[Migrated, see pinned post] Casual Conversation

I used to, but since I have contracted Long Covid, I've stopped, as both would sap my energy too much.

But in the past I have donated about 20-25 times. (once every 3-4 or so months)

How I felt afterwards depended a little bit on the nurse administering the needle, some are really careful and it's a painfree experience, others are a little less careful and then it can hurt like a motherfucker. (but for first timers they're always extra careful is my experience)
And for me, I just get a bit tired afterwards. Never really gotten woozy, but do take your time to recover in the waiting area after donating, and ask for something to drink (I recommend tea or fruit juice)

But it's also very important to drink and eat enough during the day before donating.

And the meme in The Netherlands is that you do it for the "pink cookie", which is a small cake-like cookie with pink icing on top. We don't get any financial benefits (other than reimbursement for any parking costs at the hospital)

No, I fell out of the habit when I started having lots of casual sex and I have reynauds disease making it a long and uncomfortable process. Also I have a scar on my vein from selling plasma

Can't, iron levels are always too low because I have to get blood drawn for medicine every 3 months

I do as often as I can, which is every 4 months because I donate double red cells. I am O negative so my red cells are extremely useful in emergencies and it is something I can do to help other people. Donating doubles they give you your plasma plus some saline back so you end up with the same volume of fluid. Because of this, I feel perfectly fine afterwards. I am currently at almost 7 gallons donated.

I feel a bit weaker in my arm after blood donation. Also my vision can go dark for a moment, if I quickly stand up. Other than that, normally I don't experience any side-effects.

Now I'm donating mostly plasma, and I try to give it every two weeks. i'm "speedrunning" donations, because after donating equivalent of 6 litres of blood in Poland, you can for example have priority in queues in pharmacies, and skip long wait standing behind old grandmas.

If you can you should. If you're healthy giving a pint of blood is not going to be much of a bother. Eat a good meal before hand and then have some of the snacks provided afterwards. Even if your blood isn't suitable for transfusion it can be used for research.

I always felt good after I donated.

I have done in the past, donated 26 times, then got ill and couldn't do it for while, then the blood drive moved, and I gotta get my arse back at it.

Started last year and donated twice so far. The first time I got dizzy, so I did a half bag the next time and felt better. Felt better the second time, even after a long day at work.

No specific reason other than feeling good about yourself and reap any health benefit to it, if at all. Surely it must be good somehow to stimulate blood creation ? I'm happy to do it, I feel a better person for it.

You are weak the day and the next day, so better not plan any long hike or strenuous activities. But it's okay for another long day in office.

Generally yes, but for the past year or so I haven't made it. Got a third child, wife is a lot busy, kids got wrecked with diseases. Lots of pressure.

I have barely got a Saturday able to wake up rested lately. So even though I generally want to, I haven't had the time/energy and I generally forget if I do since sleeping an extra hour sounds like a dream.

Hopefully I can make it during Easter vacations where I can get relatives to babysit for a while.

I used to donate blood every few months, then I needed the money so I donated Plasma twice a week for a couple years. Now I'm afraid the scarring on my veins would be too much so I try to avoid IV needles at all costs.

Nope, very prone to vasovagal syncope. I tried once, went black almost immediately and spent an hour in the bus recovering. Luckily my blood type is one of the most common, so no big loss.

I’m so tired of getting my blood taken for work at the doctor so I don’t know if I will consider donating

I'm a perfect world, everybody (that physically could) would do this.

But I feel like the fact is a paid thing just makes us all potential blood for evil rich people, literally paying their meatbags to keep a supply around for when they need something. Because you know none of them have ever donated.

I'm not trying to say we shouldn't, as I've benefited several times myself, but just the idea it's paid makes me feel weird about it.

But we do live in the capitalist past of the multiverse, so it's inevitable I guess. I know people who depend on that money, too.

Donation also reduces plastic in your blood so there is a health benefits to you as well as to others