonder... what happens with the unused blood ? Surely, you don't get home with you... But is it destroyed, or used for other means, or donated to other patients? Especially since you had to pay to get it stored, I hope it's not a way to have you guys pay to donate blood to help others... Ray Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 22, 2004 Report Share Posted June 22, 2004 Destroyed.... I know... I hate to think of it all going to waste. I have been a donor and they wouldn't use mine. They don't test it like they do for public transfusions, and if they did and your name was on it, then it would violate some privacy issues. So they don't test it, they put your name on it, and they can ONLY use it for you. ~Cathy Re: Blood donation > My daughter will be donating her own blood in case she needs a > transfusion, although her surgeon said he has not had to transfuse any > of his patients in about 10 years. It will cost me $135 to donate her > blood. But it gives her peace of mind. > > I wonder... what happens with the unused blood ? Surely, you don't get home with you... But is it destroyed, or used for other means, or donated to other patients? Especially since you had to pay to get it stored, I hope it's not a way to have you guys pay to donate blood to help others... Ray Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 22, 2004 Report Share Posted June 22, 2004 You can request that it be donated and used for someone who needs it Re: Blood donation > My daughter will be donating her own blood in case she needs a > transfusion, although her surgeon said he has not had to transfuse any > of his patients in about 10 years. It will cost me $135 to donate her > blood. But it gives her peace of mind. > > I wonder... what happens with the unused blood ? Surely, you don't get home with you... But is it destroyed, or used for other means, or donated to other patients? Especially since you had to pay to get it stored, I hope it's not a way to have you guys pay to donate blood to help others... Ray Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 22, 2004 Report Share Posted June 22, 2004 I was told that they test it the same way the test all the blood. And that I can have it donated wendy Re: Re: Blood donation Destroyed.... I know... I hate to think of it all going to waste. I have been a donor and they wouldn't use mine. They don't test it like they do for public transfusions, and if they did and your name was on it, then it would violate some privacy issues. So they don't test it, they put your name on it, and they can ONLY use it for you. ~Cathy Re: Blood donation > My daughter will be donating her own blood in case she needs a > transfusion, although her surgeon said he has not had to transfuse any > of his patients in about 10 years. It will cost me $135 to donate her > blood. But it gives her peace of mind. > > I wonder... what happens with the unused blood ? Surely, you don't get home with you... But is it destroyed, or used for other means, or donated to other patients? Especially since you had to pay to get it stored, I hope it's not a way to have you guys pay to donate blood to help others... Ray Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 22, 2004 Report Share Posted June 22, 2004 Maybe it is just our local blood center, but they absolutely refused to allow it to be used for anyone else.... ~Cathy Re: Blood donation > My daughter will be donating her own blood in case she needs a > transfusion, although her surgeon said he has not had to transfuse any > of his patients in about 10 years. It will cost me $135 to donate her > blood. But it gives her peace of mind. > > I wonder... what happens with the unused blood ? Surely, you don't get home with you... But is it destroyed, or used for other means, or donated to other patients? Especially since you had to pay to get it stored, I hope it's not a way to have you guys pay to donate blood to help others... Ray Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 22, 2004 Report Share Posted June 22, 2004 Regarding donating blood to yourself - my doctor's opinion is that it is not a good thing. Giving blood takes away the mature, healthy cells that you need for healing, and makes your body quickly produce more blood, which leaves you with a lot a young, immature cells. He says it ups the chances of bleeding during surgery and needing blood that you otherwise wouldn't need, and it also slows down your healing because the cells that can do the job were bled out of you and put in a bag somewhere. I don't know if it's his skill or the way he does things or what, but he hasn't had to give a transfusion to more than a handful of patients, ever. Other docs are different. Some require it. If you doc isn't requiring it, I wouldn't worry about it. He knows what he's doing and what he needs to ask for. One other note about bleeding - my family has a history of a bleeding disease that I don't have. My mother made me tell my OS that this disease is in my family. I asked my OS if he cared, since I don't have it myself. He said that yes, he cares. If I were to bleed a little extra, knowing that I'm a carrier would let him know that something abnormal wasn't going on, and he wouldn't start worrying. As it was, I hardly bled at all. He used the tube to suck it out of my stomach, and I never threw up after. I came out of surgery with a big, healthy appetite that