first time blood donation
July 26, 2024 9:27 PM Subscribe
I want to give blood, and dislike needles. Metafilter has been great in the past about walking me through things I am anxious about.
I'd like to donate blood. I typically don't do well with needles/syringes. I have never fainted, but have felt lightheaded having blood drawn at the doctor in the past. In the past few years though I've had a hospital stay, IVs, surgery, a lot of blood tests, and of course several Covid vaccinations, so I feel like my fear has receded somewhat. I think part of what has freaked me out in the past with prior blood draws is being able to actually see my blood pumping out of me - most of my more recent medical blood draws have been extremely quick and didn't require leaving the needle in for extended periods.
To alleviate my anxiety, can you tell me what your personal experience has been so I can know roughly what to expect? (I'd be going to a Bloodworks Northwest in the Puget Sound region of WA.) How long should I plan to be there? For just a regular whole blood donation, how long should I expect the needle to actually be in my arm? Can I read my kindle or listen to a podcast to distract myself? Am I going to feel like crap for the rest of the day afterward?
Also, I'm not anemic, but my iron levels are usually on the low side of normal. I know you can be disqualified if your iron is too low - is it worth taking iron supplements for a week or something first? I read through the list of qualifications and don't see anything else that would be an issue.
I really appreciate everyone's kindness here. Thanks!
I'd like to donate blood. I typically don't do well with needles/syringes. I have never fainted, but have felt lightheaded having blood drawn at the doctor in the past. In the past few years though I've had a hospital stay, IVs, surgery, a lot of blood tests, and of course several Covid vaccinations, so I feel like my fear has receded somewhat. I think part of what has freaked me out in the past with prior blood draws is being able to actually see my blood pumping out of me - most of my more recent medical blood draws have been extremely quick and didn't require leaving the needle in for extended periods.
To alleviate my anxiety, can you tell me what your personal experience has been so I can know roughly what to expect? (I'd be going to a Bloodworks Northwest in the Puget Sound region of WA.) How long should I plan to be there? For just a regular whole blood donation, how long should I expect the needle to actually be in my arm? Can I read my kindle or listen to a podcast to distract myself? Am I going to feel like crap for the rest of the day afterward?
Also, I'm not anemic, but my iron levels are usually on the low side of normal. I know you can be disqualified if your iron is too low - is it worth taking iron supplements for a week or something first? I read through the list of qualifications and don't see anything else that would be an issue.
I really appreciate everyone's kindness here. Thanks!
For a regular donation of whole blood, you could be done -- at least with the needle part -- in about 10-15 minutes, depending on how quickly you fill the bag. If the collection places in Washington are anything like the ones in NY, you'll first have to answer a series of questions first, to prove you have led a boring life:
No recent tattoos or piercings
No recent trips overseas
No recent diseases of certain types
Here in NY they only recently stopped asking about being a man who has had sex with a man, ever.
Then they will take your temperature, your blood pressure (don't donate if these are too high), and a small pinprick to determine your iron and platelet counts (don't donate if these are too low).
For the actual needle stick, well... I give platelets a lot and I still don't like seeing the needle go in, so feel free to look away at that moment. I usually feel a moment of giddiness and a bit chilly, which passes after a minute. Then you lie back and try VERY HARD not to move the arm that the needle is in. Also don't fall asleep in the chair no matter how comfy it is or the nurse-techs will think you passed out. Once its done there's some business you can watch or look away from: the needle will come out, you press a gauze into the spot, the techs have an intricate process to move all the blood out of the tubing and into a bag (with a few side vials for testing).
