Donating blood

Sadly, they won't have mine as I have had malaria and what was then known as "yellow jaundice." However, two of our dogs gave blood!

I'm just turned 80 and give blood roughly every 12 weeks subject the odd blip due to visiting exotic places. I will carry on until they me to stop. I was told that over 60 you can carry on indefinitely if you are an existing donor. I was told, this may have changed, that if you are over 60 and not a registered donor you cannot give blood.

Only advice I can give is to check online or give the blood transfusion service a call. I used to donate blood and was always glad to as I have an uncommon blood group. Unfortunately the last time I gave blood I was left with severe bruising from my wrist to beyond my elbow, was unable to use my arm to operate the handbrake on my car for several days and in a fair amount of pain. I am afraid it put me off ever giving blood again.

I donated for 25+ years and was then told I couldn't any more because I had lived in Singapore as a child when there was an epidemic of some or other. I never contracted anything at the time. No one had ever asked before that where I had lived.

MrA also donated every year until a few years ago when everything went a bit haywire and he attended a few times but after queuing all evening was asked to return the following week instead.

Almost the same thing happened the following year, despite a time being arranged in advance on the phone. He got fed up in the end and stopped going.

Good on all those who have donated or still donate. I used to, but can't any more because of ongoing medical conditions. My daughter and son still do though.

I’ve only been doing it for a few years, something I had thought about doing for quite a long time then when I retired decided I should do it. It’s been ok apart from one donation which left me absolutely exhausted. I now go later in the afternoon and make sure I don’t do too much before and after.

Well done all of you who’ve donated their blood. You have no doubt saved countless lives

Not allowed to give blood. Would love to though. As I have the rarest. Well done puzzle love that’s a great thing to do

i donated blood for years but after i had cancer i wasn't able to any more.
however as i had made 48 donations and would have made more they awarded me my gold badge which i am very proud of.
but at no time was i asked what drugs i might be taking.

I had to stop when my iron levels lowered slightly as I’d switched to almost total vegetarian diet . No problem for my health but below required levels . I took supplements so I could do one last donation but a bit disappointing as I’d so nearly made it to 100 donations .

I used to give blood regularly. But now I’m 79years old they don’t want me.
I’m quite fit and healthy so I don’t see why I can’t.
I also have rare blood group which I believe they are short of.

Type 1, I should add!

I also wish I could give blood, my DM did for years and years and also received a life saving blood transfusion.

I have the herpes virus, was born with it, never able to give blood.

I wish I could donate blood, my Mum did so for years.

I can’t donate as I had a blood transfusion during the period when they were using dodgy blood.

Well done you!👏

👍🏻 OP.

Thank you. I contacted them and their answer was, it’s ok as long as I feel well on the day.

The questionnaire/form you fill in which they send you in the post asks if you have taken any medications, both prescribed and over-the-counter ones.

To save a potential wasted journey, I would check beforehand.

I gave blood for many years and was never asked about medications but why not ring the blood donor centre just to make sure. They will be more interested in where you are away.

Best to go to the main website for blood donors: www.blood.co.uk/
You can usually check a list of medication, but there's also a 'contact' facility for you to ask questions.

With some medication (and i don't know about yours) you have to give a certain amount of time for it to clear the system. The blood donation service are very used to sorting this out.

Thank you for donating blood (I am no longer able to) and if you have to postpone a donation because of your on health, so be it)