Blood donation

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 4/19/00 11:15:37 AM Eastern Daylight Time,

slowens@... writes:

<<

I know I need to do this.....I'm just a big wuss when it comes to needles!

I should really look into it, though, because I know it is really needed!

>>

I know, me too. Needles...ugh. I will pass out. But I need to do it. I need

to find something to do with my kids though. I'll see if there are any places

I can go on the weekend.

[Guest guest]

> and (and everyone else), have you ever considered giving

blood? You have a rarer type, which is very much needed.

I know I need to do this.....I'm just a big wuss when it comes to needles!

I should really look into it, though, because I know it is really needed!

[Guest guest]

The last time I donated blood I almost passed out...Actually the people there told me that it would be a good idea for me NOT to donate blood since I tend to do that. But I do have on my driver license that I am an organ donor.

MGTFD

Re: Blood donation

> and (and everyone else), have you ever considered givingblood? You have a rarer type, which is very much needed.I know I need to do this.....I'm just a big wuss when it comes to needles!I should really look into it, though, because I know it is really needed!------------------------------------------------------------------------Enjoy the award-winning journalism of The New York Times with convenient home delivery. And for a limited time, get 50% off for thefirst 8 weeks by subscribing. Pay by credit card and receive an additional 4 weeks at this low introductory rate.1/3102/1/_/21226/_/956157086/------------------------------------------------------------------------As Deb has said: "Fitness is a journey and it begins with the first step."Visit our new vault site http://taeboon.isportsdot.com/

[Guest guest]

I wish I knew that 3 weeks ago. . .

I don't know about other areas of the country, but there is a big

drive on blood donations here in STL. It just made me think that we

have a whole new crop of post ops and they might not be aware that we

can never donate blood again after having the MGB.

Dr R says that it can be very dangerous for our health and he makes

no exceptions. We can't give blood because the malabsorption we have

from the MGB makes it difficult for our bodies to replentish our red

blood cells as fast as they have to be replenished. In short, we need

every red blood cell we have.

This is just an FYI--

Margaret in St. Louis

MGB 12/13/00

250 / 160

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 6/26/2002 10:01:33 AM US Mountain Standard Time,

bell_margaret@... writes:

> We can't give blood because the malabsorption we have

> from the MGB makes it difficult for our bodies to replentish our red

> blood cells as fast as they have to be replenished. In short, we need

> every red blood cell we have

Hmmm I thought red blood cells are created by the Marrow. If we are healthy

(which some of us are healthier now than before) Does our ability to create

good rich blood go down?? I vould understand not donateing because we will

have a harder time " bouncing back " after donateing because we will feel

weeker and not be able to restore our electrolyte balance. That make more

sense to me. :-)

In all the literature about MGB I have not read a statement that makes it

really clear why we should not donate if we are healthier than ever before.

But then again... Pregnant women are not allowed to donate and their blood

volume is higher with wonderful rich blood. GO FIGURE! ! boy do I sound like

a vampire or what??

Hugs to all,

Anita

in Tucson

3/01/01 MGB

324/178 and happy! ! !

[Guest guest]

I'm surprised you were able to donate. I don't think my iron would have even

permitted me too. Even though you felt fine afterwards, my guess would be

that Dr. R would still ask that you not do it anymore. You might e-mail him

for more info about it.

in OK

MGB 3/29/2001

303/153 -150

Landon born 4/26/2002

In a message dated 06/26/2002 5:42:01 PM Pacific Daylight Time,

1nhamalian@... writes:

<< Well, I hadn't heard that we were not supposed to donate and I donated. I

had surgery on 3/25/02, a little over 3 months now. I donated 3 weeks ago.

I told the staff I had weight loss surgery two months prior. They said that

was fine! I bled a bag in less than 6 minutes. I felt fine after and I

still feel fine. I am going to have my blood work done this Friday. But, I

know my body pretty well and I think I would know if something were lacking.

If anyone has more info on this subject it would be appreciated.

Kathy in IN

3/25/02

down 50lbs

>>

[Guest guest]

And this is NOT limited to MGB'ers alone....I've seen others who have had

RNYs say the same thing...that they should not donate blood anymore.

