When Can I Try Again to Donate Plasma if My Veins Were to Small
Does frequent blood/platelet donation harm your veins?
- Follow Question
- 2
Great Question
Asked by seekingwolf (10407 ) March 25th, 2014
I started donating my platelets and plasma regularly (every ii weeks) a couple months agone. I am non getting paid or annihilation, but my claret blazon is actually good for platelet donation, my veins are healthy so the procedure is quick (about an hour), and my fluids are replaced with saline so I feel great afterwards. Information technology's also kind of fun to sit down in a warm leather chair and lookout TV for a practiced cause!
Anyway, my veins are still not bad simply I am worried that donating every 2 weeks is going to harm them or something. Make them plummet or something. Can someone put my fears to balance?
BTW, it'due south a 2 arm system, one Iv in each arm. ane IV pulls my claret out of me and the other IV returns my red blood cells, sans platelets and some plasma, with some saline to go on me well hydrated.
- Flag as...
- health
- charity
- donations
- medicine
- blood
- healthcare
Observing members: 0 
Composing members: 0 
31 Respondsouth
No, because you lot're not putting anything other than blood and saline back in. From what I sympathize, it'due south pushing something into your vein that is not normally full strength in the blood stream.
A friend has been getting a "Myer'due south Push" which is a cocktail of B vitamins and some other mineral supplements, equally part of her recovery from cancer treatments. It is administered via Four, and it has "worn out" her vein. That'southward because of the force of the cocktail interacting with the walls of the vein.
Thanks for the answer. It's just something I was worried about. I'd like to keep donating.
Ask the phlebotomists next time y'all're there.
Good on ya for your donation. I donate my AB- blood every two months. I've considered plasma, but with my ADHD I actually don't think I could sit all the same in a chair with both arms taken abroad from me for that long. Plus I'm a commitment phobe, and you really do need to be a regular donator to make it virtually useful for donating. That's why most pay.
I have a rare blood blazon, O- with the RH factor and donate about every 2 months. I wasn't aware that ane was immune to donate more than than every 60 days or then.
I donate to Stalk Express for research purposes, perhaps regular altruistic at a blood bank has different protocol.
I too accept good veins and take never had an issue.
Are y'all altruistic at the same facility or are you randomly donating and not disclosing the frequency?
If you are donating whole blood, you tin can't donate more than than every lx days or so.
I used to donate whole claret here and there but stopped subsequently my weight loss surgery because I am already at take chances for dehydration since I don't go hungry and I have to "remind" myself to eat and drink, too I don't want to compromise my iron levels (I'chiliad on a supplement). So I only donate platelets now. Platelet donors tin donate every 7 days. That's because platelets are replaced rapidly and barely any red cells are lost.
I become to the Red Cantankerous. Same location also, cause it'due south about 5 miles from my apartment. I have a Ruby Cantankerous Donor card that gets scanned every time I become, so the staff always know well-nigh my frequency. Actually, I am starting to get to know the staff because I've been in that location a few times. It's a very clean, professional facility staffed with nice RNs who take skillful care of you.
My blood is A+ by the way. They had some platelet shortage in the area and kept talking most how they needed A+ or O+ people to donate platelets. That'southward how I got involved. I accept a high platelet count so I routinely tin can requite 2–three whole units per 1 visit.
I will ask the RN next time I am there. I commonly keep a Sat morning time when I am costless and don't have annihilation to do. While I'd love to go paid for donating, the fact that I am not compensated doesn't stop me. It'south still kind of fun! (foreign I know, my swain thinks I'chiliad weird for going as often as I do).
@Coloma with plasma donation information technology is not required that you wait lx days because they put RBCs,WBCs, and a saline solution dorsum into your arrangement. You aren't a pint shy.
With whole blood donation they accept a pint and go out your body doing the work to replace fluid, white and cerise blood cells. RBC depletion affects the trunk's perfusion. WBC depletion affects immunity. Plasma depletion dehydrates the body and stresses the middle/blood pressure level because there isn't as much blood volume to go effectually. It takes a little bit to replenish those things naturally, therefore they require a two month down time for whole blood donation.
[edit] I've never understood why they hound me for my blood so much. Being AB-, I have the most rare blood type, at about 2% of the population. I can take blood from an A, a B, or an AB, just I tin just donate to some other AB-. Seems like my blood is kind of useless if there are then many options for receiving.
My friend got notified by the donation center that his platelets are off, so now his GP is involved and he has to stop donating for a bit to run across what'south going on.
Aye, isn't that a sign of possible illness, similar cancer? I'g lamentable about your friend.
My platelet count was 390 prior to my weight loss surgery. At present it hovers around 330–360. That's probably considering I only eat near 700–750 calories a day.
