Giving blood

[Jacq]

I have been a blood donor since 18 and have been allowed to and then not allowed to because of having hepatitis B without knowing it and then being asked to donate again as they could use the antibodies and then finally in the last two years since diving being told as I had blood transfusions since 1981 I was not allowed to again. So a roller coaster ride of giving and not giving blood but I did manage over 50 donations and at least now I don't have to worry about
the dates of giving blood and diving expeditions -

Its a wonderful thing to do so everyone else keep on doing it - you never know when you will need that extra help in your own lives.

Jackie

[Kirstie]

Oh pleeeeeze don't mention giving blood.

Fiona will be on here soon, shouting at me because I promised to sign up and haven't done so yet.

[JasonP]

Originally Posted by Kirstie

Oh pleeeeeze don't mention giving blood.

Fiona will be on here soon, shouting at me because I promised to sign up and haven't done so yet.

Won't Sulawesi have put you on the banned list?

Jason

[Kirstie]

Originally Posted by JasonP

Won't Sulawesi have put you on the banned list?

Jason

Oooh, good point!


Damn, was just about to sign on as well (she lied).

[PADI_MSDT]

Although the general rule of thumb is not to dive for between 24-48 hours after giving blood. It actually takes about a week for the body to regenrate the pint that you've given.

Please give blood, it is something that a lot more of us ought to do, if you can, but do it when you haven't got any diving planned for at least 4-5 days to give your body a chance to refill itself.

All the best.

[Richard Mason]

Originally Posted by Jacq

I have been a blood donor since 18 and have been allowed to and then not allowed to because of having hepatitis B without knowing it and then being asked to donate again as they could use the antibodies and then finally in the last two years since diving being told as I had blood transfusions since 1981 I was not allowed to again.

I'm in a similar situation here - I can't give blood in Aus because I lived in the UK "For over 6 months in the 80s" or whatever it is. Consequently I'm considered a risk for carrying/transmitting Mad Cow disease. I tried to tell em I only live with one, but all to no avail.

Then they whinge that they haven't got enough blood donors. Very frustrating indeed. I know there are lots of people at risk from pooled blood products, produced from the whole blood that doesn't get transfused but if I were lying on the table needing a life saving op when they are short of blood (say summer hols) and they said you can either die or you can risk having some blood donated by some bloke called Richard Mason, who once ate a Tescos cardboard-special beefburger with baked beans & chips whilst watching Pans' People on TOTP about 25 years ago, I think I'd risk it.

OK rant over. Normal service is now resumed.

[uwila]

I gave blood last Thursday (no 60) and they advised me not to dive for 24 hours, or to fly a light aeroplane or glider, or to lift heavy weights.

So that was all my hobbies kicked into touch along with my sex-life

[Pigpen]

Originally Posted by JasonP

Won't Sulawesi have put you on the banned list?

Jason

Are there restrictions if you've travelled to certain places?

[uwila]

Originally Posted by Geoff Milne

Are there restrictions if you've travelled to certain places?

Certainly are. Anywhere where you might contract nasty diseases eg malaria, yellow fever...

[re-form42]

Originally Posted by Gav

The position on diving is that they will defer a donation if you intend to dive within 24 hours. On my last two donations I remember seeing this point and being thankful I was diving 48 hours later!

Same here, gave blood then had to postpone my dive by a couple days, common sense in my eyes.