Donating blood in about an hour

DOSWDOSW Posts: 2,014
edited February 2008 in All Encompassing Trip
So last week I walked into my dorm and right at the entrance there was an American Red Cross blood drive table set up. Of course the moment I set foot inside they ask me if I want to donate blood... there was no escaping it. So I thought what the hell, I might as well. There have been other blood drives that I've ignored so I figured it's about time.

I scheduled it for today. And now I'm kinda nervous. I always get like that before vaccinations but I've never donated blood before, so it's a little nerve-racking.

I should put "Macho Man" by the Village People on a continuous loop to pump myself up. :D
It's a town full of losers and I'm pulling out of here to win
Post edited by Unknown User on
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Comments

  • urbanhippieurbanhippie Posts: 3,007
    Well done you :)
    Everyone who's able should do it... It takes nothing but a little of your time...
    A human being that was given to fly.

    Wembley 18/06/07

    If there was a reason, it was you.

    O2 Arena 18/09/09
  • in_hiding79in_hiding79 Posts: 4,315
    DOSW wrote:
    So last week I walked into my dorm and right at the entrance there was an American Red Cross blood drive table set up. Of course the moment I set foot inside they ask me if I want to donate blood... there was no escaping it. So I thought what the hell, I might as well. There have been other blood drives that I've ignored so I figured it's about time.

    I scheduled it for today. And now I'm kinda nervous. I always get like that before vaccinations but I've never donated blood before, so it's a little nerve-racking.

    I should put "Macho Man" by the Village People on a continuous loop to pump myself up. :D


    I gave blood last Thursday and I almost passed out....I don't know why either because I give almost every three months....:(
    And so the lion fell in love with the lamb...,"
    "What a stupid lamb."
    "What a sick, masochistic lion."
  • I gave blood last Thursday and I almost passed out....I don't know why either because I give almost every three months....:(

    I only tried it once a long time ago and I passed out. I should try it again though.
  • NY PJ1NY PJ1 Posts: 9,533
    i had blood work done b4

    hurts like hell :)
  • DOSWDOSW Posts: 2,014
    Well done you :)
    Everyone who's able should do it... It takes nothing but a little of your time...

    Yay! I'm not scared anymore!
    I gave blood last Thursday and I almost passed out....I don't know why either because I give almost every three months....:(

    Oh shit! I'm scared again! :D
    It's a town full of losers and I'm pulling out of here to win
  • Just make sure you drink juice and have a snack. Last time they wouldn't even let me donate because I didn't have enough iron in my blood.
  • DOSWDOSW Posts: 2,014
    Why did you guys pass out? Because the sight of the blood made you faint or because the loss of blood?
    It's a town full of losers and I'm pulling out of here to win
  • LONGRDLONGRD Posts: 6,036
    I gave blood last Thursday and I almost passed out....
    Yes totally, I had given blood once and I could barely drive back home. Haven't done one since..but I might again.
    PJ- 04/29/2003.06/24,25,27,28,30/2008.10/27,28,30,31/2009
    EV- 08/09,10/2008.06/08,09/2009
  • Solat13Solat13 Posts: 6,996
    Giving Blood is no big deal. All you feel is a pinch for about 2 seconds and then lie there for 20 minutes.

    Just don't watch them insert the needle and you'll be fine.

    I used to hate needles, but after donating a few times I don't even notice them. Then it turned out the fact I have a rare blood type and a high iron count and never had chicken pox that the Red Cross contacted me to be a platelet donor. It's the same as regular blood donation but it takes about an hour and a half. So now I donate platelets every 3-4 weeks.

