posted
I would never dream of doing this to all kinds of innocent people. But what if each of us on this board did this? THat would have to be somewhere in the 9000 people range..right?..OMG We would wipe out our own race!
It sounds so terrible to know that something so life saving could be so dangerous! We are truely ill if we cannot give blood...At least I hope we cannot give blood..there are rules against this I hope right?...
Can you imagine someone using one of our blood supplys?...Yuck..
I hope I never get anyones blood from this board...lol...
-------------------- ~Things may happen in my life time to change who I am but I refuse to let them reduce me...~ Posts: 968 | From private | Registered: Jan 2005
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treepatrol
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 4117
posted
Its already happening. Its not just tick vectors
-------------------- Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Remember Iam not a Doctor Just someone struggling like you with Tick Borne Diseases.
-------------------- ~Things may happen in my life time to change who I am but I refuse to let them reduce me...~ Posts: 968 | From private | Registered: Jan 2005
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treepatrol
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 4117
posted
Say 10 people get bitten 5 get treated even prophalacticly 100mg doxy twice a day which we all know is still being pushed.
Now out of five 2 actually get lyme {but think there cured}now those 2 give blood or plasma that blood or plasma goes to say 6 people and now those people are firm belevers in donating and so on & so on.
Now back to the original 5 with no treatment they get to pass it along anyway they can giving blood products,organ donors, sex OH! wait we all know it cant be passed sexually this cousin of syphilis.
-------------------- Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Remember Iam not a Doctor Just someone struggling like you with Tick Borne Diseases.
posted
The sad thing is I am not sure if the red cross even takes the Lyme seriously. I remember seeing an article in a New Jersey Newspaper a year ago or so. It was asking for blood donors and said something along the lines of people with Lyme are welcome as long as you have been treated.
SO I guess this means if you have taken doxy for two weeks come on down and give some poor SOB your blood. It is scary how contaminated our blood reserves are.
Posts: 649 | From United States | Registered: Dec 2003
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posted
The Red Cross doesn't have any way to check blood for lyme or coinfections. They will only know if someone tells them that they have it. Look how hard it is to get positive test results even with the specialty labs. There are LOTS of people running around with lyme that is dormant. They don't even know that they are infected. It's not an easy and cheap test like the HIV+ test is.
-------------------- You're only a failure when you stop trying. Posts: 945 | From U.S | Registered: Oct 2004
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posted
It happens! I gave blood for years not knowing I was infected at the time.. I'm sure there are thousands of people doing the same thing... so many people are infected and their symptoms are dormant or so far between and not bothersome enough to get checked.. and even if they did get checked the results would probably be negative! I certainly would not want to have a blood transfusion!
-------------------- Stephanie Posts: 802 | From Reading, PA, USA | Registered: Aug 2001
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luvs2ride
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 8090
posted
I have given blood several times since I was first bit 10 yrs ago. Had no idea I still had lyme in me and would never have knowingly infected anyone. Geez, I was trying to do a good thing.
-------------------- When the Power of Love overcomes the Love of Power, there will be Peace. Posts: 3038 | From america | Registered: Oct 2005
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Carol B
Unregistered
posted
I tried to give blood at work-and was told that having been diagnosed with Lyme I could not give blood for one year after being treated.
Two years after being treated for lyme( three weeks with Ceftin) I still tested positve for Lyme and am just now beginning treatment in earnest by an LLMD.
Scary-yes very scary-the thought of our blood ignorantly infecting other innocents.
posted
There are THOUSANDS of people with undxd lyme giving blood ... DAILY.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96239 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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dontlikeliver
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 4749
posted
It's happening all the time, our blood would just be a drop in the ocean of all the other contaminated blood, I'm sure.
Posts: 2824 | From The Back of Beyond | Registered: Oct 2003
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posted
So apparently there is no real law against this!
-------------------- ~Things may happen in my life time to change who I am but I refuse to let them reduce me...~ Posts: 968 | From private | Registered: Jan 2005
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mlkeen
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 1260
posted
Perhaps doctors should ask about receiving blood products as well as remembering a tick bite or rash?
It would be interesting to know how many who can't otherwise figure out how they got lyme have had a transfusion?
Posts: 1572 | From Pa | Registered: Jun 2001
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posted
I think that I read somewhere that the Red Cross says that if you've ever had Babesiosis, you can't give blood.
A little better than the situation with Lyme, but not much. Testing for Co-Infections is about as unreliable as testing for Lyme. How many people are walking around with Babesiosis & they don't even know it?
Happened to me. I had Babesiosis tests done several times by labs known to be specialists in TBDs. All negative.
In 2003, had tests at Bowen Lab. They were the only one that found I had Babesiosis. Their test does not depend on antibodies to specific strains. It looks for the Babesia protozoa.
The more you learn about TBDs, the scarier it gets!! Posts: 4638 | From South Carolina | Registered: Mar 2001
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Just Julie
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 1119
posted
This is why folks that if you know you are going in for surgery of any type, to bank your own blood. I'd rather have MY blood going into me, a known "yes it's lyme blood" than an unknown, Lyme + a gajillion co-infections going into my veins.