Tricia in IL

In a message dated 6/26/02 6:16:09 PM, ChoctawGal@... writes:

<<ninibee@a... wrote:

> Hmmm I thought red blood cells are created by the Marrow.

Yes, they certainly are.

The problem we have is *absorbing* the nutrients the marrow *needs*

in order to make the RBC's we need normally... let alone following a

blood loss. (Ex: blood donation, heavy menses, accidents, surgeries,

etc.)

This is why we, after having X number of feet of small intestines now

totally bypassed, and not absorbing those nutrients... the remainder

has to really work to keep up with providing not just the building

blocks for RBC production, but nutrition to *all* our systems. It

wouldn't be good to intentionally tax our systems by self-inducing

anemia.>>

[Guest guest]

ninibee@a... wrote:

> Hmmm I thought red blood cells are created by the Marrow.

Yes, they certainly are.

The problem we have is *absorbing* the nutrients the marrow *needs*

in order to make the RBC's we need normally... let alone following a

blood loss. (Ex: blood donation, heavy menses, accidents, surgeries,

etc.)

This is why we, after having X number of feet of small intestines now

totally bypassed, and not absorbing those nutrients... the remainder

has to really work to keep up with providing not just the building

blocks for RBC production, but nutrition to *all* our systems. It

wouldn't be good to intentionally tax our systems by self-inducing

anemia.

I hope that helps a bit.

Jenn in Portland, OR

300/157/???

If we are healthy

> (which some of us are healthier now than before) Does our ability

to create

> good rich blood go down?? I vould understand not donateing because

we will

> have a harder time " bouncing back " after donateing because we will

feel

> weeker and not be able to restore our electrolyte balance. That

make more

> sense to me. :-)

> In all the literature about MGB I have not read a statement that

makes it

> really clear why we should not donate if we are healthier than ever

before.

> But then again... Pregnant women are not allowed to donate and

their blood

> volume is higher with wonderful rich blood. GO FIGURE! ! boy do I

sound like

> a vampire or what??

>

> Hugs to all,

> Anita

> in Tucson

> 3/01/01 MGB

> 324/178 and happy! ! !

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Thank you, Kathy!

in OK

In a message dated 06/26/2002 7:15:07 PM Pacific Daylight Time,

1nhamalian@... writes:

<< Your baby is a month older than my surgery. Congratulations! >>

[Guest guest]

I think this has everything to do with our problem absorbing iron after the

surgery. Iron is needed in the formation of red blood cells.

Pat

Re: blood donation

In a message dated 6/26/2002 10:01:33 AM US Mountain Standard Time,

bell_margaret@... writes:

> We can't give blood because the malabsorption we have

> from the MGB makes it difficult for our bodies to replentish our red

> blood cells as fast as they have to be replenished. In short, we need

> every red blood cell we have

Hmmm I thought red blood cells are created by the Marrow. If we are healthy

(which some of us are healthier now than before) Does our ability to create

good rich blood go down?? I vould understand not donateing because we will

have a harder time " bouncing back " after donateing because we will feel

weeker and not be able to restore our electrolyte balance. That make more

sense to me. :-)

In all the literature about MGB I have not read a statement that makes it

really clear why we should not donate if we are healthier than ever before.

But then again... Pregnant women are not allowed to donate and their blood

volume is higher with wonderful rich blood. GO FIGURE! ! boy do I sound like

a vampire or what??

Hugs to all,

Anita

in Tucson

3/01/01 MGB

324/178 and happy! ! !

[Guest guest]

> But then again... Pregnant women are not allowed to donate and their blood

> volume is higher with wonderful rich blood. >>

Pregnant women do have a larger blood volume (almost a 50% increase) to take

care of placental circulation to the baby. But, the red blood cell count

actually drops in most pregnancies, because the increased volume is mostly

plasma/fluid... so while there's more blood volume, it's actually quite

thinner than a non-pregnant woman... which is why pregnant women should not

donate blood.

