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Topic: Red Cross Rejects CH'ers? (Read 473 times) |
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ClusterChuck
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Red Cross Rejects CH'ers?
« on: Jun 28th, 2005, 8:46am » |
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WTF??? I have been donating blood for YEARS!! I strongly believe in doing that. I can't tell you how much I have given, I just know it is a LOT !!
Well, I went to give blood, the other day, and while I was sitting with the nurse, going over my history, etc., I started to get a hit. I briefly explained what was happening, and excused myself, so I could go suck on some oxygen, in my van. After the hit, I came back in, and she REFUSED to take my blood! She said that I obviously had a problem in my head, and if they were to take a pint of blood from me, it would trigger problems. Also, I take pure oxygen, so that eliminates me.
WTF?? I have given blood hundreds, maybe even thousands of times. As most of you know, I have been a CH'er for around 27 years, chronic for the last seven. Now, all of a sudden, because I suck down oxygen, I can't give blood? Why don't they ask about oxygen on the questionaire, if oxygen is a problem? I am, presently, not taking ANY meds, so that can't be the problem.
Has anyone else been rejected for this? Does anyone know anything about this?
Chuck
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Jeepgun
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Re: Red Cross Rejects CH'ers?
« Reply #1 on: Jun 28th, 2005, 8:59am » |
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I donate blood every 56 days, Chuck. I've never had a problem, although I refrained a couple of years ago, because I was on Verapamil and using Imitrex. I don't know why oxygen would be a contraindication for donating blood. That's just stupid. Red blood cells carry what? OXYGEN! Duh...
Maybe some of the more medically knowledgeable people will speak up on this thread...
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giffy76
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Re: Red Cross Rejects CH'ers?
« Reply #2 on: Jun 28th, 2005, 9:11am » |
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The last several times I'v given blood I end up pissed off because the nurses are Idiots and have no manners. I don't know about other meds but trex is ok to be in your system when donating, at least that's what I was told. as for the o2, that sounds pretty ignorant.
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Gator
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Re: Red Cross Rejects CH'ers?
« Reply #3 on: Jun 28th, 2005, 9:20am » |
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Not for CH related reasons. They quit taking my blood just before I got hit with CH. I don't understand why using O2 would disqualify you or even CH for that matter. It's not like it's a blood borne problem.
I use to give blood a couple times a year. I figured it was the right thing to do, it made me feel good to do it and I even got paid time off work for a little while sometimes. I always filled out their little questionaires honestly, to include the fact that I was stationed in Greenland in '83, Korea in '87, Japan in '88 and TDY to the Philippines in '90. In 2003, the Red Cross came to Creative Labs doing one of their blood drives and naturally, I volunteered. They refused to take my blood because I was stationed in Greenland 20 years before. For the better part of 20 years they had been accepting my donations and suddenly I wasn't eligiible? I could see being ineligible for my being in Korea or the Philippines, maybe Japan, but Greenland? I asked the dude when Greenland was placed on the list - he said it had always been on the list. So this guy is the first person in almost 20 years to actually READ the ineligibility list?  Now THAT'S scary.
Now that I think about it and to be fair, it wasn't always the Red Cross I donated to. About half of that time, I also donated to the Oklahoma Blood Institute. 
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AussieBrian
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Re: Red Cross Rejects CH'ers?
« Reply #4 on: Jun 28th, 2005, 9:59am » |
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Dunno the situation in other countries, but here in Oz we donate blood in our own time for no money.
Been doing it for years, and for much of that time I was a plasma donor, too (1hr each fortnight).
Coupla years back I was involved in a rather nasty first-aid situation and copped a fair bit of some-one's body products on me and in me. Had all my blood tests over the next 3 months, of course, and the Coroner told me I had absolutely nothing to fear.
No risk at all.
The Red Cross barred me as a donor for the next 12 months on account of the risk.
Who was lying to me?
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seasonalboomer
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Re: Red Cross Rejects CH'ers?
« Reply #5 on: Jun 28th, 2005, 10:07am » |
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on Jun 28th, 2005, 9:59am, AussieBrian wrote:Had all my blood tests over the next 3 months, of course, and the Coroner told me I had absolutely nothing to fear.
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Dunno how it is over there, but when the coroner is the one giving you "medical advice" it does seem you are either ahead of yourself a bit, or maybe listening to the wrong guy. 
Have you asked the mortician's advice on the subject?
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AussieBrian
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Re: Red Cross Rejects CH'ers?
« Reply #6 on: Jun 28th, 2005, 10:18am » |
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Point taken, and happily.
I was referring to the Coronor's Office - not so much a person as a thing.