    I just go in there, pick out a movie and watch it while hooked up to a machine once a month. I figure it's a good way to do something nice for other people and doesn't really take that much time.
    - Busted down the pretext
    - 8/28/98
    - 9/2/00
    - 4/28/03, 5/3/03, 7/3/03, 7/5/03, 7/6/03, 7/9/03, 7/11/03, 7/12/03, 7/14/03
    - 9/28/04, 9/29/04, 10/1/04, 10/2/04
    - 9/11/05, 9/12/05, 9/13/05, 9/30/05, 10/1/05, 10/3/05
    - 5/12/06, 5/13/06, 5/27/06, 5/28/06, 5/30/06, 6/1/06, 6/3/06, 6/23/06, 7/22/06, 7/23/06, 12/2/06, 12/9/06
    - 8/2/07, 8/5/07
    - 6/19/08, 6/20/08, 6/22/08, 6/24/08, 6/25/08, 6/27/08, 6/28/08, 6/30/08, 7/1/08
    - 8/23/09, 8/24/09, 9/21/09, 9/22/09, 10/27/09, 10/28/09, 10/30/09, 10/31/09
    - 5/15/10, 5/17/10, 5/18/10, 5/20/10, 5/21/10, 10/23/10, 10/24/10
    - 9/11/11, 9/12/11
    - 10/18/13, 10/21/13, 10/22/13, 11/30/13, 12/4/13
  • nuffingmannuffingman Posts: 3,014
    Well done, just a little prick and it's all over. Anybody that says it hurts or they passed out is an effeminate Jessy. :p
  • nfanelnfanel Posts: 2,558
    i've been donating a few times/year for 13 years and have never had any issues.... it's a piece of cake. :)
    like everyone said, just make sure you eat something beforehand and take it easy afterwards. doesn't hurt, it's a tiny little pinch...
    everyone who can give...should give!
  • Ms. HaikuMs. Haiku Posts: 7,265
    DOSW wrote:
    So last week I walked into my dorm and right at the entrance there was an American Red Cross blood drive table set up. Of course the moment I set foot inside they ask me if I want to donate blood... there was no escaping it. So I thought what the hell, I might as well. There have been other blood drives that I've ignored so I figured it's about time.

    I scheduled it for today. And now I'm kinda nervous. I always get like that before vaccinations but I've never donated blood before, so it's a little nerve-racking.

    I should put "Macho Man" by the Village People on a continuous loop to pump myself up. :D
    Thanks to people like you I'm alive!:D Whenever my twin gives blood she says she does it thinking of me. Because of health issues, the Red Cross won't take my blood.
    There is no such thing as leftover pizza. There is now pizza and later pizza. - anonymous
    The risk I took was calculated, but man, am I bad at math - The Mincing Mockingbird
  • LONGRDLONGRD Posts: 6,036
    DOSW wrote:
    Why did you guys pass out? Because the sight of the blood made you faint or because the loss of blood?
    Not the needles or the blood...it was the side effect of losing blood.
    PJ- 04/29/2003.06/24,25,27,28,30/2008.10/27,28,30,31/2009
    EV- 08/09,10/2008.06/08,09/2009
  • Ms. HaikuMs. Haiku Posts: 7,265
    DOSW wrote:
    Why did you guys pass out? Because the sight of the blood made you faint or because the loss of blood?
    A friend of mine passed out in high school, and it could be because he didn't have much fat on him.
    There is no such thing as leftover pizza. There is now pizza and later pizza. - anonymous
    The risk I took was calculated, but man, am I bad at math - The Mincing Mockingbird
  • AmentsChickAmentsChick Posts: 6,969
    I have horrible veins...HORRIBLE...they have to use the needles they use on kids (butterfly needle)...and even then they dig around. I have never, NEVER had blood drawn on the first poke. In fact, when I had my teeth pulled they had to put the IV IN MY FOOT. Yeah, much respect to those who donate!! :D
    This is the greatest band in the world -- Ben Harper

  • in_hiding79in_hiding79 Posts: 4,315
    DOSW wrote:
    Why did you guys pass out? Because the sight of the blood made you faint or because the loss of blood?

    They told me because of the loss of blood....blood doesn't freak me out at all. I felt light headed and the guy caught me before I hit the floor. IT scared my sister to death! I really don't know why that happened....I got in trouble for giving because I'm having surgery on March 1st....You will be all right, there is a little prick and then it's all good!! First they will prick your finger...they check your iron that way..You have to weigh at least 110 or 115 pounds.
    And so the lion fell in love with the lamb...,"
    "What a stupid lamb."
    "What a sick, masochistic lion."
  • DOSW wrote:
    Why did you guys pass out? Because the sight of the blood made you faint or because the loss of blood?