(KY) <--- wearing my midwife hat today

[Guest guest]

Well, I hadn't heard that we were not supposed to donate and I donated. I had

surgery on 3/25/02, a little over 3 months now. I donated 3 weeks ago. I told

the staff I had weight loss surgery two months prior. They said that was fine!

I bled a bag in less than 6 minutes. I felt fine after and I still feel fine.

I am going to have my blood work done this Friday. But, I know my body pretty

well and I think I would know if something were lacking.

If anyone has more info on this subject it would be appreciated.

Kathy in IN

3/25/02

down 50lbs

I think this has everything to do with our problem absorbing iron after the

surgery. Iron is needed in the formation of red blood cells.

Pat

Re: blood donation

In a message dated 6/26/2002 10:01:33 AM US Mountain Standard Time,

bell_margaret@... writes:

> We can't give blood because the malabsorption we have

> from the MGB makes it difficult for our bodies to replentish our red

> blood cells as fast as they have to be replenished. In short, we need

> every red blood cell we have

Hmmm I thought red blood cells are created by the Marrow. If we are healthy

(which some of us are healthier now than before) Does our ability to create

good rich blood go down?? I vould understand not donateing because we will

have a harder time " bouncing back " after donateing because we will feel

weeker and not be able to restore our electrolyte balance. That make more

sense to me. :-)

In all the literature about MGB I have not read a statement that makes it

really clear why we should not donate if we are healthier than ever before.

But then again... Pregnant women are not allowed to donate and their blood

volume is higher with wonderful rich blood. GO FIGURE! ! boy do I sound like

a vampire or what??

Hugs to all,

Anita

in Tucson

3/01/01 MGB

324/178 and happy! ! !

[Guest guest]

They checked my iron and it was good. I'm real good about taking my supplements

also. I haven't felt this healthy in a very long time. I doubt I will donate

any time in the near future now that I know it's not a good idea.

Your baby is a month older than my surgery. Congratulations!

Kathy in IN

3/25/02

I'm surprised you were able to donate. I don't think my iron would have even

permitted me too. Even though you felt fine afterwards, my guess would be

that Dr. R would still ask that you not do it anymore. You might e-mail him

for more info about it.

in OK

MGB 3/29/2001

303/153 -150

Landon born 4/26/2002

In a message dated 06/26/2002 5:42:01 PM Pacific Daylight Time,

1nhamalian@... writes:

<< Well, I hadn't heard that we were not supposed to donate and I donated. I

had surgery on 3/25/02, a little over 3 months now. I donated 3 weeks ago.

I told the staff I had weight loss surgery two months prior. They said that

was fine! I bled a bag in less than 6 minutes. I felt fine after and I

still feel fine. I am going to have my blood work done this Friday. But, I

know my body pretty well and I think I would know if something were lacking.

If anyone has more info on this subject it would be appreciated.

Kathy in IN

3/25/02

down 50lbs

>>

[Guest guest]

Ok, Kathy...

Here is more info... but first, I would like to say that I wouldn't

expect any general nurse, phebotomist, or blood donation volunteer to

completely understand our bodies and particular type of malabsorption

and what stresses it puts on our physiology.

Please understand that even many, if not most, physicians don't even

*start* to grasp the dynamics of WLS and nutrient malabsorption....

let alone other types of health care professionals... or volunteers

who may not have *any* medical knowledge in that area. I wouldn't

risk my health on the word of someone I wasn't 1000000% sure they

were intimately familiar with MY particular bypass.

Even if you feel fine, it is still possible to have a deficiency of

any one of many nutrients, if not a combination of them. I have read

quite a few posts from folks who feel, " just fine, " yet found that

the had deficiencies. It is also true that one may not test as

deficient for over 6 months to a year postop. Allow me to emphasize

that even though working in life support management and for over 12

years AND felt just fine, I was anemic, and had NEVER been in my life

up 'til then.

I'll climb off my soapbox for now, and leave you with webpages right

from Dr. R's site that correlate gastric bypass with iron deficiency

anemia.

http://www.clos.net/lib/04-comps/iron_def00.htm

http://www.clos.net/lib/04-comps/post_gastrectomy.htm

(Look under the subject heading, " Nutritional

syndromes, " " Nutritional Syndromes- Anemia, " and, " OTHER

COMPLICATIONS OF GASTRIC SURGERY- Later. " )

As for the, " official word, " I hope to see it come right from the

horse's... err... surgeon's mouth, on this list, very soon.

