posted
The worst experience of my life. I will never do it again.
I was fine when they were taking the blood outta my body, and then after they took the needle out, I started getting dizzy and light headed and I almost passed out, then I threw up. Oh yeah, thats grea isnt it. I never thought it would be that bad.
My boyfriend told me not to do it, and people were questioning if I even weighed 110lbs, but I thought I did, so I donated my blood. I did it because its for a good cause and I like to do things like that and help out people who need it.
Everyone keeps telling me I look pale. Sheesh, what a day!
Has anyone had that happen to them before? Whats your story of donating blood?
------------------ *~*~12/3/99*~* *~*~*~I LOVE YOU BOB FOREVER AND ALWAYS*~*~*~
"Advice is what we ask for when we already know the answer, but wish we didn't" -Erica Jong<~~~no thats not me :)
posted
I used o get headaches after donating blood. Because of my meds, I no longer can but encouage those that can to do so. I had a co-worker who had a very rare blood type. The Red Cross (the agency that used to handle blood donation in Canada) kept him on the shelf for emergencies. Every so often, he would get a call at work asking him to report to a certain hospital where his blood type was urgently needed.
------------------ The most exciting phrase in science, the one that heralds new discoveries, is not "Eureka!" ("I found it!") but rather "Hmmm... that's funny...."
posted
I'm a pretty common blood type (A pos). I've donated blood 7 times so far, and two of those have been 'misses'. I've yet to pass out or feel ill, though I have gotten woozy when I sat up too fast. The two 'misses' were awful, though. Both were with the exact same nurses. They had to dig in both of my arms for an adequate vein (no one else has ever had to do that before), and about 2 minutes later, the needle pulled out. I was very unimpressed. The second time, I was so nervous, I was shaking when they came to put the needle in. The same thing happened.
I know it isn't me. Every other time I've been 'tapped' in 5 minutes or less.
posted
Well, actually the one time I went to donate blood (my friends convinced me too I was scared lol yuck needles) I had a cold. I didn't know you weren't allowed to have a cold and donate blood. Well, the first lady I talked to I told her I had a cold and she didn't say anything. Then just before they were about to take it I started coughing. She asked me if I was sick. I was like yeah just a cold though. She was like you can't give blood if you are sick don't you know that. I was like I told the lady up there that I had a cold and she didn't say anything. She was actually pretty mean about it. Oh well! I will try again sometime!
[This message has been edited by Rachel (edited 05-04-2001).]
Posts: 64 | From: Long Island NY | Registered: Nov 2000
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posted
I've always really wanted to ... I'm pretty sure i'm O positive. Either positive or negative, but i know it's O I also know that any kind of O blood is always in high demand ... So when a blood donor clinic comes around again, I think i'll give some blood. Now that i'm 17, I can do that
------------------ If you choke a smurf, what colour does it turn?
posted
I used to give blood as soon as I was able to again (there's a short waiting period in between donations) but I found out I was anemic and can't anymore.
I can't say that I was saddened at this too much, since like alot of you, there have been 'misses' all too often and it hurt. But the thought of how much I was helping someone else usually made up for the pain. Plus, the donuts and juice they give here are from Dunkin Donuts and are pretty yummy!
Now I volunteer my time for the Bloodmobile and instead of giving blood, I recruit people to donate. For those of you who are medically unable or just don't like needles, giving your time is almost as valuable as the blood itself.
posted
Well, I'm planning to give blood as soon as I'm able (I'm 15). I know there is a chance of a "miss", and I know that must suck, but a little perspective:
think of the people who are recieveing the blood, I'm sure they've gone through WAY wosre pain then most of us. So maybe if you try to think of the people your helping, it will help you
posted
this is probably the worst thing that a pre-med studentcan say, but i confess: i'm squeamish around needles.
oh, i have no problem sticking someone 'cause i'm a sadistic twerp like that, but god forbid i need a shot in the arm!
------------------ The Second Law of Thermodynamics states that the universe is constantly moving to a state of greater entropy s, therefore, delta s is always greater than zero.
Posts: 12677 | From: Los Angeles, CA ... somewhere off the 10 | Registered: Jul 2000
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posted
Yeah, I've had that sort of thing happen to me before, but not while I've been donating blood.
It's happened to me during blood tests, though. Once when I was in elementary school, I had blood taken from me as part of some school-wide testing thing. There were mats for all the wimps like me who needed to lie down.
Two summers ago, I went to the doctor's office for a blood test. The nurse sat me down in a chair, and gave me very specific instruction with regard to how to position myself. I followed them. But, while that needle was inside me, I couldn't help it... I passed out. They made me stay at the doctor's office for the next half-hour lying on an uncomfortable couch.
------------------ When you get off work tonight, meet me at the construction site, and we'll write some notes to tape to the heavy machines, like "We hope they treat you well. Hope you don't work too hard. We hope you get to be happy sometimes." -the Weakerthans
posted
I've given blood, and while it's not the nicest thing I've ever done, it really wasn't that bad. Just don't look at the needle going in, and you'll be fine -- if you're like me, anyway.
