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Donating plasma

Sig220_Ruger77
Who all has donated plasma before? What are your experiences and results? Any side effects?

I started doing it a month ago. I've just gone 4 times so far. The 1st time wasn't so good....I'm guessing mostly nerves as I hate new things and am not a huge fan of needles. The other 3 times have went pretty well actually. I still absolutely hate when they 1st stick the needle in my arm and cringe for a few seconds. I don't watch them put the needle in or pull it out. I figure it's better that way.

I'm not really sure why I all of sudden decided to give it a go at my age. I suppose just the thought of doing a good deed and helping someone out in the future possibly. It doesn't hurt that they compensate you a little extra spending cash I guess. I suppose that's why there are so many college kids doing it.

Jon
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Comments

14 comments

Date Votes
  • arraflipper
    I try to donate when I can, but work doesn't always let me. Two weeks ago I hit the 6 gallon mark with Red Cross. I have donated a few times to others. The needle stick and removal never bothered me, and I have never had any ill affects from donating. They usually have water and a cookies, with a barbecue on occasions, no money. Did get a t-shirt or two over the years.
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  • nmyers
    My work used to drive us to the Johns Hopkins Cancer Center to donate blood. They would draw a unit (about 525cc), then separate it into the components (red blood cells, platelets, & plasma). It wasn't uncomfortable. (I was put on the "no-go" list after I got cancer.)

    After a couple of years, they asked me to be a platelet donor. (Platelets allow blood to clot.) Problem is, there aren't a lot of platelets in one unit of whole blood. So, they put a needle in each arm, ran my blood through a centrifuge to separate the platelets, then ran the plasma & RBCs back into my other arm. Couldn't move either arm, so not really comfortable. But, considering that it made a difference whether someone lived or died, it was the least I could do. Sounds strange, but no worse that adding refrigerant to your air conditioning unit.

    Some hospitals will not accept blood from compensated donors; they are afraid that it may be infected. They always test blood, but early infections may not show up.

    Neal
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  • bustedknee
    You donate --- Do recipients have to pay?


    My wife needed blood transfusions. I'm compatible so I asked about donating in advance.
    We got the run-around and stone walled at every turn.

    They charged us and our insurance big dollars for blood already in the system.

    Just asking questions.
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  • mac10
    there is a place i know that will give ya 20 bucks and a cookie :D
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  • ruger41
    Friend of mine did it while in college. It paid for his gas money.
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  • Don McManus
    Used to donate blood regularly.

    After I was on the anti-malaria drugs, I was not allowed to donate, and frankly haven't checked in the last 30 years if I am eligible again.

    Don't think I would go into one of the local plasma centers. They seem to be located to target the transient/homeless populations.
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  • Sig220_Ruger77
    Don McManus wrote:
    Used to donate blood regularly.

    After I was on the anti-malaria drugs, I was not allowed to donate, and frankly haven't checked in the last 30 years if I am eligible again.

    Don't think I would go into one of the local plasma centers. They seem to be located to target the transient/homeless populations.

    I was of like mind Don. However, during the few times I have donated so far, I have actually noticed the opposite. Most people I have seen in there are either very well kept, driving nice vehicles, or college kids trying to get a bit of extra income. I have seen probably a dozen people turned away during the pre-donation process that you must do each time. Most of those are do to blood pressure, heart rate, or iron levels from what I have heard and been told.

    Thanks for donating blood while you could. I did it only once, as it just freaked me out. I have tried to persevere through the same "fears" with this plasma donating and it seems to be working a bit.

    Jon
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  • Sig220_Ruger77
    bustedknee wrote:
    You donate --- Do recipients have to pay?


    My wife needed blood transfusions. I'm compatible so I asked about donating in advance.
    We got the run-around and stone walled at every turn.

    They charged us and our insurance big dollars for blood already in the system.

    Just asking questions.

    I'd be interested in that myself. I do remember them telling me that the plasma they take, isn't actually put to use for upwards of 12 months....? I'm not sure the reasoning for that though.

    Jon
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  • remingtonoaks
    bustedknee wrote:
    You donate --- Do recipients have to pay?


    My wife needed blood transfusions. I'm compatible so I asked about donating in advance.
    We got the run-around and stone walled at every turn.

    They charged us and our insurance big dollars for blood already in the system.

    Just asking questions.

    I'd be interested in that myself. I do remember them telling me that the plasma they take, isn't actually put to use for upwards of 12 months....? I'm not sure the reasoning for that though.

    Jon

    Around here you can't donate for specific person to save them money. But they'll happily take your plasma with little compensation compared to what they charge the recipient.

    No I've never donated, I've always had an irregular heartbeat and they won't take me. I found that out when I tried to donate for my mom when she had her heart attack and needed a quadruple bypass. I was around 20 years old. But I most definitely would if I could donate
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  • diver-rig
    Myself and buddies used to sell plasma for beer money in Jacksonville NC. I used to have to go run around the block before I walked in, or they would refuse me for low blood pressure.

    After a trip to the sand box, with all the great drugs and pills, via uncle sugar, I was banned.

    Never been back to one, and the Red Cross can KMA.
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  • hoosier
    Used to donate all the time. Heck was almost to 5 Gal mark on Blood (they most harvested the plasma) .

    Most of the blood supply comes from "a very small percentage of very dedicated donors," Red Cross says "We are very concerned that whenever we lose a donor, we lose them for the rest of their life."

    But, In 2001, in an attempt to protect the nation's blood supply from mad cow disease, the FDA banned blood donation from people who had previously lived in Europe.

    I had served time in Europe and could no longer donate. My wife and first born affected too.
    I have not Mad Cow crazy sine leaving Europe in 1986
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  • bambihunter
    Back when we were poor newlyweds, I donated the max I could. Then, one time they 'skinned' me. Meaning, instead of going into the vein, it seemed they went along the vein. It hurt instantly and I mentioned it to the nurse and she said it was fine. But, within a couple of minutes my arm started looking bruised. It was obvious I was bleeding internally. Later, I had some blood work done at the Dr. office and they put my blood type on the paperwork. When I was next at the plasma center, I saw they had something else documented. I again mentioned it to the staff and they said the are very careful about that. After some pushing, they went ahead and drew blood for testing and they found that they had it listed wrong. So, for the past year plus, they had been marking it wrong. I know plasma isn't as critical as whole blood, but I think it still matters to have the right blood type.
    Shortly after that, I went on various medications which keep me from donating plasma or any blood (except to mosquito's).
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  • Smitty500mag
    It's called selling your blood if you take money for it. I donate blood every 60 days at the Fayetteville, GA public library where the Red Cross uses one of their rooms for blood donations.
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  • gruntled2
    I haven't given in a long time but I do have a 3 gallon card. Quite a long time ago they started to somehow separate the blood & they said they needed a larger needle. It wasn't much after that I stopped. It has to be over forty years ago. I never got paid but I did give at work on several occasions so I was paid for my time. I am O neg so I was on their speed dial for awhile until my wife got mad & told them to stop calling me. Seems like there was always an "emergency" as soon as I was eligible to give again.
    One time the guy sitting across from me after we gave passed out. I thought that was funny & started laughing. Next thing I knew I was laying on the floor looking up at the nurse kneeling over me. I think that's something called Karma.
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