My best;

Jenn in Portland, OR

MGB 11-1-00

300/157/???

on iron supplementation

" kathy hamalian " <1nhamalian@a...> wrote:

> If anyone has more info on this subject it would be appreciated.

>

> Kathy in IN

> 3/25/02

> down 50lbs

[Guest guest]

Hi,

Do not donate blood.

Iron deficiency occurs in about 5% of gastric bypass patients, including

MGB) and you do not want to be iron deficient.

Peace.

RR

Re: blood donation

Ok, Kathy...

Here is more info... but first, I would like to say that I wouldn't

expect any general nurse, phebotomist, or blood donation volunteer to

completely understand our bodies and particular type of malabsorption

and what stresses it puts on our physiology.

Please understand that even many, if not most, physicians don't even

*start* to grasp the dynamics of WLS and nutrient malabsorption....

let alone other types of health care professionals... or volunteers

who may not have *any* medical knowledge in that area. I wouldn't

risk my health on the word of someone I wasn't 1000000% sure they

were intimately familiar with MY particular bypass.

Even if you feel fine, it is still possible to have a deficiency of

any one of many nutrients, if not a combination of them. I have read

quite a few posts from folks who feel, " just fine, " yet found that

the had deficiencies. It is also true that one may not test as

deficient for over 6 months to a year postop. Allow me to emphasize

that even though working in life support management and for over 12

years AND felt just fine, I was anemic, and had NEVER been in my life

up 'til then.

I'll climb off my soapbox for now, and leave you with webpages right

from Dr. R's site that correlate gastric bypass with iron deficiency

anemia.

http://www.clos.net/lib/04-comps/iron_def00.htm

http://www.clos.net/lib/04-comps/post_gastrectomy.htm

(Look under the subject heading, " Nutritional

syndromes, " " Nutritional Syndromes- Anemia, " and, " OTHER

COMPLICATIONS OF GASTRIC SURGERY- Later. " )

As for the, " official word, " I hope to see it come right from the

horse's... err... surgeon's mouth, on this list, very soon.

My best;

Jenn in Portland, OR

MGB 11-1-00

300/157/???

on iron supplementation

" kathy hamalian " <1nhamalian@a...> wrote:

> If anyone has more info on this subject it would be appreciated.

>

> Kathy in IN

> 3/25/02

> down 50lbs

[Guest guest]

Thanks so very much for 'setting the record straight'!

I'm great, still losing and have more energy than I ever imagined!

Husband is overwhelmed at it all! Children are speechless! Most people do

not even know who I am! Some of them just look and have a puzzled-look, like

who in the world is that? I love it! The people who 'always had something

to say about my weight,before' are truly dumbfounded. I just say (in a

cheery voice): " It's the same me that was always inside here " ! Then I

quickly change the subject. It has been a real trip!

You know that I am more than happy to be a contact; however, I am gone

so much that being on the regular list would be frustrating for all.

Best Wishes to all!

Farleigh

[Guest guest]

What you really meant is that your surgery is a month older than her baby, or

her baby is a month younger than your surgery...the math teacher

> Thank you, Kathy!

>

> in OK

>

> In a message dated 06/26/2002 7:15:07 PM Pacific Daylight Time,

> 1nhamalian@... writes:

>

> << Your baby is a month older than my surgery. Congratulations! >>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Okay, if you say so. . .

What you really meant is that your surgery is a month older than her baby, or

her baby is a month younger than your surgery...the math teacher

> Thank you, Kathy!