Posts: 5122 | From: I *came* from the land of ice and snow | Registered: Aug 2000
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posted
oh, i wish i could give blood. i have always wanted to. every year when the blood drive people come to my school, i get so mad that i can't sign up. i don't weigh enough. i hover around 110 lb, and i just don't think i could handle it.
(plus, i have never even had a real blood test. i might get squeamish around needles.)
em
------------------ if you want to kiss the sky, you better learn how to kneel (on your knees, boy) -U2
Posts: 786 | From: Washington, DC | Registered: Dec 2000
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posted
i wish i could give blood. i did it once, when i was a senior in high school, and i had a horrible, skull crushing migraine the next day. i could hardly move, and had to spend the day in fetal position under covers. i don't know if the two events were necessarily related.. but it sure scared me away from ever giving blood.
has anyone ever donated plasma? i'm curious as to what that's about.. i mean, i know what plasma is.. but is the actual donation similar to giving blood?
------------------ "i need to wash myself again to hide all the dirt and pain, 'cos i'd be scared that there's nothing underneath"- radiohead
Posts: 73 | From: chicago, il, usa | Registered: Apr 2001
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posted
donating plasma is very similar to donating blood. they extract the whole blood, then centrifuge it until the cells separate from the plasma matrix. then the plasma is either frozen for later use or further processed into things like Factor 8, or other blood products.
scientists are getting closer and closer to making a viable blood substitute, though.
------------------ The Second Law of Thermodynamics states that the universe is constantly moving to a state of greater entropy s, therefore, delta s is always greater than zero.
Posts: 12677 | From: Los Angeles, CA ... somewhere off the 10 | Registered: Jul 2000
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posted
I'd love to give blood, at some point. But seeing as I'm barely 5'1 and about 115, I'm not sure it's the best idea.
I'd like to donate my organs, too, actually...
------------------ "Only in dreams We see what it means Reach out our hands Hold on to hers But when we wake It's all been erased And so it seems Only in dreams..." -Weezer
posted
I can't donate blood. I'm too skinny. Which could be a good thing because I am squeaminsh about needles as well.
But I definitely want to donate my bone marrow. Yeah, for someone who is scared of pain and needles, this is major. I've always had thing thing about leukemia. When I was young I would imagine that I had leukemia and I guess reading stories about how few bone marrow doners there are and how many people die a year waiting for a suitable bone marrow saddens me.
And yep, I would love to donate all my organs as well. Just take it all.
posted
to donate blood, i think the requirements are:
110lbs (50kgs) over 17 (in america) no new tattoos or piercings in the past 6 months (risk or HIV and Hepatitis if you got yours done at a sketchy place!) no "risky" sexual behaviors
please add to my list, my memory evades me...
------------------ The Second Law of Thermodynamics states that the universe is constantly moving to a state of greater entropy s, therefore, delta s is always greater than zero.
Posts: 12677 | From: Los Angeles, CA ... somewhere off the 10 | Registered: Jul 2000
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posted
ummm, no needle sharing. Even if you did it once. Even a long long time ago, if you used any needle for drugs, you can't give blood. (i think you go the point)
If your iron is to low.
If your preggers.
Thats all i can think of.
------------------ *~*~12/3/99*~* *~*~*~I LOVE YOU BOB FOREVER AND ALWAYS*~*~*~
"Advice is what we ask for when we already know the answer, but wish we didn't" -Erica Jong<~~~no thats not me :)
quote:Originally posted by Gumdrop Girl: over 17 (in america)
What?! Well then, why do they have them at High schools, where the majority is under 17? Weird.
------------------ "Only in dreams We see what it means Reach out our hands Hold on to hers But when we wake It's all been erased And so it seems Only in dreams..." -Weezer
SURGEON GENERAL'S WARNING: All your base are belong to us!
posted
Last time I counted, I was around 7 gallons or so for blood donations (that's 8 pints to a gallon, for those of you not up on your U.S. measurements, and they take a pint each time).
Actually most of those in recent years have been platelet donations (also called apheresis donations). For apheresis they spin the out the platelets and then water down the red blood cells and put them back in. It's a similar process to extracting plasma but I don't sell it, I donate.
I weigh around 135 lbs. and have lovely big veins, no needle squeamishness whatsoever and a high pain threshold, so the Red Cross loves me. Oh, and I'm also CMV-negative, which means I've never had some common virus and my blood is safe for newborns and chemo patients. They call almost every time I'm eligible.
Glitter (and anyone else who's had a lousy experience), I'd encourage you to give it at least one more try. Drink some juice and water beforehand, and if you start to get dizzy, immediately ask them to lay you back down until you get over it. I've found the trick is getting up sloooowly.
Every time I go in, the list of questions gets longer and longer, which means that more and more people are ineligible to give blood. Ever since they discovered that early on HIV was spread through blood transfusions, the Red Cross (and other blood donation organizations) have gotten super careful. This is good, but it means they need all the "safe" donors they can get.
