Are you an organ donor?

[Momaru]

Originally Posted by n4mwd

Not a bad idea actually. The donor could stick his arm through a dark curtain with a hole in it so that nursing staff can see what they're doing and the theater will remain in the dark.

Only problem with that is they need both arms. When I donate, they pull from one arm and return the remainder to the other. It does take a couple of hours and you can't really move the entire time (unless you enjoy driving needles into yourself), but they try to make ya comfortable. My local red cross center has portable DVD players (and a massive DVD library) for the patients doing donations that take a while.

Big +1 on not feeling drained or weird for a couple days after like I usually do with whole blood. With the WBC donations I do, it's just like the double RBC; they just extract what they want via machine and put the rest back in. The anticoagulant they use makes me sneeze, but it's not bad. And you can donate every other 10 days or so.

[Jiggles]

Originally Posted by Momaru

Only problem with that is they need both arms. When I donate, they pull from one arm and return the remainder to the other. It does take a couple of hours and you can't really move the entire time (unless you enjoy driving needles into yourself), but they try to make ya comfortable. My local red cross center has portable DVD players (and a massive DVD library) for the patients doing donations that take a while.

Big +1 on not feeling drained or weird for a couple days after like I usually do with whole blood. With the WBC donations I do, it's just like the double RBC; they just extract what they want via machine and put the rest back in. The anticoagulant they use makes me sneeze, but it's not bad. And you can donate every other 10 days or so.

Damn, I wish SJSU hadn't banned blood drives or I would donate more often. I just don't have time to go out of my way to donate.

[miss_syn]

I give blood but haven't signed up for organ donation. If something happens to me my family can decide to do that. Kinda weirds me out to think about it.

I'm more than willing to donate while I'm like... alive and breathing though.

Have you guys signed up for bone marrow?
Marrow Signup

[Jiggles]

Originally Posted by miss_syn

I give blood but haven't signed up for organ donation. If something happens to me my family can decide to do that. Kinda weirds me out to think about it.

I'm more than willing to donate while I'm like... alive and breathing though.

Have you guys signed up for bone marrow?
Marrow Signup

I just signed up! They knock you out before they stick that giant needle in you right?

[Felipe the Ant]

My organs are my organs, if someone I know needs something and I'm compatible that's different. Otherwise I don't want anyone digging around inside me for parts

[massacremasses]

why did SJSU ban blood drives?


I used to donate blood at school when I was in college too. I never could in HS. Always played sports...

[Jiggles]

Originally Posted by massacremasses

why did SJSU ban blood drives?


I used to donate blood at school when I was in college too. I never could in HS. Always played sports...

Because if you are a man that has had unprotected sex with another man then you aren't allowed to donate. SJSU sees this as the blood drive being intolerant of gays so they banned the blood drive. No telling how many people could have been saved if the blood drive had been continued at SJSU.

When you give blood you have to answer a set list of questions to determine if you are at a higher risk of having a disease. Because gay men have a higher risk of contracting aids, they aren't allowed to donate. Now, obviously, if the blood drive hated homosexuals then they wouldn't allow lesbians to donate either.....


SJSU is dumb, California sucks

[miss_syn]

Originally Posted by Jiggles

I just signed up! They knock you out before they stick that giant needle in you right?

From the website:
Bone marrow donation is a surgical procedure in which liquid marrow is withdrawn from the back of the donor's pelvic bones using special, hollow needles. General or regional anesthesia is always used for this procedure, so donors feel no needle injections and no pain during marrow donation. Most donors feel some pain in their lower back for a few days afterwards.

[Jiggles]

Originally Posted by miss_syn

From the website:
Bone marrow donation is a surgical procedure in which liquid marrow is withdrawn from the back of the donor's pelvic bones using special, hollow needles. General or regional anesthesia is always used for this procedure, so donors feel no needle injections and no pain during marrow donation. Most donors feel some pain in their lower back for a few days afterwards.

Hmm, if this interferes with riding a motorcycle then I'm out!

Will be receiving my test kit soon! I think there are about 20 different types of bone marrow right? Wonder which one I am. I also got an A+ on my blood test yippee!

[Jiggles]

Looks like the odds for being a match are 1 in 10,000!!! Wow

[Mr.E]

Originally Posted by Jiggles

After reading someone else's post earlier I thought it would be a good idea if blood drives would partner with movie theaters to let you see a free movie while you give blood. Someone with connections, make this happen!

