Re: whole blood or plasma?


bae@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
> In article <1123796369.691965.46630@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
> <fresh~horses@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> >
> >I'm also concerned about the plasmapheresis process. I know they will
> >give me reassurances. But I don't know that I will be reassured.
>
> Well, according to the consent form, there's a minute chance of
> disastrous effects. I'm willing to take that chance in order to
> contribute to a society in which there will be safe blood and blood
> products for everyone who needs them. Besides, it's far more likely
> that I'll have disastrous effects from a traffic accident on my way
> there, especially since I walk or bicycle in downtown Toronto. It's
> safer on the subway, but then I put myself at greater risk of
> cardiovascular problems if I don't get the exercise from commuting
> under my own power. There are always trade offs.
>
> I don't think there are any personal medical benefits from plasma
> donation. When I donate platelets they weigh me and take my pulse and
> blood pressure, which is good to monitor for someone our age. They also
> test the blood for evidence of certain infectious diseases and various
> parameters related to general health and blood quality, so I suppose
> you might get early warning of some problems that way, or at least have
> a lot of baseline data if you do get sick with something later. But if
> you're already donating whole blood every 56 days, you're getting a lot
> more monitoring than healthy people need. IIRC, the newest consent
> form states that they may give physical exams occasionally to frequent
> plasma donors.
>
> You seem to have a number of misgivings about plasma donation. You
> don't have to do it -- you're doing more than most people by donating
> whole blood. Nobody there will pressure you, nor reassure you more than
> mildly: they want you to be entirely a volunteer. So think about it,
> but put off your decision until you can feel comfortable about it.
>
> Btw, in something like 40 or 50 platelet donations over 25 years I've
> never had any but the mildest side effects, i.e. a little tingling in
> the lips from the anticoagulant (citrate, IIRC), getting a bit cold
> from having my blood run through a refrigerator for an hour and a half
> -- no problem, they'll give you a blanket, and the cold is actually
> kind of nice in hot weather, and feeling kind of stiff when I get up
> after staying in one position for an hour and a half, easily cured by
> a good stretch. AFAIK, plasmapheresis takes less time so you'll have
> less of the last two, but you probably won't get to watch a feature
> film like platelet donors do in Toronto!




My misgivings with the plasma procedure stem from the fiasco with the
Canadian Red Cross and HCV, and of course sterility. My blood goes into
their equipment and then back into me.

I just need to find out all I can. I'm looking at the platelet donation
pamphlet too. If I don't like what I learn about either of these I'll
stay with whole blood donation.

Thanks for your response. It's very informative.


Zee

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: whole blood or plasma?
    ... >give me reassurances. ... contribute to a society in which there will be safe blood and blood ... I don't think there are any personal medical benefits from plasma ... You seem to have a number of misgivings about plasma donation. ...
    (sci.med)
  • Re: whole blood or plasma?
    ... >I'm being approached to donate plasma regularly: ... takes blood, centrifuges out the plasma and returns the red blood cells. ... all blood types are desirable -- the commoner blood types ...
    (sci.med)
  • Re: Apheresis
    ... platelet and serum donation on an apheresis machine. ... I only give whole blood. ...
    (rec.arts.sf.fandom)
  • Re: whole blood or plasma?
    ... >>I'm being approached to donate plasma regularly: ... > takes blood, centrifuges out the plasma and returns the red blood cells. ... all blood types are desirable -- the commoner blood types ...
    (sci.med)
  • Apheresis
    ... platelet and serum donation on an apheresis machine. ... The pre-prep was exactly the same as for whole blood: ... The donation itself took place in a different room. ... They took the blood out of my left arm and then put it back into the ...
    (rec.arts.sf.fandom)