I'm special

[ellid]

I just got a card from Mass General Hospital. They tested my blood when I gave at Arisia, and it turns out that I'm one of the rare individuals who does *not* have cytamegalovirus (CMV), one of the herpes complex viruses. I'm thus an ideal candidate for platelet apharesis donation, where only my platelets are taken. Platelets are crucial in certain cancer treatments and Mass General is one of the *the* cancer treatment centers in the Northeast, so I can see why they went *whee* when they tested my blood.

Their usual donation times are on weekdays when I'm at work, but they have monthly "platelet Saturdays," where platelet donors can schedule appointments on Saturday mornings. That I can do. Not every month, certainly, and I want to talk to MGH to see if there are any restrictions on me driving afterwards. Even better, my local hospital, Baystate, has a platelet donation program with evening hours. *That* I can do pretty regularly. I'll get in touch with them as well, since I could potentially give platelets 24 times a year.

I've had a couple of major health scares over the last few years, and by the grace of God I'm fine. It seems like this is the least I can do for those who are less fortunate than I.



*50-80% of adults are CMV positive. Who knew?

Comments

[musikologie.livejournal.com]

It's like mono: most people by the time they reach adulthood have been exposed to the virus and will test positive, even if they haven't been sick mono. I'm really glad that you're going to donate, as platelets can be so extremely useful.

[samantha-vimes.livejournal.com]

I *think* that, as you don't lose as much volume with platelet donation (the plasma gets cycled back into you), that you'd have less of the lightheadedness post-donation issues.

[varianor.livejournal.com]

You're 20-50% more special than the rest of us! Congrats. (And excellent idea too.)

[ellid.livejournal.com]

I am a very lucky woman in so many ways, and have been richly blessed in my friends and my life. If I can give a little bit back, I will be content.

[ellid.livejournal.com]

I think you're right, since platelets replenish every week or so. I'll ask the people at Baystate.

[ellid.livejournal.com]

*nods* I know platelets are crucial for many cancer treatments. I figure it's the least I can do.

[orphandani.livejournal.com]

Always knew you were one of a kind! :D

[mad_maudlin]

samantha_vimes is right--the apheresis machine filters out the platelets and then pumps the blood back into your body, so the light-headedness isn't nearly as bad.

Re CMV: Reminds me of a comment about the HPV vaccine, and how it's only recommended for women up to age 25. It's not that there's anything wrong with getting it later; it's just that they couldn't find enough HPV-negative women over 25 to do a study on.

[estela-dufrayse.livejournal.com]

eating Kale will help with the platelet production too, and watch what you eat fat wise before hand...My husband is also a superhero and was once rejected for donation after a rather restaurant filled trip to montreal!

[aunty_marion]

I am also CMV-free (or was last time they printed such stuff on my blood donor card - now it's a plastic one read electronically, goodness only knows...). They've not invited me for platelet donation, but I've tried to give blood fairly regularly, at least until the past couple of years when I seem to have been having asthma attacks at just the wrong times. *sigh* I'm also A-negative, which is moderately rare, so I do feel a little responsible there as well. (My father was O-negative, and was on the 'special call' list at the hospital, so they could call him in at any time to donate in an emergency.)

[persevero.livejournal.com]

I had no idea about CMV, but Googling it shows that the incidence in the UK rises from around 15% in under-fives to more than 80% in over-sixty-fives. Gosh. I don't think they were testing for it automatically in the days when I was allowed to give blood, and I was de-listed after having pericarditis. For some reason I'm still allowed to be on the bone marrow register, though I've never been called because I have a boring blood group and immunological type. Il_grifone has been called for a second-stage match twice, though - he's AB-negative.

[aunty_marion]

In a nice case of synchronicity, I was called this morning by the Blood Donor Service to let me know that there was a session at my usual site in Kentish Town at the beginning of April, and to ask me if I wanted to book a session... Alas, I can't book until I know what my lungs are going to be doing, as I won't be able to donate if I'm on the steroids/antibiotics or have only recently come off them.

[gardengirl6.livejournal.com]

What a multiple blessing! You're special (we knew that, though), you can help others with a renewable resource, and you can do so often and (fairly) conveniently. Yippee! I need to check and see if the rules have changed for blood donations - I used to donate regularly, but then became excluded from donating due to having lived in England for six months in the 80's....

[ellid.livejournal.com]

More than three months' residence in Britain since 1980 is still a downcheck, or was for Mass General. They probably have more information on the Red Cross web site.