You want to do WHAT now? (A sqeamish person's question)

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

Well, our school’s having the second of this year’s two blood drives, and though I missed out on the last one due to age restrictions, I’m quite legal for this one, and am almost definitely going to give.

However, I’ve got the usual “I don’t want them to stick a big-ass needle in my arm” butterflies, and decided just to open this thread as an experience sharing place for all of you experienced vampire-feeders. Does it hurt? Are you sore afterwards? Do the muscles tense up, causing the needle to pop out and spray everywhere?

Okay, you probably don’t have to answer that last one, but you get the basic idea. So start sharing. I’ve only got till Thursday to build my confidence up!

2

Just try to relax. The anticipation of pain is much worse than actual pain.

The needle insertion hurts a tiny bit but it doesn’t last long.

Sometimes, when the needle is in the vein it is a little uncomfortable but just think of other things (what you want to do this weekend).

The extraction of the needle is also a bit uncomfortable.

The rest of the day your arm might feel like its bruised and your elbow might be a bit stiff.

But all this is outweighed by the good you are doing. I commend you and implore others to follow suit.

Good luck! :wink:

p.s. I’ve never seen a needle pop out.

3

I did this for the first time a few months ago. Yes, it hurts for just a second as they put the needle in and when they remove it. No, blood doesn’t spray everywhere. No, most people aren’t sick or sore afterward.

If you are very skinny it might be worse, though.

4

I first gave blood when I was 16 or 17. (Yeah, the laws may have been different back then. I gave the dinosaur at the door a haunch of meat, and it looked the other way…)

Unless you’re first in line, bring a magazine to read. The poke is not bad, it’s not THAT huge of a needle, and the nurses who actually do this have been doing it forever. I have given blood (sneaks look at Red Cross card) 86 times. Only once have I had a problem where they couldn’t hit the vein. Then they just switched to the other arm.

Really, it’s not that big of a deal. You’ll spend half the time or more waiting in line. It doesn’t really hurt when they put the needle in. If you can stand playing most any kind of sports, or have a tooth filled, you can take this. It won’t be sore afterwards for more than a few minutes, and you may end up with a little bit of bruising. That’s about it.

I’m operating under the assumption that knowing what’s involved ahead of time will make this less stressful, so here’s the drill:

  1. sign-in, show some ID to prove you’re of age and so on.

  2. fill out a brief medical history form.

  3. do the medical history interview to doublecheck you understood everything, and re-ask some important questions.

  4. do a quick anemia check - this is a poke in the ear to make sure you have enough hemoglobin to donate, and still leave you with some to use later that day.

  5. have some juice, to give a boost to your blood sugar level.

  6. Actually donate blood. This process breaks down as follows:
    6A) The nurse doublechecks the paperwork, confirms you are really you.
    6B) she will find a vein she likes, and maybe mark it with a slight scratch so that the reddened skin is easy to see.
    6C) the site is cleaned and sterilized with a spiffy little sponge/soap/disinfectant. This is the reason for the scratch, as the soap is a wierd yellow-brown color.
    6D) You will be given a rubber ball to squeeze when they insert the needle. This helps the veins to pop out, making them easier to see.
    6E) You can lay back, or pump the ball, to help pump out the blood.
    6F) When you’ve drained off a unit, a nifty little scale automatically stops the blood flow, so you don’t get drained dry like something in a Roadrunner/Coyote movie. Or Animaniacs - take your choice of the cartoon of your generation.
    6G) The nurse may draw off maybe 2-3 more test tubes of blood, to be used for testing for diseases.
    6H) The nurse removes the needle, and puts on a gauze pad on your arm. You hold your arm up in the air, and apply direct pressure to stop any tiny bit of bleeding you might have. (Remember direct pressure from first aid class or Boy Scouts? Hope you were paying attention then - you need that bit of info now!) :smiley:

  7. Next you get escorted to to the second juice table by a volunteer walker. This is the funniest part, IMHO. The volunteers at my local red cross donor center are usually 80 years old. They are there to steady you as you walk 20 feet to that next juice table, on the theory either you might be unsteady after donating, or that that your sudden lack of blood will turn you into a juiced-starved fiend who will launch an all-out assault on the entire establishment just for some more juice… juice… JUICE… JUICE!!!

Oh, sorry… Juice does that to blood donors, ya know… You wait, you’ll see…

5

It hurts just a bit for a split second, but that’s about it. You may not want to look while they stick you, or as the blood collects, but other than that, you’ll be fine. The inside of your arm might feel a little black and blue for a little while.

Hey, if you start to question yourself, just think of the good thing that you’re doing, and how you’ll be helping someone out who’ll really need your blood. You’ll feel lots better about it.

6

My standard trick is to curl my toes whenever I’m getting a needle…it provides just enough physical distraction. As for the needle in the arm to give blood, there were times when the nurse was so experienced and so good at it that I literally didn’t even feel it…but I still curled my toes, just in case.