astounded the nurses. Kris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 22, 2004 Report Share Posted June 22, 2004 It gets thrown away. It hasn't been processed to donate to other patients. > I wonder... what happens with the unused blood ? Surely, you don't get home > with you... But is it destroyed, or used for other means, or donated to > other patients? Especially since you had to pay to get it stored, I hope > it's not a way to have you guys pay to donate blood to help others... > > Ray Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 22, 2004 Report Share Posted June 22, 2004 " Regarding donating blood to yourself - my doctor's opinion is that it is not a good thing. Giving blood takes away the mature, healthy cells that you need for healing, and makes your body quickly produce more blood, which leaves you with a lot a young, immature cells. He says it ups the chances of bleeding during surgery and needing blood that you otherwise wouldn't need, and it also slows down your healing because the cells that can do the job were bled out of you and put in a bag somewhere. I don't know if it's his skill or the way he does things or what, but he hasn't had to give a transfusion to more than a handful of patients, ever. " My daughter is donating her blood 2 weeks in advance of her surgery, this gives her body plenty of time to rebuild the lost blood.. She feels very strongly about this since she is only 16 and is getting more and more nervous as the time gets closer (7/14). And now have second thoughts bec people are so rude and ignorant when they hear about her surgery. Re: Blood donation Regarding donating blood to yourself - my doctor's opinion is that it is not a good thing. Giving blood takes away the mature, healthy cells that you need for healing, and makes your body quickly produce more blood, which leaves you with a lot a young, immature cells. He says it ups the chances of bleeding during surgery and needing blood that you otherwise wouldn't need, and it also slows down your healing because the cells that can do the job were bled out of you and put in a bag somewhere. I don't know if it's his skill or the way he does things or what, but he hasn't had to give a transfusion to more than a handful of patients, ever. Other docs are different. Some require it. If you doc isn't requiring it, I wouldn't worry about it. He knows what he's doing and what he needs to ask for. One other note about bleeding - my family has a history of a bleeding disease that I don't have. My mother made me tell my OS that this disease is in my family. I asked my OS if he cared, since I don't have it myself. He said that yes, he cares. If I were to bleed a little extra, knowing that I'm a carrier would let him know that something abnormal wasn't going on, and he wouldn't start worrying. As it was, I hardly bled at all. He used the tube to suck it out of my stomach, and I never threw up after. I came out of surgery with a big, healthy appetite that astounded the nurses. Kris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 22, 2004 Report Share Posted June 22, 2004 I agree with this post. My friend is a registered nurse who works for the Canadian Blood Service, and she says basically the same things. Best thing is to ask your surgeon. Mine wasn't particularly surprised by the question, but assured me that it wouldn't be necessary. It wasn't. > Regarding donating blood to yourself - my doctor's opinion is that > it is not a good thing. Giving blood takes away the mature, healthy > cells that you need for healing, and makes your body quickly produce > more blood, which leaves you with a lot a young, immature cells. He > says it ups the chances of bleeding during surgery and needing blood > that you otherwise wouldn't need, and it also slows down your > healing because the cells that can do the job were bled out of you > and put in a bag somewhere. I don't know if it's his skill or the > way he does things or what, but he hasn't had to give a transfusion > to more than a handful of patients, ever. > > Other docs are different. Some require it. If you doc isn't > requiring it, I wouldn't worry about it. He knows what he's doing > and what he needs to ask for. > > One other note about bleeding - my family has a history of a > bleeding disease that I don't have. My mother made me tell my OS > that this disease is in my family. I asked my OS if he cared, since > I don't have it myself. He said that yes, he cares. If I were to > bleed a little extra, knowing that I'm a carrier would let him know > that something abnormal wasn't going on, and he wouldn't start > worrying. As it was, I hardly bled at all. He used the tube to > suck it out of my stomach, and I never threw up after. I came out > of surgery with a big, healthy appetite that astounded the nurses. > > Kris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 22, 2004 Report Share Posted June 22, 2004 That's not true in Canada. The theory is that if you have hepatitis or some other disease transmittable through blood, you won't care if you get it from your own donation. So they don't test it in the same way that they do for blood donations. > I was told that they test it the same way the test all the blood. And > that I can have it donated > > wendy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 22, 2004 Report Share Posted June 22, 2004 I was supposed to donate two units