I'm wondering if any of you have ever donated plasma. Being a poor college student I am wondering if this is a good idea. Apparently, I can bring in ~$65 for the first week and then I can go back whenever I feel like it - no obligations. I am concerned that I am generally active though. Weightlifting 3 times a week and doing cardio activities in-between. I wonder if donating plasma will affect how well I can exercise. Anyone have any experience that they could share with my about donating plasma?
If you donate plasma, don't expect to be very energetic. The process is like giving blood, multiple, multiple times.
I donated plasma for about two years under the same circumstances and I never had a problem with it. If you can deal with the needles then you'll be OK, because you get stuck by a big one in the same vein every time plus a pinprick in the finger every time . I didn't mind the process, it took me about an hour to finish usually, and I'd just study or read a book to pass the time. Any energy loss you'll get will be immediately after, if you drink plenty of fluids, you're body regenerates most of the plasma you lost after just 6 hours or so. If you can deal with that, go for it, it's goes to a good cause and it's easy money.
you get your finger pricked every time?!! damn, that is the most painful thing ever invented. if i never have to get my finger pricked for blood again it'll be too soon. shots and giving blood through the arm, no big deal. pricking the finger, damn that hurts.
I did it but not for money. Yes, you must get your finger pricked every time. I did it at the American Red Cross and they do it a little more painfully than places that pay it looks like. They stick one needle in each arm, one to take blood out of you the other to put it back in after the plasma has been seperated. One thing I did like was they had a filter on my collecting bottle that filtered fat and gunk out of my blood. After the collection and seeing all that damn stuff I thought to myself, "man I gotta eat healthier!" The process lasted about an hour. I didn't have a problem regaining energy because before you leave the ARC makes you rest, eat a snack, and drink a soda then they tell you to eat a full meal within the next couple of hours. If you follow those directions you'll be alright. Anyway, if getting paid is the route you want to go do it or do it for free at the ARC either way you'll be helping something.
I thought it was suppose to be illegal to buy blood products from anyone now. It was made illegal b/c the majority of people that consistently donated were drug addicts and homeless people that needed money for their next fix...not a good source of blood.
