I do as often as I can, which is every 4 months because I donate double red cells. I am O negative so my red cells are extremely useful in emergencies and it is something I can do to help other people. Donating doubles they give you your plasma plus some saline back so you end up with the same volume of fluid. Because of this, I feel perfectly fine afterwards. I am currently at almost 7 gallons donated.
this post was submitted on 24 Feb 2025
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I'm a perfect world, everybody (that physically could) would do this.
But I feel like the fact is a paid thing just makes us all potential blood for evil rich people, literally paying their meatbags to keep a supply around for when they need something. Because you know none of them have ever donated.
I'm not trying to say we shouldn't, as I've benefited several times myself, but just the idea it's paid makes me feel weird about it.
But we do live in the capitalist past of the multiverse, so it's inevitable I guess. I know people who depend on that money, too.
I actually donate a lot, bout every two months for whole blood. I do it all the time so afterwards I feel no difference, maybe a sore arm if the phlebotomist wasn’t the best. If you go in with an empty stomach you might feel crappy and if you go in dehydrated they’ll struggle getting the blood… and you’ll feel pretty crappy.
I do it mostly for the civic duty of it all. Better to help when you can imo. Also there is a ton of data about donating blood being good for you. I’ve seen articles on it helping remove micro plastics and PFAS chemicals from the body. So hey, might as well
I’m so tired of getting my blood taken for work at the doctor so I don’t know if I will consider donating
Nope, very prone to vasovagal syncope. I tried once, went black almost immediately and spent an hour in the bus recovering. Luckily my blood type is one of the most common, so no big loss.
I used to donate blood every few months, then I needed the money so I donated Plasma twice a week for a couple years. Now I'm afraid the scarring on my veins would be too much so I try to avoid IV needles at all costs.
I haven't yet, but plan to starting next month. I high key just want a little bit of extra change for my hobbies, hehe. If I could just grow plants with my blood, Little Shop of Horrors style, I would. Running it through a middleman is the next best thing.
No, I fell out of the habit when I started having lots of casual sex and I have reynauds disease making it a long and uncomfortable process. Also I have a scar on my vein from selling plasma
Yes, every 12 weeks, which is the minimum gap between donating in the UK. I always feel fine, usually I sleep for a longer period so I plan accordling and hace a restful day.
It's the least I can do.
Yeah same in Australia for me. Fwiw it's also a way to rid yourself of some of the forever chemicals lurking in your body, eg pfas. They worked it out testing firefighters* blood and the regular blood donors had less of the chemicals in their system.
*firefighters get excess exposure to the chemicals as they're common in firefighting foam.
Generally yes, but for the past year or so I haven't made it. Got a third child, wife is a lot busy, kids got wrecked with diseases. Lots of pressure.
I have barely got a Saturday able to wake up rested lately. So even though I generally want to, I haven't had the time/energy and I generally forget if I do since sleeping an extra hour sounds like a dream.
Hopefully I can make it during Easter vacations where I can get relatives to babysit for a while.
Biannually. We have 2 big national holidays, and m blood donation camps are set in my university. (have donated 6 times till now)
Most of my life I've not been allowed to donate blood because I'm a man who has sex with men. I believe I can now, but after decades of ineligibility it still feels weird to think about.
You are now eligible, they recently removed the requirement. It's a nice thing to do, and I always urge people to do it if they can, but don't give them your contact info because depending on your blood type they can be real vampires. Source I have O- blood and was contacted daily to donate blood for over a year, even when ineligible to donate blood (because I donated yesterday)
As someone who has received a blood transfusion, thank you random stranger whose blood is now inside me!
I want to "give back" somehow, but I obviously can't donate blood (yet?).
I tried and found a cheat code! It turns out that if you pass out during the draw and then pass out again while recovering they'll call and pay for a cab to take you home! They did imply that I shouldn't come back for a while though...
On a more serious note I had donated blood twice before that with less dramatic results. I like helping people and they give me free snacks afterward. I'd been going every three months because I was in university and had a lot of time for such things. I seem to feel quite tired for the rest of the day following a donation, which I found nice and relaxing. Needle anxiety (and my weak-ass hemoglobin level) aside, it was a positive experience and I'd recommend it!