as a precautionary measure (surgeon said he rarely has to transfuse) but was only able to donate one as I am chronically anemic despite numerous treatments. I was able to donate one unit 4 weeks before surgery. I did end up needing the transfusion even though blood loss was minimal. It was only because I was borderline anemic to begin with--even a tiny loss of blood put me in a position where I needed the transfusion. I asked the surgeon if my husband could donate for me since we're the same blood type, etc and it would be easier given I'm not usually able to donate blood, but he said if I can do it that he prefers that. He said that sometimes there are side effects with receiving transfusions from donors (fevers, etc)....anyway, my transfusion was fine--no reactions. > Hey everyone~ > As I said earlier, I am probably looking at surgery in the next couple of > weeks. I have been reading in a few locations that I need to be donating > blood in the event that I need a transfusion. Did anyone else have to do > this? And what if I don't qualify to donate blood (I don't weigh enough?) I > really hate needles and anything dealing with blood. This whole surgery thing > has really got me down and scared. Any help would be greatly appreciated! > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 25, 2004 Report Share Posted June 25, 2004 I have been told that in the United States, anyhow, it is not treated or typed in the same way, and that if you cannot use it, or do not need it (better put, I think), it is discarded. I do not understand why. Perhaps the testing for antibodies (which are, I think, more complex than the simple groups of a, o, b and ab, plus and minus) is so expensive that it is not done for autologous donations. It seems a shame to me, in any case, when every blood bank I know of is crying for donations. Likewise, it seems a pity to me that when I tried to donate the last three times (having given gallons in the past) and the blood stopped flowing just short of a total unit, the whole thing was a waste and the blood was discarded. I was told that the mix of chemicals in the bag would not work for less than a total pint, or unit, or whatever -- and not to try anymore. Which breaks my heart, because with my first husband and my mom I have seen what a revival a unit of transfused blood could bring. I do agree, though -- the peace of mind is well worth any possible amount of money. I just hate that something so precious is wasted, and do not understand why the platelets or some other fragments could not be used to save a life. Cammie > > My daughter will be donating her own blood in case she needs a > > transfusion, although her surgeon said he has not had to transfuse any > > of his patients in about 10 years. It will cost me $135 to donate her > > blood. But it gives her peace of mind. > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 25, 2004 Report Share Posted June 25, 2004 I believe you. But I would gladly sign a waiver to indemnify anyone. I would not, however, gladly be sued for having tried to be helpful. Surely our testing procedures could certify a unit of blood without raising all these other issues. As I said before, every blood bank I know is wailing for blood, year-round. Cammie > Destroyed.... I know... I hate to think of it all going to waste. I have been a donor and they wouldn't use mine. They don't test it like they do for public transfusions, and if they did and your name was on it, then it would violate some privacy issues. So they don't test it, they put your name on it, and they can ONLY use it for you. > > ~Cathy > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 25, 2004 Report Share Posted June 25, 2004 You're a nurse, and I am not. But what you say is not consistent with what I have been told by the Red Cross, nor by other blood services here... Cammie I hope you are right! > > My daughter will be donating her own blood in case she needs a > > transfusion, although her surgeon said he has not had to transfuse any > > > of his patients in about 10 years. It will cost me $135 to donate her > > > blood. But it gives her peace of mind. > > > > > > I wonder... what happens with the unused blood ? Surely, you don't get > home with you... But is it destroyed, or used for other means, or > donated to other patients? Especially since you had to pay to get it > stored, I hope it's not a way to have you guys pay to donate blood to > help others... > > Ray Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 25, 2004 Report Share Posted June 25, 2004 I have heard this before, and actually think I remember that most of the folks who have needed transfusions have been those who had stored blood before surgery... Not everyone, though. And if my doc had suggested I do it, I would have, without questioning. I have known of an instance in which one surgeon wanted a donation of two units before a procedure; another surgeon (who did the operation) did not. The patient did not need the blood. (This surgery had nothing to do with the jaws.) I believe I have also read that statistically, the blood available from volunteer donors has a better chance of being healthy than that given by designation, (although not that given autologously) curiously enough. Finally, I lost something in the neighborhood of 70 ccs, I think, in lower jaw surgery. I believe I lost a heckuva lot more when I cut two fingers