I’m not allowed to donate either, as I’m anemic and need to keep as much iron in my system as I can. About 10 years ago, I donated at my senior class blood drive, and all was well for about the first 15 minutes afterward. I was sitting at the little table, having my cookie and juice and talking to the girl across from me. After a bit, I started sweating and feeling hot/cold at the same time. Then the girl got this weird look on her face and asked me if I was all right. I asked why and she said I was green. “Green?” I asked and then fell out of my chair and blacked out.
When I woke up, the nice little old blood-drive lady was sitting with me and when I looked at her, she said, “Are you sure you drank your juice?” Anyway, after that I didn’t give blood again for a long time because I was afraid to. When I did it again about 5 years ago, the exact same thing happened.
Shortly thereafter, I had to have quite a bit of bloodwork done at my doctor’s office, and the first time, all they took was the two little vials and the same thing happened again! Anyway, the doctor forbade me to donate ever again, and when I have to do my regular bloodwork, I have to take a whole day off to recover–from the two little vials! And I also get the swelling and bruising and my arm is out of commission for a few days. When I have a dr. appt that requires bloodwork, they always have juice and a nurse ready to take care of me in case I pass out.
And it just occurred to me that with all the problems I have had regarding donating/taking blood, I don’t have any idea what my blood type is. I guess I just don’t remember. I’m calling my doctor right now.
My husband is the same way. He hops up there, squirts out a pint, hops down, and is highly annoyed that he is expected to spend canteen time.
As for me? I have to tank up on tons of water beforehand, eat well, take my time getting up after the donation, sit at the canteen for 1/2 an hour, and then I can barely climb steps for the rest of the day. No kidding.
My husband is a skinny little thing. I outweigh him.
And yes, as Kim indicated, some people are slow bleeders, even with the squeezing. The sad thing is, they end up discarding all of it! If it isn’t a full pint, they don’t use any. What a bummer.
So far, I’ve given whole blood 18 times, and sold plasma 4 times. I have O- (universal donor) so if there’s a blood drive going on the blood bank I go to usually sends a card. It takes me maybe 10 minutes or so, I very rarely feel it, and yes, it make getting drunk that night easier!
Yep, tried that. Doesn’t make a bit of difference.
Cranky:
And that’s the big thing. All that effort, and they end up tossing my blood away. It’s not just a slow bleed, it’s weirder than that. The blood flows fast for the first minute or two, fills the bag about a quarter of the way that quick. Then it almost stops. My mother has the same blood disorder that I have, and as she has phrased it, it almost appears as if our bodies are trying to suck the blood back in. For her this even happens when doing bloodwork - they have trouble filling more than one vial. So far I haven’t had that problem.
And on getting dizzy - oh my, I had forgotten about that. On all three donation occasions, I got incredibly dizzy, and ended up having to sleep for the rest of the day. If I get bloodwork, even only a vial or two, I can’t drive afterwards.
At least I’m not one of the rare blood types. Then I’d feel really guilty.
And for all you folks in the US… do they check your hemoglobin levels when you give? (It’s amazing what happens to your blood system after the gov’t takes it away from the Red Cross) **
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When they put that little drop of blood in the blue solution and it floats for a while and then drops to the bottom of the jar, they are checking your hemoglobin level. I forget the exact chemistry but something in the solution reacts with the iron bound to the hemoglobin. It should take a certain number of seconds to drop if your hemoglobin is adequate. If it drops too fast, your blood contains too little iron, thus a low hemoglobin level.
If the timing is borderline, they will put the blood in a centrifuge and spin it out to get an exact Hgb level. Anything over 37-38 is OK. (normal is about 45% for males, slightly less for premenopausal females for obvious reasons)
Ok now tell me what you think happens to your blood system AFTER the gov’t takes it away from the Red Cross?
Are you suggesting that the donation process has some retroactive power to negatively affect the body’s circulatory system even after the needle is removed? Is the Red Cross involved in some kind of evil plot? Does the *government * actually take the blood from the Red Cross? You sound just a little bit paranoid, my friend.
OTOH All blood products whether sold or donated is subjected to a battery of test to acertain that it is safe for transfusion. These test include, HIV, hepatitis, many viruses, antibodies, and blood and antigen typing. I wouldn’t want it any other way. I’m not suggesting that people are dishonest in answering all the questions put to them by the blood bank workers, I’m saying There is no way to be sure what you have been exposed to whether you know it or not.
Type A+ is rare? Huh. I didn’t know that, and I’m almost on my third gallon. I’ll have to ask about it next time I go in. They do call me a lot, but I thought it was just because I always say yes.
Myron - I was a little leary about that as well (I’m also A+), as I seem to know way too many people with that type, so I looked it up. Accordine to the American Red Cross:
Yep, A+ is actually the second most common type. It’s because it’s so common that they are always looking for more of it. It gets used up quicker.
Actually when they spin your blood it is a hematocrit that they’re checking which is proportionally related to the hemoglobin level. I usually have a hct that is too low to donate. However I work in a hospital blood bank and on the behalf of our patients I thank all you wonderful people who can donate blood; it seems that there is never enough of the stuff. I purely hate the nights I work when I have to decide who gets transfused and who has to wait because I don’t have enough units on hand at the time.
I’m giving blood today!! I’m an A+ as well…not sure about my CMV status.
The last time I did it, I felt totally fine afterwards. So fine, in fact, that I forgot by that evening that I had given blood, & I was lying in bed, casually propping myself up on the elbow of my donating arm. Blood abruptly began squirting out of my arm. An astonishing amount of blood for such a tiny hole. It didn’t hurt a bit, but the stain is still on my pillow. I have been more careful since then.
Did I say that? I guess I did. Believe it or not I really am an RN and I KNOW you spin a 'crit. I guess I was just so damn thrilled to reply to a question that I had a little knowledge about that I temporarily lost my head.
I miss giving blood. (Temporary hiatus due to health problems.)
Both Roommate and I were pharesis donors (Roommate still does when not driving cross-country). Hour and a half hooked up to a machine and you get most of the blood back. Platelets are used for cancer patients and burn victims. Check with your local blood bank. If you can donate for pharesis, do it.
Good point: serious warm fuzzies from doing a good deed.
Drawback: having to ask someone to scratch your nose for you.
(Pharesis donors - the few, the proud, the machined)
I wonder why the nurse lied to me? I keep going back, even though it hurts and I hate it…I guess she was misinformed (she also ruptured a vein, which led to some uncomfortable needle movement, which didn’t make the pain any less). Anyway, sorry about the incorrect info!
