GreekChat.com Forums  

Go Back   GreekChat.com Forums > General Chat Topics > Chit Chat
Register FAQ Community Calendar Today's Posts Search

Chit Chat The Chit Chat forum is for discussions that do not fit into the forum topics listed below.

» GC Stats
Members: 329,715
Threads: 115,665
Posts: 2,204,945
Welcome to our newest member, sophiaptt543
» Online Users: 1,722
0 members and 1,722 guests
No Members online
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 12-16-2013, 05:05 PM
honeychile's Avatar
honeychile honeychile is offline
Super Moderator
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Counting my blessings!
Posts: 31,392
Exclamation Donating Plasma

I tried to find details about this in other threads, but didn't find what I need to know.

Is donating plasma scary? I've donated blood dozens of times, but never plasma. Are there any restrictions, medical or otherwise, that could keep you from donating? Should you bring a snack, Gatorade, or something? About how long does it take?

Any help would be appreciated!
__________________
~ *~"ADPi"~*~
Proud to be a Macon Magnolia
"He who is not busy being born is busy dying." Bob Dylan
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 12-16-2013, 05:16 PM
misscherrypie misscherrypie is offline
GreekChat Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Las Vegas Valley
Posts: 487
I didn't mind donating plasma. I've done it about a dozen times. It took about an hour to finish, and it is recommended that you are well hydrated and fed before you go down to the donation center.

I remember being disqualified from donating one day because I had a cough (turned out of be allergies) but other than that kind of thing, the restrictions are the same as whole blood donation. You can donate plasma much more frequently than donating blood though.
__________________
Beta Sigma Phi
ΣΑΕΠ Alumna
~*~* Home is where you find your people*~*~

Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 12-16-2013, 05:19 PM
als463 als463 is offline
GreekChat Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,636
Quote:
Originally Posted by honeychile View Post
I tried to find details about this in other threads, but didn't find what I need to know.

Is donating plasma scary? I've donated blood dozens of times, but never plasma. Are there any restrictions, medical or otherwise, that could keep you from donating? Should you bring a snack, Gatorade, or something? About how long does it take?

Any help would be appreciated!
In college, though the Red Cross won't take my blood due to being born overseas after 1980 (in particular countries)--even though it was on a military base---I was able to donate plasma. Apparently, plasma places now have the same restriction. Serving in Iraq didn't deter me from donating plasma. It was the fact that I was born in Europe 30 years ago. Weird. It's not that bad, though.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 12-16-2013, 07:34 PM
violetgeek violetgeek is offline
GreekChat Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 81
I donated platelets for about 10 years -- probably around 100 times -- back in the 90s -- can't now because of medicine I take. The time will vary, depends on the size of your veins. They did double needle for me -- take the blood out of one arm, spin it thru the machine and put it back in the other. Takes me around an hour. Of course, the minute they hook up both arms, your nose will itch! But, they take very good care of you and will scratch what needs scratching. I usually get cold -- you are laying still and the blood coming back in is cooler because they add fluid and other things. There will be blankets to keep you warm. The tingling from the thinner is a little weird, but Tums fixes it right up.

The donation centers I've been too will have TV or a movie for you to watch, so the time goes quickly. I never eat or drink any differently from normal and I've usually given in the mid afternoon without any problems. It's usually the volume loss that makes you feel light headed when donating whole blood. You actually get more volume back with the platelet/plasma process, so you shouldn't have any problems.

You'll still get cookies and juice afterwards!
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 12-16-2013, 07:48 PM
StealthMode StealthMode is offline
GreekChat Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: in the Cali sun!
Posts: 1,429
I used to donate plasma a lot. I echo what everyone else said but will say I had a pretty positive experience. I would read/do homework/watch a movie during the donation. The cold, tingly feeling from the blood thinner was uncomfortable but I brought a coat to keep over me during the process and that helped. I didn't have any negative side effects. Someone warned me to keep up a good diet if you're going to do it multiple times because you might start to feel rundown and this was really good advice.
__________________
"You're adorable. " ~ DrPhil

All of my love, my peace, and happiness...I'm gonna give it to DELTA.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 12-16-2013, 08:29 PM
AlwaysSAI AlwaysSAI is offline
GreekChat Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: The river of hopes & dreams.
Posts: 2,993
Send a message via AIM to AlwaysSAI
I tried to donate plasma once but I got turned away. They said my veins were prominent enough.
__________________
ΣAI
ΑΓΔ
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 12-16-2013, 08:38 PM
*winter* *winter* is offline
GreekChat Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Northeastern US
Posts: 884
I once went to a plasma place for a job interview. It was...not very...sterile. It was in an rather decrepit former department store in (oh hell- you're from Pittsburgh so you'll know) McKeesport. It just didn't seem like the kind of place I'd want to work, or be stuck with a needle in. YMMV...

*no offense to anyone from McK...I'm a Valley girl myself
__________________
* Winter *
"Apart" of isn't the right term...it is " a_part_of"...
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 12-16-2013, 08:56 PM
WCsweet<3 WCsweet<3 is offline
GreekChat Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Orygun
Posts: 2,714
I volunteer with American Red Cross blood drives so I can really only speak on that experience.

The process isn't too different than with normal whole blood donations. The requirements aren't too different either. Be healthy, over 110 pounds and over 17. For more specific requirements please check here.
If you go through red cross or basically any blood bank, they will give you snacks and juice/water at the end to up your blood sugar and make sure there are no complications. It is a good thing to have eaten and to be hydrated when you go in. Plasma generally takes about an hour and fifteen minutes to an hour and a half. Whole blood typically takes an hour. A lot of it is going through medical history. The medical history is completely confidential and is only asked to make sure they can use your blood.
__________________
KΔ ♥ AOT

"Sisterhood is not about being popular, its about developing character, forming bonds, and self-discovery. If after four years you can hold you head high, then absolutely your sorority is "tops"." - H2oot
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 12-18-2013, 04:03 AM
DaffyKD DaffyKD is offline
GreekChat Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: When you find me, please let me know
Posts: 1,023
I had to give plasma for my son when he had open heart surgery when he was 2 1/2. I don't know if the rules have changed, but the weird thing to me was they told us that plasma cannot cross county lines so I had to drive into San Diego County in order to donate as the surgery was taking place at SD Children's and I lived in Orange County. I was told had the doctor requested whole blood rather than plasma then I could have donated in Orange County.

DaffyKD
__________________
KD
Reply With Quote
Reply


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Donating to College Alma Mater DrPhil Chit Chat 50 06-18-2012 10:15 PM
He has saved over 2 million lives just by donating DaemonSeid News & Politics 2 04-30-2010 08:30 AM
Alum donating a pin? PiMuXO Alpha Delta Pi 4 12-04-2008 11:41 AM


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 01:47 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2025, vBulletin Solutions Inc.