Hello all. The Fox affiliate in the San Francisco bay area aired a piece on lyme, the possibility of sexual transmission and the safety of the blood supply yesterday. I find it a step in the right direction!
Go to the link above to view the video of that segment. You'll need Real Player.
My husband works at a non-profit Blood Donation Center. The questionnaire asks potential donors: Have you ever had Babesia?
If you say yes-----your immediately disqualified from donating blood.
The questionnaire does not ask about Lyme Disease. I don't think they even test the blood for Lyme.
Thanks for the info. I'll show this to my husband, but I believe that I've run across documentation from prominent physicians that also believe the blood supply is tainted. Take Care, Jan
Posts: 602 | From Burleson, Texas, USA | Registered: Jul 2004
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breathwork
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 567
posted
Thanks Jan...
They speak with a Red Cross rep who says that they don't ask about lyme disease on the questionaire, but ask enough leading questions for the donor to realize that they should say if they have had lyme.
I think that's idiotic...But then I know how rotten this bug treats our lives...and certainly don't want to share it with anyone else, particularly someone sick enough to need transfusing.
posted
That is wonderful! We need MORE news to be broadcasting this!! But hey, that was 2 on lyme in a week, huh? Or at least the ones we know about.
It is sad to tell you that I use to work at a plasma donor center when I was 20yrs old and donated my plasma 2x in 7days for several yrs. off and on. I hate the thought of what I might have unknowingly put into the blood supply. I was probably infected then.
I had donated blood about 4yrs ago and recieved a letter in the mail saying I could no longer donate because I had a positive antibody showing for Hep b. That freaked me out and I had a test run by my dr. and they showed nothing. Wonder what that was all about, but what a blessing, huh?
I am on the Bone Marrow Donor program....need to call them and have them take me off that.
Can not be an organ donor anymore......SO SAD!!
Thanks for sharing! Amanda
Posts: 688 | From SW Arkansas | Registered: Dec 2003
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posted
I am going to share this with many. It is funny how some people need to see it on the news for something to be credible! (like my gma!)
Once again, Thank you!
Posts: 688 | From SW Arkansas | Registered: Dec 2003
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treepatrol
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 4117
posted
Ive been saying this a long time.Iam glad another Dr said so.
Posts: 10564 | From PA Where the Creeks are Red | Registered: Jun 2003
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posted
Breathwork I know what you mean about not being able to donate anymore. I was on the bone marrow donor list and all those other donor list. I went to give blood in February and when I told them I had Graves Disease they said I couldn't donate anymore and took me off the list. I called the bone marrow place and they said the same thing. I have always wanted to help someone but I am glad that I didn't get called and was unable to donate that would probalby break someone's heart in a situation like that. It is scary to think how many people I might have infected with lyme because I used to give blood regularly until my diagnoses with graves disease in January. Stacie
Posts: 220 | From Louisiana | Registered: Jun 2004
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rosesisland2000
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 2001
posted
When I think about this, I just get sicker. My late husband was the 18th unrelated bone marrow transplant receiptant here in the US.
His donor was from New England (that's really all we know about her). Even though his tranplant was successful and his blood-type completely changed to her blood-type, he died, post transplant, 76 days after with an infection that they just couldn't control.
We were very careful with germs, etc and he wore a mask when out of the apartment, but, if he was exposed to Lyme or cos through the transplant process, then it would be a no-brainer. I'm not saying he got Lyme, but, then how would we know. He wasn't tested for it.
Please, if you have LD, or are even suspecious of having it, call and take yourselves off the list before you are called to be a donor. It is devestating for the person searching for a match to get one, only to be told later that the donor can't donate the marrow.
Lishs mom
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 2344
posted
If you recall I was emailing the red cross, and I got some pretty sad responses from them regarding lyme disease and the national blood supply.
Their basic comment: "It is not our job to help enforce diagnosis of lyme disease and we will not interfere with public policy"
This was referring to my question, can the red cross test for lyme and can they work with other organizations to ensure our blood supply is safe from Bb.
Hello all. The Fox affiliate in the San Francisco bay area aired a piece on lyme, the possibility of sexual transmission and the safety of the blood supply yesterday. I find it a step in the right direction!
Go to the link above to view the video of that segment. You'll need Real Player.
I cant open it...just a white blank page, with the KATV banner....
Hello all. The Fox affiliate in the San Francisco bay area aired a piece on lyme, the possibility of sexual transmission and the safety of the blood supply yesterday. I find it a step in the right direction!
Go to the link above to view the video of that segment. You'll need Real Player.
I cant open it...just a white blank page, with the KATV banner....
Went to www.marrow.org to take my name off the national bone marrow donor list and this is what I found:
Lyme disease: Asymptomatic Lyme disease is acceptable if the donor has been treated successfully with antibiotics. Chronic Lyme disease is unacceptable.
Hmmmmm......they know!
Posts: 688 | From SW Arkansas | Registered: Dec 2003
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mlkeen
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 1260
posted
Would someone more computer savvy, I just don't have the time right now to figure it out, e-mail NBC about the lack of TBI screaning on blood donations.
They did a good job last week, this would be a great follow-up story.
treepatrol
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 4117
posted
Lyme disease: Asymptomatic Lyme disease is acceptable if the donor has been treated successfully with antibiotics. Chronic Lyme disease is unacceptable. Its number eleven on the list http://www.marrow.org/HELP/marrow_eligibility_guidelines.htmlPosts: 10564 | From PA Where the Creeks are Red | Registered: Jun 2003
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Kara Tyson
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 939
posted
With Lyme it is a dont ask dont tell policy with the Red Cross. They do list babesia.
But it is not true that they give leading questions except for...do you feel well today?
A good book to read is What The Gov Isnt Telling You About AIDS. It was written by a orthopedic surgeon who practiced at the outbreak of HIV. She butted heads with the Red Cross because they were having blood drives in areas they they knew were high risk areas. She called them on it. The essense..they could have cared less even though they may have infected people.
posted
Wonderful clip! Can't help but feel we are all part of helping to end this nightmare for our children and grandchildren. Thanks for sharing. Hmmmm wonder if your fox 2 would share the clip with our fox 2 in Detroit? Cathy
Posts: 71 | From Warren, Mi, USA | Registered: May 2003
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