Almost forgot - ask them if they have a first time donor sticker and wear it with pride!
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Almost forgot - ask them if they have a first time donor sticker and wear it with pride!
Way to go! Good for you!
I donate regularly, and once you do it, you'll probably be fine. Remember, all cookies and other treats on the day you donate are calorie free! Not really, but my Red Cross center always has good ones, and they're super nice :)
You've got good advice here on the hydration and all, but you knew that.
So I'm just going to add my cheers for you. YAY!
I echo Lifesgreat's comment - the stupid fingertip prick for anemia is worse than any of it!!! Uff da!!!
Hey - thanks for donating and for kicking me in the butt to do it again. I was a regular donor since college until my whole stupid PE anti-coagulant ineligibility thingy last year. And I have not donated since then - and I should. So happy new year and let's go save some lives. It's a great thing, and so easy.
Just breathe.
Maybe an iPod with some relaxing music?
Edit: I am a big looker. I always watch the needle go in. When I had hand surgery, I really wanted an arm block as opposed to a general so I could watch. They wouldn't. What-ever. The DD and I watch surgeries on animal planet, etc. Prepping her for the career in medicine I should have had.
I had an arm block for my wrist surgery a few years ago, but I slept through it anyway. I think it was the versaid (sp?).
Wow. Thank you, thank you, thank you for all the support and tips/tricks and some laughs (Zen, the thought of me poking myself with a sewing needle is priceless. I can image what the nurses would say when looking for track marks).
I think I have a pretty good plan now: Hydrate, eat well, my Mom's actually driving me there (I think she's shocked I'm actually doing it and wants to see it happen), I'm not gonna look at the needle going in (but I'm kinda curious now about what it looks like), keep warm, take my iPod, and not work out when I get home. Oh and COOKIES. Actually you think I could use this as an excuse to eat a piece of cake when I get home? ;)
I'll let you all know how it went when I get home. I'm still nervous but excited too. I just hope I'm not anemic or anything now. :p
Growing up I was TERRIFIED of needles. When I got to be college aged, I knew it was time to get over my fear.Quote:
Originally Posted by firenze11
So, I gave blood as much as I could. I gave plasma (you sit there with a huge needle in your arm for a good hour). And you know what, I got my fears. I'm fine with needles now.
For me, the secret is I have to watch the needle go in. If I don't watch, I jump.
Just watch the needle, and you will be fine. Keep giving blood and you should get over your fear. Good luck!
Well I went and now I'm really upset. This might be long, I'm sorry. I think I need to rant. At least I'm not anemic. I got through to the nurse to do the physical and she was horrible. She asked me what I drank with breakfast and acted like drinking coffee and water was like drinking poison. (Even though it was decaf) and told me I needed to drink juice. I'm sorry I'd rather eat fruit and drink water than drink sugar -y water. And I drank juice when I walked in the door there.
Then came the checking of my arms. I told her about the sample I gave Thursday for OneMatch, the bone marrow registry. And she treated me like I had lied to her and kept asking me what it was. The nurse I spoke to on the phone was pleasant and said I was a-ok to donate today having had the sample taken Thursday and didn't treat me like an idiot/shady drug addict/liar. I understand the serious caution they need to take but jeez. Then my other arm was checked. It has mild bit of eczema an inch+ above my elbow and vein. She acted like I had some horrifying rash and told me there was no way I could donate. The American Red Cross states on their website that as long as the vein is free of a rash the donation is ok. Go figure.
I was so upset I went to my car and cried until my Mom finished donating. 2007 has been my worst year ever. I had a brain tumor scare that lasted over 6 months and caused me to withdraw from Grad school. I'm now back living w/ my parents waiting to try to get back in school but found out I have to reapply completely. I felt like this was a good way for me to end the year on a happy/good note and overcome a big fear. Sigh.
Anyway, I'll try again when I can. Sorry for being so rant-y, but I wanted to update you after all that wonderful advice. Thanks again for helping me out earlier and helping me work up the nerve to even go.
I'm sorry your experience was not good. If she was in fact rude, report her.
I'm so sorry to hear you had a bad experience!
You can come to my donation center. The nurses are always friendly and kind (to everyone so far as I've seen).
I hope you'll try again and that you'll have a better experience next time!