They give free movie tickets if you donate blood to the big red bus when its on campus for my college. I think, its like that for all busses though.

[miss_syn]

I got Warped Tour tickets once. I think it depends on how they team up with the center.

Personally I'd be set if someone would just hold my book in front of my face while I'm donating.

[Jiggles]

Originally Posted by miss_syn

I got Warped Tour tickets once. I think it depends on how they team up with the center.

Personally I'd be set if someone would just hold my book in front of my face while I'm donating.

Kindle FTW

Super light for extreme one handed reading. Only $79

[miss_syn]

Originally Posted by Jiggles

Kindle FTW

Super light for extreme one handed reading. Only $79

*sniff*
I'm a paperback supremacist.

[massacremasses]

NOOK TABLET!!!


winner winner!!


but yeah that is stupid Sean, lets not save lives because the blood bank hates gays.... eff statistics...

[bluepoof]

Donating bone marrow is a super awesome thing to do. I'm ineligible for two different medical reasons, boo. I can't donate blood either (borderline anemic; low blood pressure). Good thing I'm an organ donor, I guess, since apparently being dead is the only way I can be medically useful.

[Sinister]

Originally Posted by miss_syn

From the website:
Bone marrow donation is a surgical procedure in which liquid marrow is withdrawn from the back of the donor's pelvic bones using special, hollow needles. General or regional anesthesia is always used for this procedure, so donors feel no needle injections and no pain during marrow donation. Most donors feel some pain in their lower back for a few days afterwards.

Also lists the new procedure under it:

Peripheral blood cell (PBSC) donation involves removing a donor's blood through a sterile needle in one arm. The blood is passed through a machine that separates out the cells used in transplants. The remaining blood is returned through the other arm.

see also:


PBSC donation is a nonsurgical procedure that takes place at a blood center or outpatient hospital unit. For 5 days leading up to donation, you will be given injections of a drug called filgrastim to increase the number of blood-forming cells in your bloodstream. Your blood is then removed through a needle in one arm and passed through a machine that separates out the blood-forming cells. The remaining blood is returned to you through the other arm. Your blood-forming cells are back to their normal levels within 4 to 6 weeks

[n4mwd]

Originally Posted by Jiggles

Because if you are a man that has had unprotected sex with another man then you aren't allowed to donate.

The local blood bank here asks if you've had unprotected sex, but does not ask with whom or what gender.

They do about a million tests on the blood they draw so at worst, they will have to throw it out. In some states they pay the donor, but in FL that's not allowed.

Just so you know, for every pint you donate, they make $3000 on it when they sell it to the sick guy.

[akima]

Originally Posted by Momaru

And you can donate every other 10 days or so.

So every 20 days or so then

Originally Posted by Jiggles

I also got an A+ on my blood test yippee!

lol

Originally Posted by Jiggles

Looks like the odds for being a match are 1 in 10,000!!! Wow

Yeah: the guy who told me about it said it's important that lots of people sign up, because it's so much harder to get a match.

Originally Posted by Jiggles

Kindle FTW

I have a PocketBook 360. It's just like the Kindle, but without an Amazon and it supports way more formats.

[cuong-nutz]

I am not due to medical conditions so I help people out in what ever way I can.

[alex.s]

doc says i got **** for blood. cant give blood, cant donate organs. im also not supposed to climb mountains,. they didnt say anything about riding up and down them though

[Jiggles]

Originally Posted by n4mwd

The local blood bank here asks if you've had unprotected sex, but does not ask with whom or what gender.

They do about a million tests on the blood they draw so at worst, they will have to throw it out. In some states they pay the donor, but in FL that's not allowed.

Just so you know, for every pint you donate, they make $3000 on it when they sell it to the sick guy.

OMG Occupy RedCross!!!

[Firehorse]

Yep, take 'em all when I'm not here to use 'em. Eyes, heart (I have one!!), kidney, liver, pocket change etc.

Bone marrow and blood donor too. Have extra, give it away, just like my extra tomatoes and cucumbers.

Family knows the deal and it's in my POA, living will and regular will. They'll be freaked out at the time so I don't want them to even have to think about it let alone decide.

Got my fish taken care of too but who do I give my Ninja to?
I'm not getting buried so I can't take it with me.
Maybe get set on fire ON the ninja? That would be cool.

