InstantForum.NET v2.9.0SQLServerCentralhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/notifications@sqlservercentral.comThu, 23 May 2013 22:41:21 GMT20http://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic811336-263-1.aspx[quote][b]jcrawf02 (10/30/2009)[/b][hr][quote][b]Andrew Watson-478275 (10/30/2009)[/b][hr]At the risk of sounding like a moaning Jock, that one's only for England and Wales. The Scottish one's [url]http://www.scotblood.co.uk/[/url][/quote]...bloody English...;-)[/quote]Actually there's also a separate [url=http://www.welsh-blood.org.uk/English/index.asp]Welsh Blood Service[/url]!Declaring an interest - I work for NHS Blood and Transplant, the parent of the [English] National Blood Service - can I mention that we have just launched a fresh campaign to encourage people to join the [url=http://www.organdonation.nhs.uk/ukt/default.jsp]NHS Organ Donor Register[/url].A local predecessor of our current national database really was called DRACULA - a carefully-formed acronym (something about Donor Recall And Call-Up... whatever, before my time)!Tue, 03 Nov 2009 11:17:56 GMTEwan Hampsonhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic811336-263-1.aspx[quote][b]Wayne West (11/2/2009)[/b][hr][quote][b]Ross McMicken (11/1/2009)[/b][hr]I used to give blood regularly, but after living in Equatorial Africa for 3 years in the early 90's, I am ineligible. I have never had a good explanation as to why living in a region would make me ineligible.[/quote]Most likely it's because of the number of AIDS cases in Africa, not unlike people being disqualified for being in England during the Mad Cow era. I have no idea how well inspected the African blood supply is, but my sister and grandmother had to be tested for AIDS because of receiving blood when the American supply was suspect, and the science fiction author Isaac Asimov died of AIDS due to contaminated blood received during heart surgery.[/quote]Because my husband lived in Botswana in the early 70's (Peace Corp) we both get more closely screened. They told me that the issue for that part of Africa, at that time, is malaria. We are still allowed to give blood.Mon, 02 Nov 2009 06:35:43 GMTTerri-92562http://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic811336-263-1.aspx[quote][b]Ross McMicken (11/1/2009)[/b][hr]I used to give blood regularly, but after living in Equatorial Africa for 3 years in the early 90's, I am ineligible. I have never had a good explanation as to why living in a region would make me ineligible.[/quote]Most likely it's because of the number of AIDS cases in Africa, not unlike people being disqualified for being in England during the Mad Cow era. I have no idea how well inspected the African blood supply is, but my sister and grandmother had to be tested for AIDS because of receiving blood when the American supply was suspect, and the science fiction author Isaac Asimov died of AIDS due to contaminated blood received during heart surgery.Mon, 02 Nov 2009 01:13:10 GMTWayne Westhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic811336-263-1.aspxI used to give blood regularly, but after living in Equatorial Africa for 3 years in the early 90's, I am ineligible. I have never had a good explanation as to why living in a region would make me ineligible.Sun, 01 Nov 2009 23:51:53 GMTRoss McMickenhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic811336-263-1.aspxI'm definitely considering IVIG. Based on incomplete information, we thought SubQ would work well. We didn't know what the time requirement would be like, much less the pain being somewhat more substantial than expected. I have a pretty high level for pain tolerance, but this definitely frequently exceeds it.Fri, 30 Oct 2009 17:05:54 GMTWayne Westhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic811336-263-1.aspxIf you're spending 4 hours a week on subq, you might consider IViG. I infuse 60 grams, 600ML of Gamunex in about 2-1/2 hours. I have a nurse come to my home every four weeks. I've been on home infusion since 1982. It is really the easiest way for me.Fri, 30 Oct 2009 13:50:28 GMTlev 94365http://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic811336-263-1.aspxThank you all for the replies and encouragement, it's nice to know so many people in our community give blood. I haven't been sick (cross fingers) since my last bout of pneumonia in June, I attribute it to luck, using LOTS of hand sanitizer, and getting treated. It's sometimes difficult answering people who ask how I'm doing, I haven't been sick but that doesn't mean that I'm well. Time will tell if my immune system starts up again or not, I read two case studies of a 10 year old and a teen who have my condition whose immune systems restarted, but I'm far from a teen.Lev, it's good to hear from another PI person! We're considering trying IVIG in a few months when my first review comes up. I'm going to twice a week SCIG infusions as my doctor kicked up my dose from 60ml to 70ml, complicating my infusion and taking it up to over 4 hours a week.Fri, 30 Oct 2009 13:09:31 GMTWayne Westhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic811336-263-1.aspxGammaglobulin does necessarily require blood donations. The vast majority comes from plasma donations. Plasma is the clear stuff the the blood cells swim around in. A unit of plasma helps a lot of people with different illnesses; hemophilia, compromised immune systems, alpha1 to name a few. The advantage is a plasma donor can donate every 4 days while a blood donor can only donate ever 56 days. Plasma donors receive a stipend for their time (and plasma), usually about $35-50 per donation. It takes about 45 minutes to donate plasma. I've been on IViG for over 27 years. It really isn't as terrible as some people make it out to be.Fri, 30 Oct 2009 11:41:56 GMTlev 94365http://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic811336-263-1.aspxJust passed 6 gallons two weeks ago.Anyone here been