After that they bandage my arm and tell me not to drink or smoke for at least 12 hours, then have you sit with some juice and cookies for another 15 minutes to make sure you still don't pass out. Depending on your blood type and/or platelet count they may ask you to come back for a longer session with the apheresis machine, which can separate your plasma, red blood cells and platelets into separate bags. (They're going to do this anyway with your whole blood, it simplifies the process and increases supply if you agree to have it done on site.) That's a longer visit, 90-120 minutes. Once, maybe twice in my life I got a phone call because I was a match for someone who would be under surgery in my area very soon and they wanted a targeted donation, but that's more than you need to worry about right now.
posted by The Pluto Gangsta at 10:03 PM on July 26 [1 favorite]
No recent tattoos or piercings
No recent trips overseas
No recent diseases of certain types
Here in NY they only recently stopped asking about being a man who has had sex with a man, ever.
Then they will take your temperature, your blood pressure (don't donate if these are too high), and a small pinprick to determine your iron and platelet counts (don't donate if these are too low).
For the actual needle stick, well... I give platelets a lot and I still don't like seeing the needle go in, so feel free to look away at that moment. I usually feel a moment of giddiness and a bit chilly, which passes after a minute. Then you lie back and try VERY HARD not to move the arm that the needle is in. Also don't fall asleep in the chair no matter how comfy it is or the nurse-techs will think you passed out. Once its done there's some business you can watch or look away from: the needle will come out, you press a gauze into the spot, the techs have an intricate process to move all the blood out of the tubing and into a bag (with a few side vials for testing).
After that they bandage my arm and tell me not to drink or smoke for at least 12 hours, then have you sit with some juice and cookies for another 15 minutes to make sure you still don't pass out. Depending on your blood type and/or platelet count they may ask you to come back for a longer session with the apheresis machine, which can separate your plasma, red blood cells and platelets into separate bags. (They're going to do this anyway with your whole blood, it simplifies the process and increases supply if you agree to have it done on site.) That's a longer visit, 90-120 minutes. Once, maybe twice in my life I got a phone call because I was a match for someone who would be under surgery in my area very soon and they wanted a targeted donation, but that's more than you need to worry about right now.
posted by The Pluto Gangsta at 10:03 PM on July 26 [1 favorite]
I'm a repeat donor in central NC. My experience has been very similar to happy_cat's in terms of the timing.
One thing that has helped me (YMMV of course) is to make sure I drink 32-48 oz of water before I donate. I do that over 3-4 hours, not all at once.
Regarding iron supplements, I regularly take a multivitamin that includes iron because I don't eat a lot of meat. Without doing so, there were a couple of times that I couldn't donate due to lower iron levels.
I admire your willingness to deal with some discomfort to help others. FWIW, I've found as I have continued to donate, I'm less bothered by the needles. I hope everything goes well for you!
posted by tuesdayschild at 11:09 PM on July 26 [1 favorite]
One thing that has helped me (YMMV of course) is to make sure I drink 32-48 oz of water before I donate. I do that over 3-4 hours, not all at once.
Regarding iron supplements, I regularly take a multivitamin that includes iron because I don't eat a lot of meat. Without doing so, there were a couple of times that I couldn't donate due to lower iron levels.
I admire your willingness to deal with some discomfort to help others. FWIW, I've found as I have continued to donate, I'm less bothered by the needles. I hope everything goes well for you!
posted by tuesdayschild at 11:09 PM on July 26 [1 favorite]
Everyone else pretty much covered it. Good for you for helping!
If you are at all worried about fainting, sit in the chair after you are done and squeeze your butt and leg muscles for 5-10 minutes before sitting up all the way. It helps move the blood still in your body around. It is totally OK to sit longer than you donated-- they really want you to have a good and non-faint experience. They will bring you a snack while you're sitting there if you ask.
I used to get rejected for iron about 50% of the time (I was a vegetarian with PCOS-related anemia.) You still get to have a snack even if you can't donate :) They give you a handout about eating iron-rich foods (which include tortillas, watermelon, and spinach) and you can always try again later. For me, no longer having a period fixed it, but boosting your iron gently over a few weeks with a multivitamin or a bunch of steaks if you're into that will help most people.
posted by blnkfrnk at 11:18 PM on July 26
If you are at all worried about fainting, sit in the chair after you are done and squeeze your butt and leg muscles for 5-10 minutes before sitting up all the way. It helps move the blood still in your body around. It is totally OK to sit longer than you donated-- they really want you to have a good and non-faint experience. They will bring you a snack while you're sitting there if you ask.
