Blood/Plasma Donor

    • Anonymous
      August 25, 2008 at 3:55 pm

      Can I still donate even though Ive had IVIg?

    • Anonymous
      August 25, 2008 at 5:00 pm

      My understanding is no but I live in Canada and things may be different here. They would not take my blood for about 10 years after GBS and then wouldn’t take it because I got chronic hives. I am still unable to donate and have given up trying.

    • Anonymous
      August 25, 2008 at 6:25 pm

      I don’t know if you can donate or not.

      You can call the American Red Cross to find out. Here is the #: 1-800 GIVELIFE

      Kelly

    • Anonymous
      August 25, 2008 at 7:14 pm

      With me having Lupus, I can donate my own blood to myself but any unknown disease that has no cure, blood donations are not allowed. I don’t think a normal healthy person would like to hear that somebody with Lupus gave them blood to them and they would then worry.
      Some diseases can be passed by blood transmission but some diseases the Red Cross do not allow because little is known about our diseases.
      Before they started testing blood donations look how many drug addictics sold their blood to the Red Cross and got away with it! Was very common in the 80’s but not allowed now.
      But you yourself if your going to have surgery can donate your own blood to yourself. But nobody else can have that blood. Same goes for me here!
      My questions about blood donations is how many actually have a hidden disease that never shows up and then you have their blood to later get sick!
      It saves lives at the beginning but have never seen any studies of the long term effects of what happened many years later.
      PS! In 1984, I had placenta previa and had to have a C-Section. They had to give me 5 units of donated blood. I got sick a few years later. Was tested for HIV several times showing negative results. From 1987 to 1997 I was tested every year. So far I have been negative. They told me that after 10 years and show negative that I would not have AID’s. But I often wonder if the blood donation caused me other problems health wise. Worst part! No records back then as to whom gave me the blood! So I have no idea what diseases this person has now and did they pass on something to me that was rare causing me to be sick today. I often wonder about that and think every pint you get that we should have records of who donated and their medical history. I think we should even be notified if that person becomes ill with something. Just because of what is happening to me now.
      A cousin of mine had 3 transfusions a few years ago due to a complicated pregnancy and now she has Hepatitis C! And no telling what else might effect her in later years! Good subject!

    • Anonymous
      August 25, 2008 at 7:48 pm

      Cryln:

      I have heard conflicting reports on blood and organ donations post GBS. My feeling is that even if there is a real small chance, even if it is less than a 1% chance, why would you risk a donee’s health? There is already too many people who have GBS.

      Lee

    • Anonymous
      August 25, 2008 at 8:03 pm

      Thank you for the #.
      I definetely wouldnt want to risk anyone. I wish i could donate though b/c w/o peoples donations, we wouldnt have IVIg. I told my husband that he should start donating to help people like us and give back.

    • Anonymous
      August 25, 2008 at 10:14 pm

      My husband and daughter have both donated. In the long run, I think it is safer this way and I still feel a bit like I am giving back. I also forgot to mention that in Canada you must be drug free (something like 10 days prior to the donation) to donate. Even OTC free. Some people have NSAIDS allergies, etc.

    • Anonymous
      August 25, 2008 at 11:32 pm

      NO. And not likely for a while.. You can’t/shouldn’t have received infusions/transfusions or innoculations for at least a year plus or the like……I think more.
      First look up the ‘FDA/Blood products’ web site. Learn all about the regs regarding IVIG and where it all begins and ends…. There are gaps.
      Next Look up the ‘American Red Cross Blood Donation Process’ and see what all is included and excluded for donors. The list of exclusions is extensive and anyone who has had any kind of ‘transfusion’ [infusions are in this category] are excluded if in the past X-Y years. Or, look up your local hospital’s blood bank and see what their application form looks like…It’s pretty comprehensive and serious.
      Oddly enough? About Organ Donations [I have explored this] it seems to vary from state to state…then vary about your medical history and which/what organs they might want. I was assured by my state that IF this all comes to consideration, that I would be tested for ‘compatabilities’ extensively. I have asked about this as I am listed as an organ donor, but wondered myself…. I received, essentially, muzzy fuzzy answers relating to no absolutes due to the fact that I’ve other med issues going along w/the CIDP I have. However, I was ‘assured/reassured’ that if anything could be ‘donated’ it would.
      I believe that in some instances, our immune issues aren’t an issue with some organs/parts and with others they may or may not be an issue at all. Honestly? Should the time come, I suspect I won’t care-but I sure hope someone else can benefit.
      I sure wish I could be more ‘definitive’ about this all. From what I gather it’s all a ‘case-by-case’ kind of thing. Hope this helps!

