Well, I was up to two gallons before my husband was diagnosed with Hep A. Since we have a kid and it's obvious we've had "unprotected contact", I can no longer donate. That sucks because I'm a rare blood type.

Donated 14 times in the last two years. Half of those were triple unit platelet donations.

/300k+ platelet count.

I donate blood all the time.

/that sharp pain in your back, as the subway doors opened, was me and my poker of blood, spreading Vampirism to all

Donated about six times now, but three of those times I didn't give a full unit because they have a heck of a time finding my vein, and getting the blood out. It doesn't help matters that I tend to get dehydrated pretty easily. I keep trying to chug a few pitchers of water the day before, but sometimes it just doesn't seem to take =\

/O-, so really I'm just donating blood to save my own arse
//AB+s are jerks

I hade AIDS, I can't donate blood assumptionmitter!!!

/doesn't really have AIDS
//or do I?
///*dun-dun-duuun!!!*

They don't want my blood. Which makes me not want my blood.

I won't. 80% of my opinion is that they need to start offering me something in return. That stuff's red gold.

20% of my opinion is the bigotry against gays.

So I think they have a couple of things to fix before I do it again.

Can't donate blood in the U.S. -- I spent too much time in the U.K. during the 1980s when Mad Cow was present.

But then an English friend says I can't donate there either: I come from an area in the U.S. with known West Nile disease.

blood should be bought and sold. not donated. we are always having shortages because of these old rules requiring blood be donated.

I've donated a couple of gallons of whole blood since I was 17 but Red Cross actually told me not to bother anymore unless I was doing apheresis, which is not only a major time sink but the anti-coagulants give me a reaction.

carl:
20% of my opinion is the bigotry against gays.

This is why people get sick and tired and start not paying attention to cries of "racism" or "bigotry".

What farking bigotry against gays?

Donating blood is not a farking right...

Zero. I've never donated blood. But I have a very good reason why.

I can't: Unprotected sex with randoms, IV drug use, daily medication, oral herpies.

None. My blood has too much gay in it.

Up to about 3.5 gallons, but am on temporary deferral while I work through anemia.

8 gallons. Turn 50 on the first.

ctw19: blood should be bought and sold. not donated. we are always having shortages because of these old rules requiring blood be donated.

If that happens then people will lie on the screening forms so they can get the cash.

I bet 99% of donations wind up in 1% of sick people.

just one gallon sorry

rocky_howard: carl:
What farking bigotry against gays?

Donating blood is not a farking right...

wat are you serious

You can't donate blood if you're male and have had sex with another male within some huge time span (30 years, or something like that) on the grounds that you're "at risk".

It doesnt matter if you dont have any diseases. It doesn't matter that straight black women are significantly higher risk HIV candidates. The sheer fact that someone is a gay male means they aren't allowed to donate life-giving blood to those who need it. How is that *not* bigotry against gays?

6 gallons and barely past 25!

I have no idea what my number is up to. I don't keep track and I don't go to a regular place. I go whenever one of the various blood donation places brings a mobile site near me and have been doing it since college.

I don't really care, I don't do it for the credit, I do it for the cookies.

I used to give a lot, but now they won't take my blood.

/Mad coooooow wusses

I used to try to give blood but they couldn't squeeze a whole unit out of my arm half the time. Years ago they wouldn't take it because I caught malaria in Viet Nam. So that, and when they decided my blood was OK for their purposes, they can't find a vein unless I get a really smart old phlebotomist.
Unpleasant experience for all involved. Including the cheap ass cookie and fruit "juice".

I broke 50 donations when I was in University doing Plasma Pheresis - you can give weekly - because there was a blood centre on campus... I need to get back into donating.

My blood would just end up getting the recipient drunk. I'm guessing they frown on that.

I donate every 56 days

Nick Nostril: My blood would just end up getting the recipient drunk. I'm guessing they frown on that.

Also fun: drink a pot of coffee before you donate.

elffster: Wait, sperm or blood?


/see what I did there?

Can't it be both?

Stoutpants: Donated 14 times in the last two years. Half of those were triple unit platelet donations.

/300k+ platelet count.

Nice.... I usually do doubles. I'm at 10 gallons now. Been donating for about 6 years. I do equipment/building mainenance at a Blood Center so that helps I guess. Glad people are out there that care too.

Why is it everyone get paid except the doner?

Does that seem right to you?

I donated something else to your mom, now what?

I've been asked by the Red Cross to find other ways to help. I take too long to bleed and it holds them up.