Just curious if any one knows if you can spread Lyme's by donating blood? Also I was wondering if you are an organ donor and something were to happen would they still except the organs if you have Lymes?? Just wonder in those situations if they change their tune towards Lymes??
Posted by DebAz (Member # 18039) on :
I have been told not to donate blood.. and have been told that those who get blood transfusions like after an auto accident are cured..
I asked my doc to order an transfusion.. Of course he cant..
But it makes sense..
I say No... and I would not donate to my family or anyone else sadly but true.
Posted by cactus (Member # 7347) on :
Interesting.... So if you want to donate then Lyme is a "big" deal. How ironic?
Posted by DebAz (Member # 18039) on :
Ironically I am a registered blood donor and it is on my licence I believe and I better change it.. Just diagnosed and verified this year as Lyme positive..
Posted by SForsgren (Member # 7686) on :
No blood donation No organ donation For life...
Risking someone else getting this disease would be irresponsible in my opinion.
Posted by feelfit (Member # 12770) on :
Yes, I cringe at the thought of the people potentially harmed by my blood in the 18 years that I was undiagnosed and gave blood regularly.
I also removed myself from the national bone marrow registry after being diagnosed .
Feelfit
Posted by Wonko (Member # 18318) on :
I can understand not donating blood, but is it really also best to not be an organ donor?
I'm not being rhetorical, I really don't know. I thought ppl awaiting organs were so sick that their need would outweigh the risk of Lyme, but that is only my impression.
I'm currently listed as a donor on my license. I just got a clinical diagnosis last week.
Posted by Wonko (Member # 18318) on :
sorry, I'm still new. I now see there are lots of other posts where I can pursue my above question.
Posted by randibear (Member # 11290) on :
my doc said "NO"...to both...so i don't donate blood or list myself as an organ donor.
i just wouldn't wish this on someone else and if i thought i gave it to someone,well, i don't know what i would do...
better to not risk it..
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
quote:Originally posted by SForsgren: No blood donation No organ donation For life...
Risking someone else getting this disease would be irresponsible in my opinion.
Ditto
Posted by Liz D (Member # 16739) on :
I emailed the BC Donor people to take my name off the list and why. I got a nice mail back saying not to worry, all organs etc are checked that they are healthy before they are used. This is a very worrying thought.....
Posted by cactus (Member # 7347) on :
Wonko, I understand wondering whether a very ill person might prefer to receive a potentially infected organ rather than no organ at all.
That's a logical thing to wonder.
My personal answer is that donating an infected organ to an already ill person is not a kindness:
It means that the next organ that is available, a potentially healthy one, will not go to them.
It means that their chances of rejecting the infected organ are higher.
It means that they will not recover well - if at all from the surgery.
And it means that, if they should need another transplant, they will not be a good candidate to be put on the waiting list because they have a chronic infection.
Before you think of me as thoughtless or uncaring...
I am - and always will be - an active part of the organ donor community.
At 26, I sat with my best friend for 8 mos, waiting on an organ that did not come.
8 mos can be a very long time. We had a lot of time to talk.
I know she would have given anything for a healthy organ.
I don't think she would have felt that way about an infected one.
I think, given a choice, she'd have taken her chances and waited for a healthy one.
Not that she would have had that choice - because she likely would not have known.
She would not have survived the donation of an infected organ, of that I'm sure.
For those of you who have "organ donor" on your driver's license - don't worry that your organs will automatically be donated.
Even with that stamp, doctors cannot donate any organ without consent of a family member, or unless you have a signed and witnessed statement in your wallet.
Unfortunately, I know about that from experience.
Please make sure your family knows your wishes.
Posted by JKMMC09 (Member # 15795) on :
quote:Originally posted by DebAz: . and have been told that those who get blood transfusions like after an auto accident are cured..
I asked my doc to order an transfusion.. Of course he cant..
But it makes sense..
I don't think this can be possible, since Lyme is not only in the blood, but it is in your muscles, joints, tendons, organs, ligaments, skin/tissues, etc.
A transfusion may lower your spricohete load by a %, but probably not much...