>

> in OK

>

> In a message dated 06/26/2002 7:15:07 PM Pacific Daylight Time,

> 1nhamalian@... writes:

>

> << Your baby is a month older than my surgery. Congratulations! >>

>

>

[Guest guest]

,

I have no "expert" advice on this, but I sympathize with your feelings. By the time I got everything arranged so I could undergo revision surgery (in late 2001), I did not want to deal with blood donation. Even the thought of giving blood exhausted me. So I did not give any at all. (Giving myself some more cancellous bone tissue for autologous grafting seemed quite sufficient, thank you kindly!) As far as I know, I am fine, despite all the dire warnings I received from various revision-surgery veterans. I was transfused with at least 6 units of donor blood.

I can't tolerate iron at all. They seem to give iron routinely (post-op) after spinal surgery. I find the gastrointestinal effects extreme. There may be some forms of iron supplementation that are easier to tolerate, however--I seem to remember a post to that effect some time back, at one of the more "generic" scoliosis lists . . . .

---- Original Message -----

From:

Sent: Thursday, May 29, 2003 12:24 PM

Subject: Re: ucsf

Hello!I did not have to donate blood, since my surgery was only a little under 2 hours, but they did run the machine recirculating the blood that I lost back into me. For future reference I'd also like to know about the donated vs. self-donated blood too! For my first surgery in 1985 donating blood left me sick in the weeks leading to surgery because of the iron I had to take. I'd like to avoid that in the future! M.Support for scoliosis-surgery veterans with Harrington Rod Malalignment Syndrome. Not medical advice. Group does not control ads or endorse any advertised products.

[Guest guest]

Xan,

Thanks for the info. I will be definitely be looking into it. I like the idea

of a blood drive. That is great, I think I just might try that. I think it

helps us to feel like we are making a difference, whether it be our children

directly or someone else's. Sometimes we can feel very helpless and this is a

great way to turn that around a little.

Thanks!

Kim (Mom to - CVID)

Blood donation

> Hi everyone. I just needed to put some input in on the blood

> donation question. I have in the past worked with a plasma center

> to have plasma donations. It works really great if you live in a

> large city, we however, live in a small rural area. The center

> was nice and I still do some work with and thru them. And I

> always tell people to donate plasma if they can at any time.

> However, since July I have become a kinda volunteer for the

> Amercan Red Cross and I have had two blood drives in Kaitlyn's

> honor for people to donate blood, which they can turn into not

> only the whole blood product, but they can also get plasma and

> platelets out of a donation. We got 82 pints of blood donated in

> the two drives we have had and we have 3 more drives scheduled in

> a week in her honor. She cannot be specifically helped by the

> donations, but at least it is helping to have the product made

> available for the possiblity of plasma made IGIV. The American

> Red Cross makes the product of Polygam and Po

> lygam SD, which we have used in the past. So I feel like she has

> benefited from it. And someone can always use the blood. I have

> been wanting to do something to help in some way and this has been

> it for me. I have had the clinic call and say they did not have

> her IGIV and had no place to obtain it from, so I would have to do

> some heavy calling to different pharmacies and hospitals. I did

> the calling because they said there was nothing they could do. I

> could not let her not get her treatment, so the " mama " in me took

> over. Sorry this is so long and involved, but if you can donate

> blood, you never know if you are helping one of our kids get

> plasma. Thanx and many prayers, Xan - Mom to - 16 &

> Kaitlyn - 10 (CVID, Asthma, Chronic Sinusitis)

>

>

[Guest guest]

I agree with your anesthesiologist, too close to the surgery for na to

donate her own blood. The next best thing would be for directed donations, from

family, friends. I also understand your reluctance against using bank blood,

however it is heavily screened, and considered safe, Every night I works I give

several units to patients. Even so, if it were my daughter, and knowing I had

this few weeks, I would ask family and friends to be the donors, if possible.

Will the surgeon use a cell saver, where part of her own blood loss during

surgery can be given back to her?

Sharon H.

Mom to , (15, DS) and , (11)

South Carolina

" Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of

battle. "

Blood Donation

Well, here we go. na had her pre-op yesterday for her BIG surgery. She

will have 2 rods fused into her spine on April 23rd. After speaking with the

anesthesiologist, he strongly recommends na NOT donating her own .

He

says that would deplete her iron too drastically and she'd need to come in

for

shots 3X a week before surgery to try to bring it back up. He said that

there

is no reason not to use donor blood these days. I still feel like if Bri

does

not bank her own blood that my husband or myself should donate it?

