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I’ve nearly talked myself into doing it for the second time in my life next Tuesday. On my birthday. For some weird reason I feel the need to recognize the day I was born by… I dunno… maybe helping to save the life of someone else. I’m also a sorta rare type, B+, so it’s kinda selfish not to share.
But the thing is I hate giving blood! I really do! I’m a giant pansy. (runs and hides under the covers)
The last time I donated, the first time I’d ever done it, just the size of the needle made me go 😯 Then I fainted in the middle of the drawing and nearly fell off the table because the guy who was supposed to be watching me was flirting hot and heavy with the busty blonde in the chair next to me instead of doing his job… I dropped my Pepsi and it went all over the floor. Muy embarrassing 😳
Oh, well, it’s for a good cause at least!!
Well I have tried a couple of times to give blood…but I decided it wasn’t worth it. I have small veins and they play hide and seek. The people have to stick me at least 3 times to try and get my blood. Even tho I laugh at it because ppl are usually good at drawing blood…they really haven’t met their match so to speak…meaning me.
I’ve done it a few times, but it makes me so tired that I can’t unless I have a whole day free for a nap afterwards. 😆
The first time I had it done, the guy missed my vein completely. I’m not sure how he did it, because they’re pretty big and obvious in my elbow crook. But he missed it and went sideways and gave me a bruise the size of a baseball inside my elbow. And they couldn’t even use my blood for all that. It clotted too fast, and they couldn’t get a whole bag full. Grrr…! I almost didn’t go back, but I wanted to know my blood type, and that was the only way for me to find out. My medical records didn’t have it in there. (A-, by the way. :))
I’ve donated blood and platelets. But needles don’t bother me so it’s not that big a deal for me. I have been rejected a couple of times because my hemoglobin was too low.
It is great you want to do it. A lot of areas are low on blood – some of the new regulations cut down on the number of donors. If you want to try again make sure you eat before donating and DON’T watch when they stick you. Some people get a little light headed just at the sight of their own blood. The first time for you may have been a fluke.
And it could have been worse. Years ago I worked a drive at Naval Weapons Station Earl. I was escorting the men from the tables to the chairs. This one young 6 footer got halfway to the chairs and just fainted! I managed to catch his head so he didn’t bang it but otherwise he hit the floor. The poor guy – before he even left the other guys in his squad and his sergeant were giving him a hard time for fainting “like a girl.” I’m sure he had a rough couple of weeks being teased.
I’m not allowed to give blood in the USA. I was living in England during the mad cow scare back in the ’80s, and rather than test for any remnant of the disease the US blood banks would rather just avoid dealing with it.
This has always been fine by me. I used to fear needles and the sight of blood. Particularly my own blood. But a couple of years ago I found myself in the ER for emergency surgery and a few days of intensive care. This totally cured me of any squeemishness regarding needles being stuck into me by nurses or even badly trained nurses assistants.
I used to give blood. I can’t give blood to the general population anymore because I’m in the military. (It’s all the vaccines) I am really afraid of needles, but when you consider that you will be saving people’s lives, I think that it’s worth facing your fears.
I found the best thing to do is just not look. Try to bring a book or a music or something to distract you. Hey bring a stuffed animal if it will help you out!! 😉 The more you can relax when the needle goes in, the less it hurts. I always felt really good after I did it. It’s doubly good because you face your fears while helping people. 😀
The Castle [Dave wrote:“]I’m not allowed to give blood in the USA. I was living in England during the mad cow scare back in the ’80s, and rather than test for any remnant of the disease the US blood banks would rather just avoid dealing with it.
You and me both, Dave. My parents and brother can’t donate either for that reason. Though I think I’m the only one that would do it if we could (mom’s chronically iron-deficient, dad did long ago but doesn’t care anymore, brother probably wouldn’t think about it).
And I can’t say the needle bothers me since I haven’t seen how large the gauge is… never looked at it when I did give blood once at a school blood drive (and didn’t read the restrictions card cuz I was grieving & didn’t care about much that day).
I would like to donate blood, but have too many problems with it to be able to. Unless I am laying out absolutely flat and a pediatric needle is used, I pass out in under 5 seconds. It could be a single vial, it could be 16 (had 16 taken out once for testing when I was really sick before being diagnosed for CFS). I’m pretty weak and takes me 1-2 days to recover to the point that I could go back to work. I get really woozy after shots too. The shot needle doesn’t bother me, so not sure why that is. I don’t watch the needle going in and I say ‘OW’ and have someone distract me, so it doesn’t hurt so much for the needle insertion, but my body just doesn’t seem to like anything in it that shouldn’t be there I guess. 😕
My bloodtype is unknown. It’s never been tested. I do have it narrowed down to possibilities though (I know my parents’ blood types).