disqualified by a false positive? Mine was high liver enzyme, which 'CAN' indicate hepatitis. I don't and have never had, and have been further tested, but with most of the blood centers, they black list you, and refuse to retest. Turns out that test can also be triggered by stress, alcohol, and exhaustion. That's what I get for donating during dead week in college. The cost of retesting out ways the number of people cleared apparently. The only way to get un-blacklisted is for the Gvntmt to decide that test is no longer valid, and has approved a new test for that condition that generated the false positive, Then all people who tested positive for that invalid test can re-try.There is another option: Go to a different blood center.Here in the US there is no national registry of blood donations or black lists. It's by state, and only by blood organization. So, if you get (verifiably false) black listed by the Red Cross, cross a state line, or find someone other than the Red Cross and you can donate. This is where conference blood drives can work really great, many people cross state lines to travel to conferences. Find a donation center near by, and get in there.Fri, 30 Oct 2009 11:29:53 GMTDan Guzman - Not the MVPhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic811336-263-1.aspxI started donating blood back in the 80's. One day in 1990 I got a letter from the local Blood Bank saying my last donation had something "out of specification" with it and I could no longer donate. Without providing any details, they suggested a doctor follow up. I didn't do that right away but months later a tiny little bit of blood should up in my urine. I remembered the letter. It took several months but I finally discovered that I had bladder cancer. If not for donating, I would have not been looking for the reason or even known I was sick. I have been cancer free since then and have even returned to donating blood. I try and do the ALYX donation which takes double the amount of red cell or platelets and puts the rest back in. It's still just a pint donation same as a whole blood donation. May not be much help in cases like yours, but it helps a whole lot of others. I would urge anyone to try and donate. Not everybody can and their is no substitute. It's part of giving back to your community and I don't need any politician to tell me to do that!Fri, 30 Oct 2009 10:49:53 GMTBob Hoffman-209065http://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic811336-263-1.aspxI'll second the call for healthy people to donate. I never even thought about donating blood for over 20 years, then decided I wanted to do something to help after 9/11. I was surprised at how easy and painless it is and I've donated regularly ever since. We have regularly scheduled donation days with a mobile blood center unit at work which makes it even more convenient. Takes about 30 minutes and I get cookies and juice!Fri, 30 Oct 2009 09:52:24 GMTGreg Charleshttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic811336-263-1.aspxI, too, lived in the UK during the mad cow hoopla, and as a consequence the U.S. forbids me from donating... I have heard they are going to start easing this restriction, though. Good luck.Fri, 30 Oct 2009 09:27:23 GMTDavidLhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic811336-263-1.aspxI've been a donor for the past 4 years. What got me started was donating plasma for my son. He needed heart surgery when he was 10 months old. I'll never, in my whole life, forget the hope I felt when a total stranger came into the donation center and said she was donating for a child she'd never met. As it turns out, she was a friend of my sisters and that was how she heard about his need.I've donated ever since. Usually plasma, sometimes double reds... whatever they ask for. I'm O negative, so they ask me a lot! :-)Thanks for the post... people need to know how important this is.Fri, 30 Oct 2009 09:23:30 GMTryan.harthttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic811336-263-1.aspxI gave blood while in the military and then with my present employer for at least 10 years until the Red Cross changed their rules and now they don't want mine because I lived in Europe during mad cow disease time. I think it's a bad decision by the Red Cross as I don't have mad cow disease and they lost a large number of ex military who were frequent blood donors.Hopy you recover from your illness.Fri, 30 Oct 2009 07:55:47 GMTDave Schutzhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic811336-263-1.aspxGreat points, GSquared. It's good to let people know that selling blood doesn't necessarily help others with their lives.Fri, 30 Oct 2009 07:51:07 GMTSteve Jones - SSC Editorhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic811336-263-1.aspxI give blood every 2 months (as often as allowed). Can't do the double-red thing, have a reaction to the anticoagulent used in that, so just give whole blood. Did it yesterday, as a matter of fact.One thing to be added to this: Selling your blood, while populare in certain low-income crowds, isn't the same thing. In the US, purchased blood can't be used medically, so its main use is in cosmetics (it's an ingredient in the binding compounds used in lipstick - and knowing that makes lipstick more than a little icky). To save lives, the blood has to be donated through specific organizations. Make sure, before you donate, that it'll go to medical use, not be sold to cosmetics companies.Fri, 30 Oct 2009 07:37:47 GMTGSquaredhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic811336-263-1.aspxDonating blood is easy, painless (except for the needle ;-)), and a nice thing to do. And, you get free juice and cookies. What could be ebtter than that. Before the military, I gave blood regularly. Now, because of hepatitis exposure in the service, I am unable too. I now volunteer and help out at the blood drives. Great editorial!Fri, 30 Oct 2009 07:16:40 GMTOCTomhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic811336-263-1.aspxI have been giving blood for 35 years ( a grad school classmate had a blood disorder and needed donations). Many people first give to help a friend and then continue giving to help many strangers. I try to give every 8 weeks. I have heard people say they were afraid to give blood because they might catch something. Not true, you don't catch anything by giving blood. Recently, a family member gave blood for the first time, for herself, prior to surgery. She was surprised at how easy and painless it was and promised to donate blood in the future.In my area, blood is often needed most at holidays. They say people are busy so donations are down at those times. Often people travel on holiday weekends and there are more traffic accidents, upping the need for blood.My most moving donation story is 9/11/2001. I waited, with many others here in New Orleans, LA, USA, for 8 hours at the blood center to give blood for the victims of the world trade center. I met people who had never donated blood before but wanted to do something to help. Sadly, there were few survivors... If you are a healthy person, giving blood is a simple way to help others. In addition, donating blood once a year covers my family with free blood product for a year should it be needed.Fri, 30 Oct 2009 07:14:11 GMTTerri-92562http://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic811336-263-1.aspxI was a "double red" donor for several years and a blood donor for 15 years. Unfortunately, I had a little encounter with Mr. Cancer so I'm not allowed to donate until I've been cancer free for five years. I'm at 2.5 years now so I have high hopes that I will be able to begin donating again in another 2.5 years.Donating is easy, takes little time, and there are usually some excellent goodies to be had after donating. The place I usually donate is an Elks lodge and one of the volunteers makes this really great chili. It's worth it just for the chili.Fri, 30 Oct 2009 07:01:53 GMTRobert Frascahttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic811336-263-1.aspxI've given my share over the decade, 6 + gallons. Stopped now due to flu season in the area being rampant and other schedule conflicts. Debated continuing, the local donation centers make it a big hassle for no reward, it's like spitting in the face of a wind storm.Fri, 30 Oct 2009 06:36:18 GMTchrisn-585491http://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic811336-263-1.aspxI want to especially encourage anyone who is CMV Negative to give as often as you can. FYI a large portion of the adult population (at least in the US) are CMV carriers, and it doesn't affect us. However, CMV can be deadly to young children or anyone with a weakened immune system. CMV Negative donors, like Type O Negative donors, are especially in demand.I also want to encourage current donors to inquire about Double Red donations because it helps more patients. Good luck Wayne! I hope you are better soon!Best regards,Dave FultonFri, 30 Oct 2009 05:54:34 GMTDavid Fulton-420388http://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic811336-263-1.aspxWayne, great article, hope you're doing well at the moment. (and in the future)For those who don't wish to be regular donors (i.e. donate every 56 days as acceptable) it's worth a thought to call the Red Cross and ask for their times of greatest need. Every donation is used and appreciated, but particularly if you have a rare bloodtype there may be seasons in which your donation is more likely to be used and will therefore do more good.Fri, 30 Oct 2009 05:44:42 GMTjcrawf02http://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic811336-263-1.aspx[quote][b]Andrew Watson-478275 (10/30/2009)[/b][hr]At the risk of sounding like a moaning Jock, that one's only for England and Wales. The Scottish one's [url]http://www.scotblood.co.uk/[/url][/quote]...bloody English...;-)Fri, 30 Oct 2009 05:41:30 GMTjcrawf02http://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic811336-263-1.aspxThat's an eye opener indeed !In many cases we only see the beauty of life, once we have to mis part of it.For Belgium these links may get donation started:Flemish region - [url]www.bloedgevendoetleven.be[/url]or via [url]http://www.redcross.be/[/url]Fri, 30 Oct 2009 04:34:21 GMTALZDBAhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic811336-263-1.aspxAt the risk of sounding like a moaning Jock, that one's only for England and Wales. The Scottish one's [url]http://www.scotblood.co.uk/[/url]Fri, 30 Oct 2009 03:50:21 GMTAndrew Watson-478275http://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic811336-263-1.aspxWayne, it's always worth highlighting the need for blood donors and hope you are on the road to recovery.The UK Blood Doning Centre and details of where to donate are can be found here [url=http://www.blood.co.uk]www.blood.co.uk[/url]Fri, 30 Oct 2009 03:29:19 GMTNick Hodgsonhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic811336-263-1.aspxAh, yes! Good ol' BSE.We had an interesting development today. My household had its fifth case of pneumonia diagnosed this year: our poodle went in to have her teeth cleaned and they heard crackling in her lungs. It was confirmed with x-ray and now she's on antibiotics. We're confident she'll be fine.Thu, 29 Oct 2009 22:44:52 GMTWayne Westhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic811336-263-1.aspxThey won't take my blood here in Australia because I lived in the UK during the Mad Cow Disease scare.Thu, 29 Oct 2009 22:39:58 GMTb0b555http://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic811336-263-1.aspxNice job, Wayne, and I hope you get better soon.Thu, 29 Oct 2009 21:19:43 GMTSteve Jones - SSC Editorhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic811336-263-1.aspxComments posted to this topic are about the item [B]<A HREF="/articles/Editorial/68605/">I vant your blud!</A>[/B]Thu, 29 Oct 2009 21:09:15 GMTWayne West