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NNadir

(38,077 posts)
25. Apparently they're giving long sleeved tee shirts here now in New Jersey. The best "gift" I got, or the most useful...
Fri Dec 19, 2025, 02:05 AM
Dec 2025

...was a red umbrella.

One more Slow Fe tomorrow night, and I hope I'll make it. I'd hate to think of someone losing a loved one because of a blood shortage, although there's plenty of A+ people around. They still keep after me to go, so I guess they need it.

In our lab, we rely on human plasma (and whole blood for antirejection drugs like cyclosporin and rapamycin) for bioanalytical blanks, so the need goes beyond transfusion to a wealth of other very important needs.

They used to send notes once in a while, saying where one's blood was used in a transfusion.

I never knew if my blood plasma was sold back to my lab. One never knows. It's an amusing thought.

I told my wife that when I kick off, I want my tissues, especially vitreous fluid, donated. These are essential tools for developing new treatments.

Recommendations

2 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

Good on you! sdfernando Dec 2025 #1
Hmmmm ... talk to your doctor about those iron shortages. My Mom had to have infusions of iron to prevent anemia. eppur_se_muova Dec 2025 #2
My doctor is aware of my hemoglobin situation. NNadir Dec 2025 #8
Good, you don't really seem the type to need advice, but personal experience made me more concerned than I would be. nt eppur_se_muova Dec 2025 #18
cooking on cast iron might help? druidity33 Dec 2025 #31
I'm a blood/platelet donner LogDog75 Dec 2025 #3
Me too. OldBaldy1701E Dec 2025 #4
Big doses of iron can be quite constipating, so eat your fruits... 3catwoman3 Dec 2025 #5
I know, believe me, I know. I'm an ozempic customer. NNadir Dec 2025 #14
Tea and hemoglobin Kcphyllis Dec 2025 #6
I don't drink tea but I am a caffeine addict. I'm taking iron with... NNadir Dec 2025 #9
NOW you tell me? DFW Dec 2025 #11
Good luck this time. Your continuing motivation to "pay things back" is admirable. Good for you. FadedMullet Dec 2025 #7
Kudos for the sentiment and perseverance!! DFW Dec 2025 #10
I like that locution, "arteriosclerosis to a hemophiliac." NNadir Dec 2025 #12
I've donated 200 times Old Crank Dec 2025 #13
I failed at platelets. I'm a straight up whole blood kind of guy. NNadir Dec 2025 #15
Good for you Old Crank Dec 2025 #28
I've donated for 16 years MustLoveBeagles Dec 2025 #16
Thank you for donating Marthe48 Dec 2025 #17
My husband has donated for so many years that he can't remember when he first started. mommymarine2003 Dec 2025 #19
O negative is a big deal, particularly if he ever needs a transfusion himself. NNadir Dec 2025 #20
Try Slow FE, if you haven't already. Ms. Toad Dec 2025 #21
That's exactly what I'm taking, Slow Fe. We'll see how it works. I'm optimistic it will. NNadir Dec 2025 #23
So far, I'm NED (no evidence of disease) for both. Ms. Toad Dec 2025 #27
I have been a regular donor since 1986. Katinfl Dec 2025 #22
I hope you are able to donate again. summer_in_TX Dec 2025 #24
Apparently they're giving long sleeved tee shirts here now in New Jersey. The best "gift" I got, or the most useful... NNadir Dec 2025 #25
An Episcopal church, no less! Vogon_Glory Dec 2025 #26
hey Skittles Dec 2025 #29
More often than not over the past two years, I've had a hematocrit level too low for me to donate. mahatmakanejeeves Dec 2025 #30
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