Donate blood
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Blood donation
A blood donation occurs when a healthy person voluntarily has blood drawn and used for transfusions or made into medications by a process called fractionation. In the developed world, most blood donors are unpaid volunteers who give blood for a community supply. In poorer countries, established supplies are limited and donors usually give blood when family or friends need a transfusion.
This description uses material from the Wikipedia article on Blood donation and is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License (view authors).
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Comments
Everything went fine, until I was finished. I got lightheaded and pale, so they made me lie down and gave me cookies and cola. Perfectly fine after a few minutes! :)
The donation itself went fine. It did hurt a little when the needle went in, but really no big deal. It took longer than expected due to perhaps not having as much water as I should have (I drank heaps all day but kind of tapered off in the last couple of hours). So I was asked to squeeze my hand and wiggle my toes a lot, and got small heatpacks for my arm and hand to encourage blood flow. At one point the woman taking my blood thought she might have to finish early, but we didn't have to - I got there in the end. It may have taken more like 15 minutes for me, instead of 5-10 for the standard half-litre.
It hurt more than I expected when the needle was taken out. But that was very brief, and then I was fine. I stuck around for a while afterwards and got a free milkshake and crackers, then went to my friend's house and ate most of a pizza. I was told to eat and drink a lot to replenish the system so I did!
It hurt more than I expected when the needle was taken out. But that was very brief, and then I was fine. I stuck around for a while afterwards and got a free milkshake and crackers, then went to my friend's house and ate most of a pizza. I was told to eat and drink a lot to replenish the system so I did!
I did it!
I’ve been preparing for a month this time, after a previous attempt was unsuccessful, so was nervous for two reasons:
1) the obvious, new experience, needle, will it hurt, will I pass out
2) really wanting to just get it done and not be rejected again
During this month and especially the last week I ate a lot of beef, lamb, chickpeas, lentils, tofu + vitamin C-rich fresh orange juice, capsicum and carrots.
During the initial check, before testing my hemoglobin, the nurse tested my heart rate, and found that it was a little too high (104) to be able to donate, but she said that’s common on a first donation and we’ll measure that again later to see if it drops. My hemoglobin turned out okay – 129. The minimum to be allowed to donate is 120 and last time I was 118. Still not super-high so it looks like I really need to work at it to be eligible, but good news for this time.
I then sat in the donating area, chatted a little to my friend who was donating plasma (and was fine), read a book and tried to control my breathing. The nurse came back and measured my pulse manually and it was still too high. I knew it would be fine but I couldn’t help being nervous! After more attempts to calm down, some water, and a brief call to my girlfriend I finally managed to get it down to 98. So finally I was allowed to do it...
I’ve been preparing for a month this time, after a previous attempt was unsuccessful, so was nervous for two reasons:
1) the obvious, new experience, needle, will it hurt, will I pass out
2) really wanting to just get it done and not be rejected again
During this month and especially the last week I ate a lot of beef, lamb, chickpeas, lentils, tofu + vitamin C-rich fresh orange juice, capsicum and carrots.
During the initial check, before testing my hemoglobin, the nurse tested my heart rate, and found that it was a little too high (104) to be able to donate, but she said that’s common on a first donation and we’ll measure that again later to see if it drops. My hemoglobin turned out okay – 129. The minimum to be allowed to donate is 120 and last time I was 118. Still not super-high so it looks like I really need to work at it to be eligible, but good news for this time.
I then sat in the donating area, chatted a little to my friend who was donating plasma (and was fine), read a book and tried to control my breathing. The nurse came back and measured my pulse manually and it was still too high. I knew it would be fine but I couldn’t help being nervous! After more attempts to calm down, some water, and a brief call to my girlfriend I finally managed to get it down to 98. So finally I was allowed to do it...
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Gave 40 ml for testing. In 2 months I can expect my first invite to donate 500 ml.
Tried to do this on 2nd April 2013 but my iron levels were too low (again). This is what happens when you have mammoth monthly monsters like me. So i'm booked in again for 31st July. I'll be taking iron supplements from now on so lets hope next time i'm more successful.
omg I can't donate, I have to wait until I'm 18! whut?
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Done on March 20th, it felt great and didn't hurt at all! :)
Signed up!
Invited for health check, if I pass, I can donate blood in a few weeks!
March 19, 2013
05 march 2013
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Thursday!
Donated on the 7th January 2012
Completed 16/01/2013
Will now commit to doing this every 12 weeks (as often as they will let you)
Giving blood :)
27/12/12 - Hated every second of it. Promised a cup of tea!!! got given lemon juice.......rubbish. Almost fell over - Note to self: have breakfast and lunch next time (maybe not drive)!!!!!!
Scheduled appointment on 12/24 as 12:15PM (Christmas Eve!)
Status 17-12-2012: Applied, waiting for further information
First time 30th Nov 2012...May have saved three lives!!!
26 March 2012
November 27, 2012 -
Forgot that I can't donate for 12 months - totally thought it was 6 & tried to donate at the hospital today. Fail.
Forgot that I can't donate for 12 months - totally thought it was 6 & tried to donate at the hospital today. Fail.
March 1, 2012 - returned from Africa. Now have to wait 12 months before donation is allowed. March 2013 it is!
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Due to health reasons I haven't been able to donate blood yet. We'll see, I might have to take this off my list :o(
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Appointment is next week!
31.10.2012
I tried but can't because of my illness :(
Since I don't have gas to go out and volunteer anywhere for the post-Sandy relief effort, I donated blood for the first time at the Flanders Fire Department in Flanders, NY on Saturday, November 3, 2012.
there was a possibility to donate blood in my uni, however, I feel very exhausted lately and I didn't dare to do it :(
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10/18/2012
Went with colleagues yesterday. I knew there was a risk my iron would be too low (as my GP warned me last year) but I’ve tried to eat more iron-rich foods since then, and especially in the week and a half since my colleague suggested it. Still too low, but only by a couple of points. They said try again next time, and I will.
10/11/12
A colleague has set up a group donation so I will be going in next week to attempt to donate. She tells me they will check my iron levels on the day to see if I’m eligible so that saves a visit to the GP. It’s been almost a year since I was deemed a bit low in iron by the GP and I have tried to be more conscious of my diet, which now includes lots more chickpeas and lentils and often more red meat and nuts. I hope I’ll be able to donate this time.
...They also rolled me away on a nice stretcher as to stop scaring the other donors. As if the cries of agony weren't enough. Luckily my trusty camerawoman Jennifer was there to capture it all.
Everything was going so well too. As soon as they removed the needle (which was by FAR the worst part) I got what can only be described as the mother of all head rushes. Juice and wet clothes for all. Also, in case anyone asks, this picture is not of my photogenic side.
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July 2012
To be honest - the very first and the last time I've done it! To lose consciousness 2 times - pretty much for my :) And the comment of nurse: "Please, never visit us any more!!!"
That is MY experience! :D
That is MY experience! :D
Tried multiple times. My body likes my blood too much.
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crepa!!!!
I do have an appointment for blood donation on friday, yaay!
I scheduled an appointment for Monday!