Yes. I try to catch the blood mobile when it comes to town.
I think it's helpful to someone and I like to think of it as an "oil change" for myself. Generating a fresh pint.
I would but they don't want it.
Started last year and donated twice so far. The first time I got dizzy, so I did a half bag the next time and felt better. Felt better the second time, even after a long day at work.
No specific reason other than feeling good about yourself and reap any health benefit to it, if at all. Surely it must be good somehow to stimulate blood creation ? I'm happy to do it, I feel a better person for it.
You are weak the day and the next day, so better not plan any long hike or strenuous activities. But it's okay for another long day in office.
I've tried three times and passed out twice. I pass out with simple blood draws, so they don't like me at the Red Cross.
In college we would donate then go get drunk off one beer at the campus pub then go to class
Hmm, you've gotta think whether the alcohol would be more potent since there's less blood, no?
That's the whole idea!
Donation also reduces plastic in your blood so there is a health benefits to you as well as to others
Is that so? Is there evidence that supports this? Sounds interesting
That's about PFAS not plastics. I'm sure the same logic applies but I haven't seen a similar study but for micro plastics yet.
Can't, iron levels are always too low because I have to get blood drawn for medicine every 3 months
I tried once and got a horrible headache and generally felt like crap the next day. That's dissuaded my from trying again.
Yes. I used to donate the maximum amount of 4 times a year, but due to my inability to reasonably eat the required iron supplements, I'm now only allowed to donate once a year.
I do it for a mix of reasons - it makes me feel good about myself, I get a gift and a little bit of food, and I've told myself that it's probably not a bad thing to do health-wise, although the last one is completely unfounded.
After having donated, I feel noticeably weaker when trying to do things like bike or walk fast. Usually nothing major, though.
no. im a needlephobe.
I donate 2-3 times a year. I take a break every few years, things like tattoos and such. I’m O- and they don’t let me forget to donate for too long.
My dad was shot in high school (hunting incident) and received donations. He became a regular donor after, and i guess just set a good example of donating for us to see as kids.
O+ over here so I know I am able to help a lot of people. When I donate, I do a "power red" which gives more than a standard pull. Using the American red cross app makes it a bit more fun since I collect badges and can track all my visits. Also, since I read it can reduce plastic in your system, I see that as a double win.
Unfortunately I was rejected as a donor, the nurse had too much trouble hitting a vein (mine are difficult to spot and tend to roll when sticking a needle in them) for drawing blood for the pre-donation bloodwork. So that meant an automatic rejection as they prefer not turning the donors into living pincushions. ☹️
I would, but I can't. I am medicated for my ADHD and depression. Both disqualify me in that regard
Huh, in the US, they allow donors with antidepressants and ADHD meds. Source, im a regular donor who has been on both.
It might depend on the specific medicines, but anti-depressant are an automatic disqualification here
Only your depression would because I too am on ADHD meds and donate regularly.
You cannot throw that as a blanket statement. Rules vary by country and medication. Judging by their profile the person you are responding to lives in Denmark, which actually seems to have fairly strict rules in this regard. Some of the ADHD medications I've been on in the past would have actually have disqualified me as a full blood donor there, had I still used them. Although the rules for plasma donation are less strict, so that might still be an option.
Valid point. I retract my statement.
Fun fact. People from the UK who lived there while BSE was a thing cannot donate blood in the US, pretty much ever.
It's a question that comes up in the pre-donation examination at my facility too. Germany here
Ah yes, that's also a thing here in the Netherlands. If you've lived in the UK for 6 months or longer between Jan 1980 and Dec 1996 you cannot donate.
I donate plasma once a week but right now have to take a break for a bit cause I got a tattoo. Only real Side effect is a craving for snacks and some additional cash in my wallet.
The cash part is quite nice. The donation facility I go to always has some kind of bonus programme going on too, so you usually get even more money than for a regular donation (800ml=25€ here - which is quite low, actually, as I've heard from US donors lol - plus a couple euros here and there).
Back when I was still working at GameStop and could barely afford rent, I'd go donate plasma 1-2x a week (2 times really is pushing it - your body needs to be fit for that) and tutor kids for some video game money. Or sometimes I'd just pay rent with the plasma money... Man, having no money sucks.
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