7

I’ve got an appointment this Thurs to donate what will make my fourth gallon. If it was that bad, I wouldn’t keep doing it, no matter how good the cookies and juice are. The reason for the snacks is to prevent hypoglycemia, low blood sugar. So eat and drink up, even if you don’t want it or you are dieting. And also drink lots of extra water and fluids the rest of the day too. Your blood volume is replaced in hours but it takes a few weeks to build your red blood cell supply back up to normal.

A couple of tips, if you are really squeamish it’s not a good idea to watch the actual puncture. Take a deep breath when the nurse says “ready?” or “a little stick here” and exhale as the needle is inserted. Keep your eyes open and look at a predetermined focal point during that time. (Lamaze traing works very well at this point.) Both these techniques are to refocus your attention away from the pain. If you have ever closed your eyes during a pleasurable experience(sex), you will recognize what I mean.

I hope this is helpful.

8

{Sigh} Another missed opportunity to scare the hell out of someone.

I was going to warn you about blowouts, drain-backs, clamp-offs, through-plunges, slicers, and puncture gap. Now I’ll just have to settle for the fine print on the form you sign. The one that mentions complications.

Worry, Jester. Worry.

9

::smacks Danalan upside the head::
Thank you for giving me all those nasty things to NOT think about…

Ahem, back to the topic. I too dislike needles. And you are not the only one: I’ve seen large men cringing and sweating during a blood donation. A bit of advice, for what it’s worth:

[li] Use the bathroom before going in to the donation room. You’ll have one less thing to stress about.[/li]
[li] Tell the attendant that you really dislike needles, but are doing this out of civic duty - I’ve found they are usually sympathetic and reassuring (except for one Atilla the Hunlette who told me in a snotty voice that I was too afraid and she couldn’t work on me; one of the other nurses took her on the side and gave her an earful about manners and decorum). They are happy to see anyone who is able to give blood, considering the shortages, and will work with you.[/li]
BTW, all of the blood banks I’ve been to really hate the terms ‘vampire’, ‘blood-sucking’, etc. It’s difficult enough getting people to donate without those terms being bandied about. It’s like one of those jokes that was funny the first time around, but after about the 900th time has more than run its course, like an overused catch-phrase. The blood bank I go to decorates the office with orange and black streamers for Halloween, but no bats or vampires, for obvious reasons.

[li] Ask them to distract you - talk to you about something else while they work on you. I’ve found most of the attendants are able to do the work and still converse with me on something non-medical at the same time.[/li]
[li] Ask for a cloth to cover the tubing. I do this all the time. The pressure of the tubes is still there, but if I do not see it, I think about it less.[/li]
[li] Close your eyes and think of England; remember, you are doing your civic duty. (Okay, little joke - they’ll probably ask you to keep your eyes open, so they can make sure you are alright.)[/li]
[li] Remember, they will be near you to monitor you. If you feel the least bit uncomfortable, dizzy, nauseated, or whatever, tell them right away. They do not want to see you in distress and will fix the problem.[/li]
Filling the bag takes about five minutes. Five minutes of your life for someone who is in severe need. You won’t know who you helped, but you’ll have helped someone.

One other thing to consider - they may ask you if you have had aspirin or other OTC drugs (in addition to the normal screening proedures) in the last 5 days. If you have not had any, they may use your blood for a ‘baby pack’ - up to 5 babies can benefit from one pint of blood, but it is vital that you have not have any medications for a few days prior.

I still hate needles, but I do apheresis about every other week – that’s two hours of a needle in each arm, giving platlets used for for burn victims and chemo patients, and most of my blood is returned to me. (Plus someone will scratch my nose when I need it.)

So there is hope for the squeamish.

Oh, and I’ve only passed out once, when the attendant tripped, dropped my bag and it bounced. The last thing I thought was “I am NOT giving them any more if that breaks.” Little fear of that - those bags are thick and sturdy.

10

I commend everyone who is able to donate blood!

I’ve tried. Now, I don’t mind pain or the sight of blood, I don’t mind shots, & going to the dentist does not bother me one bit. But try to take blood out of me & I go woozy & clammy & white. I did it once, and was one of the weenies who had to put their head down & be ministered to with damp cloths & extra OJ. I felt nauseated for the rest of the day. I have no idea why, perhaps because I have low BP?

I’ll continue to volunteer in other ways, but giving blood won’t be one of them! I don’t remember it hurting at all, though.

11

Take it from a veteran , 'taint no biggie.

I have a unique type O neg with some special factors that make my blood ideal for InUterine transfusions when there is a possible Rhesus Baby on the way. This has meant that I have had both ambulances and police show up at my door saying “you dont have to come but the kid will die if you dont” 4 times now. (Heh heh they dont know I’m back in the country yet so it looks like I can keep some of my life force for a while.)

I remeber distinctly the first time I gave blood. i was nervous but I it was something that a bunch of us decided to do. (The things an impoverished student will do for a free half glass of Guinness). I’m not going to kid you , it felt a bit strange watching the bag fill up with my very essensce but the trick is to just think about something else.

