Re: Blood donation - and Cammie

[Guest guest]

Hi Livia,

I never was normal, so it's hard to say if I'm normal now, I hope

not : )

I did see my massage therapist on Friday (my 2 year anniversary) and

she said I am just full of vitality & energy, so I guess that

qualifies as a yes from her!

My friend (who had the same surgeon as I) who also works for the

Canadian Blood Service, gave me all my good advice about not donating

blood, but of course, in the end, it was all my decision. Even the

surgeon's suggestion would have had no impact if I was determined to

store my own blood, I suppose. So it's up to each one of us. I do

think one should know the risks both ways, though, same as the

orthognathic surgery risks.

My friend did explain it in a simple and easy to understand way: if

you already have a disease that is communicable by blood, there is no

problem in giving it back to you! That's why they don't do as

extensive testing, and it's why they wouldn't release it to the

general population - after the Red Cross hepatitis situation in

Canada, they just don't want to be responsible for giving blood that

hasn't been fully tested.

I suppose it's costly enough to track and store blood to be given

only to a specific person, without having to test it for all sorts of

things in order to make it available to the general population as

well, that would seemingly only increase the cost. Would you really

pay 2-3 times what they charge now for your own blood? (I don't know

if that's the cost, I'm only estimating).

Now I'm stretching a point here, but if you really feel that badly

about tossing your blood out, once you've recovered from your surgery

(and I mean the full recovery), why not donate a pint or two to the

local bloodbank?

(needle phobic, working my way up to being a blood donor by

choice)

> 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?

[Guest guest]

Hi Livia,

I never was normal, so it's hard to say if I'm normal now, I hope

not : )

I did see my massage therapist on Friday (my 2 year anniversary) and

she said I am just full of vitality & energy, so I guess that

qualifies as a yes from her!

My friend (who had the same surgeon as I) who also works for the

Canadian Blood Service, gave me all my good advice about not donating

blood, but of course, in the end, it was all my decision. Even the

surgeon's suggestion would have had no impact if I was determined to

store my own blood, I suppose. So it's up to each one of us. I do

think one should know the risks both ways, though, same as the

orthognathic surgery risks.

My friend did explain it in a simple and easy to understand way: if

you already have a disease that is communicable by blood, there is no

problem in giving it back to you! That's why they don't do as

extensive testing, and it's why they wouldn't release it to the

general population - after the Red Cross hepatitis situation in

Canada, they just don't want to be responsible for giving blood that

hasn't been fully tested.

I suppose it's costly enough to track and store blood to be given

only to a specific person, without having to test it for all sorts of

things in order to make it available to the general population as

well, that would seemingly only increase the cost. Would you really

pay 2-3 times what they charge now for your own blood? (I don't know

if that's the cost, I'm only estimating).

Now I'm stretching a point here, but if you really feel that badly

about tossing your blood out, once you've recovered from your surgery

(and I mean the full recovery), why not donate a pint or two to the

local bloodbank?

(needle phobic, working my way up to being a blood donor by

choice)

> 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?

[Guest guest]

I had sugery on Thursday and asked my doctor about donating blood a

couple weeks ago. He said it really wasn't done anymore because if

you loose blood--which in this surgery to loose a ton of blood is not

normal--they will use artifical fillers and blood products first and

by that time it doesn't matter whos blood you have if you need you

will get it. so thats just some current info.

> 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?

[Guest guest]

I had sugery on Thursday and asked my doctor about donating blood a

couple weeks ago. He said it really wasn't done anymore because if

you loose blood--which in this surgery to loose a ton of blood is not

normal--they will use artifical fillers and blood products first and

by that time it doesn't matter whos blood you have if you need you

will get it. so thats just some current info.

> 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?

[Guest guest]

Problem about blood donations, and I never have been able to get a

straight answer on this one: I believe the RC and others say it it

can only be stored safely for something like 58 days. Which pretty

much means you have to do it near your surgery time. Why? I dunno,

especially given that some services save cord blood for much longer,

and we've all read about frozen embryos that go on forever, bringing

with them consequent problems.

