Some folks just can’t deal with the donation process no matter what they’ve done before, during or after the donation.
I’ve personally given GALLONS of blood over the years, and though I’m not nearly as good about going every 8 weeks (I think that’s the minimum interval), I try to give as much as I can.
I’ve never had a problem myself, I don’t usually eat my first meal of the day until 2PM or so, and usually try to give before I go to eat. I don’t get any of the symptoms that some others have. I did once “fool around” and “pretend” to get “weak knees” as I walked away from the rest/refreshments table, but that was to see if I could panic one of the sorority girls that was (wo)manning it while I was in college (Fraternity guy myself, couldn’t resist the joke).
I can say that a few drinks after a donation, though VERY against the rules, is VERY efficient. I’ve also smoked just after the donation (also VERY against the rules), and also had no problems…
As a senior in HS the BloodMobile came and when they pricked my finger to type me I had to ask to sit down. Although I was already seated. :smack: That was a no go situation.
Next year at college it was worth an A on a pop quiz to donate instead. I figgered that I was older and wiser now and since had my wisdom teeth removed-blood does not scare me anymore. Made it through the questions about sex partners, diseases, “Didjaeatyet?”, etc. now was sitting there with the arm out. The tech/nurse/whatever is tapping the inside of the elbow joint.
Tech:: Tap, Tap, Tap. “Hmmmm, well.”
Me:: “What? What’s wrong?”
Tech:: “No vein.”
Me:: :eek: remembering that the nurse at dad’s office never had a problem always said that I had “great veins” respond “I think I will try this another time.”
Tech:: “Maybe the other arm.” starts to scoot over to the other side of me.
Me:: :mad: “No, I will keep my blood for the moment.”
I have not tried since. Probably should to help the many but those two experiences have really colored my feelings about donating
I was standing behind a guy in line in an old-fashioned bank once and suddenly he pitched backward and hit the marble floor like a Hefty bag full of meat. I distinctly remember hearing his head bounce on the floor. Turned out he had just come from donating blood without having eaten lunch.
I used to donate blood regularly every 56 days until one time I checked the “I’m interested in donating platelets” box on the pre-donation questionnaire. They tested me for platelet donations and told me I should never donate blood again, I was too valuable as a platelet source. I’ve since done platelets only.
That said, I’ve done both types of donations in Utah and Washington state and never been asked when I’ve last eaten. About all they ever asked was if I wanted a blanket, since the citrus-based anticoagulants had the side effect of making many donors feel chilled, and if I wanted any Tums (heartburn is another common side effect).
Of course in both states they practically tackled and force-fed me juice and cookies or fruit afterword, but never asked before what or when I’d eaten.
The first time I gave blood was a really horrible experience.
My history teacher said we’d get extra credit if we donated blood.
Sounded good to me, plus it was a good deed.
They did not ask me if I had eaten.
Mid way through, I started to black out.
I went towards the end of the day when all the nurses were busy packing up.
I felt like I had to throw up and I couldn’t get anyone to help me.
I called and called for help and finally I just got up, blood bag still attached, to go to the bathroom. I threw up all over myself and came close to passing out.
The nurse finally came and berated me for asking for the bag to be removed. She said, “It’s not filled and if it’s not filled we can’t use it.” By that point I couldn’t care less if my blood was used or not.
She also wouldn’t sign my form that said I went in because “I only do that for students that donated blood, and you didn’t”.
No lie.
I’m still pissed off over the situation!
I gave blood a few times after and didn’t have any problems. The last time I gave blood was during 9-11. I almost passed out again (but the nurses were really nice here. Didn’t ask about eating, though).
I’ve just come to the conclussion that some people were not meant to give blood.
I don’t remember being asked whether or not I’ve eaten…but if I call ahead to make an appointment to donate, they do tell you to eat and drink.
I’ve never gotten a donut- but always cookies, and recently crackers and pretzels. And at the place I usually go they don’t let you leave (ok, I’m sure I could leave if I really, really wanted to, but they highly discourage you from leaving) until you’ve downed at least two cups of juice.
I should try again soon. BTW, I don’t see how you can’t watch while donating, it’s so cool looking (unless I’m reading a really good book…and even then, I sneak peeks.)
OTOH, I have great veins (you’d have to be seriously incompetent to not find them) and I’ve only had one “bad” donation - I was fine when I left, but about 2 hours later, the world started to go brown every time I stood up. I talked my physics lab partners through an experiment that I couldn’t see from a chair three feet away.
In a few months :eek:
Here we have to wait, I think it’s 100 days. It’s a bitch.
My 100 days just ended about 3 days ago, so I was going to ring them up and ask about platelet and plasma donations, but I don’t think they’ll want my platelets since I’m A-. I keep on forgetting to make an appointment. :smack:
Next time we have a blood drive at work I’m going to see about volunteering to be one of the people who records appointments and hands out cookies. Seem that way I’d be useful whereas lately when I try to donate something odd always happens (like last time I was running late, so I hauled ass to get there and my pulse was racing and wouldn’t settle down enough in the 5 minute wait time for them to take me. I went into work on my day off to donate so I was sort of bummed out.)
The only really lousy experience I’ve had was after donating blood just fine for a couple of years, one time I went in on a thursday evening, gave blood, everything fine, and then ended up nearly passing out at work the next day. My manager was a sympathy vampire -anything that happened to you had happened to her BUT WORSE and you were a wuss for complaining, so I was pretty much told to suck it up and keep working. The work involved collating large engineering diagrams - bending down to floor level and standing up again repeatedly within the space of every 10 minutes or so. I was so dizzy and sick all day. She was a cow. It put me off donating blood, not because of the one bad experience with dizziness but because while I was working that job I was guaranteed to get crap from her if I donated and then didn’t feel well!