I used to donate blood, as a nurse I felt it was my civic duty
I stopped after getting the lyme diagnosis in 2000. But, before knowing I had lyme, there was 13 yrs of blood donation out there from me.
My son's high school regularly pulls the blood mobile RV into his school parking lot and kids willingly go give blood. My son (who is 16 now) knew from the get-go, without my even telling him, that donation from him was out of the question, for the rest of his life. Sad, but true (that he can't feel like he's giving back to society), but I was proud that he somehow put 2 and 2 together and got 4. He even took a stand and told the kids that were coaxing him to "go give blood" that he couldn't, and why he couldn't. Good 'ole peer pressure. Probably educated a few
I was kinda using my head when I had 2 planned C-Sections, and banked my own blood then. I knew I was at high risk for bleeding out during surgery, as I had placenta previa with both pregnancies. So, in accordance with the times in 1989 and 1992, I put my own blood on ice, and went thru the C-Sections without needing any transfusions, but happily knew that if I had needed them, I would be getting my own blood, and not some unknown units with who knows what in them. At that time, it was a slight risk of AIDS being not completely screened out at the time.
I will never donate again, sad to say.
-------------------- Julie Posts: 1027 | From Northern CA | Registered: May 2001
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lymemomtooo
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5396
posted
Daniella, I know your frustration..But I think if it were ever proven that someone did this on purpose, that they would do time.
And it is impossible to funnel the contaminated blood to those ducks in need.
For my last 2 surgeries, I refused any blood if the Dr thought I needed it unless the hurse was on the way. lymemomtooo
Posts: 2360 | From SE PA | Registered: Mar 2004
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dontlikeliver
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 4749
posted
On that note, I wonder how Steere would feel about RECEIVING blood from a 'cured' or post-Lyme syndrome patient!
Posts: 2824 | From The Back of Beyond | Registered: Oct 2003
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tabbytamer
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 3159
posted
quote:Originally posted by mlkeen: Perhaps doctors should ask about receiving blood products as well as remembering a tick bite or rash?
The two LLMDs I've seen had this very question on their forms as well as asked me during the exam if I ever got blood products.
posted
We must be cautious about our statements. Also, isn't this a medical question board.
I may come under attack for this, but I see constant use of the "medical question" section for issues regarding physician law suits and other things that are not medical questions. Isn't this why we have the general support section?
The only reason I find this to be a concern is because it makes the title "medical questions" misleading and those who are new to the disease and who are not all rapt up in this horrible political mess get scared too quickly. And at the same time people pay so much attention to these issues which are also important and patient questions sink down the list.
treepatrol
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 4117
posted
quote:Originally posted by duke77: The sad thing is I am not sure if the red cross even takes the Lyme seriously. I remember seeing an article in a New Jersey Newspaper a year ago or so. It was asking for blood donors and said something along the lines of people with Lyme are welcome as long as you have been treated.
SO I guess this means if you have taken doxy for two weeks come on down and give some poor SOB your blood. It is scary how contaminated our blood reserves are.
Some states they wont except if you have had lyme ? Why some and not all is beyond me.
-------------------- Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Remember Iam not a Doctor Just someone struggling like you with Tick Borne Diseases.
-------------------- Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Remember Iam not a Doctor Just someone struggling like you with Tick Borne Diseases.
posted
I find even your suggestion very repulsive, I'm sorry, but I wish they'd delete this post.
Posts: 121 | From Memphis, TN | Registered: Dec 2004
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Melanie Reber
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 3707
I tried to give blood at work-and was told that having been diagnosed with Lyme I could not give blood for one year after being treated.
Two years after being treated for lyme( three weeks with Ceftin) I still tested positve for Lyme and am just now beginning treatment in earnest by an LLMD.
Scary-yes very scary-the thought of our blood ignorantly infecting other innocents. Carol in MD but soon to be in CT !
Yes, Carol's right ... I highlited her statement.
Red Cross uses the USA'S DEPT. OF ARMY'S RULES (there may be another name vs. army; mind isn't awake yet you know ).
It's the MILITARY RULES THAT APPLY TO RED CROSS. It states that also in Marcus Cohan's LYME DISEASE: SCIENCE, POLICY, & LAWS.
I also emailed the head of our local hospital about this. They are conforming to Red Cross rules.
I too was a blood donor for 20 years. I called them promptly of my lyme diagnosis; they DIDN'T care!
Blood is a MEDICAL question John. I do agree with you on some of the other issues you raised as some folks were putting ALL other sections in medical & newbie questions were at the bottom due to OFF TOPIC subjects in medical.
It is a NECESSITY to be discussing this so newbies learn NOT to give blood, organs, tissue, TRANSPLANTS, etc.
We wouldn't inflict this on our worst enemy even those namesless ducks!
CHANGE YOUR DRIVER'S LICENSES TOO; WE DO NOT WANT TO BE ORGAN DONORS! If you had YES on there, tape a NO over it & show LYME DISEASE!
Glad you brought up the subject again Daniella; fresh crop of newbies to educate.
