After around 5 dozen blood donations I've suddenly been asked by the Blood Service to consider Platelet Donation.
I did wonder why they ask me now after many years on the register.
I am going to send the form off this afternoon to register an interest.
Anyone any experience or knowledge of the subject to tell me what I'm letting myself in for? At my age (47) I thought I might be a bit on the mature side for them
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you are connected up to a machine which will extract the platelets and return the rest of your blood components to you so you will need to attend the blood donation centre where they do this - but you can give every 4-6 weeks so extra brownie donation points!!..........
I think you can be platelet donor up to 60
my #2 son very nearly needed a platelet transfusion after he was born, so it's a really really important thing to do if you can )
I used to go to the blood clinic at Lewisham Hospital and only stopped because they closed it down. Crazy.
I've also done donations for babies and specific medical cases.
If you can spare the time then it is nothing to be scared of.
Go for it!
I was given a blood transfusion when I was about 4 or 5 that didn't definitivly save my life but certainly made it more comfy! After taht I had major surgery at 6 that totally changed the quality of my life - again impossible without blood donors.
The sad thing is that I have tried to give blood on three or four occasions and tehy won't take mine (I had to have teh operation for a blood disorder and so my blood isn't good enough!). Anyone who is fit and healthy should give blood as often as they can (I know you were talking about Platelet donation but it's an important issue, I promise to stop ranting now!)
I've amassed 258 donations mostly from plasma! Latest one was this morning!
I wonder whether I would be eligible to donate platelets? (Not at the moment, as I'm pregnant, but just curious as to whether the same restrictions apply as for donating blood).