    I think it was because I hadn't eaten enough and stuff...I was in high school, I probably was just weak from not taking care of myself well enough. It doesn't happen often I don't think.
  • nfanelnfanel Posts: 2,558
    Solat13 wrote:
    Then it turned out the fact I have a rare blood type and a high iron count and never had chicken pox that the Red Cross contacted me to be a platelet donor. It's the same as regular blood donation but it takes about an hour and a half. So now I donate platelets every 3-4 weeks.
    i think they ask everyone to give platelets. :p they stalk me about that...haha.
    i give platelets, too...actually it's even better than giving blood because you can drink that same day since you get your blood back! :p:D
  • DOSWDOSW Posts: 2,014
    Ms. Haiku wrote:
    Thanks to people like you I'm alive!:D Whenever my twin gives blood she says she does it thinking of me. Because of health issues, the Red Cross won't take my blood.

    Do you know how much of the blood that's donated is actually used? Because for some reason I feel like mine will just sit in a refrigerator until it becomes too old and they throw it out. I don't know how that works.
    It's a town full of losers and I'm pulling out of here to win
  • I passed out when I gave blood in high school. Then I felt like shit all day and threw up a bunch. It wasn't the sight of the blood or anything, I was fine for a while and then all of a sudden I was just light headed, and then I was out. You're supposed to tell them if you get light headed so they can lay you down, but I didn't.

    It is supposed to be more common with teenage males to pass out, but they usually grow out of it. I don't know if i will ever try to give blood again, but it's a good thing to do.

    Edit* Oh yeah if you pass out and they pull out the needle then they have to throw out your blood. Mine was like almost done and they still had to throw it out.
    "There was a band playing in my head, and I felt like getting high"
  • DOSWDOSW Posts: 2,014
    They told me because of the loss of blood....blood doesn't freak me out at all. I felt light headed and the guy caught me before I hit the floor. IT scared my sister to death! I really don't know why that happened....I got in trouble for giving because I'm having surgery on March 1st....You will be all right, there is a little prick and then it's all good!! First they will prick your finger...they check your iron that way..You have to weigh at least 110 or 115 pounds.

    Ahh, the finger prick. I remember that's how they tested my blood when I was a little kid. Bad memories of that, but that's when I was really little so it's probably not too bad.
    It's a town full of losers and I'm pulling out of here to win
  • nfanelnfanel Posts: 2,558
    First they will prick your finger...they check your iron that way..
    i don't know why, but i find the finger prick to be worse than the actual needle...
  • Solat13Solat13 Posts: 6,996
    nfanel wrote:
    i think they ask everyone to give platelets. :p they stalk me about that...haha.
    i give platelets, too...actually it's even better than giving blood because you can drink that same day since you get your blood back! :p:D

    Shhh, that was our secret about platelet donation. I gave platelets and hit the bar Saturday night. Good times. ;)

    You may be right about contacting everyone about platelets. But the lady who first convinced me on the phone definitely gave me the whole sales pitch of having a very high platelet count and the fact that I am CMV- (no chicken pox or other viruses in that family) which is rare for people nowadays.
    - Busted down the pretext
    - 8/28/98
    - 9/2/00
    - 4/28/03, 5/3/03, 7/3/03, 7/5/03, 7/6/03, 7/9/03, 7/11/03, 7/12/03, 7/14/03
    - 9/28/04, 9/29/04, 10/1/04, 10/2/04
    - 9/11/05, 9/12/05, 9/13/05, 9/30/05, 10/1/05, 10/3/05
    - 5/12/06, 5/13/06, 5/27/06, 5/28/06, 5/30/06, 6/1/06, 6/3/06, 6/23/06, 7/22/06, 7/23/06, 12/2/06, 12/9/06
    - 8/2/07, 8/5/07
    - 6/19/08, 6/20/08, 6/22/08, 6/24/08, 6/25/08, 6/27/08, 6/28/08, 6/30/08, 7/1/08
    - 8/23/09, 8/24/09, 9/21/09, 9/22/09, 10/27/09, 10/28/09, 10/30/09, 10/31/09
    - 5/15/10, 5/17/10, 5/18/10, 5/20/10, 5/21/10, 10/23/10, 10/24/10
    - 9/11/11, 9/12/11
    - 10/18/13, 10/21/13, 10/22/13, 11/30/13, 12/4/13
  • DOSWDOSW Posts: 2,014
    nfanel wrote:
    i don't know why, but i find the finger prick to be worse than the actual needle...

