I tried donating blood today.

Mod note:

After a thread review, this thread looks OK, so I am going to re-open this thread, and while I do, I'd like to remind you guys to keep a clean debate.

Thanks.
 
jillio said:
Nope. I donate on my lunch hour. Takes 45 minutes start to finish.
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That is not bad at all. I rather to take a few more minutes of my time than go through this again.

I will ask them next time. I'm sure they carry smaller needles.
 
Never had any problems donating blood. One time I was turned down because at the time I was anemic. That was like 15 years ago.
 
LuciaDisturbed said:
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.
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They tried that, too. :P

I was there all afternoon while they tried different techniques.

My body just didn't want to surrender any blood!
 
I was able to give blood a couple times when I was very young, then tried without success a couple times. It got worse with time. So, I no longer try to give blood unless there is an emergency shortage. My type is A+, so it's not a rare type.

For many years, Hubby donated blood every possible opportunity. He's type O+. He had to alternate arms because it was too much for the veins of one arm only. Last year, the Red Cross wrongly diagnosed his blood sample which made him ineligible to donate. He went to his doctor immediately and got retested, and proved that the first test was wrong. But the Red Cross accepts only their own tests, right or wrong, so no more donating for him.

We still support blood donating but we cannot participate anymore. :(
 
lmvashaw said:
Wow, I didn't realize it was that big. Most patients will say "it is huge!" and it will be the size of a silver dollar :).

Random bit of information: According to an RN I work with; a hematoma the size of your fist is about 10% of your blood. I have never seen a hematoma that big on a young person though. Only really old people. Generally the wounds I see are open :P
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Seriously? (bold prints) Dang! I did not feel weak or anything... Just felt the throbbing pressure on my arm that night.

It is much better today.. the swelling is down to nil.. the coloration is still there but not as sore. Some what tender. but it does not hurt to bend my elbow like it did before.
 
Reba said:
I was able to give blood a couple times when I was very young, then tried without success a couple times. It got worse with time. So, I no longer try to give blood unless there is an emergency shortage. My type is A+, so it's not a rare type.

For many years, Hubby donated blood every possible opportunity. He's type O+. He had to alternate arms because it was too much for the veins of one arm only. Last year, the Red Cross wrongly diagnosed his blood sample which made him ineligible to donate. He went to his doctor immediately and got retested, and proved that the first test was wrong. But the Red Cross accepts only their own tests, right or wrong, so no more donating for him.

We still support blood donating but we cannot participate anymore. :(
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:) I applaud you. You have done what you could. Just like I did.

If I am unable to donate again.. I will still be an advocate to the ones that can...


I have looked up online... They feel they will have a more of a shortage than before. Due to the H1N1 Virus. Many people becoming ill.... The Scare is causing many people to get on Antibiotics.

So it will be a tough year for the blood banks...

I do encourage anyone that can do it. To do so.
 
Babyblue said:
That is not bad at all. I rather to take a few more minutes of my time than go through this again.

I will ask them next time. I'm sure they carry smaller needles.
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I know the Red Cross does. And you could always call in advance so if they don't have one, they can get one for you.
 
I'm disgusted not to be able to donate blood ! I'm only 43-46kilos (no idea on how much it is in pounds, but I'm 1,52m tall, so this is not too little, at least for me) and you need to be more than 50 kilos to donate blood. I'm disgusted !
 
Giulia said:
I'm disgusted not to be able to donate blood ! I'm only 43-46kilos (no idea on how much it is in pounds, but I'm 1,52m tall, so this is not too little, at least for me) and you need to be more than 50 kilos to donate blood. I'm disgusted !
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A body requires a specific percentage of blood in order to survive. If more than specific percentage is taken from a person, that person is at risk of having health problems. In order to make a acceptable donation, a specific amount of blood has to be taken. The lower the weight, the higher risk there is towards that person. That's why they have that limit.
 
