# I'm giving blood for the first time tomorrow! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 2, 2004, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-giving-blood-for-the-first-time-tomorrow/272616 "2004-11-02T21:33:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![OtakuLoki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2004, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-giving-blood-for-the-first-time-tomorrow/272616/21 "2004-11-04T23:31:32Z")
> [@Antigen](#): > > I’ve always been too scared before, but this year I’ve decided to go ahead and donate blood. There’s a donor clinic at school and my friends have talked me into it. > > I’m a little nervous but I know I’m doing a good thing and I’ll try to be brave. > > Any stories about how it doesn’t hurt at all and how you feel wonderful after? _Please??_ Well, I’ve always enjoyed knowing I’ve given blood. The process itself isn’t entirely painless, but neither is it agonizing, either. It’s more… discomforting than anything else - mostly because I never stop feeling the needle. Once the needle’s out, it’s done, for me. I’ve never really had to modify my own post donation activities because of having given blood. For example, I’ve gone from donating blood to spending 12 hours at a conventions. YMMV, of course. Don’t be afraid to speak up, when you get to the clinic, they’ll have people to help you. If you do feel ill, or even greatly uncomfortable, ask to stop. They’ll understand. Another bit of advice - I don’t know if you’ve had any experience with giving blood for analytical purposes - but if you have, or as you continue to give blood you may find your internal anatomy is a bit different from the ‘average’ that the nurses train for. As an example, I have deep veins, and the veins in my left arm are actually deeper than those in my right. So, in spite of being right handed I prefer having blood drawn from my right arm because it’s a simpler operation. If you know of any personal idiosyncracies that might change the nurse’s actions, let them know. Good luck tomorrow, and thank you. ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2004, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-giving-blood-for-the-first-time-tomorrow/272616/22 "2004-11-05T22:32:07Z")
Way to go, Antigen. I think giving blood is lots of fun. You lie there and pleasant, friendly, totally inoffensive professionals fuss over you. Then they feed you cookies and crackers and soda, and pretend that you are a hero. Finally the send you off with medical orders to “eat heartily at your next meal”. Who’d have thought a good deed could be so peachy? I do it every 56 days (the minimum allowed) unless I’m sick or it’s a weekend, and I haven’t run dry yet… ---
**Author:** ![BurnMeUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@BurnMeUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BurnMeUp)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2004, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-giving-blood-for-the-first-time-tomorrow/272616/23 "2004-11-05T23:45:22Z")
Went in yesterday and it was a good experience, everything worked out well and I even got some nice hot chocolate. ---
**Author:** ![Ruby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/13edae/32.png) [@Ruby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruby)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2004, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-giving-blood-for-the-first-time-tomorrow/272616/24 "2004-11-06T02:33:03Z")
Mega Kudos to **BurnMeUp** and **Antigen**! I have the universal blood type (I’ve forgotten what it is :smack: ) and give “double reds”. I can only donate half as often but they take twice as many red blood cells. 9-11 was what finally got me off my butt and into the Red Cross. I really feel like I’m making a difference in someone’s life. ---
**Author:** ![Telperien](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/65b543/32.png) [@Telperien](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telperien)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2004, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-giving-blood-for-the-first-time-tomorrow/272616/25 "2004-11-06T03:33:58Z")
I rather like giving blood. Often, I am the only person who doesn’t faint at the particular time that I go in to donate. Probably because I am not anywhere near the lower weight limit. I just have to get up off the cot slowly so no one finds me out. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Burnt\_Sugar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee59a6/32.png) [@Burnt\_Sugar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Burnt_Sugar)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2004, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-giving-blood-for-the-first-time-tomorrow/272616/26 "2004-11-06T05:49:23Z")
I give blood at uni. It’s good because I get cookies and juice, and so don’t have to buy lunch that day. I’ve always felt fine. One tip though - don’t do any strenous exercise afterwards - you won’t be anywhere near your potential straight ofter giving blood. (Yes, I found this out the hard way.) ---
**Author:** ![shijinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@shijinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shijinn)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2004, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-giving-blood-for-the-first-time-tomorrow/272616/27 "2004-11-09T19:03:47Z")
last saturday, i’d just donated blood for the first time too. it didn’t hurt at all and it did felt great! i didn’t even notice the first poke on the finger, the second needle for the anesthetic was over before i knew it and the third huge needle went in without any pain. there was tv, biscuits and milo. no pain, no dizziness. spent the rest of the day doing my stuff as usual, though i did sleep soundly that night. ---