Sorry you had a bad experience, Fire. Perhaps being that you were one of the last appointments of the day, they were just exhausted and impatient from a day's worth of blood taking. Who knows. But I also understand the strict guidelines they have to follow to protect public health. Kinda sucks for the donator, because here we are trying to do something truly GOOD and we're told we can't. I know how you feel.
It had been MANY years since I donated. For various reasons like pregnancy & breastfeeding of my three kids and then needing my blood during the racing season, I hadn't been able to. I would always get a pang of guilt whenever the email in my work's inbox said that we were having another blood drive downstairs. I tried to donate last winter, but was getting a cold and the nurses said no way.
So anyhooo, I finally donated earlier this month and felt really good about it, proud of myself, etc., even though it left me rather weak. Doing a hill ride a couple days later I'm sure didn't help. :rolleyes: Then, an interesting thing developed and brings me to another point to add to this discussion -- post-donation blood testing.
This week, I got a letter from the company that collects, tests, and stores the blood for transfusion. The letter said that in testing a sample of my donated blood, they found an antibody that may interfere with, or worse, harm the blood of the intended transfusion patient. It is called "Little C" and is relatively rare, and thus it is not known if my blood will cause problems for patients. Soooo, my blood has been marked ineligible for transfusion for pretty much infinity, since this antibody is the type that will likely never leave my body over time.
Kinda makes me feel like I failed some patient out there, ya know. I'm a bit disappointed. But on a lighter note, I can hoard my blood during the racing season without guilt now. Well, as much guilt, anyway.
Fire, there is one good thing about trying and being rejected -- you can try again six weeks later, IF you're healthy. I understand you wanted to end the year on a good note, but perhaps now you can start '08 on a good one and catch the next blood drive. :)
Tailwindz
~BikeMomma
THANKS! Since my husband was diagnosed with leukemia earlier this year he has become a frequent recipient. Usually when he needs a transfusion- he gets 2 or 3 units.
I am a regular donor- at least 3 times a year- but this summer he easily blew through the amount I 've donated in the past few years-
BTW and I try to watch, but usually they try to hide the needle going in . . .
Oh no! I'm so disappointed that your experience was far less than pleasant. Is there another donation center that you can go to? We don't have the Red Cross around here to donate- we have the Oklahoma Blood Institute. They have centers all around the city and you can just walk in and donate. They've always been very nice. If there's another place you can donate- try it. Don't let this one mean nurse spoil your attempt at overcoming your fear. You can do it, and there are surely people out there who will NOT treat you like an idiot.
I'm sorry for your rough year- I hope 2008 is a heck of a lot better for you. :(
When my mid-son was about 19, I talked him into going with me to give blood. I ended up not being able to do it, because of my low iron. But he did. He was a little offended by the questions about sexual history or whatever else they ask these days (last time I gave blood they were still asking if I'd been to Haiti lately--I don't know if they still ask that anymore). So, if you don't see things from the perspective of the person who is receiving the blood, it can feel pretty invasive. That person has enough problems with needing the blood in the first place without worrying about it being tainted. That's the perspective to have.
Too bad the nurse wasn't more polite about it all, though. Please try again!
Karen
I completely agree with the need to ask invasive and detailed questions about a person's sexual history, medical history, where they've been, etc. (my personal favorite on the form was the one asking if I had come in contact with monkeys). And I'm totally ok with them checking my arms for track marks. It needs to be done. Absolutely. I can't imagine how horrifying it would be to need blood and receive tainted blood.
That being said, I wasn't totally sure at the time if I over-reacted at the nurse's attitude because of a combination of nerves and excitement making me easily emotional. But I talked to my mother afterward and apparently she had the same nurse. Her reaction was "What a witch," and she's given blood tons of times. Apparently she was gruff in general and really rude about her sciatica pain. One other poor woman had the needle inserted wrong and kept complaining about how painful it was when it was in. So maybe it was a blessing in disguise I was rejected. :cool: It's funny though, a couple hours after I got home my little eczema patch was gone. :rolleyes: Go figure.
Sadly the place was really empty. A lot of nurses sitting around. They normally get 60+ and this year I was number 23 with only an hour to go in the drive. Maybe it because of the holidays.
Anyway, I'll be back there as soon as I can. I'm too stubborn to let that woman stop me. :p
You go girl!! That's the attitude :D :D
When I was in college 3 of my siblings and I would go out and give blood over the holidays. One of us would bring a funny children's book to read aloud while we were waiting and donating. Needless to say, they liked us - half a gallon of Good Jones Blood of various types!