    • Anonymous
      August 26, 2008 at 4:51 am

      I did not know that IVIG’s were made from donated blood! I just learned something new again. Just really have not looked it up because I have not been treated yet. But had no idea about that one. I thought it was a medication they used. What about Plasmapheris? Is that too made with donated blood? Can bad things happen to a person being given these? Me having Lupus and CIDP has me worried now! Especially the way my body does!

    • August 26, 2008 at 3:12 pm

      Linda,
      PP is a process that cleanses your own blood of auto antibodies. It goes right back in. IVIG is compiled of plasma from thousands of donors. Some info I have read says as high as 20000 different people. They use the antibodies. (simple explanation, actually much more involved) The process is very involved. a person donates, the plasma is held for 6 months, tested for a variety of things and cleansed. The donor comes back, donates again if the blood was clean the first time. The first donation is disposed of. Again, more complicated, just a condensed version. About the other comments from the various replies, I don’t worry about Kevie “Getting” anything, because I am hopeful that all that can be done to thwart the contraction of other disease’s is done. I pray about it. We have no choice but to give it to Kevie. Two weeks from today, two years ago, Kevie was nearly paralyzed unable to walk, bowel issues, bladder, and difficulty breathing, until he was givien ivig, so we have no choice. I never want to see him like that again. All we can do is pray and hope.
      Dawn Kevies mom

    • Anonymous
      August 26, 2008 at 6:12 pm

      Thank-you Dawn for answering my questions. I guess when we are really sick and need help. Anything they have for us has a price or danger involved. We have drugs out there that even cause problems that are bought at a pharmacy. Cancer drugs that can be a risk. The medical profession is just trying to save a person life. And when they find something that works, it’s better than not having anything at all! So this has helped alot of people in here. I just never knew what it actually was. But sounds interesting how that IVIG can do what it does for many getting them on their feet again. So glad it has helped your son and hope he stays okay and get’s better. Not easy having a sick child. Very hard to see! I wish you my best and hope his future becomes a much brighter one! Hugs

    • Anonymous
      August 27, 2008 at 9:13 am

      IVIg has been like a miracle for me. After every treatment, I am doing something new. I get one more in Sept.
      I got a few rounds of PP in the hospital, but am not confident that it helped me.

    • Anonymous
      September 22, 2008 at 6:59 pm

      Carolyn,

      I had PP, not IVIG. Over the years (pre-MFS/GBS), I donated platelets. About a month ago (post-MFS/GBS), I called the NIH (where I donate platelets), and they told me that as long as I don’t have symptoms, I am OK to donate.

      I don’t know about a blood donation though, and the fact that you got IVIG. However, the NIH, who is extremely thorough, did not ask me the treatment I received. They just asked if I still had symptoms.

      And someone else wrote that they hold the platelets/plasma for 6 months, and I had read that as well.

      I’m sure wherever you decide to donate, they will have information on whether or not you’re a viable candidate.

    • Anonymous
      September 22, 2008 at 7:47 pm

      I was told not to donate for at least one year from the time that I had received IVIG (7 yrs ago now). I regularly donate to the Red Cross. Of course, I tell them every time I donate that I had GBS with IVIG treatment and it has never been a problem.

    • Anonymous
      September 23, 2008 at 10:57 pm

      I have asked the red cross and they asked the heads of it and their answer is you can donate blood, only if you are symptom free and you can not donate plasma at all. You have to have healthy plasma, which cidp/gbs people do not, in order to donate. The cells in blood are not the problem in cidp people, its in the plasma. Of course you should talk with your area red cross to ask them pertaining to your own circumstances.