I'm not allowed to give blood

[Mejane]

Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (the human version of Mad Cow Disease) usually strikes when the patient is in their 60's or 70's. That was why so many doctors and nurses were shocked when my 47 year old brother was diagnosed/dying. During the incubation period it is completely asymptomatic. He had muscle weakness (but had just had the flu, so thought it was just residual from that) and some mood changes. It went downhill VERY rapidly. Muscle weakness in July, altered gait by August, unable to walk by October, diagnosed in December, dead in January. :001_huh:

 

That's awful. I'm sorry, Cyndi. :grouphug:

[Storm Bay]

From the Red Cross site:

 

 

Thanks! I'd been thinking of checking that out because there's going to be a blood drive soon. I qualify on the countries, since I only spent 4 weeks in the UK and was in Germany too early. However, I need to find out if I can if I take an antihistamine regularly or if I've taken medication for heartburn, and I'll go check. Can't volunteer until my dc are older.

[Sebastian (a lady)]

None of us can donate because we lived in Germany.

 

You might check on military blood drives. My understanding is that the standard Red Cross guidelines don't apply because the blood is kept in system to use on other military members (who also have been in many of the same areas).