when a crystal glass broke as I was washing dishes and sliced two fingers. Cammie > Regarding donating blood to yourself - my doctor's opinion is that > it is not a good thing. Giving blood takes away the mature, healthy > cells that you need for healing, and makes your body quickly produce > more blood, which leaves you with a lot a young, immature cells. He > says it ups the chances of bleeding during surgery and needing blood > that you otherwise wouldn't need, and it also slows down your > healing because the cells that can do the job were bled out of you > and put in a bag somewhere. I don't know if it's his skill or the > way he does things or what, but he hasn't had to give a transfusion > to more than a handful of patients, ever. > > Other docs are different. Some require it. If you doc isn't > requiring it, I wouldn't worry about it. He knows what he's doing > and what he needs to ask for. > > One other note about bleeding - my family has a history of a > bleeding disease that I don't have. My mother made me tell my OS > that this disease is in my family. I asked my OS if he cared, since > I don't have it myself. He said that yes, he cares. If I were to > bleed a little extra, knowing that I'm a carrier would let him know > that something abnormal wasn't going on, and he wouldn't start > worrying. As it was, I hardly bled at all. He used the tube to > suck it out of my stomach, and I never threw up after. I came out > of surgery with a big, healthy appetite that astounded the nurses. > > Kris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 1, 2004 Report Share Posted September 1, 2004 Sounds like a great plan, the donor idea. Like I said, I need to get over my needle phobia and I'd be up to the challenge too. > > > Thanks again for the input on blood donations for myself. I'm > not > > > supposed to be having surgery until maybe January or February, so > I > > > believe I'll go ahead and make an appointment with the OS and ask > > him > > > what he thinks. I should have time to get a couple of pints put > > > aside. > > > > > > That doesn't make any sense that they'd have to throw it away if > I > > > don't need it. Are either of you ladies in healthcare? Y'all > sure > > > do seem to know a lot about this type thing. > > > > > > Cammie, how long ago was your surgery? Do either/both of you > feel > > > like you are totally back to normal? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 1, 2004 Report Share Posted September 1, 2004 Sounds like a great plan, the donor idea. Like I said, I need to get over my needle phobia and I'd be up to the challenge too. > > > Thanks again for the input on blood donations for myself. I'm > not > > > supposed to be having surgery until maybe January or February, so > I > > > believe I'll go ahead and make an appointment with the OS and ask > > him > > > what he thinks. I should have time to get a couple of pints put > > > aside. > > > > > > That doesn't make any sense that they'd have to throw it away if > I > > > don't need it. Are either of you ladies in healthcare? Y'all > sure > > > do seem to know a lot about this type thing. > > > > > > Cammie, how long ago was your surgery? Do either/both of you > feel > > > like you are totally back to normal? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 1, 2004 Report Share Posted September 1, 2004 Just a bit of a plug here for anyone who wants to give blood in the donor pool. I have done so for gallons and gallons -- mainly because I saw a husband, and a mother, need some, and how quickly it could bring a revival to a very ill person. Sadly, my long-term result is that my veins won't hold up for donations enough any more to get a full pint. So I lie there, they take almost a full pint and then my system shuts down and they wind up discarding almost a full pint of my A+ blood. I can't tell you how frustrating that is, nor how annoyed I become that they can't process and use it -- but it's happened about four times, with two different collection agencies, both of which have told me not to try again. Sigh. You would be warmly surprised, though, I think, to see how much a needed pint of blood can help someone who needs it. It sent me right straight to draining needle alley to try to share some of mine... Cammie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 1, 2004 Report Share Posted September 1, 2004 Just a bit of a plug here for anyone who wants to give blood in the donor pool. I have done so for gallons and gallons -- mainly because I saw a husband, and a mother, need some, and how quickly it could bring a revival to a very ill person. Sadly, my long-term result is that my veins won't hold up for donations enough any more to get a full pint. So I lie there, they take almost a full pint and then my system shuts down and they wind up discarding almost a full pint of my A+ blood. I can't tell you how frustrating that is, nor how annoyed I become that they can't process and use it -- but it's happened about four times, with two different collection agencies, both of which have told me not to try again. Sigh. You would be warmly surprised, though, I think, to see how much a needed pint of blood can help someone who needs it. It sent me right straight to draining needle alley to try to share some of mine... Cammie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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