Giving blood (LFGSS blood drive?!)

Yes it does count as a vaccination. I was asked about my booster when I gave blood yesterday (which is why I'd arranged my booster for the day after giving blood and not in the week before).

Cheers I thought so, looks like I will have to rearrange giving blood.

They were happy to bleed me on the 8th day - booster 1500 on the Wed, donation 0815 the following Thursday

Booked to donate on Sunday. Had a (probable) close Covid contact on Monday. I think I can still donate if I'm symptom free and I'll LFT myself but I'm not sure.

https://my.blood.co.uk/KnowledgeBase/Index/coronavirus%20infection isn't all that clear.

Haemoglobin of 152g/l and took 8m 42s to fill the bag. Where do I enter this data into Strava?

Manual activity.

Needs corresponding photo:-

Haha ! A few years ago when my son was living nearby, we'd book our donations for the same-ish time, same place and and 'compete' for fastest donation. Immediately pre-donation we'd be running up and down flights of stairs, clenching fists, drinking ridiculous amounts of water - generally taking all a bit too seriously. He got it down to just under 5 mins - I think my best was 5 mins 40s, but it is getting much slower as I get older.

I have the reverse problem. HR sometimes drops to under 40 whilst donating so it takes a while for me, quite often the low flow rate beeper goes off and I have to up the fist clenching and pevlic floor exercises.

Hmmm, I have 11 weeks and 5 days to train for me next session...

Other half remembered this morning that they had an appointment today, and I was able to book one last minute as well.

Bit of headspin when I was sat back upright, which caught me by surprise somewhat.

Off to get me some free lotus biscuits.
This is number 9, next time I get a badge!

#25

That should get me a silver card (not that you ever need the card).

You get a pin badge. I lost mine.

10m40s! Rubbish! I think I'm going to book my next one a bit later in the day and move more before I get there.

Hah. I'm enjoying the new competitive element to donating. I'm booked in next week so will report back on my time. Quietly confident.

6m24s. My benchmark

An anti-G Suit should help speed things up :-)
And a tight John McEnroe headband :-)

A slow one, over ten minutes. Not sure whether switching to going in the morning rather than evening is part of the reason.

My last one was quite slow too, I'm blaming skipping breakfast.

Meant to be #10 today, but sadly my haemoglobin levels were too low :(
130g/L when they need to be 135+

I came close half a dozen donations ago, but since then it has been hunky dorey.
Will look into a lifestyle change and improve my diet, hopefully next time will be ok.

Still excluded for 3 months as if the donation happened, which sucks too, was hoping to go at the peanut butter hammer and tongs for a couple of weeks and get in quick.

7m19. Over 3 minutes off last time. Happy with that.

Rejected :(

My hay fever / allergy to something that probably isn't pollen has flared up. Or I've got an infection. Told to come back in a week. Busy in a week and no appointments I can make for a while, might be more like 8 weeks.

Keep it up people! Apparently I'm one of only 3k a neg platelet donors in England. They ask me every 2 weeks so they must be desperate! Do whatever you can... Every Donation Counts

I really need to get back to it. Having to book so far ahead (my next available appointment if I book now is second week of October) when I don't know whether I'll be in the office (near where I donate) that far ahead is a bit of a hassle.

Also the West End donor centre having two separate booking entries to check the times for is a faff.

I booked a session at not my usual location for Saturday. Is this what cheating on your partner feels like?