[stupot]

Well tonight was my first time giving blood, talked about doing it for years but finally decided to do it. It was pretty painless 10 mins giving blood but an hour faffing about doing paperwork and waiting. All in all pretty effortless so i put my name down for 4 months time

So has anyone else given or does give blood?

[P-E]

I've never given blood apart from when I've copped a punch in the nose.......good on you Stu

[Dave]

Fair play Stu ...keep meaning to , but unless it;s on my doorstep & minimal time I know I'm like most people who say "haven't the time" ......poor excuse really ....... ok , what about " that's nearly an armful !!!!!"

[brokendalek]

I give blood every four months, they're so short of it these days it's appalling.

[Angela]

Good for you! I always used to give blood but then had to start taking medication long-term which means I now can't. It really should be compulsory for all those that can...as should organ donation in my opinion - religious beliefs excepted.

[Victoria]

I had every intention of giving blood for the first time because here in Australia you can go during work time (probably the same everywhere). That shouldn't be a motivating factor but it certainly helped. Anyway, it didn't end up working out with work commitments. However, next time, I'll be there with my sleeve rolled up. I'm sure the first time is the scariest because of the unknown....how much does it hurt? Do you feel weak and dizzy afterwards?

I'm not very brave but the stats are something like 1 in 3 people will need blood in a lifetime and one day it could be me...... or you.....

[CathieT]

My husband is a regular donor, I can't!! I went to give blood and they couldn't get any out of me (proves a few theories .....). I should have known better ...

It doesn't hurt very much at all Victoria (and they were digging around in my arms trying to get a vein) They make sure you have something to eat and drink afterwards and don't let you go till you're feeling 100%.

Well worth the effort methinks and I'm really sorry that I can't.

C

[Markulous]

I give blood (it seems to flow all too well from me - but that's me: give, give, give! )

But then my life was saved by a very patient doctor doing pioneering work who spent all night soon after my birth, pushing in blood through one wrist/syringe and removing through other wrist/syringe!

I got a mention in The Lancet, he was knighted (you'll be amazed to hear that it wasn't for saving my life!). The pioneering work? Rhesus babies! They died before - totally routine nowadays

[Whipspeed]

Quite amazing Mark and goes to show just why being a donor is important.

[simpbow]

No can do, cant give any blood as it is to thin,to cut a long story short if it wasnt for a few good doctors i wouldnt be here so instead i carry a donor card.Good man Stu it all goes to a good cause.

[sejanus]

I got turfed out! I was getting to the end of my time anyway and they got fed up with the hassle of finding a vein that would work.

I don't carry a donor card because I've met far too many surgeons. They do a marvellous job but some of them tend to eye you up, working out what bits they could recycle if you happened to walk under the baseball bat they're swinging

[Sonsey]

I've never given blood, something I'm quite annoyed with myself about... I hate needles though, and the state of hospitals dosn't inspire my confidence either

[stupot]

Originally Posted by Sonsey

and the state of hospitals dosn't inspire my confidence either

Yeah i'm with you on that one, but actually done in my local comunity centre and once over the initial paperwork and 100 and 1 questions took about 10 mins

Mind you it'll take them hours of filtering all the red wine out my blood so probably wish the hadn't excepted me