I think with the discarding, it's about the way that they bank it,

and the tests they don't do on it, since it's autologous. But I

agree -- that's dumb. And I don't know of anyone who would not have

wanted it to be used for someone else.

Seems it would be better to test it and make it available after a

certain time frame. I'm a multi-gallon donor, but can't do it any

more because they can't, apparently, get a full pint out of my veins.

Go figure on that one, too, since they are eternally crying for

blood; why not blend the stuff proportionally?

It's the most precious fluid I have, and I am pleased to think that

some folks may have lived because of some I've given to who knows

who, years ago. I have also seen folks I loved be revived by

transfusions from the donor bank.

My surgery was June 26, 2002. With minor exceptions, I'm back to

normal. I still wear retainers, and probably will forever. I have

some odd lisps and whistles that nobody but me can hear. My teeth and

gums are far healthier than they were before surgery, which is why I

did it. (My " destructive bite " -- to quote my periodontist -- was

destroying my gums and other supportive tissues.)

I will tell you that I asked my OS whether my mouth would ever feel

like MY mouth again. He grinned and said, " Nope. It's MY mouth now. "

he was pretty much right -- there's scar tissue, the retainers

occasionally chew my mouth up, and the fits aren't right on. But I'll

take the swap, if the changes help me keep my teeth.

In healthcare? Nope, although I did once win a state award for

reporting on health. I'm a newspaper writer/editor/flunky/peon.

and I have both read a lot of posts from folks, and other stuff,

about this. I think the best way to fight fear is to try to learn

whatever one can about the particular problem, and I -- and I think

-- went at it aggressively.

C.

> 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?

[Guest guest]

Problem about blood donations, and I never have been able to get a

straight answer on this one: I believe the RC and others say it it

can only be stored safely for something like 58 days. Which pretty

much means you have to do it near your surgery time. Why? I dunno,

especially given that some services save cord blood for much longer,

and we've all read about frozen embryos that go on forever, bringing

with them consequent problems.

I think with the discarding, it's about the way that they bank it,

and the tests they don't do on it, since it's autologous. But I

agree -- that's dumb. And I don't know of anyone who would not have

wanted it to be used for someone else.

Seems it would be better to test it and make it available after a

certain time frame. I'm a multi-gallon donor, but can't do it any

more because they can't, apparently, get a full pint out of my veins.

Go figure on that one, too, since they are eternally crying for

blood; why not blend the stuff proportionally?

It's the most precious fluid I have, and I am pleased to think that

some folks may have lived because of some I've given to who knows

who, years ago. I have also seen folks I loved be revived by

transfusions from the donor bank.

My surgery was June 26, 2002. With minor exceptions, I'm back to

normal. I still wear retainers, and probably will forever. I have

some odd lisps and whistles that nobody but me can hear. My teeth and

gums are far healthier than they were before surgery, which is why I

did it. (My " destructive bite " -- to quote my periodontist -- was

destroying my gums and other supportive tissues.)

I will tell you that I asked my OS whether my mouth would ever feel

like MY mouth again. He grinned and said, " Nope. It's MY mouth now. "

he was pretty much right -- there's scar tissue, the retainers

occasionally chew my mouth up, and the fits aren't right on. But I'll

take the swap, if the changes help me keep my teeth.

In healthcare? Nope, although I did once win a state award for

reporting on health. I'm a newspaper writer/editor/flunky/peon.

and I have both read a lot of posts from folks, and other stuff,

about this. I think the best way to fight fear is to try to learn

whatever one can about the particular problem, and I -- and I think

-- went at it aggressively.

C.

> 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?

[Guest guest]

I'm late to this thread, but I wanted to mention that I donated 2

units. I did both units at the same time in a procedure where they

separate out the red blood cells and give you back your plasma. Kind

of a freaky experience feeling the cool plasma flowing back into

your veins. I got really sleepy at one point (due to a cooling core

body temperature, I suspect) and thought " this must be how frostbite

victims feel " .