[massacremasses]

Originally Posted by n4mwd

The local blood bank here asks if you've had unprotected sex

What other type is there?!

Originally Posted by Jiggles

OMG Occupy RedCross!!!

Win.

[akima]

Originally Posted by Firehorse

Maybe get set on fire ON the ninja? That would be cool.

Ok: that's going on my will

[planet-beaver]

I tried donating blood once and just could not see my own blood filling up a bag. Got all dizzy and had to stop. I can't even watch taking my blood for tests but I can watch them stitching me up or digging in my knee.

I'm an organ donor and have been my whole life. I also remind my wife when I go riding to not have my body parts wasted if something happens. Also I want the rest of my body donated to local medical school. Why waste fuel to burn it or labor to dig a hole. Let them slice me and dice me. Who knows, maybe some hot collage chick will play with my parts practicing vasectomy.

[bluepoof]

Originally Posted by planet-beaver

Who knows, maybe some hot collage chick will play with my parts practicing vasectomy.

!! Now that's looking for the silver lining!

[Jiggles]

Originally Posted by bluepoof

!! Now that's looking for the silver lining!

Just hope she doesn't giggle while doing it!

[planet-beaver]

Originally Posted by Jiggles

Just hope she doesn't giggle while doing it!

Or end up in the jar with "Smallest man ever"

On a serious note, those that don't have donor mark on their license should be denied any organs in the event of an accident. Perfect system. Don't give, don't receive.

[Firehorse]

Originally Posted by planet-beaver

I tried donating blood once and just could not see my own blood filling up a bag. Got all dizzy and had to stop. I can't even watch taking my blood for tests but I can watch them stitching me up or digging in my knee.

I'm an organ donor and have been my whole life. I also remind my wife when I go riding to not have my body parts wasted if something happens. Also I want the rest of my body donated to local medical school. Why waste fuel to burn it or labor to dig a hole. Let them slice me and dice me. Who knows, maybe some hot collage chick will play with my parts practicing vasectomy.

Me too, want to get a tattoo with instructions for handling the parts with respect or I'll come back to haunt them.

Originally Posted by planet-beaver

Or end up in the jar with "Smallest man ever"

On a serious note, those that don't have donor mark on their license should be denied any organs in the event of an accident. Perfect system. Don't give, don't receive.

That's brilliant.

Should be some better info about this whole subject for young people when they get their license.

[Jiggles]

Originally Posted by Firehorse

Me too, want to get a tattoo with instructions for handling the parts with respect or I'll come back to haunt them.

That's brilliant.

Should be some better info about this whole subject for young people when they get their license.

Perhaps an incentive would work better than a punishment. Tax refund? Skip the lines at the DMV? All doctor's must bow to you?

[naughtylion]

Originally Posted by Jiggles

When you give blood you have to answer a set list of questions to determine if you are at a higher risk of having a disease. Because gay men have a higher risk of contracting aids, they aren't allowed to donate. Now, obviously, if the blood drive hated homosexuals then they wouldn't allow lesbians to donate either.....

This is true. It makes no difference to me - if they don't want my blood, fine. There's a higher risk of AIDs and all that. That's also fine.

But what I have a problem with is the fact that blood is in such drastic short supply (or so they keep saying) so they'll exclude an albeit minority, but a HUGE group of people (that I think Justin you'll agree is ****loads larger than anyone can be certain of knowing) on the risk that they may or may not carry a disease.

Case in point - if they're screening processes are 100% accurate, why would it matter if even 99% of all people donating (for example) has contaminated blood? If they're screening process is 100% accurate then every last case of cantaminated blood would be caught and disposed of. Correct? So if blood was in such short supply and they need it as much as they say they do, why wouldn't you be begging anyone and everyone to donate? If their blood was contaminated, whether the donor knew it or not, it would be caught. In which case, no harm no foul.

The only reasoning behind this that I can think of is that:

A) It's a cost thing. And testing blood and disposing of contaminated blood is more expensive than storing and processing clean blood. Again, I can't see the cost as being that much more, and if this was the case they'd be putting a cost above the need for blood. Doesn't make sense.

B) They can't be 100% sure that their screening processes are 100% accurate. In this case - um... SCARY!! If you were to ever be on the recieving end of a donors blood you'd wanna be bloody sure that the processes they use to screen blood are 10000000000% accurate, no?

I've always wondered about this because I've always wanted to donate but I can't. I know many others in the same situation. Just seems sensless they don't tap that resource.

