question about donating blood...

[nasa007]

Does any one know if you can donate blood if your have sjogrens?

[LenV]

My doctor told me I could not donate because of the medications I take for Sjogrens.

Billye

[Pooh]

Yes my rheumy told me the same thing.  Giving blood is a NoNo for most of us.  If you are considering this please advise the blood bank that you have Sjogren's ahead of time.  I'm pretty sure they tell you they can't accept your donation.  The same applies to those with Lupus.

Pooh

[irish]

nasa,You would need to ask your doctor about this but I would seriously doubt if it is a good idea. You may even find that the questions asked when you go to donate would be if you have a chronic health conditon or autoimmune issues. It is my opinion that we would not always be able to replace the blood we lost at the normal rate. Many times people with sjogrens will have their bone marrow affected and the hemoglogin will be lower than is desired. Irish

[nasa007]

Wow, thanks for everyon's quick reply. I thought the same, but thanks for all for confirming it.  What a great bunch, peace to all.

[Scottietottie]

Hi 

I used to be a regular blood donor but got told to stop as soon as I got an autoimmune dx. I got a thankyou letter and a little certificate and a don't come back letter.

I just hope I never damaged anyone in the interim as I was at least 20 years before a dx was forthcoming.

Take care - Scottie 

[lynnmarie219]

Ive heard the same thing about blood donation......so do you think this applies to organ donation as well (I'm an organ donor and don't know if I should be) ? I remember this coming up on the old boards, but I don't remember if we ever came up with an answer! 

[salsen]

The local blood bank looked up some meds I was taking and I was ruled out of donating - Plaquiniel being one of them.  Possibly because this med helps to thin the blood that it eliminates you as a donor. 

[Patze]

Hi Nasa,

Before all of this, I tried to donate twice and the RC could only get a quarter or less of what they needed because I would coagulate so fast it would clog the needles.  I was told to not bother trying to donate again.  It's funny as several members of my family always donated regularly (including the parental units) and I was considered a slacker (even after explaining what the RC had said).  After discovering all my medical issues (and all the meds I'm on), they don't mention that anymore, wonder why?   Turkeys!

Patze

[wordnerd]

Lynn - That's an interesting point.  I'm an organ donor too, but now that I think about it I doubt anyone in their right mind would want any of my organs... well at least not my pancreas, liver, lungs, or kidneys.  So until they start doing brain transplants... perhaps I should get that changed on my id...

[lynnmarie219]

I know that in addition to actual organs they also use bone marrow, skin, eyes, etc....they can use almost every part of the body now! Hmmmmmm....I wonder 

[JannaLee]

I'm on the Bone Marrow Registry.  Should I get out of that program?

Janna

[lynnmarie219]

I have started a new topic under General Discussion just on Organ Donation as I think this is an important topic.....I just didn't want it to get lost under the Blood Donation questions!   

I hope this helps!

[Rania]

Ops, I didn't see this thread untill now. I responded in the other thread before reading this one, and I have said pretty much the same as many of you do in my post in the other thread.

Rania 

[Katybarstool]

Rana

I was on the bone marrow register for around 25 years before I was told I was a 'possible' match and had to donate lots of blood for testing. I wasn't a good much as it turned out, and I was ill for months after giving so much blood - even though, at that point. I was not diagnosed with any illness.

Thinking about it now, I'm so relieved I was not a match.  I would hate someone who has been so ill   having a donation from someone who has turned out to have a bagful of conditions.

Kathy