Do You Give Blood

[longshot]

Gilhooligan said:

Tried to give blood once. They got the needle in and started to extract the blood but pretty soon after my whole arm went hot and prickly and I felt quite light headed. The nurse asked if I was ok, to which I obviously said yes. She then asked me again as apparently I had gone very pale! Told her I felt faint so she pulled the needle out pronto and had the bed tilted to get the blood to my head.

Felt like a right tit, especially as everyone else in there was casually giving blood like it was no big deal. Apparently I should have eaten and drank a bit more before donating. Managed to donate something stupid like 80ml. Still got the donor card and found out that I'm A+. Haven't been back since but have recently signed up as an organ donor to make me feel less guilty!

Edited by Gilhooligan on Tuesday 16th December 23:30

Now you now how to do it properly, you should really give it another go.

Now that I'm an old git it makes me feel dreadful for the next 24 hours but I think it's worth it.

[MentalSarcasm]

I nearly fainted just after my 4th donation. Halfway through my face start to feel a bit tingly but I assumed it was because the queue had been quite long and it had given me plenty of time to freak out and tense up. Got to the tea and biscuit stage and it happened again, this time including feeling a bit light headed, and the nurse at the table freaked out and scream "she's fainting" so five staff surrounded me and got me on a bed in the corner before I properly passed out.

I think part of the problem was that I hadn't eaten enough, although IIRC I hadn't eaten anything different from my previous donations and they were all fine. The other problem was that the queue was long and it gave me plenty of time to scare myself and get my heartrate up a bit too much, relaxing probably led to a drop in heartrate that doesn't really go with losing blood at the same time XD

I also then felt quite sick and dizzy the next day at work, which was new to me.

I do need to donate again but the place is always busy because they're the only weekend donation in my area, I need somewhere a bit quieter so I'm not waiting for ages and then rushed through.

[RicksAlfas]

MentalSarcasm said:

I do need to donate again but the place is always busy because they're the only weekend donation in my area, I need somewhere a bit quieter so I'm not waiting for ages and then rushed through.

Quite a few of the local sessions are in the evenings now if that helps.
They are reasonably good at keeping to appointment times so not too much hanging around!

[Alex106]

I have given 4 times previously. This was about four years ago though. I have just booked another session for the new year.

Im 0+ I have never needed any, but I like to think it helps someone somewhere who needs it.

I do recall once getting a wagon wheel after donating which was excellent!

[Kermit power]

I used to. They put out an appeal for blood when Gulf War 1 kicked off, and before they figured out that they'd massively over-estimated possible UK casualties, so I went into the big transfusion centre in Liverpool city centre (where I was a student at the time) to volunteer.

The nice nurse asked me if I'd consider donating plasma. I asked what the difference was, and it turned out that...

1. You could do it every two weeks instead of every three months.

2. They suck lots of blood out, centrifuge it, skim off the white blood cells and platelets and then inject the remainder back in.

3. It counted for two little stickers in your book instead of one.

4. Afterwards, you got free sandwiches instead of just free biscuits!

Being an impoverished student at the time, point 4 meant an extra pint, so that was a winner!!!

They also said "you mustn't smoke or drink for a couple of hours afterwards". Needless to say, still being an impoverished student, I'd go straight into the pub next door for a pint and a Marlboro, and spend the next 20 minutes or so feeling absolutely zonked for a quid!!! Liverpool was a cheap place to drink in the early 90s!!!

I stopped, though, after they failed to find a vein on either arm on three successive visits. I didn't mind a bit of discomfort if it was saving someone's life, but I really didn't fancy carrying on getting stabbed for no good reason!

Even now, if I have to have a cannula put in or blood taken, I'll end up having to fight to have it done on the back of my hand rather than at my elbow. "But it's much more painful on your hand", they say... More painful is having you wiggle around in my arm for a while before giving up and having to put it in the back of my hand like I suggested in the first place!!!!

[probedb]

I started earlier this year. Had no issues with it at all. Not even vaguely dizzy from it. I've never really had any issues with blood 3rd session in Jan!

[Dr Interceptor]

I admire all you who donate, and really wish I could join you.

So important, especially at this time of year when the stocks run low.

[lauda]

I always used to donate but had a stroke last year and now they won't take it. Which I find odd as I've made a full recovery and am an otherwise very healthy 35 year old.

Upsets me a bit as it was one of the only truely altruistic things I did!