Of course if anyone knows the reasoning behind it I'm open to it, but I just don't see how "we don't want youyr blood because there's a higher chance of contamination" computes, when their screening processes are advertised as being 100%.

[RaZeDaHeLL]

Why not? Should anything like that happen, you're not going to need them anymore. Why not give to someone that does?

[Jiggles]

Originally Posted by naughtylion

This is true. It makes no difference to me - if they don't want my blood, fine. There's a higher risk of AIDs and all that. That's also fine.

But what I have a problem with is the fact that blood is in such drastic short supply (or so they keep saying) so they'll exclude an albeit minority, but a HUGE group of people (that I think Justin you'll agree is ****loads larger than anyone can be certain of knowing) on the risk that they may or may not carry a disease.

Case in point - if they're screening processes are 100% accurate, why would it matter if even 99% of all people donating (for example) has contaminated blood? If they're screening process is 100% accurate then every last case of cantaminated blood would be caught and disposed of. Correct? So if blood was in such short supply and they need it as much as they say they do, why wouldn't you be begging anyone and everyone to donate? If their blood was contaminated, whether the donor knew it or not, it would be caught. In which case, no harm no foul.

The only reasoning behind this that I can think of is that:

A) It's a cost thing. And testing blood and disposing of contaminated blood is more expensive than storing and processing clean blood. Again, I can't see the cost as being that much more, and if this was the case they'd be putting a cost above the need for blood. Doesn't make sense.

B) They can't be 100% sure that their screening processes are 100% accurate. In this case - um... SCARY!! If you were to ever be on the recieving end of a donors blood you'd wanna be bloody sure that the processes they use to screen blood are 10000000000% accurate, no?

I've always wondered about this because I've always wanted to donate but I can't. I know many others in the same situation. Just seems sensless they don't tap that resource.

Of course if anyone knows the reasoning behind it I'm open to it, but I just don't see how "we don't want youyr blood because there's a higher chance of contamination" computes, when their screening processes are advertised as being 100%.

Testing blood is not 100% accurate. That's just the way life is, there are false negatives and there are false positives. Specifically for an aids blood test I believe the positive accuracy rate is 99.8% Meaning that .2% of tests will show a false negative and be cleared as good blood.

Interestingly enough the negative accuracy rate of that same test is 96% Meaning that 4% of blood samples tested come back as positive when really they are negative. They adopted this specific test because it has the highest positive accuracy rate. If someone who is negative, tests positive, well good news, we can always test you again. But if someone who is positive, tests negative, well most likely they won't be tested again. For this reason they strived for the highest positive accuracy rate possible.

Now if you don't like these odds, I suggest you never be put into a situation that may cause you to need to receive blood (give up motorcycling and never leave your house ever again).

Interesting article on the subject: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18827137.../#.Ttg0PoSRh8E

[naughtylion]

Oh really? Wow I had no idea it wasn't dead accurate that completely makes sense then...

So using those stats and this link (http://www.americasblood.org/go.cfm?do=page.view&pid=12) at least .2% of the 4.5 million people annually in America alone recieving or having recieved blood will receive an infected batch? Thats 9000 people. Annually.

I'm not having a go either it just doesn't sound right. And if it is - no i'm not okay with those odds. But thats not saying that leaving the house will result in needing a blood transfusion either. I'm aware of the risks when leaving the house.

[Jiggles]

Originally Posted by naughtylion

Oh really? Wow I had no idea it wasn't dead accurate that completely makes sense then...

So using those stats and this link (http://www.americasblood.org/go.cfm?do=page.view&pid=12) at least .2% of the 4.5 million people annually in America alone recieving or having recieved blood will receive an infected batch? Thats 9000 people. Annually.

I'm not having a go either it just doesn't sound right. And if it is - no i'm not okay with those odds. But thats not saying that leaving the house will result in needing a blood transfusion either. I'm aware of the risks when leaving the house.

Well not quite. People that know that they have aids won't donate or will be ineligible to donate. The only way infected blood could get through is if someone had contracted HIV/AIDS, had no symptoms, and had no idea they had the disease. At that point is when the 99.8% comes into play.

Let's say for instance that in one year 1,000 people donate who have contracted the disease, have no idea that they have it, and are able to pass all of the other questions on the initial blood screening test. According to the statistics of the test, 998 people would get a positive result and be notified that they have the disease. 2 people would get a false negative and so long as there were no other diseases/infections in the blood, then it would be passed on.