That same day I remember a freind named Catherine decided to wander into the bone marrow donation area and donate AFTER she had already given blood. Catherine was a tiny girl , fit (a dancer) but not given to eating a whole lot. Long story short , I saw my first ever green person that day. I dont mean pasty faced either I mean Hulk Green. She was out of action for at least a fortnight. There’s a lesson in there somewhere.

After giving blood I do tend to get tired a little easier than usual and I notice a distinct weakness in my calves. It usually wears off after about 2/3 days though

12

I like giving blood. No,really. Started three days after my 17th birthday, I am now 43. Trying to do the 5 times a year thing. Haven’t made it yet. Had a good run of 4’s. Got my 8 gallon pin. Lorna Doones and Tang. My first nurse was a shaply woman and I was able to distract my mind by staring at her cleavage. YMMV. Once, my sister walked into the room where the real work is done. She took one look at the bag being filled and promptly fainted. What did her loving brother say? “Tap her now, she’ll never miss it”. They didn’t.

13

I’d consider giving blood, but I have an unfortunate reaction to getting stuck with a needle. My veins dilate, and my blood pressure plummets. I get very lightheaded, very fast, if not pass out entirely.

I don’t mind pain, and I certainly don’t mind blood, but this reaction has caused me to have to fold my arms up to protect my elbows while reading this thread.

Oh well, I commend you for doing it.

14

And I’m glad I did. I just watched the news last night, and they said that the blood bank that’s running the drive on Thursday is critically low on blood. That made me feel all warm and fuzzy when I signed up.

Thanks a bunch for all the reassuring messages, guys! It’s definitely helped. Only two more days!

15

I always found the finger stick during screening to be the biggest pain.

Just a simple stab and then some mild discomfort. And it’s a good thing to do. I’ve got more than two gallons under my belt (um…so to speak).

16

Yea, Jester!!

FTR, I really don’t like needles, but generally it’s no problem. The insertion almost never hurts, and when it has, it’s been a brief sting that went away fast.

My ritual to deal with my needle fear is simple: I ask them to warn me when they’re about to put the needle in, so that I can look away. And I grip the arm of the chair with the hand on the other arm, and curl my toes, so the reaction has somewhere else to go if it ever should really hurt. Hasn’t yet, and I’ve given probably around 70 times.

After they insert the needle, they almost always put a sterile pad over it, to hide the needle from view. If they don’t (it’s only happened a coupla times to me), I ask for it before I stop looking away. Knowing the needle’s in my skin, and seeing it, are two very different things for me.

Anyhow, if a needle wuss like me can give repeatedly, there are probably similar strategies for other needle wusses to deal with it. Whether or not you’re one, you’ll do fine. And thanks for volunteering to help us all out in this important way. :slight_smile:

17

I use to give blood all the time. I personally got a rush out of it, but then, I’m kinda weird that way. The needle part doesn’t bother me, it’s really no worse that a sharp pinch. Take deep breaths, think about the beach and don’t watch.

18

When I was a college student, I used to donate plasma twice a week for money (they put the red and white blood cells back into your body, so you don’t have to wait five weeks or however long it is). As long as I didn’t miss an apppointment, I made over a$100 a month - plus it was a way to force myself to sit still for an hour twice a week and study.

The needle they use for plasmapheresis is a lot bigger than the one they use for just taking blood - it’s about as big around as the stick on a Q-tip. I have this diamond-shaped scar on the inside of my right arm from the repeated stickings I got.

and yeah, it hurt a bit when they stuck me, but I always preferred to watch when they jabbed me - it seemed to hurt less. Of course, whenever I drew a particularly busty phlebotomist I would usually watch the Cleavage Channel instead. grin

They draw out the blood, put it in a centrifuge, spin out the blood cells, and remove the plasma. Then they mix the cells with saline solution and put it back into your arm. That is the weirdest sensation, because the saline is cold… you can feel it traveling down your vein like a little icy snake.

I wonder if that place is still around?

19

Not a big deal at all, just think about baseball or tough math problems. I know that “don’t look” has already been said a bazillion times, but that’s the key so here it is one more time.

I’ve only noticed after-effects once, and that was when I played soccer a few hours after giving blood. Didn’t have quite my usual endurance, but it didn’t kill me.

20

You can do this. I am so afraid of needles that looking at one makes me woozy. My secret (like everyone else’s apparently) is to not look at the needle at all. (It’s been really weird since my cat has needed insulin shots. I just get woozy everytime I’m giving him one.)

The first time I donated blood was much better than any of the times that I have had to have blood drawn for tests. Those people who work for blood donation centers know what they are doing. If they don’t see any veins they like, they pass you along to the resident expert. Trust me, I have terrible veins. I get passed along a lot.

It does not hurt. It is of course uncomfortable but only temporarily. You probably won’t feel anything after you’re all set up.

Then they give you juice and cookies! And if you’re really lucky, you’ll pass out at the juice and cookie table like I did. When I woke up, those endorphans(sp?) were great! One of the best buzzes I ever had. :smiley: They wouldn’t let me get up and enjoy myself though. I haven’t passed out since then.