Re: Blood donation - to Liz...

September 1, 2004

Hi Liz,

FYI, I donated 2 pints myself for me...I am in NY and the Blood Bank

does not allow you to give it away if you don't use it in

surgery...it's like 2 totally different teams. I thought that was

VERY silly too since we have a tremendous shortage in NY and why

waste it if I'm healthy and it was all good?

But also, FYI #2...they charge you. Mine was $135 I think...PER pint.

And heck, I was a little under a full pint each time bec I am under

the weight limit...and still got charged full price silly and

expensive.

But in my case, while I only lost 6oz of blood and really didn't have

to have a transfusion...they decided, it couldn't hurt and gave them

both to me in the OR/post-op. By the time I got into ICU and

was " awake " I was all done.

Just thought I would share what I know.

Oh and I have Vytra--they were good with coverage for this, but DO

NOT COVER BLOOD DONATIONS...so that was 100% out of pocket with no

reimbursement.

Not cool, but necessary and oh well...I feel very good for being 3

wks post-op today. JO

> > 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?

September 1, 2004