@GloPro Hah…how absurd is that!
Usa O- make up about 7% of the population and are the only truthful universal donors that can give to all types. Sadly, nosotros can only receive O- blood, sooo, we are SOL if there is not enough O- claret on manus at whatever particular medical institution in the event nosotros demand a transfusion or extra juice of our own flavor.
Funny because I was thinking of request a Q. and inquiring as to other rare claret types hither on Fluther. The plasma makes sense, I have still to give plasma, they just desire my whole blood! lol
@Coloma I am genuinely dislocated about mine. When I check in at the donation centre and tell them AB- they don't even brand me look in line. I think it has more to do with the negative factor, only seriously, my blood just goes to the ii% of usa with my blood, but in that location are tons of A and B peeps out there, so I'thousand never going to be SOL like an O- would be. I could understand them hunting y'all down. Me? No… Merely I get phoned at least twice a week until I brand an appointment once those lx days are upward.
I do know that AB- claret plasma is universally more useful than whatever other. Mayhap they just have my whole blood and carve up information technology since I keep refusing plasma donation.
That's probably why they proceed hounding you – your plasma is actually needed. They can separate it from your whole blood donation. It's because of the Rh- factor. I am Rh+ but I was told that they really demand plasma specifically from Rh- donors, at least in my surface area.
Anytime that you poke a hole in a vein you lot crusade some harm and therefore a little scarring. Very big needles that are used in blood donations (17 or 16 guage) cause more than damage than the smaller needles used in obtaining venous blood for testing. Therefore the more frequent the blood donation the more than harm to the vein and more scarring.
@gondwanalon Source?
It is my understanding that the body compensates well. Although you may accept an surface area of your brachial artery thicken at the elbow it does not bear on circulation.
Phlebes are trained to avert scarring, and information technology isn't always necessary to use the largest estimate needles. Long term (years) sticking will leave scar tissue, and so switching artillery or stick locations can be an option if you are concerned
I have to employ both arms at once and then it's a fleck of a concern….i arm for claret going out, the other for blood going in.
Yes, simply you can use other places along that vessel. Y'all could ask if it had to be your elbow every time. Also, don't they put the saline solution into a vein not an avenue? If you swap arms occasionally it's striking an entirely different vessel all together.
I'll ask just my guess is that due to the size of the needle, they always opt for the elbow region.
As for the swapping artillery, the machines are always ready on the left side of the chairs, so they take a pretty "set" fashion of doing things and hooking people upward.
I gauge the skillful affair is that I have big healthy veins so the process is quick for me. I meet some older folks donate and their veins aren't as big and information technology takes them two–3 HOURS to donate the same corporeality of platelets that I do.
@GloPro I've been working full time equally a Medical Technologist for 37 years. I've seen what long tern frequent use of needles tin can do to veins. Of form claret bank personnel won't tell you this. But become ahead and become your twenty gallon pin and so yous 'll see feel for certain the scare tissue around and nigh the phlebotomy sites. Yous'll just have to imagine the damage to your veins.
@seekingwolf you are doing good work, donating platelets. My blood center told me i platelet donation is equal to 6 whole claret donations. Good for you!
Nothing to worry about as others accept well pointed out,.
Thanks for altruistic, Wish I all the same could.
I retrieve a low platelet count can exist a sign of many things, and sometimes it just happens on its ain without an apparent cause… Good luck to your friend, @KNOWITALL
At that place is besides a genetic condition which causes depression platelets (interestingly, I have it, but fortunately, mine is pretty mild… doesn't really bear on my life bated from making bruises look more dramatic). Unfortunately though, this ways I can't donate and will never be able to…
@gondwanalon I likewise work in the medical field and I see lots of scaring from needle use. Namely drug use or frequent claret sticks (like everyday) from when someone is in the hospital long term and they are sticking them 1–2x a day in the same spot!
Since I am donating only one time every 2 weeks, I didn't think information technology would affect it.
I'm still getting some mixed answers – am I doing damage or non?
Should I reduce it to once a calendar month? Or is 2x a month okay?
@28lorelei
I think information technology'south genetic for me too. My platelet count has never been then loftier that it's unhealthy, but it'southward on the "loftier" end of normal, or at least it was prior to my surgery. I've had a layer of skin grow back over a small cut in 1–two days, a very brusk time…non a scab, actual pare. I don't need all those platelets just someone else could benefit.
@seekingwolf Don't worry your donations will not likely pose a significant impairment. If you go on to donate platelets every 2 weeks for the next 40 years then you will accept quite a bit of scar tissue built up around the needle stick sites. Just keep agile and maintain a salubrious lifestyle and you will be OK. You lot should work-out your arms to build muscular and vascular strength in your arms anyway but it is even more important for you to do that at present. If you can, I advise daily pushups, pull-ups, demote-press, arm curls etc. This will assist the veins to get bigger and stronger.