Now also take this into consideration. People who donate blood are likely to be compassionate people who probably have a better head on their shoulders than others, something that can be said of most people who make any sort of donations or volunteer. These types of people are more likely to be more responsible concerning safe sex. I'll also make a bet that people who are at a higher risk of contracting a disease i.e. drug addicts, one-night-standers that don't have safe sex, etc. probably are not heading down to the blood bank to donate.

So I honestly doubt that anywhere close to 1000 people each year donate without knowing they have contracted the disease. Thus the spread of any disease through transfusions should be limited to very few, freak, occurances

[naughtylion]

I'm an idiot. The red cross blood donating trailer is at my work right now (duh)

Went down and asked them on my way to lunch. They said:

(loosely quoted)
"The screening is between 98.5 and 99.9% accurate. The blood is screened 6 times in Australia. It's done by a governing body unique to Australia so the process and amount of times it's initially screened may differ overseas. After the screening process has determined it isn't contaminated, it is stored. Once taken out of storage it is screened a further 4-8 times depending on the application. This is for testing for contamination, as well as to triple check blood type, and various other tests to ensure compatibility, again, depending on the application. So all up it is tested 10 times. 6 in a lab and at least 4 at the actual hospital. The accuracy stays the same so for a contaminated sample to get through it would need to be in the top 1.4 percentile, consistantly, 10 times. She said that statistically it is possible but in real world situations it isn't. She said if someone is infected by a blood transfusion anywhere in the world it is splashed across the news so you'd hear about it, because it just doesn't happen. She goes "it'd be like winning the unluckiest lottery in the world, 10 times over. It's extremely rare that it happens, but does occasionally".

She also said the no fags rule, along with the recently tattooed and intravenous drug users rules, were established when the testing of blood wasn't as accurate or vigorous, and the only reason they're still enforced is because of the social sensivity surrounding using other people's blood.

Didn't mean to hijack the thread - just something I just remembered I alwasy wondered about.

[Linuss]

Originally Posted by Trailerboy531

I have friends who's brothers are EMTs, paramedicts, etc.

First, what the heck is a 'paramedict'?



Second, as a Paramedic myself, I can tell you that the status of a persons donation has no relevance on anything that any emergency personnel (EMS, ER RN or ER Physician) do. I've partaken in the organ harvest process. A lot goes in to deciding what can / cannot be taken and it isn't a spur of the moment thing.


For those scared that we will 'do less' when we notice someone is an organ donor, again, wrong. First and foremost, if it's ever found out we withheld something, it's our ass going to jail, and our license being lost. Second, there's no way to tell what is and is not viable without a surgeon cutting you open in the case of a traumatic death. If you were involved in an MVC ('accident') motorcycle or otherwise, and it caused enough damage to cause your death, chances are most of your organs are not usable due to things such as shock, multi-organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS), and other things. Heck, many of the organs are probably "mush" anyhow. Third, if we DO think an organ might be viable, for some reason, we will actually try just as hard with CPR and such. Once the body dies and quits perfusing the organs, it's rather pointless anyhow, isn't it?

New York City has been trialing an organ harvest ambulance. They don't do any actual harvest in the field, but get sent to cardiac arrests for people that are known donors, only AFTER a real ambulance has worked the arrest and decided to call it in the field and stop CPR. They speak with the family and if they are willing to donate still, the patient is put on an automatic CPR machine and transported to a surgical center for evaluation. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/01/nyregion/01organ.html






To be scared that less will be done is a show of ignorance on your behalf, on how laws, ethics and the process truly are. Having said that, my license does not say I'm a donor, but my whole family knows I will donate upon death, and that I do not want to be a vegetable. The best thing for anyone to do is let your family know your wishes before hand.

[Firehorse]

Originally Posted by Jiggles

Perhaps an incentive would work better than a punishment. Tax refund? Skip the lines at the DMV? All doctor's must bow to you?

Tax incentive, a much better idea. All I get for my blood is a pin after the first 30 donations. But y'know, it's kinda like the biker thing, you see someone else with a pin and give a nod.


And thank goodness a paramedic spoke up. Thanks Linuss! Keep up the good work.

[cuong-nutz]

So how much does a said organ cost the recipient? I hear it's a ridiculous amount.