    Damn it, I hate you people! :D

    God damn I'm a wuss. :D
    It's a town full of losers and I'm pulling out of here to win
  • in_hiding79in_hiding79 Posts: 4,315
    nfanel wrote:
    i don't know why, but i find the finger prick to be worse than the actual needle...


    me too....:p
    And so the lion fell in love with the lamb...,"
    "What a stupid lamb."
    "What a sick, masochistic lion."
  • I almost dropped

    I turned sheet white and felt faint but I didn't pass out

    Felt tired most of the day after that
    My drinking team has a hockey problem

    The ONLY thing better than a glass of beer is tea with Miss McGill



    A protuberance of flesh above the waistband of a tight pair of trousers
  • in_hiding79in_hiding79 Posts: 4,315
    DOSW wrote:
    Damn it, I hate you people! :D

    God damn I'm a wuss. :D

    You will be all right...I promise!!
    Let us know how you did...:)
    And so the lion fell in love with the lamb...,"
    "What a stupid lamb."
    "What a sick, masochistic lion."
  • PureandEasyPureandEasy Posts: 5,800
    Solat13 wrote:
    Giving Blood is no big deal. All you feel is a pinch for about 2 seconds and then lie there for 20 minutes.

    Just don't watch them insert the needle and you'll be fine.

    I used to hate needles, but after donating a few times I don't even notice them. Then it turned out the fact I have a rare blood type and a high iron count and never had chicken pox that the Red Cross contacted me to be a platelet donor. It's the same as regular blood donation but it takes about an hour and a half. So now I donate platelets every 3-4 weeks.

    I just go in there, pick out a movie and watch it while hooked up to a machine once a month. I figure it's a good way to do something nice for other people and doesn't really take that much time.

    My man Joe, can always depend on you.

    I work for the Red Cross and I can tell you, the blood supply in this country gets dangerously low on a regular basis. That could mean the difference between life and death for someone.

    I too am PETRIFIED of needles. But, I’ve been a blood donor for over 20 years. I just don’t look. And SOLAT is right, the pinch lasts for 2 seconds maximum, you would be shocked at how easy it is to donate.

    Please, all of you out there, consider donating today. You will feel good that you have helped save the lives of up to 3 people in little than one hour of your time.

    Thanks to the OP for posting this.

    If you’re interested, call 1-800-givelife to find a donor center near you.
  • nfanelnfanel Posts: 2,558
    Solat13 wrote:
    Shhh, that was our secret about platelet donation. I gave platelets and hit the bar Saturday night. Good times. ;)

    You may be right about contacting everyone about platelets. But the lady who first convinced me on the phone definitely gave me the whole sales pitch of having a very high platelet count and the fact that I am CMV- (no chicken pox or other viruses in that family) which is rare for people nowadays.
    oh, ok. cool. i got signed up outside of a regular blood drive. and as i said...they've been stalking me ever since!
    i've never had chicken pox either! (knock on wood...though i got the vaccine so i think i should be safe at this point!)
  • audiodaveaudiodave Posts: 1,623
    Blood freaks the hell out of me. No idea why...I had trouble reading this thread...

    I figured giving blood would help me get over it. It didn't really, but I still do it because it's a good thing to do. It doesn't hurt at all, and people are really nice about it, so just got for it. :)
    ~AKA Dave-of-the-dead~

    I don't wanna think, I wanna feel

    Dublin 23/08/06 Lisbon I 04/09/06 Lisbon II 05/09/06 Paris 11/09/06 Verona 16/09/06

    London 18/06/07 Dusseldorf 21/06/07 Copenhagen 26/06/07 Nijmegen 28/06/07
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