h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

or rather: trying to donate, because that seems to be all I can do.
For the second time now, I went to donate blood. The first time I tried, last year in August or September, I was told that I had to wait for two years after the END of my tuberculosis therapy before I was allowed to donate blood. Ok, fine with me.
So when I came home from London, there was the invite from the Red Cross to go and donate blood here in our townhall today.
, I thought, I'll eventually do something good.
Now in case you wondered why I never did that before: I never weighed enough to be admitted, and in addition to that, my blood pressure was always too low.
But that has all changed since I recovered from the TB. I gained lots of weight, and my blood pressure was/is fine most of the time - or that's how I feel, anyway.
Well, the asked me a lot of questions. When I told her my weight she looked me up and down and said: with, or without clothes? She didn't look very convinced when I said it was my 'net' weight, but I guess they don't have any scale there.
Then she measured my blood pressure - and that was the end of it. 90/60 - and I felt splendid
She told me that under no circumstances would I be allowed to give blood with such a low blood pressure and that I should drink at least two litres next time. She was friendly, but she looked as if she wanted to say: what are you doing here, you're wasting my time.
So now, I'm not sure whether I should really try again, chances are, they'll send me home again.
Now here's my question: is there somebody among my friends who hasn't ever donated blood? If so, would you go and do it? Apparently, I'm not meant to do it myself, but if I manage to convince just one person who hasn't donated blood before, I would feel as if I had helped nevertheless.

wonders if look for sugary blood...

I'd love to but, being a 'practising' (not that I need much practice) gay chap I'm not allowed to.

I won't go into a rant as it's been much debated elsewhere, and I'm off to the pub.

I've never donated blood, apparently i can't because i'm always slightly anaemic and my haemaglobin (spelling) can rapidly decrease in size

Yes, Roymondo, it's the same here. Thanks, though.

I didn't even get as far as checking the haemoglobin - I guess that would have been the next ko criterium.

Perhaps it's time to revive the h2g2 "Give Blood on my Behalf" group?
A604432

Wow, what a great idea - looks as if it's a bit thin on the giving side, though. If they reject me a third time (which unfortunately looks very likely), I'll sign up oin that group, and I'll write something for next time. Thanks for posting´the link, coelacanth.

I have tried on and off here to donate blood, but I'm like you (although I'm not too light) in that my BP is always too low.

The last time I successfully managed to get them to take some, was before Gruesome #1 was born - and it took soooooo long to come out that it wasn't funny. And then they said... oh look, we wrote your BP down wrong, you're not supposed to be doing that

Now I'm back doing sport, I hope it's more normal - so next time they're in the village I'll give it another go.

Great, Sho, much appreciated.
And - they're very strict here, but somnehow, it's comforting to know that.

Next time I see my GP I'll ask him about whether he thinks I'm eligible to donate any blood/tissue/bone marrow.

Fantastic, thanks a lot.

The only reason I've been told I couldn't donate was that it wasn't long enough after my previous donation. Okay, I got my months mixed up.

Should we come up with ways to raise your blood pressure then, Bel? If you were in the UK I'd suggest you sign up for cable TV from Virgin/NTL. That seems to work for most people.

Stephanie's cousin needs a bone marrow donor, I'd like to know if I can help someone else in his situation or be your proxy.

I've lived with low blood pressure since I was seven.
I really thought it was ok now, becausse I usually feel ok, but then I don't check my BP regularly.
I'll try a third time, I'm a 0 Rh.neg. and I know just how important this blood group is for people like me.
I consider myself lucky, because my youngest son has my blood group, so he could donate me blood in an emergency.

I'm going to Edinburgh on Tuesday. It's been about 4 years since I've given blood and I wasn't intending to do it again any time soon, but if it can count as a surrogate pint...

Wonderful, SWL, for once, I'm grateful for the info page

The info page is your friend

Naww, it's a pet hate of mine, but you are forgiven.

I've been turned down before, and after having two bags of blood pumped back into me after my hysterectomy, I asked the doctor if I shouldn't perhaps have "deposited" some of my own blood before going for the operation. He said very definitely that I was not suitable to give blood (probably because of the low blood pressure. But my sons all give blood - so I reckon that I do my bit, indirectly.

Many thanks to the anonymous person or persons who donated that blood that I used that time.