In your personal opinion, do you thin... - Fibromyalgia Acti...

Fibromyalgia Action UK

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In your personal opinion, do you think you are allowed to give blood with Fibro?

TheAuthor profile imageTheAuthor271 Voters

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67 Replies
SarCisMe profile image
SarCisMe

I personally would like to be a blood donor, but I was told I couldn't give blood. I have other illnesses too, so maybe that also had something to do with not being able to give blood.

It can also depend on what medications you are taking too.

Hope everyone has a good day today, had another one of those "Clock Watching Nights", so tired now hopefully sleep will come a knocking soon.

Take care everyone.

sarCisMe, xx

TheAuthor profile image
TheAuthor in reply to SarCisMe

Thank you for your reply it is genuinely appreciated. I am sorry to read that you cannot give blood.

LaineyJ profile image
LaineyJ

I'm unsure because of the medications I take

TheAuthor profile image
TheAuthor in reply to LaineyJ

Thank you for your reply it is genuinely appreciated.

Betty67 profile image
Betty67

Even before i had fibro giving blood mąde me ill, migraines. Wanted to give as sister ligę was saved by receiving blood. Dad was very pleased when he had donated twice as much as she had received

TheAuthor profile image
TheAuthor in reply to Betty67

Thank you for your reply it is genuinely appreciated. Sorry to read that it made you ill.

bonsabrost profile image
bonsabrost

Interesting. I have been tools by the boots people I can give blood. I have told them I have fibro. Might check again as due to give blood on Tuesday

TheAuthor profile image
TheAuthor in reply to bonsabrost

Thank you for your reply it is genuinely appreciated.

RainbowElf profile image
RainbowElf

I was told that I could not give blood because of the pain medication i was on. It really ruined that day for me because I have always wanted to.

The rules are too strict, and they wonder why people just don't bother.

When I went the room was packed with people and only a small amount were allowed. The gay men rule really needs to change too.

My partner was not allowed to give blood because she has a slight heart murmur, that has never caused problems, but they said that without contacting ehr doctor she would not be allowed, but they never did.

So you either lie on the form, or just give up.

in reply to RainbowElf

Please don't lie... someone may be extremely sensitive to medication or there may be a genetic reason why they can't give your blood to someone who is ill. I had to have a note from my doctor that I was safe to give blood (MVP). Giving blood can be hard on the heart... a pint is a lot of blood.

TheAuthor profile image
TheAuthor in reply to

Thank you for your reply it is genuinely appreciated.

maximoe profile image
maximoe in reply to RainbowElf

It is very important that u do not lie on the form as u can pass on some thing nasty to an other person, as i am sure if u needed blood, u would not be very happy if there lied on the form & gave u an incurable disease. If u want to give blood, please be honest & talk to a professional in that line of work. Also it may be that with ur health problems that u av, its not possible for u to be able to pass on any of ur health problems to someone else, it may be that u can do more damage to ur own health problems, without knowing. so please do check first b 4 giving or giving up, Gentle hugs to u all. x.

bantam12 profile image
bantam12 in reply to maximoe

My husband caught Hepatitis C from a contaminated blood transfusion so lying should never enter anyone's head.

TheAuthor profile image
TheAuthor in reply to bantam12

Thank you for your reply it is genuinely appreciated. You have raised a very valid point.

TheAuthor profile image
TheAuthor in reply to maximoe

Thank you for your reply it is genuinely appreciated. You have raised a very valid point.

TheAuthor profile image
TheAuthor in reply to RainbowElf

Thank you for your reply it is genuinely appreciated.

24492449 profile image
24492449

You can give blood with fibromyalgia but not if you have/ suffer with CFS.

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TheAuthor in reply to 24492449

Thank you for your reply it is genuinely appreciated.

skit profile image
skit

I used to be a blood doner clocked over 50donations♥ The painkilling meds plus injections for arthritis have made that impossible But please ask at the chemist or GP before you start going to coming sessions.

We all may need blood from transfusions one day! Remember also that some can donate platelets at a special time in hospitals which treat cancer patients.

Years ago I had transfusion and that got me thinking what if no one had given blood for me?

TheAuthor profile image
TheAuthor in reply to skit

Thank you for your reply it is genuinely appreciated.

Mdaisy profile image
Mdaisy

This post may be of interest on this subject

healthunlocked.com/fibromya...

fenbadger profile image
fenbadger in reply to Mdaisy

Very interesting Emma. Kind of confirms what I said. Guidelines are reviewed from time to time and are adhered to. Before the session they ask what your medication is and they will soon tell you if you cant donate because of it. And clearly it's unwise to attempt to donate if you're unwell. You might end up like Hancock, receiving more than you gave . . :P If in doubt I'd phone and someone in authority will speak to you (saves valuable time at the donating session). As I said on another post people who have had transfusion are out because of BSE, as is anyone who has travelled to certain parts of the world. I think Europe, and North America are ok, but Africa for instance ruled you out WHETHER OR NOT you were subsequently ill - but don't quote me. My info is several years old and may now be out of date.

