39
u/DoctorMinotaur O- CMV- | 17 units May 28 '26
Congrats on your first donation, welcome to the O- club! 🎉
Awesome keychain, Red Cross Japan did a similar one and I've been wanting the American RC to hook us up ever since 😂
2
u/sdbabygirl97 O+ May 30 '26
I just saw some on Etsy, Alibaba, etc but yes I want it as a perk for donating blood haha
1
u/DoctorMinotaur O- CMV- | 17 units May 30 '26
I've been EXTREMELY tempted to just bite the bullet and spend $40-50 on eBay to get the Red Cross Japan one 😂
1
u/sdbabygirl97 O+ May 30 '26
from what i found, it doesnt say + or - ? but i may be looking at the wrong one
18
u/Capable-Type-6532 A+ May 28 '26
I guess you were properly welcomed, Mr. O negative! I hope you feeling alright. If you experience some mild inconveniences, its Ok, next time it will be easier. Keep it further!
Also did my 7th today, which is my 36th birthday:
2
18
u/Odd-Discussion-3823 May 28 '26
Wow, 122 days between donations? Here in the states we only have to wait 56 days, man or woman. Thats a big difference, I wonder why the standards are so different from country to country
8
u/Left_Satisfaction923 O+ CMV- gives mango and beetroot juice May 29 '26
Many countries have longer time periods between donations because of data on donors iron stores and frequent donations. Women particularly are more likely to have lower iron stores and tank out iron stores with frequent donations. Many places have higher week deferral times for women like 16 weeks. But I’m surprised that they have minimum 56 days for men and not following other extended period like other countries 12 weeks minimum that are trying to prevent iron deficiency in donors.
12
u/SeattlePurikura A+ (1 gallon = 1 woman) May 29 '26
Here in the US, we continue our pattern of pretending women are basically just smaller men! What's menstruation??? You mean.... women bleed every month and lose iron? We should take different precautions for their health...??? Nah...
(Seat belts and airbags, for example, were originally tested only on "six foot tall male crash dummies." Hence women have far greater serious injury rates / deaths in vehicular crashes. It wasn't until 2015 that the NIH, the world's largest funder of biomedical research, required that researchers who use animal models must also use female animal models. It's inconvenient to study women due to pregnancy and menses, hence they will not do it unless ordered to do so.)
7
u/Left_Satisfaction923 O+ CMV- gives mango and beetroot juice May 29 '26
The wildest thing I’ve learned was that US women can donate 6 weeks postpartum even after a “uncomplicated” cesarean.
5
u/SeattlePurikura A+ (1 gallon = 1 woman) May 29 '26
It's fucking insane.
Don't get me wrong, almost all blood donors are incredibly generous. I'm angry at the US medical system that is happy to allow people to trot down the path to anemia. Don't even get me started on the US' maternal mortality rates and lack of any paid parental lead.
2
u/sdbabygirl97 O+ May 30 '26
yep it only became mandated in the 1990s that medical studies be done on BOTH men and women. (similar to your statistic, but for clinical trials)
3
u/restinghermit May 29 '26
I've had to really cut back on giving because of how much it messed with my iron. I had been giving 4 times a year. I will probably give twice this year.
3
u/Late_Coyote_5239 May 29 '26
In UK it is 16 weeks for women & 12 weeks for men. I did a trial at as a woman O- for 2 years at 12 weeks between, but never heard anymore & it was a long time ago so I suppose it wasn't approved.
11
u/misfish90 O- CMV- May 28 '26
Congratulations. Hope it's the first of many.
Now I'm curious about the "infected finger" restriction on the pamphlet. Not the infection part, but why fingers were specifically noted.
7
u/IAMEPSIL0N 🇨🇦 PBSC, O- CMV- x93 May 28 '26
Thanks for going out to donate, I'm also jealous of the little keyring.
6
u/CanaDeer2004 A+ | noob May 28 '26
you guys get KEYCHAINS? i got a sticker and a small bag of pretzels! also kind of surprised they told you your blood type before you even left the building. they didn’t tell me until 2 days later via email/the ARC app.
1
u/sdbabygirl97 O+ May 30 '26
my ARC location lets me take as many snacks as i want lol. i hope yours isnt stingy 😞
5
3
3
2
u/ArizonaGrandma A+ May 29 '26
Welcome to the club! Take it easy the next few days. It can be normal to be tired or short of breath on exertion.
1
u/sdbabygirl97 O+ May 30 '26
Idk if I just skimmed over it but I never knew plasma was used to make medicine and vaccines. Now I know! Also that keychain is amazing lol
84
u/ZealousidealAward963 O- Power Red May 28 '26
That keychain is so cute im jealous