I apparently seizured the first time I got an IV though. Supposedly I was so scared of it, my body seizured from the immense fear. My dad worked me up about it though too (oh, the needle will be this big!), which didn’t help. I’ve had several IVs since without such a reaction and now I know what to expect more (I was younger back then). Just a fluke incident 🙄 I guess it’s just best if needles and I stay away from each other 🙂
Maebnus3 wrote:The Castle [Dave wrote:“]I’m not allowed to give blood in the USA. I was living in England during the mad cow scare back in the ’80s, and rather than test for any remnant of the disease the US blood banks would rather just avoid dealing with it.
You and me both, Dave. My parents and brother can’t donate either for that reason. Though I think I’m the only one that would do it if we could (mom’s chronically iron-deficient, dad did long ago but doesn’t care anymore, brother probably wouldn’t think about it).
And I can’t say the needle bothers me since I haven’t seen how large the gauge is… never looked at it when I did give blood once at a school blood drive (and didn’t read the restrictions card cuz I was grieving & didn’t care about much that day).
Me too. I’ve been to France for more than 3 cumulative months over the past 10 years, so I’m not allowed to give blood in Canada. The mad cow thing too.
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http://www.sarahjestin.com/feedbacklists.htmI am absolutely 100% chicken when it comes to being poked with needles. I get all woozy and have a distressing tendency to black out even several minutes later, which is no good when you’re standing in the clinic parking lot and there’s nobody to drive you home but yourself. 😛 When I was a kid Mom gave me a syringe with a 22ga needle on it and an orange, and told me to practice poking the orange. She hoped it would help me get over my fears by familiarizing me with the tools.
I couldn’t even poke the stupid orange. 😳
My hat’s off to all of you who aren’t affected by needles, because the world needs you! 🙂 If I ever need to give blood for a family member, I’ll do it, but they’re going to have two patients to deal with afterward instead of just one. Cluck cluck! -8>=
ddvm wrote:If you want to try again make sure you eat before donating and DON’T watch when they stick you. Some people get a little light headed just at the sight of their own blood. The first time for you may have been a fluke.
I sure hope it was a fluke. I did everything right… I ate a big breakfast and lunch and I drank like a fish all day long. When they took the sample from my finger my iron levels and hemoglobin were perfect. And blood doesn’t bother me, even my own (when I was eleven I watched them draw some insane amount when I was sick and thought it was awesome).
I dunno… maybe it’s just because I’m small. Not that much blood to begin with 😆 I also hope I’ll be less nervous this time, knowing what to expect.
I also wondered why they made a big deal out of me having been in Italy over the summer… but it was only for two weeks instead of months, so they let me by. I guess I can imagine now why it could be a big concern.
Barrdwing wrote:If I ever need to give blood for a family member, I’ll do it, but they’re going to have two patients to deal with afterward instead of just one. Cluck cluck! -8>=
😆 Hey, that’s noble of you! At least you would try if you had to. I’m really a chicken too, I just play mind games with myself. The first time I was like, “Okay, just do it once. Just once, for the greater good!” Now I’m like, “Just one more time! This is the last time, girl!” And next time I’ll say the same thing. And the time after that… and after that… and…
Heh. being in the Military they poke us just for the hellav it sometimes.
Well we need three samples. One for your *medical jargon* another for your lipids and another for your *medical jargon that sounds like if you say it bakwards he’ll say Psych!*
I have really tiny rolly veins, so I told the guy, “Hey. You’re gonna need the baby needle.”
(I always ask for it b/c it’s less painful too in addition to it’s the only thing that will fit in my tiny veins.)
“No, I’m really good. Just watch”“You’re gonna need the baby needle.”
*stick*Ow
“Dang. Let me try again”
*stick* *stick* ;_;
“Hmm… let me try the other arm.”🙄 “Okay…” Yeesh.
“There’s nothing good on this side. Let me get Carrie”
Enter Carrie
“Hi. I’m really good.”
I’m taping my fingers and thinking of what wonderful colors my arm is going to turn because I always bruise “Are you going to get the baby needle?”
“I want to try. Of course he took all the good ones.” *stick*
“Dangit.”
*stick*
“Hmm… Let me go get Chief.”
Enter Chief and sees me tapping my fingers.
Why the hell didn’t you two use the baby needle? Now I have to try and find *one* instead of *a good one.”
*sigh*
Some stuff I learned in my experience after being stuck so many times:1. Drink LOTS of water the day before you go and avoid caffine. This will make your veins easier to find.
2. Don’t watch. Look at the table next to you. Talk to the guy. I had one guy do a “Breathe in” *stick* “Breathe out” and it was cake! well er. Easi-er I coulda hugged him if we weren’t both in uniform.
3. Taking the needle out is actually more painful than putting it in. To me it feels like it’s still in there and lasts for a day or two.
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