My erstwhile lab managing director was very proud of his multiple pints of blood that he donated. He had a 20 gallon pin with means that he donated at to the lowest degree 160 times. I could see and feel the needle stick sites but he seemed proud of his scars like they were a badge of selfless cede.
Keep up the great piece of work!
@gondwanalon I will follow your advice and exist certain to work out my artillery more than. I started water weights recently because I don't want to lose muscle mass but maybe I should incorporate some dumb bells into my walking activity too.
I will listen to my trunk too. If I don't feel well plenty to donate or if I take something else going on, I can e'er opt to go another time. I similar how the Red Cantankerous allows me to prepare up appointments online, which is how I schedule my donations.
Thanks for the advice, anybody! I will keep doing what I'grand doing.
@seekingwolf, as a RedCross volunteer, I thank yous (and all others who donate) on your donation. Never doubt, your donations do save MANY lives.
@GracieT Thank you! I am actually going to donate after this week and then I accept an appt set that is two weeks from that donate. I am going 2x a month. Information technology seems wrong of me to sit at habitation and sleep in when I could Easily drive the few miles to my local Red Cantankerous, sit and watch some Television, and requite iii platelet treatments knowing that they are sorely needed in my area.
Update:
I wwent very recently and asked the RN who took care of me. Like me, he is a regular platelet donor and doesn't give whole blood. He has done it for years and has some scar tissue. He says it helps to rotate locations. He said he doesn't mind though because he is still able to get stuck and donate. He said a few early beginners have had some trouble with him but overall, because his veins are bigger (like mine) information technology'southward non too bad.
He said information technology's something to consider, it may make me a hard stick later in life. Nothing horrible or impossible, just that blood draws mat injure more.
I thought about it and at this point, I'm okay with that. I'1000 a young, healthy 24 year onetime who is making steps toward long term health. I was able to requite another iii units of platelets in that one donation. I can deal with the pain. If it becomes a problem later in life, oh well. My doctor can accept a PICC line installed if information technology'due south such a problem. It doesn't matter to me and so nosotros'll cross that bridge when we come to it.
@seekingwolf Y'all should exist commended for your selfless giving. You have encourage me to requite a unit of whole claret on this Mon when I off of work. Only < seven% of the population has my blood type (A negative). Blood bank techs love to get my blood.
I'm 63 and do push-upwardly, pull-up and dips very nearly every day. I tin do over twenty perfect pull-ups (all the way upwards and all the style downwards with no kicking or jerking). Needless to say, I have large veins all over my arms and wrists for very easy I.V.'due south and blood-draws. I made a joke ane time to a phlebotomist who was cartoon my blood: "You but get 10 tries". So merely go on working out those arms and you will not have any problems with obtaining blood specimens in the future.
Good health!
@gondwanalon
Salubrious for donating! That is awesome! And aye, A- is rare! Your claret is definitely needed.
I think I'm going to try pull-ups, once I'g able (I need to lose a little more weight). I desire to continue my veins salubrious. I'1000 thankful that the RNs at the Red Cross are so proficient at sticks. It really doesn't hurt that much and they are good at what they do.
I'thou already scheduled for my next appt (in most 2 weeks, on a Sat), so another appt on the next Sabbatum that is 2 weeks from that engagement. Just take to continue remembering to load up on TONS of calcium the solar day prior to donation because male child, that really makes a difference in terms of comfort. I just accept a bigger dose of the supplement I take normally.
@seekingwolf, don't forget the iron! I can't tell y'all the number of people that are turned away for low fe. (I commonly talk to women almost that, just I imagine it's the same for claret, menses!)
The blood supply is low correct now, then Thanks all for donating!
One of the reasons I volunteer (out of many!) is that I cannot donate, then thanks all the more for donating if you can!
I take a couple iron pills a day because I don't become enough with what I consume after my surgery. My iron is pretty good.
I practise get tested each time only I recall when it comes to iron, they are a fiddling less worried since I'chiliad altruistic platelets and not whole blood. I get all of my blood cells back when I'1000 washed. I'm not losing anything like I would with whole blood.
True, good signal @seekingwolf. And kudos to you lot for all the donating… I would if I could (merely I can't, unfortunately).
Answer this question 
This question is in the General Section. Responses must be helpful and on-topic.
Source: https://www.fluther.com/170170/does-frequent-bloodplatelet-donation-harm-your-veins/
0 Response to "When Can I Try Again to Donate Plasma if My Veins Were to Small"
Post a Comment