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bettyg
Unregistered
posted
Daniella, read the board!
Someone said your PM box is full; it's regarding RIDING TO CONN. RALLY! urgent.
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LostCityAgent
Unregistered
posted
Hi Folks, I do not agree. This is not a medical question. This is a provoking sociomedical topic and it is not the true reason why folks come here. I chose not to use the term newbie because it can also be a very sardonic choice of a word. Regardless people come to this website for answers, to find a cure. To find security in their diagnoses or to find the right one. Since becoming diagnosed 3 months ago, after finding my own diagnosis and creating a 63 page pathogenesis I know what fear is. And, I know what it is like to be a young man who feels that he is not the same as his young cohorts anymore. This post will make the young feel like plague victims. And, anyone with common sense who has read about their LD will know obviously not to give blood! Perhaps the title "medical questions" could be changed. There could be a section called "Patient Questions/Patient Care" and another called "Medical Inquiry/Ethics" but you are mixing apples and oranges. My system, which I give away to anyone who wants it, has now been able to assist 4 people in getting their LD diagnosis and shoving that down their neurologists throat. All of which, were Parkinson's patients.
posted
This is a very good, very serious point.
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Andie333
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7370
posted
I had a tick bite in 1996 and was treated with a short course of abx (10 days, as I recall).
I was told that would take care of any threat of infection.
At the time, I knew nothign about Lyme Disease -- certainly had no clue bacteria could remain in one's systen for years. I just took my duc at his word and assumed I was perfectly okay.
I was a frequent blood donor. I donated whenever I was called and whenever I would pass a donor site and have some free time. It seemed like a very good thing I could do.
I had no idea I was still full of Lyme, and that the disease was continuing to wreak havoc on my system. By the time it hit me full force in 2004, it completely compromised my body.
This (blood donation) is something I've thought about since I was dx a year ago. I hate this disease; it's robbed me of about a fifth of my life. I would not want even my worst enemy to contract it. And the thought that I might have been unwittingly passing it to other people is hard for me to think about.
This is also an issue that was raised in the early days of the AIDS epidemic. Serious consideration was given to the fact that the blood supply might likely become tainted with the AIDS virus. Yet the cost of blood testing, as I remember, precluded that solution.
Andie
[ 02. June 2006, 07:13 PM: Message edited by: Andie333 ]
Posts: 2549 | From never never land | Registered: May 2005
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posted
I know what you guys are saying about previos donations. I know I used to donate 2x a year just at school all through school...
I know my father recieveda blood transfusion thta made him very sick..I would much rather have my same old lymie blood than soemone elses.
i wonder how you go about creating your own supply. I know my husband used to give every couple months and I am now fearful for him to donate since we are together....
I don't think I am ever aloowed to give because I have babesia but do all people who have or supposadle have had babesia know this?...I don't know
It is not something ducks talk about..they probably have their own blood on ice and what we all get we get....
I don't know if insurance covers this or not and where do they store it???
Many questions....I really want to do this now..
daniella
-------------------- ~Things may happen in my life time to change who I am but I refuse to let them reduce me...~ Posts: 968 | From private | Registered: Jan 2005
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posted
In January, I was in my NYC doctor's office asking for a liver panel. His nurse practitioner, a nice enough guy, was reluctant to order it for me.
My LLMD is in another state. He and I had agreed that I needed this panel.
The nurse practitioner started to tell me why I didn't need a liver panel. He told me "You're a healthy guy, you don't need a panel".
That's when I blew and told him "I'm not a healthy guy, I have chronic Lyme, I haven't slept 5 hours straight in 2 years, I get up every morning with a back ache, I get sweats like you wouldn't believe, I feel like I have the flu 24 hours a day - but the bottom line is "Would you take a blood transfusion from me'"?
He looked at me and wrote up the liver panel order.
I still smile when I think of the look on his face.
posted
A transient with Lyme Disease (that's me) could travel the country donating blood, deliberately infecting the blood supply while making $25 per donation.
This would be terribly immoral, unless like the black (African-American) slave quoting Romans 13. Then it could be justified (rationalized?) under the just war theory.
Forgot his name....let me google it.
Here's Romans 13 (the slave appointed himself a ruler to administer Gods wrath against those who commit evil):
Rom 13:1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
Rom 13:2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
Rom 13:3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:
Rom 13:4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to [execute] wrath upon him that doeth evil.
Rom 13:5 Wherefore [ye] must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.
This may not be the perosn I was looking for but it does give similar example:
posted
Daniella, I need to apologize to you. Reading over this a second time I see that this is a very important medical question. Spreading disease, among the most important as we are talking about how communicable our disease is? I originally misread and thought something else. Never mind that, but I apologize.
posted
Pardon me....my post yesterday comparing donating Lyme infected blood to slave insurrection was probably too acrimonious. I get that way on the bad days. Blame it on the brain fever.
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But what if each of us on this board did this? THat would have to be somewhere in the 9000 people range..right?..OMG We would wipe out our own race! ![[Frown]](frown.gif)
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