TheAuthor profile image
TheAuthor in reply to fenbadger

Thank you for your reply it is genuinely appreciated.

TheAuthor profile image
TheAuthor in reply to Mdaisy

Very interesting thanks Emma x x

MsJangles profile image
MsJangles

I would say it depends on type of medications you take along with personal health history, ie previous surgeries or medical conditions, etc

TheAuthor profile image
TheAuthor in reply to MsJangles

Thank you for your reply it is genuinely appreciated.

Molly_1919 profile image
Molly_1919

I can't because I was a hepC contact due to transfusion but donated prior to this even though I was on pain meds for chronic back pain before FMS diagnosed. I am now too old so don't know what the current pisition is.

TheAuthor profile image
TheAuthor in reply to Molly_1919

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Maggiet profile image
Maggiet

I don't think the Fibro stops you, but maybe the plethora of drugs that we take to keep going, would!

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TheAuthor in reply to Maggiet

Thank you for your reply it is genuinely appreciated.

RainbowElf profile image
RainbowElf

I would NOT ever lie on the form, I am just saying that they make it too complicated then moan when not enough people donate blood.

How is it that an entire room is full of people wanting to donate, to the point of some people having to wait outside, and most were turned down, for often stupid reasons.

TheAuthor profile image
TheAuthor in reply to RainbowElf

Thank you for your reply it is genuinely appreciated.

Read on post from M Daisy that in OZ not to donate well OZ and USA are far ahead of UK in Fibro and it's now classified in the USA as a lifetime illness of the central nervous system where as here just a not much/nothing problem oops forgot but we have the stiff upper lip don't you know!!!

budgiefriend profile image
budgiefriend

I am unsure whether I have only Fibromyalgia or also ME. I think given that many of us have been diagnosed by doctors with little understanding about what constitutes ME and how to diagnose it, and because Fibromyalgia and ME share many commonalities, and since the research for both illnesses is expanding so quickly now and many ME specialists are even saying that Fibromyalgia may be representative of a subgroup of ME, or something to that effect.... It would seem like a problematic area.

I have been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia for 13 years, but I am severely affected and have many symptoms that are in the list of ME symptoms. As I have no doctor within my local area that I am aware of who understands the biomedical issues of ME, and they seem to all be treating it with Cognitive Behaviour Therapy and Graded Exercise Therapy, I have decided I do not want to seek a diagnosis of ME/CFS, as it may only lead to being pressured to comply with those therapies and in any case I would not receive knowledgeable information about treatments from a biomedical perspective.

I am writing all this because I believe that there are quite a lot of people with a diagnosis of Fibromyalgia or ME/CFS or CFS, who really did not undergo proper diagnostic elimination of other illnesses and did not see doctors who have kept up with current expert research on these illnesses. So, I would say, whether or not we are 'allowed' to give blood, for the benefit of our own health and that of the recipient, maybe it is best that we don't. We can always encourage friends and family to give, telling them that it is very likely unsafe for us to do so and asking them if they would do it, thinking of our own wish to do so.

Just an idea. Hope I have not stirred things up too much by posting this.

Mdaisy profile image
Mdaisy in reply to budgiefriend

Not at all, something I have been alluding too also Budgiefriend

TheAuthor profile image
TheAuthor in reply to budgiefriend

Thank you for your reply it is genuinely appreciated.

MKMale profile image
MKMale

I used to be a regular blood donor. Once I was diagnosed with both Fibromyalgia and CFS/ME I was told I wasn't allowed to anymore.

TheAuthor profile image
TheAuthor in reply to MKMale

Thank you for your reply it is genuinely appreciated.

Newquay profile image
Newquay

Hiya yes you can because I went to give blood and had to be checked out and I was given ok .

So I now do give blood.

TheAuthor profile image
TheAuthor in reply to Newquay

Thank you for your reply it is genuinely appreciated.

Lotus954 profile image
Lotus954

I don't see why you should be turned down. It isn't a blood transmitted disease. I don't weigh enough to give blood, so this doesn't apply to me, and I don't know if the quantity of meds we are on changes your acceptance, but barring those things, there should be no problem.

TheAuthor profile image
TheAuthor in reply to Lotus954

Thank you for your reply it is genuinely appreciated.

