Giving Blood for First Time?

[2012-1822]

****Update****
Giving blood is way harder than I thought. Okay, I haven't given yet. But it turns out we don't have a donation center here. There are two about an hour away, given this is my first time I'd rather be close to home. Anyway, so they said find a blood drive, I did for Sunday, no appointments available. Crap. So I found one for next Thursday and have a 3:00 appointment. And they checked on my meds that I'm on and there doesn't seem to be a problem there. So maybe we'll be good to go next week.
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I had heard on the news of the shortage of blood supplies up north because of the storms. I've never given blood in my life. I have a problem with needles and a tendency to pass out(I know, I'm a wuss).

I got the word tonight that my cousin is having major complications with her pregnancy. She will need blood. I cannot physically get somewhere to donate until Friday(because of storms), but Friday I'm headed down to let them stick me. I know they won't do this, but I'm going to instruct them, should I pass out, to go ahead a run a line off the other arm while they're at it, I'm a big guy, I've got a lot to give.

Seriously though, I guess I'm asking yall to maybe consider going to donate blood as well. I'm sure that a lot of forum members do so anyway. Do what you can.

[11BEE]

First, I am very sorry about your cousin. I will keep her in my prayers.

Second, congratulations on joining the giving community. I have been giving regularly for 40 years now and usually do the double red cell donation. They pump blood out, run it in a centrifuge to separate the red cells and then pump it back in. I have rare blood that is pretty universal so they love the double red.

Based on my experience, you will probably not even know you have been stuck. These people know what they are doing. Make sure you don't take any aspirin or blood thinners on thursday or friday.

Good Luck.

[kalimus]

If you're converned about the needles, just don't look. There isn't very much pain involved, so from that end you should be fine.

I've never had an issue giving blood except for one time. When the needle went in and the bag got connected, the nurse (or whomever) walked away. She came back about 5 minutes later to see very little blood had gone into the bag. She adjusted the needle and told me to squeeze harder on the bag. It happened all at once, and I dumped my pint of blood in like 30 seconds. Then the conversation went something like this:

Nurse: "Are you ok?"
Me: "Yeah, why?"
Nurse: "Your face just went white, do you feel like you're going to pass out?"
Me: "No, I feel fiiiiiwwwoooooaaahhhh"

I didn't pass out completely, but it was pretty close. It was a very uncomfortable feeling. That being said, I give blood every time the blood drive comes to work, and I've been doing it for about 15 years. That has only happened once. Every other time... give blood, have juice and cookies, call it a day. I'm O neg which is universal donor. Who knows... it might be my own blood to save my ass one day. I wish more people would give. It's not like your body doesn't make more I applaud your decision to give.

[Southern Comfort]

Drink extra water night before and a couple hours prior to giving. Good hydration minimizes needle time.

[2012-1822]

Originally Posted by Southern Comfort

Drink extra water night before and a couple hours prior to giving. Good hydration minimizes needle time.

Yeah I kind of learned this one last time I was at the cardiologist. I had been in the habit of not drinking or eating anything before going to the doctor from an experience years ago where my doc was going to run blood test but didn't tell me not to eat, so I had to reschedule and it was a hassle.

So last time I was at the cardiologist, I hadn't had any fluids that morning and they were trying to do an IV to put some dye in. I'm not small, in fact I outweighed the nursed by about 3 times. Being dehydrated, and being that it was cold, she could not find a vein. On the fourth try I apparently lost my color and looked like I was about to come over on her, she was screaming down the hall for someone to come help catch me.

It was okay, but it almost looked like this: skip to the 57 second mark

[Scalded Dog]

I was in the military, and there was a blood drive on post one day. I've donated before, and will do it again... but I don't like needles.

There was a long row of tables: Nurses on one side, donors on the other. I put my arm out, but looked away... I do NOT like seeing the needle in my arm. I waited.

However, soon I heard somebody hollering. "Owwww, owww oWWWW, OOOOWWWWW!!!!"... whining like a little girl.

I smugly thought to myself, "Well, at least there's SOMEBODY else in here who's a bigger pansy than me!"

The hollering continued, until some NCO whacked me over the head. "What the hell are you doing, private?!?"

I then determined that the person screaming and hollering was the nurse who was drawing my blood... I was squeezing her hand, and so intensely (due to my dislike of needles!) that it was crushing her hand, causing her a lot of pain.

[2012-1822]

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[WildcatSS]

I'm a fellow 0 neg. Drink lots of water, avoid delicious (and any) alcohol, eat iron rich foods like spinach. For a regular donation I'm done in about 5 minutes. Did a double red last time, that takes about a half hour. But free cookies and OJ at the end. Never had a problem. Just don't look at the needle. Although the worst part is the finger prick. I hate that more than the needle.

[scott's45]

I'm a O positive, and give every time they come to my work (every few months). definitely stay hydrated beforehand, that makes it go much smoother and with less complications. keep your alcohol intake low before, but after???? that's the best part, drink up! LOL

[pincoin]

Its easy, I've been doing it since 1982, just look the other way when the needle is put in.

[2012-1822]

As much as I appreciate the "Don't look at the needle" support, let me say this. I went in for a little something on my back one time and the nurse was going to put in an IV in my wrist. I said I need you to get this on one try or I'll pass out. She said ok, screwed it up and then was going to try again until I lost all of my color and they had to lean me back and put me on oxygen.

She said "Oh, you weren't kidding." She learns quick. Anyway, so it's not just a matter of not looking at the needle or the pain(pain I can take). But I'll man up and tell them up front I need their good needle person.

[mikeyg36]

If I have blood drawn from my arm I pass out every time. I had them take it from the back of my hand once and I didn't even get light headed. So maybe try that if your worried about passing out. Whatever you do don't look.