Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group Blood donor

Hi!
Here on the South Coast of Australia blood donations are at a critical low, they are asking for donations on every possible form of communication, TV, newspaper, radio, magazines and even the old tin can and string method!! (well maybe not that but you can see how much they require it).
When I was two I had a severe form of Anemia and was required to have two blood transfusion which probably saved my life. I have always tried to get the courage to donate blood but have always backed down for the "FEAR" of it. I can handle needles and I'm great with any kind of medical procedure but for some reason the thought of donating just chills me to the bone. (Possibly some repressed fear of what I went through as a baby, well that's my excuse not the fact of the BIG needle).
I am determined to atleast once in my life to repay my debt, as I see it and why not do this when it is so urgently needed! My question is this....Can I donate whilst on Salazapyrin and taking three voltaren a day, I'm not sure what requirements are needed. Thanks for any input!!

Sally

No; sulphasalazine has an antibiotic effect, and they won't want your dose added to the recipient patient's. Here in the UK they don't mind NSAIDs though.

They wear ''their brains in their bellies, and their guts in their heads,'' as Agrippa taxed some parasites of his time, rushing on their own destruction, as if a man should run upon the point of a sword, they eat till they burst ...

Hey Sally ...

How very noble of you to want to 'pay back your debts'. In my opinion that shows alot about the type of person you are.

I'm sure that regulations differ between countries, but here the Canadian Blood Services rejects your donation because you have AS, before they even ask about your meds. They say that they just dont know enough about autoimmune diseases to risk having it in their blood supply. I think Sulfasalazine would make your blood deferable too ... it affects folic acid synthesis important in making more (blood) cells.

Like I said, might be different between countries. If it's similar there, I'm sorry. I remember how disappointed I was when I found out that I couldnt donate anymore.

Hugs,
Jeanna

Kindness in words creates confidence
Kindness in thinking creates profoundness
Kindness in giving creates love
~ Tao Te Ching

Hi Sally,

Until I had AS I used to donate on a regular basis. After getting my diagnosis they have taken me off the list forever. Also I was told you can't have any medications in your system for 1 week or they don't want your blood either. Here they have a very stringent screening process before you actually get to the donation part, each year it gets a little longer. It is a very worthy cause for anyone who is able to though.

Deborah

Jeanna, wow, I did not know that!! Well, now I don't feel so bad over not donating my O- blood the past year or so. But still, that sucks.

Hugs,

Kat

Your right on the money with that one Jeanna.
Some years back (not too far back) I went to donate blood and was rejected because of AS.
No one seems to know what AS is but they just know that I am not a good doner.
I have not yet heard that you can infect someone with AS tainted blood.
Ray

Hi Deborah,

I heard the same in the US.... absolutely no meds in system if you want to donate. However, not sure about diagnosis of AS being a restriction.

Tim

Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional

Well, I hadn't realised that either. I called Canadian Blood Services and asked if it was Ok if I was on Celbrex and they said no problem, however I didn't mention that it was because of AS. I am glad I know this now, saves me the trip down to be rejected.

Thanks;

Ken.

OK, so I just called Canadian Blood Services and got the final word from a lovely lady who checked their manual for me. To confirm what Jeanna told us, people with AS are deferred from giving blood because they don't know what causes AS. It's not a big enough problem to go through the existing blood stores and pull our blood if we donated before we were dx'd, but it is big enough that they don't want us to donate once we're dx'd.

She was saying that someone might call and say they have a type of arthritis and they're on Celebrex and that would be fine. But if they specify that they're on Celebrex for AS, that's not fine.

So, sigh, no more blood giving for us.

Hugs,
Kath

Kat

I was told years ago when I first had the DX of RA that I would no longer be able to donate blood. Must be for the same reason, autoimmune disorders. I always thought it was because of the meds, not because my blood was "tainted."

Cheryl

Dogs always think your cooking is wonderful