I tried donating blood today.

When I was in college they said I was too lightweight and had small veins, so instead volunteered w/Red Cross to set up chairs, take filled bags to containers, show people to seats and to canteen. Did that for quite a while and then my at-time-boyfriend <now husband> donated blood a couple of times - first time, was fine, second time had lots of trouble like you describe, Babyblue, and ever since then he has phobia about blood draws for routine workups. When he is medically required for bloodworks they have to use butterfly with him, too. And he can't watch. I can watch them do it on me, no problem. But am sorry that you had such difficulty!
 
jillio said:
Ask them to use a 25 gauge needle with a butterfly. Sounds like she blew your vein. I have problems like that, too, but they are always able to get in and not blow the vein when they use a 25 gauge with a butterfly.
Click to expand...

Wow, this is the same type of needle they used when I was in the hospital and they needed blood samples for testing(not donating) Is this the smallest needle or just the smaller of 2 or 3 sizes? Bigger needles usually don't work on me, it keeps missing the vein and causing me pain and bruising. Ive never donated blood, scared of needles and scared ill lose too much blood or get a disease, infection or something. :shock:
 
If I could, I would give blood. But because I'v received blood after 1980, I am not allowed to donate, according to the National Blood service which sucks big time
 
deafdude1 said:
Wow, this is the same type of needle they used when I was in the hospital and they needed blood samples for testing(not donating) Is this the smallest needle or just the smaller of 2 or 3 sizes? Bigger needles usually don't work on me, it keeps missing the vein and causing me pain and bruising. Ive never donated blood, scared of needles and scared ill lose too much blood or get a disease, infection or something. :shock:
Click to expand...


You can NOT catch a disease by donating blood.
 
I remember that my friend who was petite and I went to the blood donation room at Gally and the nurse asked her how much she weighed. She replied, "105 pounds" then the nurse told her that she could not donate blood. The nurse explained that anyone who weighed at least 109 pounds, could donate blood.
 
KarissaMann05 said:
Mmm... Interesting. A few people I know who told me it is dangerous if you are a thin person and give a blood donation. For one reason - some people, who have a light weight, tend to have some dizziness and faintness. I could be easy to have a dizziness, and probably could have a black out. I don't think I want that. :cold: You may right if people don't have any gut to do that for blood donations, therefore I think they shouldn't do it.
Click to expand...

Simple, drink lot of water before you go ahead and give blood it out.
I had it twice and nothing happen to me bit little shake on my hand, I eat like pig out. :D
 
deafdude1 said:
Wow, this is the same type of needle they used when I was in the hospital and they needed blood samples for testing(not donating) Is this the smallest needle or just the smaller of 2 or 3 sizes? Bigger needles usually don't work on me, it keeps missing the vein and causing me pain and bruising. Ive never donated blood, scared of needles and scared ill lose too much blood or get a disease, infection or something. :shock:
Click to expand...

Not the smallest, just one of the smallest. It is generally used on pediatric patients, but works very well for anyone with small veins.
 
I do have to say this needle was huge!!

Perhaps I need to request that butterfly next time... :lol:

Even my Daughter was watching. She loves that type of thing since she is into all the "cool medical stuff" She can not believe the hematoma I have on my arm..

But yet... she can not wait til she turns 16 to be able to donate blood. :shock:
This is the same girl that cried and cried when she had to get her seventh grade shots.

What is wrong with that picture!!?? :hmm:
 
Babyblue said:
I do have to say this needle was huge!!

Perhaps I need to request that butterfly next time... :lol:

Even my Daughter was watching. She loves that type of thing since she is into all the "cool medical stuff" She can not believe the hematoma I have on my arm..

But yet... she can not wait til she turns 16 to be able to donate blood. :shock:
This is the same girl that cried and cried when she had to get her seventh grade shots.

What is wrong with that picture!!?? :hmm:
Click to expand...


Most places for blood donation do not have needles smaller than 18 gauge. This is because the larger gauge allows for more blood to come through so that the donation does not take an hour. Plus, if the needle is too small the high pressure over a long period of time could cause some lysis (the blood cells pretty much blow up) which would make the whole bag useless.
 
lmvashaw said:
Most places for blood donation do not have needles smaller than 18 gauge. This is because the larger gauge allows for more blood to come through so that the donation does not take an hour. Plus, if the needle is too small the high pressure over a long period of time could cause some lysis (the blood cells pretty much blow up) which would make the whole bag useless.
Click to expand...


Is that needle smaller than what they usually use? Or is that the standard size? the 18 gauge?
 
Reba said:
Yes, I had very similar experiences. Usually my arm,front and back, had huge bruises. My vein was burning the whole time, and my tears flowed. I didn't want to quit but after trying for an hour they got only half a bag of blood. They told me sorry, and threw away the bag. :(

Sometimes it's a struggle for them to even get enough blood from me for lab work. It took several nurses and doctors trying over several hours with multiple punctures. In between attempts they made me pump my hands, and walk up and down the hospital halls to stimulate my blood flow. They thumped on my arms and ankles for a "good" spot. Ugh!

They said my veins are too small.
Click to expand...

One of my friends has a similar issue. What she does is have the staff bring hot wet towels and wrap her arm in those hot wet towels for half an hour and then they are able to draw blood from her. Just a thought.
 
dogmom said:
When I was in college they said I was too lightweight and had small veins, so instead volunteered w/Red Cross to set up chairs, take filled bags to containers, show people to seats and to canteen. Did that for quite a while and then my at-time-boyfriend <now husband> donated blood a couple of times - first time, was fine, second time had lots of trouble like you describe, Babyblue, and ever since then he has phobia about blood draws for routine workups. When he is medically required for bloodworks they have to use butterfly with him, too. And he can't watch. I can watch them do it on me, no problem. But am sorry that you had such difficulty!
Click to expand...

Yeah . . . they did tell me the same thing too. I think I remember a few doctors told me that should be 110 lbs and over for anybody to donate a blood. I guess that depends on each state, maybe. Oh, well.
 
LuciaDisturbed said:
One of my friend has a similar issue. What she does is have the staff bring hot wet towels and wrap her arm in those hot wet towels for half an hour and then they are able to draw blood from her. Just a thought.
Click to expand...

Some places have also what are called "heel warmers" which are actually used for when getting blood from babies. (They stick their heels because their veins are so small) They are similar to ice packs that you crush and shake up and they get cold, only these get warm and it doesn't get your arm all wet :)
 
Babyblue said:
I do have to say this needle was huge!!

Perhaps I need to request that butterfly next time... :lol:

Even my Daughter was watching. She loves that type of thing since she is into all the "cool medical stuff" She can not believe the hematoma I have on my arm..

But yet... she can not wait til she turns 16 to be able to donate blood. :shock:
This is the same girl that cried and cried when she had to get her seventh grade shots.

What is wrong with that picture!!?? :hmm:
Click to expand...

Good to see that she has a social conscious. Mom did well teaching her that responsibility.
 
jillio said:
Good to see that she has a social conscious. Mom did well teaching her that responsibility.
Click to expand...


aww.. That is when I found out you have to be 16... She was dissapointed that she could not do so due to her age. but the T shirt I got.. I told them to give me one her size. :D


It made her feel better. She told me that on her 16 birthday she wants to donate blood. Again I was :shock:

She is such a sweet thing!! She makes me so proud!!
 
Back
Top