Re: CFS-ME/FMS: 'Potential Risk to Blood Supply Probed'

[Guest guest]

I have been told by my doctor at the Mayo clinic not to donate blood.

DebbieG

[Guest guest]

This may have been mentioned by others already, but since the XMRV study by the

WPI, there have been a number of recommendations by scientists, federal

officials, and patient groups that CFS patients not donate blood at this time.

And Canada recently banned all CFS patients from donating. From the CFIDS

Association of America:

" There are numerous medical reasons why people with CFS should not donate blood

(medications, low blood volume, orthostatic intolerance, latent and reactivated

viral infections, etc.). The CFIDS Association of America has long advised

against CFS patients donating blood or making organ transplants. Commenting at

the Oct. 29, 2009 meeting of the federal CFS Advisory Committee (CFSAC), Dr.

Klimas, a renowned expert CFS clinician and researcher, asked that CFS

patients not give blood to protect their own health and that of others. The

National Cancer Institute has reinforced the need for CFS patients to refrain

from making blood donations in its interim guidelines and more recent Q & A on

XMRV. "

The XMRV Blood Supply Safety Task Force is still investigating the issue but we

should have some results from them this summer. By then we might see a change

in position, one way or the other. I personally have not been giving blood

since getting sick in 1992; I did not feel it was ethical to donate blood given

that I had a poorly researched disease that was very obviously related (in my

case) to viral infections. Many of us carry higher concentrations than normal of

herpes viruses (HHV-6, for instance) and other pathogens that research is

beginning to find may have significance in a variety of other illnesses.

I would definitely err on the side of caution, for the safety of others.

>

> I have been told by my doctor at the Mayo clinic not to donate blood.

> DebbieG

>