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lauraanne_gilman*sigh* Among the mail I got this weekend was a letter from Mass General Hospital. Not the first letter I've gotten on this topic, but it hit me at a time when I have no excuse but my own hesitations*.
See, I'm CMV-negative. Which means my platelets, in addition to my blood, are much in demand, specifically for premies and people with compromised immune systems.
Yeah, I give blood regularly -- I received transfusions when I was a kid, and this is the only way I know how to say thank you for that. But I really dislike doing it -- I don't recover easily, and just the sight of a needle makes me woozy. And apheresis? Takes two+ hours, one needle in each arm.
But.... my physical and emotional discomfort for a couple-three hours, against someone having access to 'safe' blood...
Damn it. I shouldn't have to think about this. But I do.
Anyone out there actually gone through platelet apheresis?
*usually I'm sick, or stressed from deadlines, or etc. Right now I'm healthy, working-but-not-that-stressed, and could manage to get the time off to do it, either there or a more local hospital.
See, I'm CMV-negative. Which means my platelets, in addition to my blood, are much in demand, specifically for premies and people with compromised immune systems.
Yeah, I give blood regularly -- I received transfusions when I was a kid, and this is the only way I know how to say thank you for that. But I really dislike doing it -- I don't recover easily, and just the sight of a needle makes me woozy. And apheresis? Takes two+ hours, one needle in each arm.
But.... my physical and emotional discomfort for a couple-three hours, against someone having access to 'safe' blood...
Damn it. I shouldn't have to think about this. But I do.
Anyone out there actually gone through platelet apheresis?
*usually I'm sick, or stressed from deadlines, or etc. Right now I'm healthy, working-but-not-that-stressed, and could manage to get the time off to do it, either there or a more local hospital.
