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

No, it is not because of the Arthrotec. For that, I would have to be off it for 3 full days. Believe it or not, it is because I was tested for MS and a clear diagnosis was not received! They consider MS to be a communicable illness! The guy on the phone says 'geeze, you've got the blood type we always search for and you are not allowed to donate!'.

Have any of you encountered this? I really wanted to donate.

never tried, but always wondered.

I have been banned for life. If you have the AS DX you are not allowed to give blood or plasma. (according to the Canadian Red Cross) This happened 3 or 4 years ago, don't know if anything has changed

Sherri

I am so sorry to read that. Then I, too, must be banned for life.

As it does appear having scoliosis is a potential NO for donating blood.

In the UK they won't take your blood if you have MS. I'm not sure about other autoimmune conditions though. The reason for not taking it with MS is that they just don't know enough yet about what causes or triggers MS. Guess they are really wary here about anything that affects the brain after all the CKD stuff years ago. In NZ they wouldn't take my blood for years after I had visited a malaria zone, and then the next couple of times they said they would take it but not use it whole - they would have to fractionate it and just use some parts. Haven't tried in the UK, but not sure they would want it with all the drugs floating around in it.

I am slowly putting together medical answers for myself. Do you all remember my posting questions about a 'bump/lump' appearing on my rib cage under my breasts? I think I know what it is. I think it is something called ossification, meaning bone is forming there. Right now, that area is tender to the touch and when I bend over, I can't breathe, too much pressure on my chest.

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-ossification.htm

I often get Costochondritis attacks.

I do not have MS and am more than willing to be put through the testing again for the 13th year in a row. Yes, you heard correctly. I have already passed the evoked potentials tests every time. It is becoming irritating.

They wont take my blood ether. I was told that after I had my UC Dx. They don't want blood from anyone with an autoimmune disease. If you add to it all the immunosuppressant drugs, I can understand why, I wouldn't want blood with all kind of meds in it.

I have not given blood in a long time, but would like to again as I have A- I was told because of meds, people with AS cannot give blood. Is it also because of autoimmune disease.

Tim

I have not given blood since i was diagnosed with AS. But earlier i had. I did not know people with AS were barred, but some how i was not comfortable giving so i avoided.

Well I have been told that if you have high blood pressure you can not donate. A whole host of other things.

When I was in college we had a blood drive and me and some of my friends went to donate. I was laying there and the bag filled up real quick to half of a pint and then stopped..no more, no way, no how.

The nurse said I have very tiny veins and they roll, she also told me that if I was ever in any kind of trauma situation she used a car wreck and I guess I was laying there bleeding to death that I probly wouldnt make it to the hospital..I thought that was awfully nice of her to tell me that, I was also told don't bother coming back because I couldn't donate anymore.

I do have a question for you here..ok if none of us can donate blood, does anyone know if we could still be bone marrow doners? I don't know if because of our illness makes our immune system attack itself if that would make our marrow for someone else useless???

I have also wondered if we were given stem cell transplants where they kill your old immune system and give you a new one could that mean maybe we wouldn't have AS then?..alot to think on.

Lisa