I used to get rejected for iron about 50% of the time (I was a vegetarian with PCOS-related anemia.) You still get to have a snack even if you can't donate :) They give you a handout about eating iron-rich foods (which include tortillas, watermelon, and spinach) and you can always try again later. For me, no longer having a period fixed it, but boosting your iron gently over a few weeks with a multivitamin or a bunch of steaks if you're into that will help most people.
posted by blnkfrnk at 11:18 PM on July 26
I hear you on the disliking blood/needles part and I'm here to tell you that yes, you can be a donor!
(I'll skip my detailed description of the process, since I'm on a different continent so it won't match as closely as previous posters'.)
First of all, if you're worried about fainting: consider that the blood bank is possibly the best place to faint. You're lying down already, in a comfortable chair, are surrounded by medical professionals and they're on the lookout for signs of you fainting. The plan, of course, is for you not to faint, but it really wouldn't be a big deal if you did. (I hope that was reassuring - it is to me.)
Now, about the blood. (This is not super pleasant to read, but I think it will help desensitize you for when you experience it.) Your first visit might only be a few vials for tests, but for the actual donation, there will be ten to fifteen minutes of there being a needle in your arm (which feels slightly itchy) and blood traveling down a tube into a bag. When I look at that, a part of me freaks out, because there's blood going out of my body and blood should stay inside, thank-you-very-much. I quiet that part of me by looking around me at the hospital-like environment: art on the walls, equipment around me, people in white lab coats just doing their thing and not worried at all... This reassures me that everything is under control.
All-in-all, I really like donating. Everyone is very kind and I feel like I'm doing something for humanity. (Also, cookies!) For the rest of the day, I mostly do my normal stuff (nothing strenous, though) and make sure to drink some extra water. (Juice or soda would also be fine.) Oh, and I keep the bandage on for a while so people can ask me what it's for, and maybe I'll be able to recruit a new blood donor!
For preparation: avoid long sleeves, because even if you can push them up above your elbow they'll be all bunched up and prevent you from laying that arm down comfortably. If it's cold, short sleeves plus a cardigan is a better option. Reading an actual (physical) book or magazine during the donation will be tricky, since you only really have one hand available. An e-reader can work nicely, though! Also, there may be some waiting time before they can start your donation, and of course the 'mandatory relaxation' part after where they require you to sit down for fifteen minutes just to be sure you're not going to faint. So you can definitely bring a book or something for that.
posted by demi-octopus at 1:12 AM on July 27
(I'll skip my detailed description of the process, since I'm on a different continent so it won't match as closely as previous posters'.)
First of all, if you're worried about fainting: consider that the blood bank is possibly the best place to faint. You're lying down already, in a comfortable chair, are surrounded by medical professionals and they're on the lookout for signs of you fainting. The plan, of course, is for you not to faint, but it really wouldn't be a big deal if you did. (I hope that was reassuring - it is to me.)
Now, about the blood. (This is not super pleasant to read, but I think it will help desensitize you for when you experience it.) Your first visit might only be a few vials for tests, but for the actual donation, there will be ten to fifteen minutes of there being a needle in your arm (which feels slightly itchy) and blood traveling down a tube into a bag. When I look at that, a part of me freaks out, because there's blood going out of my body and blood should stay inside, thank-you-very-much. I quiet that part of me by looking around me at the hospital-like environment: art on the walls, equipment around me, people in white lab coats just doing their thing and not worried at all... This reassures me that everything is under control.
All-in-all, I really like donating. Everyone is very kind and I feel like I'm doing something for humanity. (Also, cookies!) For the rest of the day, I mostly do my normal stuff (nothing strenous, though) and make sure to drink some extra water. (Juice or soda would also be fine.) Oh, and I keep the bandage on for a while so people can ask me what it's for, and maybe I'll be able to recruit a new blood donor!
