This was the first time I made an appointment to go to a specific location and donate. Now I know where my local Red Cross collection center is.
Had some toast and bacon for breakfast this morning and drank a few pints of water, but it wasn’t enough to keep me from getting lightheaded at the end. However, I didn’t pass out this time (yay!) and my collection finished a lot faster than it did the second time I donated. They still had to slap the cold wet towels on me though. Next time, I’ll up the water intake several days before donating, and eat a bigger breakfast. 4 months ago
I made appointments for myself and the Man to donate blood at a location that is walking distance from our house. And then I got called to do a four-hour caroling gig during that same time, so neither of us donated :( I’ve just scheduled another appointment for a few days from now at a different location; here’s hoping it goes better this time than last time. 4 months ago
The first time I donated blood, it was a breeze. This time was a little less breezy. I was fine till they took the needle out (and holy balls did it hurt going in this time, ugh). And then I got lightheaded while sitting down, and I passed out. I feel like a twat.
Notes to self for next time:
1) Eat breakfast DIRECTLY before donating, not three hours before. (Best way to do this is to donate at 9:00a in between morning masses, rather than after 11:00a mass.)
2) Get more than four hours’ sleep.
3) Don’t watch the dude as he bags up your blood. 10 months ago
How I did it: After my first few donations, I made a commitment to going back when I had the chance, and so I kept giving. I got pretty good at it after a while: I knew the routine and I knew what to expect. I didn't get nervous anymore except to worry that my hemoglobin would be too low.
Today was my tenth donation. (It's my eleventh if you count last time when they couldn't fill the tubes, but I'm not counting that.) I can feel good about helping other people with such a simple way of giving. Read how I did it… 19 months ago
14 cheers . 3 comments . Comment
My tenth blood donation started well. My hemoglobin was perfect. Everything went smoothly. And then the needle went into my arm and it all fell apart.
I had scar tissue that got in the way, a hematoma from blood leaking around the needle, a skin plug obstructing the needle, and a flow of blood that stopped whenever they tried to tape it. Clotting started when the blood had almost filled the bag and they couldn’t fill up the required two tubes. They had the blood; they just couldn’t do anything with it.
I still have to wait another eight weeks before I can try again. I’m not sure what to do about this goal, though. Does it count for a donation because I went through the process? Or does it not count because they can’t use the blood? I’m not sure yet. 21 months ago
Tomorrow I am going to a blood drive. If my hemoglobin is high enough, this will be my tenth donation. I hope that it will turn out okay. I’ll see tomorrow morning. Now all I have to do is plan how I’ll get there and home. Campus buses don’t run until the fall term starts. 21 months ago
I have another blood drive tentatively on my schedule for 17 August. That’s the first one coming up after my August first can-donate-again date. I’m looking forward to this. I’ll probably make something iron-rich for dinner the night before and make sure to take my vitamin as well. 22 months ago
I had another of the usual hemoglobin issues. My first finger was 12.2, but my second finger was 13.3. Other than that, the donation went well. I had drunk enough water that it didn’t even take ten minutes. The only unfortunate part was how much walking I had to do before and after the donation; I came home exhausted.
One more. I can go back after the first of August. 23 months ago
