Going to check it out later this week.
What was your experience like?
Did you do it? My husband does. They call him in for it. He has good platelets or something. He's never described it, but never said there's a problem. Were you asked to donate it because of your platelets?
If I want to knock a story off the front page I just change my hairstyle.
No turns out i can't because i have crappy veins i was really hoping i could.
Good people are always so sure they're right.
Sorry about that. Well, I did ask my husband. For anyone else who read the thread he says it's just like giving blood as far as the needle. However, they hook it up to a different type of machine to filter it or something, and it takes about 45 minutes. That's all I know.
If I want to knock a story off the front page I just change my hairstyle.
i heard the needle they use is HUGE.
Good people are always so sure they're right.
He didn't say that, but maybe he just thought they were the same. I asked him specifically that question, if the needles were the same, and he said yes. They actually call him and ask him to donate because he has good platelets or something. Or maybe you mean huge as in long and maybe he meant it's the same as in diameter. I don't know.
If I want to knock a story off the front page I just change my hairstyle.
yes i meant long my mom is able to donate and she said the same thing about the needle.
Good people are always so sure they're right.
Yes. 258 donations and counting. My son who is 19 has recently started... 17 donations so far. Every 2 weeks we drive into the BB and make our contribution.
Yes, the needle is big, but if you have a good nurse, it doesn't hurt. And it's a good thing for the community. It takes me about an hour to do the process. My boy whose veins are a little more giving takes maybe 30-40 minutes. Every second donation or so he gives platelets. I'm very proud of his commitment.
the process is pretty straightforward: like a blood donation, they drain off an amount of blood. It is then spun in a centrifuge. The plasma gets separated from the whole blood. From that, the plasma is put into a bag and the whole blood returned to my bod. The process is then repeated until they have 900 ml of plasma. After the final return of blood, it's off to the refreshment stand. A light snack and it's off home. It's a great system and the staff at our blood bank are a fabulous bunch. All in all; I highly recommend the effort.
The stats for Australia are 3% of us are donators. We're a small, but highly motivated bunch.
258 donations? That's amazing. I've done about half that and still going strong. I've never noticed the needle being that big. Isn't it the same needle that is used for whole blood? I'll ask next time I go, which is next week.
but if you have a good nurse, it doesn't hurt
Lol, I agree with this, mostly it doesn't hurt a bit but sometimes there is a small sting. Every now and then I get someone who seems to have marked out a run-up before inserting the needle.
I have heard a few complaints now and then about the staff at the blood blank but I have never found them to be anything other than courteous and friendly. A pretty good experience, all in all. Plus I get a regular check on my blood pressure.
When I said I wanted to be a comedian, they all laughed at me. Well, they're not laughing now!