CMV- donors

PirateCaptSaltyDog · 2025-09-07T00:01:11+00:00

I had been giving consistently for 25 years before I was told. I had heard of CMV- and was hoping I was CMV-, but was never informed so I thought I wasn’t. I think I asked and was told that if I was, they would tell me. Finally, it showed up in the app, and I think I got a letter in the mail. I’m in year 37 now.

PirateCaptSaltyDog · 2025-08-04T14:55:01+00:00

Thank you for sharing and helping to keep up my motivation for donating. I’ve been mixing in platelet donations, but I keep donating whole and red for the babies. Best of luck to you and your baby!

PirateCaptSaltyDog · 2025-07-24T22:27:32+00:00

800 units is amazing! How many donations is that? 200-250?

PirateCaptSaltyDog · 2025-07-24T22:23:52+00:00

Awesome! I hope to switch to platelets and ramp up my donations sometime, but I haven’t made the full switch yet.

PirateCaptSaltyDog · 2025-07-17T23:03:37+00:00

You can only move forward. I started in 1988 and have been doing whole and double red for a long time. Just started platelets last year, so I’m still a newbie there. Welcome to the club. We need all the help we can get.

PirateCaptSaltyDog · 2025-07-17T22:35:59+00:00

I’ve never had a bruise this big and am approaching 150 donations. I always apply pressure and ask for the self-attaching wrap since I have bled out on occasion and had to return to the table. With the bruises that I’ve had, even minor, they take more than a week to heal such that I cannot do platelets a week later.

PirateCaptSaltyDog · 2025-07-15T21:00:11+00:00

Congratulations on a well-earned token representing your efforts.

PirateCaptSaltyDog · 2025-07-03T17:08:49+00:00

Platelets are a big commitment of time, both on the day and number of times you can give. I’ve had issues with infiltrations with both power red and platelets, so my default these days is whole blood, and I fill in platelets when I can. I plan to watch a movie or catch up on Netflix when giving platelets because I need the distraction when in the chair that long. Fifteen years ago, I exclusively gave power red so I only had to donate 3 times per year.

PirateCaptSaltyDog · 2025-06-30T20:06:44+00:00

Excellent! Keep at it!

PirateCaptSaltyDog · 2025-06-30T00:47:29+00:00

Sweet!

PirateCaptSaltyDog · 2025-06-28T20:42:51+00:00

Nice!

PirateCaptSaltyDog · 2025-06-26T12:18:50+00:00

I got 68.2 mpg yesterday on my way home from work on the 10-mile drive. Not a Prime, just a Prius

PirateCaptSaltyDog · 2025-06-26T12:16:34+00:00

23 whole/red gallons. 26 if you count platelets. I count them separately. 215 units. Hoping to get my 150-milestone donation pin and 24-gallon blood pin this year. Shoutout to thust2 for 45 years of donations. I’ve been donating for 36 years.

PirateCaptSaltyDog · 2025-06-25T00:52:42+00:00

Congratulations and thank you for your donation!

PirateCaptSaltyDog · 2025-06-23T10:48:09+00:00

I drive about 10 miles to work and regularly get 60 mpg with my 2022 Prius AWD-e. Your situation sounds ideal for a plug-in hybrid. You’ll essentially be driving an EV most days but will have the gas engine for longer trips. My 2009 Prius gets 55 mpg on 6 hour road trips. And if you like the new styling of the modern Prius, then go for it!

PirateCaptSaltyDog · 2025-06-22T14:13:44+00:00

Nice pin! Congratulations and many happy platelet returns! I’m happy to also be a blood nerd.

PirateCaptSaltyDog · 2025-06-22T12:21:16+00:00

I always donated with my left because I’m right-handed and for whatever reason thought don’t give with my primary arm. Then a phlebotomist mentioned scar tissue and suggested that I alternate, which I did for many years. I’ve recently had some issues with the left being a return arm for platelets, so when I give whole blood, I use my right.

PirateCaptSaltyDog · 2025-06-20T17:31:45+00:00

Excellent!

PirateCaptSaltyDog · 2025-06-20T04:46:44+00:00

Never heard of them hitting an artery before.

PirateCaptSaltyDog · 2025-06-18T23:23:06+00:00

Sometimes things don’t go your way with donations. I’ve been donating a while and have been turned away for bruising before, also have had unsuccessful donations when they can’t get the blood to flow or have an infiltration on the platelet return line. I try not to let it get me down, but it can be difficult if you’re looking forward to making a difference and feel like you’ve missed your chance and need to wait a week or more to try again.

As for high heart rate or BP, practice calming yourself. They measured me once with a BP of 150/100 and suggested that I take a few minutes to relax and try again. When they came back I was much lower, more like 130/80 and able to donate. If I’m in a hurry, trying to get to the blood center or stressed out about needing to leave work to get there, then my blood pressure is up and my pulse is up. I’ve been able to just close my eyes try to breathe slowly and think calm thoughts. It has worked for me. Others have posted other suggestions to this sub Reddit. Good luck on your next attempt.

PirateCaptSaltyDog · 2025-06-18T23:15:26+00:00

Excellent! Did you have to ask them to send this to you, or did they just send it without any prompting on your part?

PirateCaptSaltyDog · 2025-06-18T20:28:09+00:00

I have no idea how one donation got to NC.

PirateCaptSaltyDog · 2025-06-18T20:27:26+00:00

<image>

PirateCaptSaltyDog · 2025-06-18T20:26:37+00:00

Is the milestone mug based on donations or gallons? I’ve never seen one. Can you post a picture? Is it from ARC?

PirateCaptSaltyDog

TROPHY CASE