Red Cross Ohio Posted by sixgoofykids (Member # 11141) on :
Hmm, other lists I've seen say if you've ever had babesia you can't donate, strange it's not on this list at all.
Posted by In19944 (Member # 34272) on :
You can donate, but they will reject it. Before I knew I had lyme, I tried and they sent me a letter saying it was rejected. But in big capital letters, YOU DO NOT HAVE HIV. But no specific reason for rejection.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Babesia should be on there. I know it used to be.
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- SixGoofyKids, TuTu
Babesia is further down the list: ---------------------
Serious Illness
Those who have had infections with Chagas Disease, babesiosis or leishmaniasis are not eligible to donate blood.
Those with systemic lupus erythematosis, multiple sclerosis or systemic scleroderma are not eligible to donate blood. -
Posted by Larae30 (Member # 35220) on :
So they actually test donated blood for lyme and babesia? That is surprising. I just got a new license and have always been an organ donor, but I put no this time because I wouldn't want someone getting my infected organs.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Keeb.. I think they DO mean to say ACCEPT.. in other words, to "accept" those with this condition or that condition.
--
Allergy, Stuffy Nose, Itchy Eyes, Dry Cough
Accept as long as person feels well, no fever, and no problems breathing through mouth
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- TuTu,
Oh, my. You are correct. I'm the one who saw that all wrong, then. My mind must have been expecting an exception list and did a trick on me.
Deleted my post and I'm resting my eyes and brain - and mouth for a while now. Oy, Vey. -
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- My eyes missed this the first time around.
In re-reading that, I see - as "treatment" can be dangerously deceptive, at least they want people to wait a year after "resolution"
- and they DO acknowledge CHRONIC lyme:
Excerpt: ---------
Lyme Disease
Accept persons with Lyme disease if they were treated, the disease resolved and at least 1 year has passed.
Those with chronic Lyme disease are not eligible to donate blood. -
Posted by Atta (Member # 30786) on :
The Red Cross needs to talk to the CDC.
I wonder how they test the blood to determine Lyme and Babesia and how many bands have to show up. Yeah, I'm being a little sarcastic.
I also stopped listing myself as an organ donor. I guess I'd rather donate them to Lyme research. Anybody know how to get on that list? Now I'm being serious.
Posted by finallylyme (Member # 33807) on :
What gets me is that Red Cross of Ohio acknowledges Chronic Lyme Disease. Why can't the rest of Ohio??
Posted by Larae30 (Member # 35220) on :
I would like to donate my blood to some people in the CDC and IDSA...
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Yes, they acknowledge chronic lyme...
Larae... get in line behind the rest of us!! Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- Ditto.
I am beginning to believe that the IDSA ID docs have found a cure but it's not yet ready for market so they are keeping it secret. How else to explain that none of them have been touched by lyme (or their beloved family members)?
Do they never interact with nature? (Though that could explain some of their disconnected demeanor.)
And I deeply apologize to anyone who got the blood products I donated before I learned what was going on with me.
All the doctors said "we can find nothing wrong" so I assumed they had actually explored all the possibilities and that I was safe to donate. They had not. I was not. -
Posted by Life+Lyme (Member # 33568) on :
I think we should ask the IDSA people in a courtroom if they are so confident that chronic lyme exists that they will accepts blood products from a lymie.
One way we could get recognition, and the other way, they would understand what we go through and not be so callous.
They would probably think twice about things...
Posted by hopingandpraying (Member # 9256) on :
I thought that once you had Babesiosis, you were excluded for life from donating blood! Can anyone clarify this?
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- You said that you "thought that once you had Babesiosis, you were excluded for life from donating blood" (end quote)
You are correct.
That site above details those with babesiosis are not allowed to donate (the wording suggests forever but could be stronger language than just "had").
This is in line with the main Red Cross guidelines.
Those who have had infections with Chagas Disease, babesiosis or leishmaniasis are not eligible to donate blood. (end excerpt) -
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
quote:Originally posted by Keebler:
And I deeply apologize to anyone who got the blood products I donated before I learned what was going on with me.
- Me too! I donated blood ONCE. They hit a nerve in my arm and I never donated again. I DID NOT know I had Lyme or babesia.. this was a LONG time ago.
Now I'm GLAD they hurt me .. it kept me from ever donating again.
Posted by hopingandpraying (Member # 9256) on :
Thanks, Keebler, for the clarification. You are a wonderful resource and I am very grateful for all the information you provide.
God bless you and please know you are in my prayers, as are all those ill with this horrible disease.
Posted by Rumigirl (Member # 15091) on :
On the IDSA Guidelines writers: If you think that they don't know the truth about Lyme, you would be sadly mistaken. They absolutely know. Read their own prior research, which is readily available on PubMed. It says the exact opposite of what they state in the Guidelines.
In addition, when one of them had Lyme himself, he availed himself of many weeks of IV abx beyond what they allow in their guidelines.
So, yes, they know well. It's just that it benefits their bottom line to say otherwise. Unfortunately, they probably sleep very well at night, hard as that is to understand.
And the blood donation issue is beyond horrifying. Yes, I gave blood a very long time ago (but long after I had it in retrospect).
What Dr. J said in Under Our Skin applies, someday they will be asked: "What did you know, and when did you know it." (I may not have his wording exactly). I hope I see that day, but I'm not holding my breath.
Posted by jmb (Member # 18338) on :
I do not care what the rules are. Knowing what I know about Lyme and Co., I would never even consider "donating" blood. I think it would be just plain wrong.
Posted by tickssuck (Member # 15388) on :
jmb - I completely agree with you. I just would never-ever at this point.
However, during my 3 years of undiagnosed illness, I donated numerous times. I knew I was sick, but docs couldn't find anything wrong with me. Last thing I ever thought was some sort of infectious disease. Once I was diagnosed, I did call the Red Cross and inform them.
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