Poll: Do you give blood?

[Cockney_Jesus]

Just reading this thread is making me feel feint and nauseous! I have a huge phobia of needles, I couldn't even enter one of the donor places with a friend because I almost passed out, had to sit outside.
My mum is A and my dad is B so I could have a rare blood type apparently.
It really annoys me though when people say things like 'it's only a little bit' 'stop being a baby and do it' etc. Even though they have no idea what it's like for me when I see or even think of needles. I know people who pretend to give me injections thinking it's a big joke, then get surprised when I go pale and have to sit down.
I know it saves lives but I don't think I can physically get myself to do it.

 

[The Lunatic]

Not yet, and given the ruling that people who have homosexual intimacies aren't allowed to do so, it's unlikely I ever will.

 

[Ninonybox_v1legacy]

No I have not...and unfortunately I do not plan to. I already dread getting a blood test or a shot.....mixed in with my hate of needles.....why the hell would I go in willingly.

 

[Brutal Peanut]

Nope.

And just so this wont be low-content here are some more words: My husband doesn't either. But that's because if he ever sees his own blood, he nearly faints. Such as the one time he went for testing to see if he was Hypoglycemic (which he is), once the needle went in and he saw the blood being drawn - he fainted. Hell, he goes pale if he even thinks about it too much.

 

[Limie]

No and I want to. The problem is that I work in a place which means I came into contact with people with infectious disease and I'm a little unsure if I can still donate.

 

[Natasha_LB]

I would love to give blood... but never have, given my rather complex medical history, I worry that they wouldn't want it (Even though psychological stuff shouldn't affect my blood) In addition to that, I'm sure that the drugs (Prescription ones) would make my blood unsuitable somehow. On top of all that I'd have to roll up my sleeves and show them my arms, and that a big no, my arms are so ugly!! Don't want anyone seeing them. Well done and thank you to everyone who dose give blood though, you're all doing a great thing, and I'll join you in it as soon as I feel able to : )

 

[Avistew]

I can't donate because I'm polyamorous. I've had iron problems too. I did donate once before either of these but know I can't anymore unless I lie, but... I don't feel right doing that.

 

[Souplex]

I've only donated five or six times.
The bloodmobile only comes around when I'm busy.

 

[Zoe Castillo]

--

 

[Owlslayer]

Haven't done it, but have thought about doing it. Haven't really grabbed the bull by its' horns, i suppose. And also, I'm terrified of needles, they freak me out really bad.
I don't even know what my blood type is, but would like to, actually...
Also, the captcha or whatever it's called said i had to write "Less is more". What the hell, it's gone all philosophical, crazy. But still better than hieroglyphs.

 

[Tib088]

I've been meaning too for awhile but never got round too it.

 

[latenightapplepie]

I can't. Due to my being a dude and having sex with dudes.

 

[Lukeje]

Nope. And I'm pretty sure my anaemia precludes me from doing so.

 

[sublight]

I used to give pretty frequently, but now I'm out on two counts: having previously had cancer and having received a blood transfusion. Never knew those were on the list until I looked it up recently.

 

[trollnystan]

Nope, I faint. It's really weird. Not to mention annoying.

Spoiler: Story time children!

Growing up I had no problem with blood or needles - and heck, I'm female! Females are predisposed to handle blood - so when I turned 18 I went with a friend to get my blood tested to see if I was a candidate to give blood. I lay down on the bed, they inserted the needle - I looked away and chatted with my friend instead - and after a while I started to feel light-headed and cold. Apparently I was considerate enough to say, "It's getting dark now," before passing out. I started shaking and it took them a few minutes to wake me up.

A few months later I went back with another friend to try again. I wanted to be able to give blood dammit! But it was a repeat of the previous.

I soon started to faint when people started to talk about blood - real blood, like my friends' mother's birthing stories, not fake blood a la Dragon Age - and when I had to take a blood test for my psych doctor I was really nervous. I told the nurse about my problem though and he was very sympathetic. He let me lie down while he did it and said he'd keep an eye on me. It went well and I was feeling pretty good about myself. Until I woke up to light slaps on my cheek and the nurse hovering over me. I'd been out 5 minutes.

He let me stay on the bed for about a half-an-hour, but eventually I had to go to work. He helped me stand up, asking over and over again if I was OK, and I kept saying I was fine. I bent down to pick up my bag...

... And woke up twenty minutes later on the floor, with my shirt pushed up and the entire nursing staff hovering over me. They were all lovely, joking how it was a good thing I'd fainted that day 'cos it was baking day so they could give me cookies. But when my sister came to pick me up I started bawling.

Ever since then I've become deadly afraid of blood tests, large cuts and RL stories with too much blood in them.

And that, kids, is the story how I became a wuss!

THE END

 

[crazyfoxdemon]

I wish I could, but I travel too much and often to countries that are on most clinics' watch lists. I would if I could and I usually do when I can.. But its rarer then I wish it would be.

 

[silversnake4133]

Yes I do. I give blood whenever there's a blood drive in my area. I like to give blood because it makes me feel good knowing that somewhere I was able to help a child (or an adult) by giving him or her a fresh start at life. Granted I always almost faint after each procedure, but it's worth it in the end. :3