My vein is so easy to find.... you can see it through my skin, so I never had that problem.
 
I try to make sure I donate blood every year on my birthday as my birthday gift to others, I guess that's what it is. I was also a special donor for someone in the hospital for a few years. I do think more people could donate blood, of course only those that are eligible.

I never have any problems with donating blood, although I had a first this year for my birthday donation. Here's a tip, don't eat a huge meal right before you donate blood. I had a delightfully large birthday Swiss Chalet chicken feast like about 1-1.5hrs before donation time, and after I donated I got really pale and dizzy. So I had to lie down for awhile with my legs up, which never happens to me. Then it all made sense when I thought about it. Digestion requires a lot of energy and blood, so all my blood was tied up in that process and in that area so I got light headed. Don't get me wrong, do have good meals on your donation day, but just not so close to donation time.

I'm probably like the only person who likes to try to race people to filling the bags and fastest times lol. I think Alicia can vouch for all of this lol.
 
Babyblue said:
Plenty of light weight people donate blood.

Each person is different. Donating blood, is not for the ones with a weak stomach.
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i'm pretty sure you have to weigh at least 110 pounds before you can donate blood. believe me, i've tried.. they always rejected me because i weighed too little (and i still do, argh) for blood donation. :mad2:
 
Giulia said:
I'm disgusted not to be able to donate blood ! I'm only 43-46kilos (no idea on how much it is in pounds, but I'm 1,52m tall, so this is not too little, at least for me) and you need to be more than 50 kilos to donate blood. I'm disgusted !
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You weigh 94 to 101 lbs (pounds). 50 kilos is same as 110 lbs. You are just under 5 feet. You are shorter than me by 3 inches.
 
Babyblue said:
Plenty of light weight people donate blood.

Each person is different. Donating blood, is not for the ones with a weak stomach.
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If you do not weight enough you can't give blood! My daughter tried and she was to thin , she weight under 120 lb and was not allow to give any blood after 911.
 
Babyblue said:
I went and tried donating blood today. It was a complete mess. Usually, they struggle to find a good pumper in my arm. They found one. I think they either stuck the needle in wrong, or pierced the vein all the way through. All of a sudden my arm starting burning like it was on fire. A huge hematoma has developed. They had to take the needle out. Now I have a huge painful hematoma on my arm. They told me to keep ice on and off of it tonight. And that it will be sore for a few days. The poor lady kept apologizing. I told her it is OK, and I will try again Next month. :shock:

I always end up with bruises when I donate. but Never had anything like this happen.


Any of you want to share you experiences? Can be about donating blood or about having your blood drawn.
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When I have my blood draw I ask for a butterfly needle ! The needle is thinner and does not hurt as much if you have hard veins to find! My veins are really hard to find and something I have to be poke 2 or 3 time! Crap that hurt!
If the nurse can't find your vein on the second try they have to let some one else draw your blood .
 
Reba said:
I was able to give blood a couple times when I was very young, then tried without success a couple times. It got worse with time. So, I no longer try to give blood unless there is an emergency shortage. My type is A+, so it's not a rare type.

For many years, Hubby donated blood every possible opportunity. He's type O+. He had to alternate arms because it was too much for the veins of one arm only. Last year, the Red Cross wrongly diagnosed his blood sample which made him ineligible to donate. He went to his doctor immediately and got retested, and proved that the first test was wrong. But the Red Cross accepts only their own tests, right or wrong, so no more donating for him.

We still support blood donating but we cannot participate anymore. :(
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That happen to me too my blood was wrongly diagnosed and I can't give
blood! I tried to give blood after 911 happen . I was retested by my Dr. and my blood was fine! Red Cross disagree! And I was still getting calls from Red Cross asking me to give blood when they did not use it the first time! I had to keep telling Red Cross that I can't blood according to you! Grrr!
 
Heh! I still get calls to donate. Have not rounded up enought guts to go back yet.
 
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