Comments on: Red Cross Blood Centre Platelet Donation

By: Adam Daniel Mezei

Adam Daniel Mezei — Mon, 11 May 2009 18:47:38 +0000

Thanks for this, IK. Though I’m still uncertain why one donates the plasma as opposed to the entire stream of blood. Is this because haemopheliacs cannot produce blood plasma, and this is the reason why we donate some of ours? Is blood type an issue? (I obviously have more to research on this front…) I’ll get on it later.

–ADM

By: Ian

Ian — Mon, 11 May 2009 07:39:30 +0000

When some donate whole blood there can be some woozy issues as the oxygen caring ability is reduced minimally. However the great thing for me is that I don’t have any donation issues ever.

When donating platelets and plasma these issues are reduced as the red blood cells are returned and the body replaces the quantities removed within a few hours, where as red blood cells take several days to replace.

For these reasons whole blood is donated every three months and the others can be donated every three weeks.

By: Adam Daniel Mezei

Adam Daniel Mezei — Sun, 10 May 2009 17:37:48 +0000

IK, I just wanted to ask when does the woozy part kick in? Way after…or…? I’d also wanted to ask you about potential dangers in doing this — who *shouldn’t* be having their 16% TBV removed? Perhaps it’s something you can respond to shortly? If it’s too long an answer or a link, please excuse my question.

Also, a site suggestion: you might want to add a “track comments” check box as the bottom of the comment field for people who want to follow the comment streams in the event they neglect/forget to return to YSP.com. Similar to what you might find at: http://www.everything-everywhere.com. @Gary Ardnt’s site.

From P-Town,
ADM

By: Ian

Ian — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 11:37:38 +0000

Paula, best wishes to your father in law and it heartening to thinking I may be helping a little.
Stuart, It’s always a pleasure to donate and today was fun to do the video.
As for tattoos Kath it’s one of the minor reasons I’ve never got one in that it would count me out of donating for a year.

By: Kath

Kath — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 10:05:44 +0000

I used to give blood regularly. Then I was anaemic for a long time and couldn’t. Now I have tattoos that are only 8 months old and they won’t take it. But I will go back when I can.

By: Stuart McMillen

Stuart McMillen — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 08:53:10 +0000

Thanks for doing it Ian – I don’t think many people bring video cameras into the donor centre…let alone film the needle going in! This is actually a perfect insight into what it is like sitting in the plasma/platelet chair. The fact that you are so comfortable during the process, talking to Shelly, is a great example to others that might be interested in donating in this way.

I always feel fantastic after donating plasma – a nice euphoric feeling probably relating to the drop in blood volume. Whole blood takes less than 10% of total blood volume, but plasma takes 16% of your TBV from you, although almost all of the red cells are returned back to your body, so iron loss is not as big an issue.

I think I’m up to 41 donations, so you’d better keep up the habit, or else I’ll overtake you!

By: paula

paula — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 07:17:55 +0000

Well done – would do it if I could!

In the UK I was a marrow donor and came very close once to giving my marrow.

Father in law is now counting on platelets to make him better so a big thank you from us xxx