Author Topic: Donating Plasma  (Read 2089 times)

Offline ruSTynutz

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Donating Plasma
« on: April 24, 2020, 09:31:17 PM »
I've been a blood donor on and off for many years but in the last year or so I also started donating plasma.
Previously I'd never really thought about donating plasma as the nearest centre that collected plasma was a bit over an hour away so I was happy enough just donating blood when the mobile blood donor unit visited every 3-4 months.

It wasn't until my wife went through breast cancer and as part of her treatment had to have radiotherapy for 5 1/2 weeks in Traralgon that I had the bright idea of donating plasma while we were over there.
With plasma you can donate fortnightly so I managed to squeeze in a couple of donations in that time.

Since then I've done quite a few donations, mostly combining it with a ride on my ST...

Which brings me to today...Being pretty much house bound with this Covid 19, making a plasma donation offered a legitimate reason to get out of the house and get out for a ride...
It would also give Sue a break from having to put up with me 24/7... :rofl

All I can say is, what a shame I had to ride all the way to Traralgon to donate... :runyay

Well, I managed to get rid of an entire afternoon which was such a chore, especially with the sun shining brightly... :whistle
I'm not sure how it happened but I even managed to take a couple of wrong turns on the way home (accidentally of course) so had to suffer an even longer journey! Damn, the things I have to put up with!!!  :||||

Anyhow, if you're hanging out for a ride, there's worse things you could be doing than combining it with a plasma donation.
You'll blow those cobwebs out of your head and come home feeling all warm and fuzzy after doing your bit to help others...  :thumbs



                                                           Today's Route...
             


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Online Wild Rose

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Re: Donating Plasma
« Reply #1 on: April 24, 2020, 09:49:17 PM »
Well done  :hatwave
As a former blood doner
My Doctor has told not to donate whole blood something to do with my red blood cell but I can donate Plasma but I have never done it
You have just made me realise I should actually start doing it
So next week I will go and give my first plasma donation maybe on the bike
Thanks for the suggestion  ++
Who else is going to do it  :popcorn
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Offline ruSTynutz

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Re: Donating Plasma
« Reply #2 on: April 24, 2020, 10:04:54 PM »
Thanks Leo!  :thumbs

It takes longer than a normal blood donation, probably around an hour and a quarter or so all up.
I usually take my eBook reader to while away the time...


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Offline StinkyPete

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Re: Donating Plasma
« Reply #3 on: April 25, 2020, 07:20:18 AM »
I had been a blood donor since I was 17, but being a cancer survivor, my blood is no longer required.   
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Offline ruSTynutz

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Re: Donating Plasma
« Reply #4 on: April 25, 2020, 11:43:48 AM »
Hi Pete, according to "Life Blood" in most cases you can donate again if you remain free of cancer five years after completing treatment.

https://www.donateblood.com.au/faq/cancer

Sue had just started donating when she had her diagnosis, she is O negative which, as you're probably aware of is the blood product of choice in an emergency.
She's looking forward to donating again in the future, fingers crossed of course...  :X


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Offline StinkyPete

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Re: Donating Plasma
« Reply #5 on: April 25, 2020, 12:47:43 PM »
Hi Pete, according to "Life Blood" in most cases you can donate again if you remain free of cancer five years after completing treatment.

Two years cancer free, so I have a while to go yet.   I'm AB+ , a very exclusive group.   :grin
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Offline ruSTynutz

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Re: Donating Plasma
« Reply #6 on: April 25, 2020, 12:56:24 PM »
 That's great, Pete! :clap :runyay


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Online Wild Rose

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Re: Donating Plasma
« Reply #7 on: May 01, 2020, 08:04:29 PM »
I registered to give plasma, it’s been 11 years since I donated blood
I made appointment for Thursday but had to cancel as I had a medical issue on Monday
My Doctor is working with me to find out what is happening
So I did MRI test yesterday and more tests to come
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Offline ruSTynutz

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Re: Donating Plasma
« Reply #8 on: May 01, 2020, 08:20:10 PM »
Fingers crossed you get it all sorted, Wild Rose!  :X


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Online Wild Rose

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Re: Donating Plasma
« Reply #9 on: May 01, 2020, 08:35:18 PM »
Thanks
Just got to be positive  :hatwave
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Offline ruSTynutz

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Re: Donating Plasma
« Reply #10 on: May 01, 2020, 08:38:51 PM »
Being positive is half the battle, me thinks...  :thumbs


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Offline STroppy

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Re: Donating Plasma
« Reply #11 on: May 01, 2020, 09:07:53 PM »
I started donating blood when the Army decided they couldn’t survive without me back in 1967 and continued up until about 10 years ago When I changed over to Plasma because they told me plasma was more useful to them. Maybe because, like Pete, I am AB+.

Sadly, I can only fit in a 12/15 minute ride to get To the Red Cross.
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Offline ruSTynutz

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Re: Donating Plasma
« Reply #12 on: May 13, 2020, 10:10:02 PM »
I donated again today... :thumbs

With the weather looking pretty ordinary in the morning with rain/drizzle I was seriously contemplating taking the car but thankfully the rain cleared not long before I was due to head off.
Other than the roads being a little wet and running into a touch of light drizzle over the top of the Strzelecki Ranges, the remainder of the day stayed dry although the cloud cover did look threatening at times.

Passed one speed camera and was pleasantly surprised 2 cars flashed me a warning beforehand...  :o

Anyhow, the donation went smoothly and I was on my way around 1 1/2 hrs later.
A quick visit to Bunnings and I then headed home via Supercheap@Warragul, arriving home just on dark.

Not a great ride but still better than sitting home going stir crazy... :grin



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Offline ruSTynutz

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Re: Donating Plasma
« Reply #13 on: June 19, 2020, 09:48:11 AM »
I'm off to donate again today...
I'll play it by ear as to whether I'll combine it with a bigger ride.
So far though the weather looks promising!  :thumbs


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Re: Donating Plasma
« Reply #14 on: June 19, 2020, 10:01:38 AM »
It's Victoria.  Don't be fooled by what the weather is promising.
 

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Re: Donating Plasma
« Reply #15 on: June 19, 2020, 06:33:18 PM »
Got home around 20 minutes ago...so yes, the weather held up and I got a decent ride in...  :nahnah  :thumbsup


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Offline ruSTynutz

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Re: Donating Plasma
« Reply #16 on: June 19, 2020, 10:34:15 PM »
Here's todays ride...

After today's donation at Traralgon and with the weather still on my side I decided to make the most of it
before the crappy weather arrived for the weekend.



I had no particular route planned so just basically followed my nose...

First stop was Cowwarr Weir where I took the opportunity to take a few photos.

I then headed to Rosedale via Heyfield.

Having never travelled the Rosedale to Gormandale Road before, I decided to head that way...

Once on the Hyland Highway I headed towards Yarram but decided to veer off onto the Grand Ridge Road to Carrjung.
Grand Ridge Road turns to dirt just past the town so I chucked a uey and headed back to the highway and Yarram.

By this stage I was ready for a pitstop and a hot chocolate so I stopped off at the Yarram Bakery, which surprisingly was still open.

After messaging Sue just to let her know where I was, I turned for home...

By this stage it was starting to get quite late in the day but I thought, bugger it, I'll pay Port Albert a quick visit.

After taking a few happy snaps I finally headed home, arriving back just after 6pm.

All in all, it turned out to be quite a fun day!  :runyay





















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Online Wild Rose

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Re: Donating Plasma
« Reply #17 on: June 20, 2020, 05:28:43 AM »
Looks like you had a great ride
Thanks for sharing  :like
Leo (Wild Rose)
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