For preparation: avoid long sleeves, because even if you can push them up above your elbow they'll be all bunched up and prevent you from laying that arm down comfortably. If it's cold, short sleeves plus a cardigan is a better option. Reading an actual (physical) book or magazine during the donation will be tricky, since you only really have one hand available. An e-reader can work nicely, though! Also, there may be some waiting time before they can start your donation, and of course the 'mandatory relaxation' part after where they require you to sit down for fifteen minutes just to be sure you're not going to faint. So you can definitely bring a book or something for that.
posted by demi-octopus at 1:12 AM on July 27
Am also elsewhere but my understanding is that this part is the same on the US: prepare to be sooo taken care of. Some people go to the salon, I give blood. Would you like a pillow? A little juice box? Are you comfy? Her, let's put s blanket on your legs. Is that TV channel ok for you? Thank you so much for doing this, you are so appreciated, wow, you have fantastic veins, etc. There's nowhere you could be safer from any harm or discomfort, it's like being a superhero.
posted by Iteki at 4:03 AM on July 27 [3 favorites]
posted by Iteki at 4:03 AM on July 27 [3 favorites]
Something that I wasn't expecting the first time I donated was that the needle they use is a tad larger than an immunisation needle.
posted by freethefeet at 5:14 AM on July 27
posted by freethefeet at 5:14 AM on July 27
I think part of what has freaked me out in the past with prior blood draws is being able to actually see my blood pumping out of me
I'm similar, and for me it's mostly about having the willpower not to look (usually easy --- the bag is hanging on the same side of the couch as the arm the needle is, and below it, so all I could see even if I tried would be the first foot or so of tubing). I am not great with even a fleeting glimpse of the actual needle inside of me and I usually ask them to cover the immediate puncture point, which is usually easily done with, like, a 2-inch square of gauze. Once when I asked they unfolded some sort of huge napkin and ended up covering my arm with, like, 2 feet of paper, but that's rare.
posted by jackbishop at 6:11 AM on July 27
I'm similar, and for me it's mostly about having the willpower not to look (usually easy --- the bag is hanging on the same side of the couch as the arm the needle is, and below it, so all I could see even if I tried would be the first foot or so of tubing). I am not great with even a fleeting glimpse of the actual needle inside of me and I usually ask them to cover the immediate puncture point, which is usually easily done with, like, a 2-inch square of gauze. Once when I asked they unfolded some sort of huge napkin and ended up covering my arm with, like, 2 feet of paper, but that's rare.
posted by jackbishop at 6:11 AM on July 27
A couple more charming things about giving blood - the Red Cross around me has machines that play the Mario-gets-a-coin sound from Nintendo games once enough blood has been collected, I feel so accomplished! Also, blood drives tend to be hosted at various small community centers, so if you want to see the inside of an Elks lodge, VFW, or church basement, you may be in luck. The phlebotomists are typically very nice and chatty and upbeat.
Yes, go ahead and take iron supplements. They’ll tell you your reading and the minimum, so you can adjust your plan for future visits.
When I give blood, they take a few tubes of blood for testing - they use a fitting in the tubing you’re already connected to, so no additional stick, but be prepared for a little more sitting there holding your arm still after the main donation is done.
Also, I’ve always had my blood pressure taken as part of screening, another reason to wear short sleeves.
posted by momus_window at 6:56 AM on July 27
Yes, go ahead and take iron supplements. They’ll tell you your reading and the minimum, so you can adjust your plan for future visits.
When I give blood, they take a few tubes of blood for testing - they use a fitting in the tubing you’re already connected to, so no additional stick, but be prepared for a little more sitting there holding your arm still after the main donation is done.
