donate blood on a regular basis

I hope more and more people adopt it! However, it’s time to take it off my list and call it a success, even though there are many more blood donations in my future. It can’t stay on there forever!

I had planned on this goal meaning that I would drop a pint every two months and do the maximum six times a year thing… until I am no longer able to for whatever reason (location, illness, traveling, etc.) So I missed my June date, but I’m right back on the horse today. I even took a slight chance even though I hadn’t really had a full meal yet – I’d just had a bag of chips and an ensure (they are nasty, but a great to have around for long run mornings when I can’t keep food down or when I am running late for school).

I heard somebody talk about the blood drive yesterday, but I didn’t get out of class in time, so I was happy to see that it was a two-day long drive. Despite my lack of preparation (I usually eat a lot more the week before and hit red meat and spinach hard to make sure I hit the iron count), I passed all the little screening tests with flying colors! It’s good to know that my lifestyle these days is such that I can just see a blood drive and be ready for it with a 13.0 hemoglobin count and not feel dizzy or sick. I’m glad last time was just a one-time deal. The worst part of today was just that the room was extra cold so my veins were hiding away and the lady had to rough my arm up a bunch to find it.

I’m due again the week after the marathon, so it’s perfect timing too. My half marathon this weekend should be fine since I have a couple of days to recover before then and my joints were still sort of killing me from the 18-miler last week anyway. Good timing all around.

I haven’t been donating even though I was eligible again in June because I haven’t been getting enough sleep. I’ve been doing this long enough to know that my iron levels are a no go when I’m not sleeping regularly so I saved myself the pinpricks in my finger by not going at all. Plus, if I achieve my #1 goal, this will be the last year I’ll ever be able to do this through civilian channels. Hopefully after my job ends this week I’ll come up with a reasonable life schedule for the semester and be able to donate in another 2-3 weeks.

I haven’t donated in almost 2 years because 3 years ago I went to areas of Belize and Guatemala that were high malaria risk zones and I got banned for a year. The last time I tried (probably about a year ago) I was having an anemic day. I guess I got too busy because I didn’t realize how much time had passed, but I finally got to donate today!

I’m not nearly as hydrated and rested as I usually am (in general and especially for a donation day), and I paid for it, but luckily there was no fainting or anything. It took a long time to get the blood out of me, but I managed to squeeze out the whole pint.

This was the first time my fingers tingled and went numb! I guess that’s what happens when you don’t really have a full pint to spare, but I think it was well worth it. All I have to do is eat up and stay hydrated for the next week or so, and that’s a small price to pay for a live potentially saved.

Today I made an appointment at the blood centre to donate blood for the first time.

Yes I know I need to do this very badly.

I donated blood on July 4th. It was great except I seemed to get a little ill and light headed, which has never occured in the past. I was getting pretty worried, but it turned out okay. Then as the day drew on I think it caused dehydration and eventually heat exhaustion. I felt terrible. But it was all worth it to potentially save a life. I have another appointment in August so I am psyched!

I finally called the blood bank today to find out if my recent travels have disqualified me from donating. I have to wait until one year has passed since my return – that’s Christmas time this year.

As much as I love the idea of donating blood, I’m more taken by the idea of traveling more. Before Christmas of this year I’ll disqualify myself once again, I’m sure, by flying off to some other part of the world.

Sorry Blood Bank, you’ll have to wait until I get all this gypsy fever out of my … blood.

I used to donate blood quite regularly. I worked up the street from a donation center, so every eight weeks I would spend my lunch hour at the blood bank. I was turned away often enough for low iron, but for the most part I was a very regular donor.

Then I started traveling a lot and they would turn me away because of the places I’ve been. Third world country visits and regular basis blood donations are a tricky combination. It would take FOREVER to get through the screening process because the nurse would have to get the big book of regulations regardingd visits to various countries and look everything up for up to five years back. So I’ve just given up on it lately.

I just returned from three months in South America. I’d like to donate again – it’s actually been on my mind quite a bit – but I’m afraid I would waste the gas getting down there. I should call tomorrow and try to figure out if I’m still eligible.

Hey. So I keep almost passing out whenever I donate. They told me if I pass out once more then I won’t be allowed to donate anymore. So I’m thinking maybe this isn’t the goal for me. It’s too bad though. Ohe well, at least I tried.