UK Keratoconus Self-Help and Support Association

Hhmm, am a little put out here, as since having a graft i'm not allowed to donate blood anymore Being O- this is rather important as it is the only blood group that you can give to everyone, and i know just how many pints we use in work!

I'm also not allowed to donate bone marrow either, so have had to ask them to take me off the register in case a match is found, (not that one has been found in the last six years but hey, there was always a slim chance).

I still do carry a donor card though, and obviously forgetting corneas would like to think that i still can donate something if the worst happened.

I didn't actually ask why i can't give blood etc, but as i didn't actually receive any blood during a graft was slightly confused. If i had i suppose i could understand that! Anyone have any ideas, or been in the same place?

Thanks, Sweet X x X

Thats really odd!!

I am assuming that the person who turned you away was not well informed about WHAT exactly the transplant was?

I have given blood back in Sept.....and I told them prior that I have had a graft. They didnt alert me to any issues and also informed me that ALL blood is screened and should any of the core tests fail the blood is disposed.

Hmmmm....very odd that you have been told this. I can understand why they may have said this if you had a Kidney transplant...but not sure why they have said this for Cornea Transplant.

Very odd!

Yes that is exactly what i thought! I phoned the blood donation advice number and a medical advisor phoned me back this morning. Maybe i should send them an email and ask instead, although i did make it clear what i have had done, and that i have never received blood at any time.

Tnanks for that! Sweet X x X

I think the reason why you may have been declined may be other reasons aside from the transplant

Take a look at

https://secure.blood.co.uk/c11_cant.asp

Thanks for that! I did look at this site orignally which was where i got the number to ask, and apart from a graft there is no other reason why i can't donate. I have just emailed them to ask why and will let you know what happens.

Sweet X x X

I read somewhere that corneas aren't checked for HIV which is why none of us can give blood anymore. Tubs

Well im not sure about the norm but Mine was..............(not that Im special or anything! but I was intrigued how the whole process worked and how a Good Cornea was determined.....and was then told about the whole process, the types of storage that eye banks use,the tests performed, etc etc......

I'm fairly sure that corneas are checked for HIV and CJD.

Perhaps the reason Claire's blood was not wanted is:

blood.co.uk wrote:1. You've had a serious illness or major surgery in the past or are currently on medication. Please discuss this with the clinical staff. The reason you're taking medicines may prevent you from donating.

I would have thought that a graft could count as major surgery; and the FML drops count as medication.

I would think that if you fairly recently had a graft, and are still on immunosuppressant drugs, they wouldn't want your blood.
For one thing, they wouldn't want the risk of transfusing traces of the immunosuppressants from you into a potential recipient.
For another, they must have rules about not taking blood out of someone within a certain period of having any surgery - to give you the best chance to get better as well and as soon as possible.
They often don't take people who are on lots of different sorts of medication.
Rosemary

I did think that it would be a wait of about six months to a year, but as we are only on steroid drops i don't really see what the problem is. As Jay seems able to donate, i have emailed the blood donation website and asked for some advice. The lady i talked to was a medic from there, but am not sure if she really understood what i have had done.

Ok, am waiting for a response and will let you know.

Thanks, Sweet X x X