A friend suggested I post some more details about platelet donation (thanks E!), so here's what I found out
How Long Does it Take to Donate Platelets?
2 hours or less, including the survey questions you're asked.
The donation itself takes about an hour & 20 minutes. (Bring a book! I recommend The Last Coach which is, of course, a classic piece of literature about legendary Bama football coach Paul W. "Bear" Bryant...*grin*)
Can you catch a dreadful disease donating blood or platelets?
Nope. Sharps are used once & tossed.
Does it hurt?
Depends upon your feelings about getting stuck in the arm and about helping others in a HUGE way.
My thoughts: (a) it doesn't hurt too bad, and (b) would you undergo a small amount of pain in order to help save someone's life?
Who can give platelets?
Donors must be at least 17 years of age, weigh at least 110 pounds and be in good health.
(I used to be 17...let's see...it was 10, no...25, no...*ponders*...*sighs*...it was back in the Gerald Ford Administration, I believe...And believe it or not, I also used to weigh 110 pounds...Dadburn, I'm now depressed! Oh well, I do, in fact, still weigh "at least 110 pounds"...*grin*)
Along with meeting the criteria for whole blood donors, they have one added restriction which is NO ASPIRIN or anything containing aspirin or Piroxicam (Feldene) can be taken 72 hours before donation.
Go here for more basic info. And here is a helpful guide to the questions you'll be asked.
--(For H'burg folks) Where in the round world is United Blood Services??
United Blood Services is located on S. 28th
Drive on 28th between Forrest Gen'l Hospital and the H'burg Clinic facility (under the walkway between the two), and keep going. UBS will be on your right. Park around back, though the door is around front facing S. 28th.
Call 601-264-0743 (UBS) for more info.
--(for folks not in H'burg)
I strongly encourage you to prayerfully consider donating platelets at your nearest blood donation center. If it's a UBS facility, you can still donate on behalf of Jason Weathers, should you be so inclined. (For a list of UBS facilities around the country, click here) But that aside, please donate, whether you do so for Jason or not. I almost guarantee that your local medical community could use some platelet donors too.
Thanks so much, my friends!
With Love & Hope,
Mike - 2 Cor. 4:7-8, 16-18
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Mike, this is something I can speak with authority on, since I was a platelet donor for several years, every eight weeks.
I had already been a whole blood donor for a lot of years. I knew the value of platelet donation, because platelets had provided months of "quality of life" life during Shannon's illness (Mike's cousin's daughter--acute myelomonocyric leukemia). For me, platelet was just an extension of whole blood donation.
You build a whole new relationship with our blood center personnel, because they're very intent on keeping their platelet donors happy and coming back. Even though your platelets will be dedicated t one recipient, you'll never know details about the patient, or his/her condition. Conversely, they'll also never know anything about you.
The process is simple, at least as far as you're concerned. A nurse will start an IV in one arm, and connect that to the phoerisis machine, then repeats the procedure with the other arm. After determining that you're comfortable, the attendant will start the machine, remving blood through one arm, spinning out the platelets, and returning your own blood--minus a percentage of your platelets--into the other arm.
I was sometimes able to feel a slight sensation, which I really can't describe. The most common "side-effects" include cramps in the large muscles of the leg, or a tingling around the lips--both caused by the anticoagulant they use to keep your blood flowing; alert your attendant and you'll get Rolaids or caramels (for calcium) and a massage for your cramp. If you REALLY have to relieve yourself during the procedure, you can be disconnected for a short while, but it's a really good idea to "go" before they start the procedure.
Eventually, I was disqualified from all blood product donations, because of spending time in Western Europe during the Mad Cow epidemic. I hope someday to be able to resume eithrt whole blood or platelet donations.
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