Also, I’ve always had my blood pressure taken as part of screening, another reason to wear short sleeves.
posted by momus_window at 6:56 AM on July 27
I tell the person who is working on me that I don't like the sight of needles, it's not them, look away and start a conversation with something easy to make small talk about. The health care provider usually snaps right into gear, starts enthusiastically talking about the topic I chose, and it distracts me totally from the physical sensations associated with accessing my veins. One topic that gets them going is how overworked and under appreciated health care professionals are. It's a great time to let them know how much you value their profession.
I have very small, difficult to access veins, and nowadays they have an ultrasound type device for finding difficult veins; that could be an option for you if you know this in advance about your body.
Kudos to you for donating even though it's not easy for you.
posted by effluvia at 7:57 AM on July 27 [2 favorites]
I have very small, difficult to access veins, and nowadays they have an ultrasound type device for finding difficult veins; that could be an option for you if you know this in advance about your body.
Kudos to you for donating even though it's not easy for you.
posted by effluvia at 7:57 AM on July 27 [2 favorites]
I give blood frequently, and do not like:
- seeing the needle inside my arm/the blood going through the tube
- having the tube next to my skin and being able to feel the warm blood.
I let the person know as they're swabbing my arm about these things, and often they'll place a paper towel over the arm once the needle is in so even if I glance over, I won't see anything. I also do what effluvia mentioned and let the person know that I have to look away from the site, so I'm not trying to be rude, that's just what I need to do. They've also taken care about not taping the tube right next to the skin. Overall, they want you to have a good experience, and are generally great about accommodating these requests.
Also, get extremely well-hydrated and you have a better chance of a faster donation time. This means not just chugging water an hour ahead of time, but rather start the day before. For iron, I highly recommend a liquid iron supplement called Floradix (very easy on the gastro system) for a day or two ahead of time and it works great. You can find it at Whole Foods. I don't eat red meat, and while I do love dark leafy greens, the supplement is easy and good for me anyway.
Lastly, there was one time in my many years of donating where I started to feel faint, and holy wow do they act FAST. I was already done donating, and they moved the chair so my head was lower than my heart, immediately had a cold cloth on my forehead and back of the neck, and got me juice in seconds.
You got this!
posted by Molasses808 at 8:55 AM on July 27
- seeing the needle inside my arm/the blood going through the tube
- having the tube next to my skin and being able to feel the warm blood.
I let the person know as they're swabbing my arm about these things, and often they'll place a paper towel over the arm once the needle is in so even if I glance over, I won't see anything. I also do what effluvia mentioned and let the person know that I have to look away from the site, so I'm not trying to be rude, that's just what I need to do. They've also taken care about not taping the tube right next to the skin. Overall, they want you to have a good experience, and are generally great about accommodating these requests.
Also, get extremely well-hydrated and you have a better chance of a faster donation time. This means not just chugging water an hour ahead of time, but rather start the day before. For iron, I highly recommend a liquid iron supplement called Floradix (very easy on the gastro system) for a day or two ahead of time and it works great. You can find it at Whole Foods. I don't eat red meat, and while I do love dark leafy greens, the supplement is easy and good for me anyway.
Lastly, there was one time in my many years of donating where I started to feel faint, and holy wow do they act FAST. I was already done donating, and they moved the chair so my head was lower than my heart, immediately had a cold cloth on my forehead and back of the neck, and got me juice in seconds.
You got this!
posted by Molasses808 at 8:55 AM on July 27
Practice relaxing your body and other techniques for preventing vasovagal syncope. The nausea, light-headedness etc comes from clenching up your core so tightly - assisted by your nervous system because you're signaling to it that the hyenas are chasing you - you literally slow your own circulation.
The steps you need to take to keep your body relaxed are actually very distracting in the moment, it keeps you pretty busy.
Reminding yourself that you're in control can be a very powerful technique. You're not being forced to endure a medical procedure, you CHOSE it. You are choosing to go through a minor procedure (and generally with the best phlebotomists you will encounter) to SAVE LIVES. You are so powerful in that moment.
Just don't look. You don't need to look.
