Organ Donation

[divingdancer]

Interesting replies folks.  I used to donate blood before I got Fibromyalgia.  (which I did not realise was AI)  Have not felt well enough to donate for quite some years now. 

[Billydude]

I didn't think we could donate blood.   Its a touchy subject with me anyway.  As a gay person we aren't allowed to donate blood.  Just being gay disqualifies you.   The ban was recently lifted but for only those that haven't had sex in a year.   

[jazzlover]

Fibromyalgia is NOT an AI disease.

[Scottietottie]

Hi 

In the UK I am definitely NOT allowed to donate blood. After being dxd with Hashi's - and telling the blood donation service about it because I'd been a regluar donor since the age of 17 - I got a thank you letter from them and a little badge and the letter also said they would not be wanting my blood any more.

I want to donate my body to medical science but I'm not sure how to go about it. I'm beginning to look into it. I've no interest in having a 'final resting place'.

Take care - Scottie 

[slccom]

As long as your medical history is available to the physicians involved, I would just stay on the donation list and let the experts make the decision. There are many parts of the body that can be donated, ranging from skin to tendons to corneas to bone -- everything but the voice, so to speak.

Of course, if there is someone collecting bodies with autoimmune disease for research, that is a good thing to do, too.

[DragonflyC]

"People of all ages may be eligible to donate organs and tissues. Your medical condition at the time of death will determine what organs and tissues can be donated."
http://www.mass.gov/rmv/license/organ_donorFAQs.htm

"Don't rule yourself out [for organ donation] because of any health condition including diabetes, high blood pressure, cancer, or because you may not be eligible to donate blood. Eligibility is determined on a case-by-case basis at the time of death." http://www.yesutah.org/content/about/faq#faq2

As for blood donation, the decision belongs to you and your local blood bank. The Red Cross's official position is that people with Sjogren's can donate, though some locals say no anyway.

From the Lupus Foundation of America (b/c what applies to lupus usually more or less applies to SJS) (http://www.lupus.org/webmodules/webarticlesnet/templates/new_empty.aspx?articleid=604&zoneid=76):
Each blood donation service will have their own set of guidelines for eligibility, so be sure to know the guidelines of the donation service you intend to use. According to the American Red Cross, while a diagnosis of lupus was at one time a disqualifier for the donation of blood, this is not longer the case. The Red Cross will allow those with lupus to donate even while taking such medications as Plaquenil and/or Corticosteroids. In contrast to the Red Cross, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) will not accept blood donations from those with lupus. Their thought is that without a full understanding of the causes of disease like lupus and the role of antibodies, they can not ensure that there is absolutely no risk of transmission of harmful elements to the other patients.

From the Red Cross (http://www.redcrossblood.org/donating-blood/eligibility-requirements/eligibility-criteria-topic):
Most chronic illnesses are acceptable as long as you feel well, the condition is under control, and you meet all other eligibility requirements.

Also (http://www.redcrossblood.org/donating-blood/eligibility-requirements/eligibility-criteria-topic):
In almost all cases, medications will not disqualify you as a blood donor. Your eligibility will be based on the reason that the medication was prescribed. As long as the condition is under control and you are healthy, blood donation is usually permitted.

[Scottietottie]

The rules in the UK are different.

[katita]

I'm an RN who works for a blood bank and we take Sjogren's as long as the donor is feeling "well and healthy" on the day of donation.  All of the usual meds we take are also not a problem.

[soycoffee]

Probably the only thing we COULD do, is donate our body to science.

Wouldn't that open their eyes to Sjogren's?!   

Bucky

I've already done that, in my will. The Anatomy Class here I come!

Soycoffee

[mshistory]

"People of all ages may be eligible to donate organs and tissues. Your medical condition at the time of death will determine what organs and tissues can be donated."
http://www.mass.gov/rmv/license/organ_donorFAQs.htm

"Don't rule yourself out [for organ donation] because of any health condition including diabetes, high blood pressure, cancer, or because you may not be eligible to donate blood. Eligibility is determined on a case-by-case basis at the time of death." http://www.yesutah.org/content/about/faq#faq2

As for blood donation, the decision belongs to you and your local blood bank. The Red Cross's official position is that people with Sjogren's can donate, though some locals say no anyway.

From the Lupus Foundation of America (b/c what applies to lupus usually more or less applies to SJS) (http://www.lupus.org/webmodules/webarticlesnet/templates/new_empty.aspx?articleid=604&zoneid=76):
Each blood donation service will have their own set of guidelines for eligibility, so be sure to know the guidelines of the donation service you intend to use. According to the American Red Cross, while a diagnosis of lupus was at one time a disqualifier for the donation of blood, this is not longer the case. The Red Cross will allow those with lupus to donate even while taking such medications as Plaquenil and/or Corticosteroids. In contrast to the Red Cross, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) will not accept blood donations from those with lupus. Their thought is that without a full understanding of the causes of disease like lupus and the role of antibodies, they can not ensure that there is absolutely no risk of transmission of harmful elements to the other patients.

From the Red Cross (http://www.redcrossblood.org/donating-blood/eligibility-requirements/eligibility-criteria-topic):
Most chronic illnesses are acceptable as long as you feel well, the condition is under control, and you meet all other eligibility requirements.

Also (http://www.redcrossblood.org/donating-blood/eligibility-requirements/eligibility-criteria-topic):
In almost all cases, medications will not disqualify you as a blood donor. Your eligibility will be based on the reason that the medication was prescribed. As long as the condition is under control and you are healthy, blood donation is usually permitted.

Interesting - thanks for looking all that up. I'll let my family know if there is someone who can use it and want it when I go, they can have it!