Burda profile image
Burda

I was told it was unwise to give blood as it could cause a flare up of my condition

TheAuthor profile image
TheAuthor in reply to Burda

Thank you for your reply it is genuinely appreciated.

Fibrofoggiest profile image
Fibrofoggiest

I think as a fibro sufferer I am allowed to give blood, but I also have a blood clotting disease similar to Haemophilia, call Von Willebrands disease and lack the clotting Factor VIII. I am therefore precluded from giving blood because of that, but I think if that was not in the frame, fibro alone would not stop one from contributing, unless being on controlled drugs impacts on the situation.

Foggy x

TheAuthor profile image
TheAuthor in reply to Fibrofoggiest

Thanks Foggy, that is genuinely appreciated. I am so sorry to read that you could not donate blood x x

JONIES profile image
JONIES

Why should we?

TheAuthor profile image
TheAuthor in reply to JONIES

Good question? Anything like this is down to individual choice and there has been a great deal of scandal recently over blood donations!

Poppy-poppy profile image
Poppy-poppy

I cannt because of pernicious anemia. I used to before getting that.

TheAuthor profile image
TheAuthor in reply to Poppy-poppy

I am so genuinely sorry to read that. I want to sincerely wish you all the best of luck.

All my hopes and dreams for you

Ken

Can I leave feedback re this poll why can't you vote NO

TheAuthor profile image
TheAuthor in reply to

Yes, please leave whatever feed you like! (I think the actual vote has now finished?) I only placed the poll I did not set it. But if you think that we shouldn't then by all means please say what you feel is right.

All my hopes and dreams for you

Ken

TheAuthor profile image
TheAuthor

Thank you for your reply it is genuinely appreciated. I am so sorry to read that you cannot donate blood.

Sorry the I was querying as to why their was no options to the poll i.e a straight yes/no for example

TheAuthor profile image
TheAuthor in reply to

My apologies I got the wrong end of the stick. It is a valid question? Not sure as to why?

maximoe profile image
maximoe

Because I av an under active thyroid i was told that I was unable to give blood. Not sure If this is correct???

TheAuthor profile image
TheAuthor in reply to maximoe

Interesting? It is not something that I have come across? I can imagine that it is correct however as it is quite a serious issue.

Lotus954 profile image
Lotus954

I think we should be allowed to. Fibro isn't contagious! Whether it would be good for US is another story! THAT I don't know. I can't give blood because I don't weigh enough, but if I did, I'd try.

TheAuthor profile image
TheAuthor in reply to Lotus954

I am so genuinely sorry to read that you cannot give blood, I am aware that many Fibro sufferers have other medical conditions and cannot give blood either which is a shame. I want to genuinely wish you all the best of luck.

All my hopes and dreams for you

Ken

Lotus954 profile image
Lotus954 in reply to TheAuthor

Thank you Ken. You are always so kind.

lizzie8368 profile image
lizzie8368

I gave blood about a month ago and I always check with the duty doctor that it is okay for me to do it. I'm on loads of medication and don't only just have Fibromyalgia, but other chronic pain conditions. They state that as long as I am not feeling unwell, that I am able to do it. I make sure that I don't do anything stressful or anything that is going to tire me out the week before and the week after so I can feel as good as I possibly can and if, for any reason, I have the slightest feeling I'm not going to feel great, I cancel the donation and rebook for the next few weeks later. Hope this information helps. Happy Blood donating. I'm now on my 60th donation!! I used to give platelets and plasma when I was fit before being diagnosed with all my chronic pain conditions!! ;) xxx

TheAuthor profile image
TheAuthor in reply to lizzie8368

60th donation! That is some achievement! Thank you so much for sharing your experiences of this.

All my hopes and dreams for you

Ken

Yes

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TheAuthor in reply to

Thank you that is greatly appreciated.

BonnieSue profile image
BonnieSue

Of course we are. As a retired Blood Bank technologist, I see no reason not to. We have nothing in our blood that we can pass on to someone else that will give them fibromyalgia, nor will giving our blood hurt us unless we are too anemic, which will show during the normal pretesting for donating. If we are ill with a virus or bacterial illness, common sense and pre-donation questioning will screen us out. If someone is fatigued, they might not want to donate because they might notice a little more fatigue after donating blood for a few weeks, depending on the blood products donated. That can be discussed with the tech at the blood bank but you will probably be advised not to donate.

TheAuthor profile image
TheAuthor in reply to BonnieSue

Thank you that again is a wonderful reply and advice to this poll, and it is genuinely appreciated.

All my hopes and dreams for you

Ken

Bacaloca profile image
Bacaloca

I would like to believe we could, but because of all the medication we take I don't think we can