My doctor got me taking testosterone a couple of years ago because my levels were low, and I feel much better and have more energy now but he recently tells me this has caused my blood to be too thick. He wants me to start donating blood once a month to thin it out so I give some blood and the blood institute then tells me I'm very high in platelets so they also want me to give platelets. So I schedule an appointment and then they say it will take 2-3 hours to give platelets and I'm really busy at work right now. It got me to thinking, so I take all this time to give them blood and platelets for free and the hospitals and doctors offices charge enormous fees that many people can't afford to pay, plus medical insurance prices are sky high. Can't the hospitals afford to buy blood or platelets with the high prices they charge? My wife's recent back surgery cost about $300,000 and we're still paying many thousands for stuff not covered by insurance.

My understanding is the hospitals buy blood from the Red Cross and other collection places. That's how the collection places stay in business.
There are places that will pay you for your blood but from what I've read it's usually between $10 to $60.

Technically, it's illegal to buy or sell human tissues, including blood. There may be some exceptions, but I believe that, for the most part, this is true. One way that some companies/organizations get around this is that they say they're not paying donors for the tissues donated, but for the time and trouble of donating. I used to "donate" plasma on a regular basis to supplement my grad school stipend and this was how it was explained to me.

Also, I'm not aware of any place that will accept monthly donations of blood. The maximum I've seen is 60 days between blood donations. It's different for plasma, which limits donations to twice/week. I don't know what, if any, limitations there are with platelets.

I wish I could donate blood, you're very fortunate that you can.

Your donation could save a life.

I can't be an organ donor either.

Two of the down sides from having had cancer.

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Kenny
Endeavor to persevere.

I am so grateful to those who donate blood.
I was diagnosed with a blood condition and was given 2 to 6 months to live.
A regimen of chemo, bone marrow stimulation and transfusions has kept me alive and happy for five years and reasonable expectations for a few more years.

So as I said, I am grateful and want to thank all who give blood. I’m still happily pedaling along thanks to your generosity.👍🏻

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Eccentric old coot

I used to donate blood frequently, but since my heart attack in '97, they won't accept it anymore.

I had a bleeding episode a few years ago. They had to give me serveral
units of plasma. I am glad and thankful someone took the time to donate.

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In Omnia Paratus

Made it to 100 units of donations by giving platelets once a week, before my second false hep C kicked me out of program. That was 10 years ago, but at that time you could donate platelets once a week, Have since had prostate cancer, so even if they made an exception for false hep C, that would disqualify me.

Wonder if they would take my Plasma for COVID treatments or if the Cancer and false positives would eliminate me there as well.

My wife for many years was a platelet donor. She was even on call for times that a donation was need fast.

As for me as another stated above due to the meds I take my blood and me is persona non grata .

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14 S&W Revs none with locks!

When I ran a small college, my assistant director, a great friend, had cancer and needed blood. I had donated regular blood for years and the Red Cross loves my 0+. We have a center in my town so I would give regularly. They talked me into giving platelets so I didn't have to come in as often but it does take 2-3 hours. They would call and I would pick a Sunday afternoon, go in and watch a ball game and that was it.

Then I started having iron deficiencies. My Doc said iron deficiency just happens and I just take a iron supplement. I was talking with my BIL who is a doctor and he agreed and then later I was talking to him about giving platelets because of it. He stopped and said, tell me more about that. So, I quit giving them because of that several years ago. I also went through a difficult lung disease but am over that so I probably should at least give some blood again. It is a good feeling to know you are helping people.

When I get back into the system with the Red Cross they will start calling if a drive is within a 100 miles with my blood type. They practically beg for it. I am one of those odd people that only has sex with my wife, I don't go to foreign countries and I don't have tattoos.

I donate blood to the Red Cross and am just happy when I get the occasional free t shirt from them. There are many health benefits to donating blood.

8 Surprising Benefits of Donating Blood

With my last blood donation on June 27, I hit 2.5 gallons....
They changed the rules to only 5 times in a running year now.
Use to be 6 times.
I have the high octant blood... O Neg

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Only difference Fool/Mule-ears

I was happy to donate and was a two gallon plus donor when they stopped accepting my blood many years ago.
Had a non specific liver issue that my Dr said should have no impact on donating but the collection center said no. Haven't donated for about 35 years now

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Sceva
OGCA SWCA NRA

Same for me. Regular donor until my heart attack in 2000.

If you donate blood, any blood you need for a surgery is free. If you don't donate, you have to pay for it. At least that's what I was told.

They won't take my blood. Apparently I have mad cow disease. I don't actually have it, but because I lived in Holland from 1985-1987, they treat me as if i do. There's no test to see if the blood is clean. Since I won't lie and they haven't removed the restriction, I haven't been able to give blood in a long time. I wish I could.

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Freedom isn't free.

I used to donate regularly until they found out I'd been stationed in Germany in the early 80's. All of a sudden I'm a candidate for "mad cow disease" and can't donate any more. Very disappointing because I enjoyed feeling I was helping folks.

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Support Israel!

I has a heart attack in 2000 too.

Other than the heart attack and cancer I've lived a healthy life.

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Kenny
Endeavor to persevere.

In Ohio you can donate whole blood every 56 days according to the Red Cross. Herself schedules us to donate. With only a couple of exceptions we have been donating on schedule for 27 years.

Kevin

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Unshared knowledge is wasted.

I gave blood through where I worked, if any member of my family needed blood it was for free.

Sent from my LGL52VL using Tapatalk

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Don

Same with the wife and me. Stationed in Heidelberg, FRG
and TDY all over Europe and the Middle East 1982-1986.

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CSM, U S Army(Ret) 1963-1990

I think they'd tell anybody anything to get them to donate platelets.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

That may be true, but they still won't take mine. Plasma either.

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Freedom isn't free.

I’ve donated about 30 pints, over the years. My doc a couple years ago said stop. It was throwing my white/red blood cell balance off.

How inconsiderate! Would you want a doctor's mistress to have to make by with a Porsche when the poor girl wants a Rolls Royce or Bentley? Would you want his grandchildren to need jobs? How about his overhead (Hawaii condos and country Club Fee)? Only their time has value, you are an animal to be fleeced. Accept your place in the AMA order! Have some consideration. :-)

I was a regular donor (2.5 gallons) until I came back from 5 yrs in the UK during the "mad cow" time frame. 22 years later and I still am not allowed to donate in the US.

But, if I were to move back to the UK, I could donate there. The National Health Service loved me - my donation booklet was marked "BB" for "baby blood," meaning my blood could be used for babies.

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USAF 1981 - 2001