Australia severely lacking blood; if you are over 16, please consider donating

[nemolala]

@shinny: But if your iron levels are so low, why would your body need to get rid of it, or excrete it, since the large amount has a purpose..to compensate what you're lacking?

I always assumed that I can't overdose on iron since my HB level is 3 and I need all the iron I could get to be normal again..I think thats the way it goes.

I have been on pills for a very long time but they aren't helping so I have to have another blood test, and if my levels are still low, I'll be getting an iron infusion done.

@stephan actually that made me laugh so hard. noodles lmao.

[Camo]

Question, how long should you wait to drive after donating blood?

[shinny]

@shinny: But if your iron levels are so low, why would your body need to get rid of it, or excrete it, since the large amount has a purpose..to compensate what you're lacking?

I always assumed that I can't overdose on iron since my HB level is 3 and I need all the iron I could get to be normal again..I think thats the way it goes.

I have been on pills for a very long time but they aren't helping so I have to have another blood test, and if my levels are still low, I'll be getting an iron infusion done.

@stephan actually that made me laugh so hard. noodles lmao.

I was talking about overcompensation though. If you're lacking iron now and take an entire bottle of iron tablets in, clearly you're going to have too much and then your body can't excrete it. I was just replying to Stephan_'s comment which made it almost sound like you can just binge on iron and expect to be not anaemic anymore.

[SDPHD]

Question, how long should you wait to drive after donating blood?

My dad drives straight after donating.

I don't think it would be too much of an issue though, I feel no different after donating.

Plus, if you donate plasma or platelets, I'd imagine it would be less of an issue compared to donating whole blood.

[ninwa]

Question, how long should you wait to drive after donating blood?

I drive straight afterwards, most people I've seen aren't really affected by it at all. Anyways there's places you can sit and rest and eat something before you leave

But yeah anyway heaps of my friends I think are like 'offended' by some of the restrictions Red Cross apparently has on donors...
I think it's like if you're gay you can't or something like that? Potential risk of HIV or something?

The form doesn't ask for your orientation though, you don't have to tell them if you're gay
There's a checkbox for if you've had sex with someone who has worked as a prostitute but that doesn't specify sexual orientation

[SDPHD]

The form doesn't ask for your orientation though, you don't have to tell them if you're gay
There's a checkbox for if you've had sex with someone who has worked as a prostitute but that doesn't specify sexual orientation

I could swear I've seen a question that sort of implies male homosexuality. I've definitely seen one about anal sex (which is applicable either way), but I think I remember seeing something else.

I can't be sure though, because when I reach that lot of questions, I race through them ticking 'No'. If my dad saw me pausing while answering, I foresee a very awkward situation...

[ninwa]

Hmm that's odd, the only sex-related ones that I can remember are the sex worker ones and the "have you had sex with someone who might have one of the hepatitis infections"

Someone take a pic next time they donate (mine's in March)

[Eriny]

I tried to donate the other day but apparently I have 'bouncy veins' and the needle thing didn't go in right and bruised my arm pretty badly. After that I felt really light headed and they decided not to go through with the donation. I think I'll try again though when I'm able to, maybe with my other arm which has less bouncy veins. It was the first time I had tried donating and it wasn't the best experience ever. Still though, I think it's really important to donate if you can (or at least try :s).