And I still say that nurses know far more about CH than doctors ever will, because it's the nurses deal with us at the coal-face.
Long Live Nurses!
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floridian
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Re: Red Cross Rejects CH'ers?
« Reply #7 on: Jun 28th, 2005, 10:56am » |
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Blood donor guidelines disqualify anyone who is obviously not healthy: "Healthy" means that you feel well and can perform normal activities." Having cluster headaches is not a reason to disqualify, but if you are getting hit when talking to the nurse, not surprising that they turn you away.
source: http://www.redcross.org/services/biomed/0,1082,0_557_,00.html
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Lizzie2
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Re: Red Cross Rejects CH'ers?
« Reply #8 on: Jun 28th, 2005, 12:38pm » |
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Floridian - that's what I was told...requirement of being healthy. Also, medications sitting around at systemic levels - many of them are on the exclusion list.
First because of weight, then medications, then lack of any veins I could give up, etc...I've actually never been allowed to do it.
In our hospital, we get 3 hours paid time off for donating - but it's not through IRC. It goes into our own hospital's bank. I'm not saying that's the only reason I would donate by any means at all, but...that would be a nice added perk! Ah well...
I officially stopped qualifying once I started having coag issues. But that one makes sense!
Lizzie 
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Gator
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Re: Red Cross Rejects CH'ers?
« Reply #9 on: Jun 28th, 2005, 12:46pm » |
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on Jun 28th, 2005, 10:18am, AussieBrian wrote:Point taken, and happily.
I was referring to the Coronor's Office - not so much a person as a thing.
And I still say that nurses know far more about CH than doctors ever will, because it's the nurses deal with us at the coal-face.
Long Live Nurses! |
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You've got some good nurses in your neck of the woods, then. Most of the nurses I've run into - even in a headache clinic where the doctor treated CH - were more clueless than the doctors. I got into an argument with one that insisted that CH was just an intense migraine. This nurse worked for the leading CH Neuro in the state. Brainless bimbo in sensible shoes.
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LeLimey
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Re: Red Cross Rejects CH'ers?
« Reply #10 on: Jun 28th, 2005, 12:47pm » |
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I used to give blood regularly. I felt quite strongly that if ever I wanted to have others blood available to me or my family I ought to be prepared to give back.
I then had to have several blood transfusions and now I can't give blood ever again because of the risk to others from my blood. Its supposed to be screened before it was given to me (or anyone else) so why can't I give ever again? I feel quite bitter about it.
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Gator
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Re: Red Cross Rejects CH'ers?
« Reply #11 on: Jun 28th, 2005, 1:05pm » |
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Yeah and there's a lot of people running around with my possibly diseased blood in their systems because it took 20 years for me to draw a screener that could read.
Greenland is on the list that a person who has been there can NEVER donate again. You'd think they would be a little more careful with that.
I think they got some splainin to do.
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floridian
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Re: Red Cross Rejects CH'ers?
« Reply #12 on: Jun 28th, 2005, 1:16pm » |
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on Jun 28th, 2005, 1:05pm, Gator wrote:Yeah and there's a lot of people running around with my possibly diseased blood in their systems because it took 20 years for me to draw a screener that could read.
Greenland is on the list that a person who has been there can NEVER donate again. You'd think they would be a little more careful with that.
I think they got some splainin to do. |
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Spending time in most European countries puts people on the US blood donor ban list due to the Mad-Cow epidemic that occurred there (and numerous cases of the human form of the disease, Creudzfelt-Jakob disease). Greenland is a colony of Denmark, and meat imports were governed by Copenhagen.
Iceland is also on the list, and I lived there for more than 6 months after 1980, so I am persona non-grata at the Red Cross. But since mad cow keeps popping up in the US, maybe they will change the policy.
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Lizzie2
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Re: Red Cross Rejects CH'ers?
« Reply #13 on: Jun 28th, 2005, 5:08pm » |
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Heyyyyyyyyyyy watch it with the "Nurses Suck" commentary.....pleeeeeeeeaaaaase???
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BMoneeTheMoneeMan
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Re: Red Cross Rejects CH'ers?
« Reply #14 on: Jun 28th, 2005, 7:03pm » |
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Man, those are some funny stories. Doesn't suprise me that it took them 20 years to decide to start READING the paper that you had filled out dozens and dozens of times. So they potentially gave out diseased blood for 20 years just cause they didn't bother to listen to your answer to their question.
Thanks for the funny
BMonee
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Charlie
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Re: Red Cross Rejects CH'ers?
« Reply #15 on: Jun 28th, 2005, 8:01pm » |
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They rarely, if ever ever, take blood from epileptics because of the anti-convulsants. A lot of clusterheads use the same stuff. Some of these drugs are kindy iffy anyway.