[This message has been edited by Lady Moonlight (edited 05-15-2001).]
posted
the first time i donated blood the guy missed me vein and had to poke me twice! then my bag was filling up really slow and a bunch of nurses went over to me and all went hmmm.....hehe.....so i only filled the bad up about 1/3 of the way.....they said that my blood was clotting too quickly
the second time went better....i filled the bag all the way up *yay* but afterwards i got really dizzy and almost passed out...so i just lied down for a while....
it feels great to do something like that for someone...knowing that donating just once saves 3 peoples lives is great! next time im eligible i plan to go back!!
------------------ I'm not a lie, I'm not an illusion, I'm an angel, so what's the confusion???
Posts: 6 | From: Reno, Nevada, USA | Registered: May 2001
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posted
Lady Moonlight, oh yes I did eat breakfast, I had a bagel and 2 juice boxes. I felt fine before giving blood, and during, it was just after. I didnt even try to get up, it kinda just happend.
------------------ *~*~12/3/99*~* *~*~*~I LOVE YOU BOB FOREVER AND ALWAYS*~*~*~
"Advice is what we ask for when we already know the answer, but wish we didn't" -Erica Jong<~~~no thats not me :)
posted
I've always wanted to for the helping-people-out part of it, but I'm too skinny and the piercings and whatnot, and so I just find other ways to volunteer.
plus, for awhile, I was on a medication that required me to get my blood tested every 2 weeks - and this wasn't just one little vial of blood, it was 6 or 7. and it didn't hurt or anything, but I think it was the idea - and *every single time* I got blood drawn, for probably 3 or 4 months, I passed out. I had a system: I lay down on the table instead of sitting up. so the needle went in, I blacked out, and woke up to a Mars bar! not too bad.
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posted
I gave blood for the first time a few months ago. It didn't hurt and I felt fine afterwards. I ate some snacks and drank liquids to regain some energy just in case. However, a few hours later when I was on my way home, I fainted right on the sidewalk. Someone saw me fall and helped me. I don't know how long I was out, though. I wanna donate blood again, but I don't want another bad experience...
Posts: 15 | From: USA | Registered: May 2001
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quote:Originally posted by Gumdrop Girl: to donate blood, i think the requirements are:
110lbs (50kgs) over 17 (in america) no new tattoos or piercings in the past 6 months (risk or HIV and Hepatitis if you got yours done at a sketchy place!) no "risky" sexual behaviors
please add to my list, my memory evades me...
What qualifies as risky sexual behavior? I'd really like to donate, and don't want anything in my way, lol.
------------------ Signed, Moth.
"Nothing in Life is to be feared. It is only to be understood." -Marie Curie
Posts: 72 | From: NY, USA | Registered: Feb 2001
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posted
Risky sexual behaviour= unprotected sex with a partner who has not been tested twice over a more than six month period of monogamy- covering penis in vagina intercourse, oral sex, anal sex and anything involving exchange of blood, semen and vaginal secretions without a latex barrier in place.
Posts: 2710 | From: Australia | Registered: Jun 2000
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posted
We do this once a year at our school. It's open to anyone and i think it's a fabulous idea. Anyone else's school have this going? If not, i think it's a good idea to look into it.
------------------ 'You've got the eyes of ten women. Not in a jar! I wasn't accusing you. I just mean your eyes are really nice'-coupling
posted
Beppie, your definition of risky sexual behavior is lovely, but unfortunately, not the one they use to determine whether or not you may donate blood. If you are a man who has had sex with a man, you may not donate blood. If you are a woman who has had sex with a man who has had sex with a man, you may not donate blood. If you have ever had sex for money or drugs, you may not donate blood. I think that's about it. They don't take into consideration whether or not you take safer sex precautions, whether or not you've been tested for HIV, or how many partners you've had.
------------------ You were never no locomotive, Sunflower, you were a sunflower! -Allen Ginsberg
Posts: 1101 | From: San Francisco | Registered: Jun 2000
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posted
Holy horse manure..If those qualifications are correct, I donated blood and I was not supposed to as I am a woman who has had sex with a man who had previously had sex with a man....Two of 'em, even....They didn't even ASK me that one..wow...so, that's nice to know....never mind that all my male partners have been the biggest condom-lovers on the planet, I get tested at least every four months, etc...heh..that's just odd though..I saved lives and I wasn't supposed to...well then...
------------------ "i am not an angry girl but it seems like i've got everyone fooled every time i say something they find hard to hear they chalk it up to my anger and never to their own fear" -'Not a Pretty Girl' by Ani Difranco
Posts: 13 | From: Kentucky, USA | Registered: Feb 2002
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posted
Wow, I did not know you couldn't donate if you are anemic. That really saddens me. We have a drive every year at school, and next year I would have been able to participate (me being 16 as of exactly a month ago! woohoo!).
Of course, I'm also only about 113 pounds and have tiny veins which are hard to find for all the nurses I've ever had draw my blood.
So, in short, this sucks because I really, really wanted to donate and I don't have any squeamishness about the whole sittuation.
just wanted to give my two cents;].
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I also know that any kind of O blood is always in high demand ... So when a blood donor clinic comes around again, I think i'll give some blood. Now that i'm 17, I can do that 
Weird.
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