I was able to give blood today after 8 months. Makes me so happy!

[rurallib]

My Nurse Practitioner found a heart flutter last May. I was on blood thinners for a while and had a heart oblation. All is good now, but the operation put a 6 month ban on my donations.

So I was able to give today. I checked out OK and gave a pint of premium - platelets.

Seems kind of fitting since it is heart month. Been giving since 1967 so it is kind of in the monthly routine.

[Phoenix61]

1. My Dad used to give. He was O positive.

They we’re always calling for him to donate early.

[Skittles]

2. excellent

I am closing in on 60 gallons of platelets donated

[Emile]

3. I need to do it too. Seen a clip on TV last week

saying there was a national shortage of blood.

[brewens]

4. Did you donate both red cells and platelets? They usually just want the platelets from me.

They messed up a couple years back and took red cells and two units of platelets. The red cell loss ended up deferring me for six weeks. Then I see urgent need for platelets messages! Dumbshits. I tried to tell them.

I'm retired from there and knew that might happen. The only thing was I knew they had changed the values since I have been gone and had a new software program telling them what to collect. Under the old eligibility criteria, I knew the red cells would cut me out of a couple platelet donations. Since it was a new program, I said okay, "as long as it's not gonna screw anything up." I should have said, "as long as you guarantee me this won't defer me from donating platelets." That would have made the woman drawing me check to make sure.

I'm just waiting out this omicron wave to go back. Plus, I am just healed up from having my right knee replaced. I'm in Lower Dumbfuckistan (Idaho), so cases need to be way down before I get out in public again.

[rurallib]

5. They always take red cells and platelets as far as I know

I never bother asking anymore.

[genxlib]

6. I was a heavy giver for many years

I was getting up there in gallons.

Then in 1999, they nixed giving from anyone who had lived in England during Mad Cow Disease for more than 6 months. I spent a year in London during college.

I was sitting in the chair one day just mindlessly answering the usual questions when that one came out of nowhere. Had to leave and have not been able to give since.

I miss it. It was always a good feeling. Although I was never an easy stick so I would always be a difficult patient for the phlebotomists.

[rurallib]

7. you won't believe this but that has changed - at least at my donor place

Due to the blood shortage that is due to the pandemic, many of those restrictions of the caused by prions have been cut way back. Blood shortage + a much better understanding of the disease.

I can't remember all the screening questions, but most have changed to smaller windows etc.

It would certainly be worth your time to give them a call and check it out. You may be eligible again.

[genxlib]

8. Thanks for the heads up

I couldn't find online where the policy had been updated but maybe it has locally due to the shortage.

Will check Thanks

[rurallib]

9. Good luck!

All this just happened. They told me Monday was the first day they were using the new screening questions.