Charlie
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Kiwiinoz58
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Re: Red Cross Rejects CH'ers?
« Reply #16 on: Jun 28th, 2005, 8:04pm » |
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Just a little light relief. I was a nurse for years. I also donated blood 3 monthly as I've got a fairy rare blood group and can't remember even being asked if I'd been to another country. Never had a problem till about 8 years ago when I fainted as soon as I stood up. Kept lying down for longer and longer times but still as soon as I stood up, plonk flat out on the floor again. Now I'm not wanted anymore cos I'm too much of a problem. 
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Jacqs
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mynm156
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Re: Red Cross Rejects CH'ers?
« Reply #17 on: Jun 28th, 2005, 8:04pm » |
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on Jun 28th, 2005, 5:08pm, Lizzie2 wrote:Heyyyyyyyyyyy watch it with the "Nurses Suck" commentary.....pleeeeeeeeaaaaase???
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Nurses I LOVE em.  However, let me tell you I have met some that should never have passed thier boards. 
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Jonny
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Re: Red Cross Rejects CH'ers?
« Reply #18 on: Jun 28th, 2005, 8:08pm » |
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Walking into the Red Cross for me is the same as walking into a new Docs office......"Oh shit!!"
Edit to clarify.....Red Cross dont want my blood and a new Doc thinks im there for good drugs.
Fuckem both!!!!
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Lizzie2
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Re: Red Cross Rejects CH'ers?
« Reply #19 on: Jun 28th, 2005, 8:09pm » |
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on Jun 28th, 2005, 8:04pm, mynm156 wrote:
Nurses I LOVE em. However, let me tell you I have met some that should never have passed thier boards.
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Yeahhhhhh.... I have met nurses like that, too - and doctors and....just about all kind of professionals out there!
Then again - from a nursing perspective, I've also met some less than charming patients.
I agree that there are definitely nurses who should never EVER be allowed to practice. In fact, I'd be the first to point out a few of them who actually just graduated, if so asked to -- but I just had to say something about the general statement of dislike of nurses. 
Lizzie
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unsolved1
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Re: Red Cross Rejects CH'ers?
« Reply #20 on: Jun 28th, 2005, 8:27pm » |
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I don't give blood. I figure I got enough troubles of my own. Plus I'm usually on 10 different medications at any given time (that doesn't help anything). I don't even know what my blood type is
Unsolved
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BlueMeanie
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Re: Red Cross Rejects CH'ers?
« Reply #21 on: Jun 28th, 2005, 10:46pm » |
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Hey Chuck,
I commend you for your efforts, but ya can't blame the lady who refused you. Anyone who would witness a wild man running around looking like his heads gonna pop off and runnig off to suck 02 would kinda scare the bijeebees outa someone taking blood. Ya know what I mean.  Clusterheads are soo misunderstood sometimes. Maybe next time you won't get hit and they'll never know.
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Gator
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Re: Red Cross Rejects CH'ers?
« Reply #22 on: Jun 28th, 2005, 11:03pm » |
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on Jun 28th, 2005, 5:08pm, Lizzie2 wrote:Heyyyyyyyyyyy watch it with the "Nurses Suck" commentary.....pleeeeeeeeaaaaase???
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I never said nurses suck, though I've met a few...uh, nevermind. Where was I? Oh, yeah. I said MOST of the ones I'VE met were clueless about clusters.
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| « Last Edit: Jun 28th, 2005, 11:08pm by Gator » |
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cootie
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Re: Red Cross Rejects CH'ers?
« Reply #23 on: Jun 28th, 2005, 11:08pm » |
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Can't give blood for a year after a new tatt.......I'm sure alot of paid donors lie. And people at the recieveing end 'get it' in the end. So many things to worry bout these days.........my blood honks Pam
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Lizzie2
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Re: Red Cross Rejects CH'ers?
« Reply #24 on: Jun 28th, 2005, 11:09pm » |
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on Jun 28th, 2005, 11:03pm, Gator wrote:
I never said nurses suck, though I've met a few...uh, nevermind. Where was I? Oh, yeah. I said MOST of the ones I'VE met were clueless about clusters.
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LOL well honey! You don't have to go to Australia! I actually came to Jefferson as a student because I had never had such positive nurses all the time I was in the hospital.
It was an extremely obvious difference between the atmosphere of nurses at other places I had worked and gone as a patient.
I'm not saying there aren't nurses at TJUH that are bad, but on the whole it is a very refreshing change! Of course, I'm slightly biased now! But before I ever came here or worked here - I truly was impressed by the nursing staff.
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