.......anyone else dealt with this issue? Thanks..

Laurie

Mom to Bri w/trisomy 9p and Kayla w/trisomy 21

************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com.

[Guest guest]

We struggled with this a little as well, when our daughter, Shelby had her

first open heart surgery at 5 1/2 months old. She's had five more heart

surgeries since then. Once we found out that there was no guarantee that our

blood would be used for her (if there is any kind of emergency and they need

your

blood type they will use it for that first) we too decided to not have

anymore stress to deal with and just focus on her. Everything worked out then

and

with all of her other surgeries. She is now 9 years old and doing great!

Good luck and keep us posted on her progress, we will keep na and your

family in our prayers.

Sandi - Mom to Shelby (9w/DS), Stuart (5 1/2), (4) and (5

mos)

@ @ @ @ @

...\)/...\)/...\)/...\)/...\)/..

************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com.

[Guest guest]

Hi Laurie!

My daughter, , has received hundreds of blood transfusions and

dozens of platelet transfusions, and she never had a problem. She was

tested for all illnesses (HIV, etc.) after her chemo treatments ended,

and she was fine. Her doctor's office is one of the busiest in the

country and, as far as I know, they haven't had anyone contract

another illness.

If I remember correctly, there is a charge if you want to use a

specific person's blood. I think the donor is charged, and also the

recipient. I'm going back ten years, so I may not remember correctly,

but it seems like it was over $200, and that was in 1996.

My husband and I both donate blood now, and they have an extremely

detailed process that a donor has to go through in order to donate

blood. In the last few years, her doctor's office and hospital have

instituted several new safeguards that follow every donation from when

it's first taken to when a patient receives it. At first it seemed

silly to me to go to such extremes, but now I wonder why it always

wasn't like that.

I know that it's frightening, but, from our experience as donors and

's experience as a patient, I wouldn't worry about the blood.

Put your energies into giving extra hugs!

For those of you that know us, celebrated 5 years off-treatment

in January and she's doing great. She's officially " cured, " and she's

having her healthiest year ever - even though she currently has

another sinus infection! If only they could be cured!

Terri

[Guest guest]

Ruthie was too small to donate her own for her surgery, but we were given

the option of donating for her or having family/friends donate for her. We

opted not to and to trust the blood bank. We had so much already to deal

with due to her surgery that I couldn't take on one more burden. It worked

out fine.

Sue

> Well, here we go. na had her pre-op yesterday for her BIG surgery.

> She

> will have 2 rods fused into her spine on April 23rd. After speaking with

> the

> anesthesiologist, he strongly recommends na NOT donating her own

> blood.

> He

> says that would deplete her iron too drastically and she'd need to come

> in

> for

> shots 3X a week before surgery to try to bring it back up. He said that

> there

> is no reason not to use donor blood these days. I still feel like if Bri

> does

> not bank her own blood that my husband or myself should donate it?

> .......anyone else dealt with this issue? Thanks..

> Laurie

> Mom to Bri w/trisomy 9p and Kayla w/trisomy 21

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 3/30/07 1:01:59 PM Pacific Standard Time, sml524@...

writes:

> we too decided to not have

> anymore stress to deal with and just focus on her. Everything worked out

> then and

> with all of her other surgeries. She is now 9 years old and doing great!

>

> Good luck and keep us posted on her progress, we will keep na and your

> family in our prayers.

>

Thanks so much Sandi! I hear ya on LESS STRESS> I really think I am going to

loose it here. Friends and family just don't get how stressful this is. They

just don't get it that my daughter is going to be put through a tremendous

amount of pain. It is tearing me up inside. I just want to take her and run away

until it's time. This waiting and thinking of all the what-if's is making me

crazy!! Some friends/family are making me feel as though my daughter is somehow

less valuable than their children. That she has this extra chromosome, so we

really are lucky to have had her this long. I CAN'T accept that!!! I don't want

to be around those people right now! Sorry, I feel better now.

Thanks again,

Laurie

**************************************

See what's free at

http://www.aol.com.