Anyway, the odds are really against you needing the blood, but as it

turns out I needed both units. My OS said I was his first patient in

about 7 years to need the blood. So it's long odds, but when you

need it, it's helpful to have it. My OS was so concerned about my

bleeding that he had them stick me for some kind of clotting test

after the surgery (even though I told him that I heal well and I'm

not a bleeder). As it turns out the scar from that silly test is the

only visible external scar from the whole ordeal!

I think in the 18 months I've been reading this board I'm the only

one that's reported needing blood, so that should give you some

indication of the odds against it. But I also don't know anyone

personally whose house has burned down, and I still carry fire

insurance.

--Neil

> > 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?

[Guest guest]

I'm late to this thread, but I wanted to mention that I donated 2

units. I did both units at the same time in a procedure where they

separate out the red blood cells and give you back your plasma. Kind

of a freaky experience feeling the cool plasma flowing back into

your veins. I got really sleepy at one point (due to a cooling core

body temperature, I suspect) and thought " this must be how frostbite

victims feel " .

Anyway, the odds are really against you needing the blood, but as it

turns out I needed both units. My OS said I was his first patient in

about 7 years to need the blood. So it's long odds, but when you

need it, it's helpful to have it. My OS was so concerned about my

bleeding that he had them stick me for some kind of clotting test

after the surgery (even though I told him that I heal well and I'm

not a bleeder). As it turns out the scar from that silly test is the

only visible external scar from the whole ordeal!

I think in the 18 months I've been reading this board I'm the only

one that's reported needing blood, so that should give you some

indication of the odds against it. But I also don't know anyone

personally whose house has burned down, and I still carry fire

insurance.

--Neil

> > 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?

[Guest guest]

Glad it went well for you. It makes sense to me that one heals

better, accidents not occurring, if one has all one's own blood. But

I still think there can be some " just in case " circumstances. I'm not

convinced that the traditional blood-banking circumstances and

answers do not give the best relief if something odd does happen.

In any case, I'm delighted to hear that your experience worked well

for you!

Cammie

> I had sugery on Thursday and asked my doctor about donating blood a

> couple weeks ago. He said it really wasn't done anymore because if

> you loose blood--which in this surgery to loose a ton of blood is

not

> normal--they will use artifical fillers and blood products first

and

> by that time it doesn't matter whos blood you have if you need you

> will get it. so thats just some current info.

>

[Guest guest]

Glad it went well for you. It makes sense to me that one heals

better, accidents not occurring, if one has all one's own blood. But

I still think there can be some " just in case " circumstances. I'm not

convinced that the traditional blood-banking circumstances and

answers do not give the best relief if something odd does happen.

In any case, I'm delighted to hear that your experience worked well

for you!

Cammie

> I had sugery on Thursday and asked my doctor about donating blood a

> couple weeks ago. He said it really wasn't done anymore because if

> you loose blood--which in this surgery to loose a ton of blood is

not

> normal--they will use artifical fillers and blood products first

and

> by that time it doesn't matter whos blood you have if you need you

> will get it. so thats just some current info.

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Neil,

Good point about the fire insurance, but if your house burns down, it

would be hard to find someone to give you a new one, whereas blood

donors are easier to find!

I know I've heard of more people that needed transfusions, but

typically they are the ones in there for 10-12 hour surgeries, not

the 3.5 hour cakewalk that my upper/lower/genio was.

> > > 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?

[Guest guest]

Hi Neil,

Good point about the fire insurance, but if your house burns down, it

would be hard to find someone to give you a new one, whereas blood

donors are easier to find!

I know I've heard of more people that needed transfusions, but

typically they are the ones in there for 10-12 hour surgeries, not

the 3.5 hour cakewalk that my upper/lower/genio was.

> > > 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?