**Author:** ![Antigen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2004, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-giving-blood-for-the-first-time-tomorrow/272616/28 "2004-11-09T19:48:17Z")
> [@shijinn](#): > > the second needle for the anesthetic was over before i knew it You got anaesthetic? Here all I got was a one-two-three, take a deep breath, STAB! Oh well. It was fine anyways. Montrealers are just naturally tougher, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![lisacurl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/41988e/32.png) [@lisacurl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisacurl)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2004, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-giving-blood-for-the-first-time-tomorrow/272616/29 "2004-11-09T21:04:18Z")
> [@Harimad-sol](#): > > I rather like giving blood. Often, I am the only person who doesn’t faint at the particular time that I go in to donate. Probably because I am not anywhere near the lower weight limit. I just have to get up off the cot slowly so no one finds me out. 😃 Ha! Me too! I’ve never felt even the slightest bit woozy after giving blood, but I always get up slowly and drink my juice because sure enough the one time I don’t will be the time I pass out. The worse that’s ever happened in my blood donating career was the time an inexperienced phebotomist went through my vein and caused a scary-looking hematoma (didn’t hurt, though), and another time when someone pulled the needle out too quick and I squirted her (that was cool). I didn’t see this thread before today, but as forum serendipity will happen, I donated last night. Got a t-shirt and a cheapie [car escape tool](http://www3.jcpenney.com/jcp/Products.aspx?DeptID=0&CatID=017901&Grptyp=PRD&ItemId=0856285) as lovely parting gifts. ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2004, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-giving-blood-for-the-first-time-tomorrow/272616/30 "2004-11-09T21:07:25Z")
Typically in the U.S. you get iodine, some sort of topical numbing agent, and then they stick ya’. This thread reminds me I have to go on Saturday. After a period of going as often as possible I’ve kind of gotten out of the swing and they called me a couple days ago. –Cliffy ---
**Author:** ![malkabat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@malkabat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/malkabat)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2004, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-giving-blood-for-the-first-time-tomorrow/272616/31 "2004-11-09T21:53:46Z")
I gave last night, on the first day I was eligible after my last donation, bringing my total to 4 times this year! It could have been 5, but I procrastinated after I was deferred on Visit 3, Version 1.0 due to low iron. This time, I had steak 3 times in the past week, and I was good to go! I do it because I can. And this is coming from a girl who was **very** bad with needles as a kid. (I once had a lab tech hold me upside-down by my ankles after I passed out.) But 5 years ago there was a blood drive at work, and I figured I’d give it a shot. I didn’t faint, so I decided to keep at it. Congrats, **Antigen** on your first successful donation! ---
**Author:** ![Telperien](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/65b543/32.png) [@Telperien](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telperien)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2004, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-giving-blood-for-the-first-time-tomorrow/272616/32 "2004-11-09T21:54:26Z")
> [@lisacurl](#): > > Ha! Me too! I’ve never felt even the slightest bit woozy after giving blood, but I always get up slowly and drink my juice because sure enough the one time I don’t will be the time I pass out. The worse that’s ever happened in my blood donating career was the time an inexperienced phebotomist went through my vein and caused a scary-looking hematoma (didn’t hurt, though), and another time when someone pulled the needle out too quick and I squirted her (that was cool). Cool indeed. You squirted someone. Now I wanna! It would just freak some of the other donors right out. ---
**Author:** ![shijinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@shijinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shijinn)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2004, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-giving-blood-for-the-first-time-tomorrow/272616/33 "2004-11-10T12:49:14Z")
> [@Antigen](#): > > … Here all I got was a one-two-three, take a deep breath, STAB! … it is not standard procedure? maybe she’d just did it in case i executed my Holler of Death[sup]tm[/sup] warcry. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Jervoise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d2c977/32.png) [@Jervoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jervoise)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2004, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-giving-blood-for-the-first-time-tomorrow/272616/34 "2004-11-10T12:58:14Z")
Gah, even reading about giving blood makes me woozy. I have a great vagus reaction, which means my head goes all droopy the pillow everytime a needle goes near my arm. I don’t feel guilty about not giving blood, since I’m disqualified for being gay. ---
**Author:** ![Antigen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2004, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-giving-blood-for-the-first-time-tomorrow/272616/35 "2004-11-10T13:20:31Z")
> [@shijinn](#): > > it is not standard procedure? maybe she’d just did it in case i executed my Holler of Death[sup]tm[/sup] warcry. 😃 Well, here I got scrubbed with an alcohol pad for a full 30 seconds (she had a timer going), then swabbed with iodine for another 30 seconds. Then she counted to three with me and went in with the needle. I watched her do everything, and asked questions about _every step_ of the process, which confused her a little until I told her I would eventually be doing this stuff myself and I was curious. No anaesthetic in the whole process, but to be honest I didn’t need any. The pain was minimal, and the worst was when the needle was removed. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-giving-blood-for-the-first-time-tomorrow/272616.md?page=1)