Your description sounds like a seizure. There are many reasons for having one, not having breakfast, (unless you’re an insulin dependent diabetic) isn’t one of them. Food is a fairly minor consideration. Drinking fluids, before and after a donation is very important. If one is a bit dehydrated, the tank is already low. If you drain the tank even more, the body doesn’t go, just like when the car is out of gas. (actually, its more like running out of oil. We are hydraulic, after all:)
The “nurse” may have been a phlebotomist, someone trained to draw blood, nothing more. A nurse would have been a bit more concerned. Did anyone check his blood pressure?
One reason for a seizure in your scenario might be a sudden drop in blood pressure, meaning not enough blood is getting to the brain. (There’s that hydraulic thing)
Another is a sharp drop in blood sugar, but it has to be so low that missing breakfast before a blood draw shouldn’t do it.
He may have had an underlying problem, but my guess would have been BP.
You might want to call the blood bank pathologist (that would be the head of the blood bank) and describe the whole thing to her or him. I’m fairly sure they wouldn’t want the liability of someone having a serious problem and nothing being done.
Don’t let it scare you away from a good cause. Serious problems are rare. Fainting isn’t uncommon, nor is tossing one’s breakfast. Both physical and emotional factors play into these common symptoms.
Soapbox Monkey They don’t vacuum the blood out. It flows by gravity and your own muscles. You might be thinking of when blood is drawn at the doctor’s office, the little tubes they use have a little vacuum.
SSgtBaloo
That would be me. I know the three little words every patient anticipates: [holding big syringe] “Roll over Sweety” [/holding big syringe] (Fireman just told me I’m mean for adding that)
Cisco
Just so you know, they don’t take gallons… You only have between 5 and 8 quarts total, that’s about the amount of oil in your car. They take 500 mls, about as much as a 16 once soda, or a “super tanker” of coffee.
As far as the needle goes, once its in its over. In for a penny in for a pound! (Truely, blood vessels don’t have pain receptors so the initial stick is all the pain; digging around to find the vessel, notwithstanding) In fact, at the doctor’s office, they use the vacuum tubes, which, sometimes are actually more painful.
So, everyone get out there and donate! Its the easiest organ donation going!
Our honor society ran a blood drive and I talked my band director into donating. He passed out. Oops.
My father was never allowed to donate because his temperature ran high. He normally had a temp in the mid 99s, and they’d tell him to come back when he felt better.
Last time I donated, they wouldn’t let me leave. I had to sit there and eat cookies and drink the horrific juice because the nurse kept saying I “looked pale.”
If she had been paying attention when I arrived, she’d have seen that I don’t just look it, I am pale! She let me leave after 45 minutes.
They won’t take my blood. I was born with a heart condition, and although I try to convince them that I really am fine (which I am) and nothing bad would happen (which it won’t) they’re terrified I’ll drop dead on the spot.
Still, I suppose it saves me from needles, which isn’t all bad.
I’ve never had a problem donating. I’ve been donating for 20 years. I’ve never had them stick me more than once and they’ve always asked whether I had something to eat that day, among other things. (IMO, it’s highly inconceivable that a 38 year old suburban wife and mother would, in the last 8 weeks since my last visit, have had anal sex with multiple drug addicted partners on Martha’s Vineyard while eating U.K. beef. Nonetheless, they ask.)
Honestly, folks, it really isn’t a big deal to donate blood, if you eat 2 hours before hand, and go in with the right attitude. It’s no worse than a little pinch. Really. If blood makes you woozy, then watch t.v. or read a magazine. Think of the good you’re doing. Your blood may literally save someone’s life. Plus my blood center is allied with the National Bone Marrow registry. I’ve never been matched, but would be extremely honored if I were. How often do you get the chance to give dying person a shot at life? That means some discomfort and a huge needle being poked into my hip to draw out marrow? Bring it on.
I always find the most amusing part of giving blood is after you’ve donated, when they have someone escort you from the donation area to the snack area. Invariably it’s a 4 1/2 ft tall, 80 lb sweet old lady whose job is to catch me (I’m 6’, 200 lb) if I faint. I’ve never had a problem, but I’m sure that if I did and one of these seniors tried to catch me, I’d fall on top of her and break every bone in her body. I always make sure to lean away from them when I’m walking.
The first time I ever gave blood was in high school. I’m sitting across from a buddy of mine, who was sitting next to his girlfriend. She started before him, so she finished before him. As she stood up, her eyes rolled back in her head and she fell forward. He was barely able to grab her ponytail with his free hand to prevent her from conking her head on the floor.
Took them several minutes to come respond to his cries for help.
Is it the amount of blood taken that causes a problem for some people? Because I’ve had several blood tests where I’m not supposed to eat for 8 (or 12, I forget) hours before. I often feel woozy after the test.
Also, what are the “in demand” blood types? I’m A+ which I guess is (the most?) common.
O’s are the universal donors, so I would imagine they’re in the most demand. I’m O, plus I’m CMV negative which means that itty bitty babies can receive my blood.
IIRC, our high school would serve breakfast before school on the day of the blood drive to all prospective blood donors. Perhaps that is an idea that the NHS could use next year.
“I think I will try this another time.”
I know the three little words every patient anticipates: [holding big syringe] “Roll over Sweety” [/holding big syringe] (Fireman just told me I’m mean for adding that)