TL; DR version:

For HAE Day :-) please:

1. Donate plasma if possible.  If that's not possible, then donate blood if you can do that.

http://www.blood.ca/centreapps/internet/uw_v502_mainengine.nsf/page/E_Pl...

2. Spread the word about HAE.  Share a smile on this page:

http://www.haeday.org/smile

This is the Canadian site if you are interesting in learning more:

http://haecanada.org/understanding/

The module linked at the bottom goes into quite a bit of detail.

smiling for you. Done

Thanks Chemgal.

We were in Costa Rica less than a year ago, so none of us can donate quite yet.  I will check, May 16th may be doable.  will check but also update my page.

Thank you CH!

Thanks Pinga!  I'm thankful for a relatively safe blood supply in Canada.  I appreciate donations regardless of when they are done :)

I'm unable to donate blood or blood products.  But I'm proud to say that I and my family (husband, son, daughter) all donated when we were able, and our son was registered as a possible bone marrow doner. 

I'm sorry to hear that your diagnosis was for something that makes life difficult for you.  But you must be relieved to have a name for your condition, and to be able to learn more about it and live with it.  My prayers are with you.  You WILL adjust and make the most of your situaton.

Thanks Seeler.  While a diagnosis helps, it's the treatment that's really making my life easier.  I'm not a fan of the route, but so far it really is making a big change with few side effects!  It wasn't that long ago that the medication was approved, so I'm lucky in some ways.

Hey chemgal, on the plus side, does this mean that some of the things that you thought were allergies might have been your condition?  Wouldn't that be awesome.  

(gotta find a positive somewhere!)

Nope, they are allergies.  The positive is that the allergist picked this up because of the allergic reaction, he just ran any possibility that he thought of.  The allergies came up with that testing, and the symptoms match, but my C1 inhibitor also came back as abnormal.  If I didn't have that reaction, I would probably still be figuring out my throat issues.  Unlike many who are diagnosed with HAE, it didn't take me a trip or many trips to the ER.

sucks, i was reading the sight and it said many HAE sufferers are commonly misdiagnosed with allergies.

It must feel good to finally have a diagnosis and some treatment!  I have never even heard of HAE so will try to learn as you share information.

The places that can take plasma donations are too far away for me, but I will alert some people I know who live fairly close to one.

Thanks Kay!  2 of my specialists weren't familiar with it either, so you're in good company :)

Hi chemgal,

I don't know if it is a regional thing or a national thing but in my area (Brant) the closest Plasma donation facility is Ancaster and they contact you and ask you if you would be willing to donate plasma.

I was part of the plasmapheresis program until they put me back into the whole blood donor program.

At any rate I have signed up for one match and I am a regular whole blood donor.  I'll think of you during my next donation.

Grace and peace to you.

John

Thanks John!

I do know that universal donors are opposites for blood vs. plasma.  I imagine some of the requests are based on that, it would make more sense with O blood to donate blood and AB blood to donate plasma.

chemgal

So sorry...this isn't a very nice situation for you to be in.

I've had septis -sp - blood infection so I'll need a medical check I assume to donate.  Toronto isn't on the list of places to donate  which is very odd since its a big city.

Thanks Stardust!  Things aren't looking so bad now, I have a diagnosis, and treatment is working :)

Whole blood donation is the best I can do....

I am not eligable for the plasma program.....

Regards

Rita

Thanks Rita!  It all helps :)

Chemgal

Specially for you, an allegory of sorts. I saw Gloria Gaynor in 2009 singing this song. She's terrific.

I WILL SURVIVE

Thanks Stardust!

chemgal

No charge...!!!!!!!

I'm awarenessgal this week I guess.

Bumping this up since it's today!