"May" We Tell You You ROCK?! (Remember! Both donors AND NON-donors are stars!)

[DottyG]

Crossing my fingers for you!

[Surianne]

Best of luck, Winterlight!

Finally finished my latest tattoo (giant back piece several years in the making) so I'll be back to donating in 6 months or so... 

[Winterlight]

I did it! One pint A-neg has been delivered!

Congratulations on the tatt, Surianne!

[emwithme]

I can't give blood any more - they don't want mine because I've got ME.  I did get my ten pints in though...

When I was at work (I'm currently off sick) when the blood wagon comes (we are able to give during work time), I used to cover the phones of the other secretaries who were off donating (and their dictations, if necessary)

[Outdoor Girl]

emwithme, what does ME stand for?

[DottyG]

I used to cover the phones of the other secretaries who were off donating (and their dictations, if necessary)

That is HUGE!  Thank you for doing that!  You probably freed up a lot of people that were able to donate who might not have otherwise!  In a way, you did donate during that time by allowing them the ability to do so.

[emwithme]

emwithme, what does ME stand for?

ME is Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (aka Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Post-Viral Fatigue Syndrome).  Wiki link here

I got it after a winter where for three months I had virus after virus (tonsillitis/quinsy/bronchitis/tonsillitis again/pneumonia) and my immune system basically crashed. 

[JennJenn68]

Does anybody have any bright ideas about how to up your iron?  I've been turned down at the blood donor clinic for the last four times I attempted to donate.  Never more than two ticks below their minimum, but it's heartbreaking to be not quite up to scratch.  I've tried iron supplements, but they don't seem to take.  I'm mostly vegetarian, although I eat fish and seafood.

[DottyG]

JennJenn68, I have the same problem!

The hints they gave me were to make sure to take the iron with Vitamin C - it absorbs better.  Don't drink caffeine with it - and limit your caffeine altogether.  Apparently, it depletes iron.

I would think the time of the month matters as well.  When you're lower on blood, your iron is going to be depleted.

If you hear of any really great tips on your end, let me know.  I know that frustration of wanting to give so badly and being juuuuuuust under the limit to be able to do so.

[Outdoor Girl]

The hints they gave me were to make sure to take the iron with Vitamin C - it absorbs better.  Don't drink caffeine with it - and limit your caffeine altogether.  Apparently, it depletes iron.

I would think the time of the month matters as well.  When you're lower on blood, your iron is going to be depleted.

I was going to make these same suggestions.  Iron isn't easily released from iron rich vegetables like spinach so you need the vitamin C with those, too.  There is something else to that is tickling my memory - maybe copper and zinc?

[Snooks]

I'll be giving my 27th pint tomorrow.

[DottyG]

YAY SNOOKS!

[diesel_darlin]

I made an appointment today, for the 27th at 4:15pm. 

[jedikaiti]

No donations for me this month - but I'm organizing the office drive for the middle of next month!

[Nika]

I just donated for the first time today!

And I think I learned that I need to donate in the afternoon and not the morning, since I would have more food in my stomach in the afternoon.  I got fairly sick. It got me thinking though -- if I feel sick from losing just a pint of blood, what must it feel like to get injured and lose a lot? Makes me realize how important it is for hospitals to have access to plenty of donated blood.