My husband is a stress fainter and I've had to have words with his rheumatologist for doing cortisone shots and similar without having him call me to meet him there first, but he's fine with blood donations because a) it's almost completely painless, unlike cortisone shots and b) he's in control.
For a regular donation you'll spend about as much time actually donating as you spend waiting and doing the questionnaire and pre-donation tests, it's not very long. They usually have some magazines around for reading material, and they may have a TV up. The last place I went actually had individual TVs for the double-red donation bays (those take about an hour) and I assume before long all the stations will be like that at most larger donation centers (which I recommend over temporary setups and mobile units, as they're calmer and more comfortable and there's just more airspace). But yeah, bring whatever you can manipulate with one hand, I usually listen to something on my phone with one earbud in so I can hear the staff easily, or bring an ebook.
I don't know if a week of iron supplements is meaningful, I got downgraded from double-red to standard donation last time for iron levels and got the impression from the intake guy that a month or two was his usual recommendation.
Hydrate hard for at least 5 days though, it really does make the whole process even more effortless.
We go out to eat immediately after we give blood, that's the treat we get but also you're pretty hungry after. We do plan to take it a bit easy the rest of the day, and I usually get a very good nap between the anxiety of the donation and the big meal after, but I don't feel bad at all. I usually feel like the most virtuous badass on the planet, and also extremely full of curry or whatever.
posted by Lyn Never at 8:57 AM on July 27 [1 favorite]
The steps you need to take to keep your body relaxed are actually very distracting in the moment, it keeps you pretty busy.
Reminding yourself that you're in control can be a very powerful technique. You're not being forced to endure a medical procedure, you CHOSE it. You are choosing to go through a minor procedure (and generally with the best phlebotomists you will encounter) to SAVE LIVES. You are so powerful in that moment.
Just don't look. You don't need to look.
My husband is a stress fainter and I've had to have words with his rheumatologist for doing cortisone shots and similar without having him call me to meet him there first, but he's fine with blood donations because a) it's almost completely painless, unlike cortisone shots and b) he's in control.
For a regular donation you'll spend about as much time actually donating as you spend waiting and doing the questionnaire and pre-donation tests, it's not very long. They usually have some magazines around for reading material, and they may have a TV up. The last place I went actually had individual TVs for the double-red donation bays (those take about an hour) and I assume before long all the stations will be like that at most larger donation centers (which I recommend over temporary setups and mobile units, as they're calmer and more comfortable and there's just more airspace). But yeah, bring whatever you can manipulate with one hand, I usually listen to something on my phone with one earbud in so I can hear the staff easily, or bring an ebook.
I don't know if a week of iron supplements is meaningful, I got downgraded from double-red to standard donation last time for iron levels and got the impression from the intake guy that a month or two was his usual recommendation.
Hydrate hard for at least 5 days though, it really does make the whole process even more effortless.
We go out to eat immediately after we give blood, that's the treat we get but also you're pretty hungry after. We do plan to take it a bit easy the rest of the day, and I usually get a very good nap between the anxiety of the donation and the big meal after, but I don't feel bad at all. I usually feel like the most virtuous badass on the planet, and also extremely full of curry or whatever.
posted by Lyn Never at 8:57 AM on July 27 [1 favorite]
Just a note about fainting... A lot of people tend to worry about fainting due to the creepy blood extraction parts of the process, but even if you have zero stress or anxiety about donating, your circulatory system might naturally struggle with the unexpected lack of blood volume and fainting can occur because of that. I've only ever had this second kind of (near) fainting, and it's usually been after the donation process is over. That's why the snack table is there, and the workers are still watching and ready to spring into action if you start feeling poorly. Be sure to eat a meal and drink lots of water beforehand, that supposedly helps. I also have the same iron situation as you, and supplements for a week leading up to your donation aren't a bad idea. Good luck!
posted by gueneverey at 9:10 AM on July 27
posted by gueneverey at 9:10 AM on July 27
A nurse told me that it helps to drink extra water the day before as well as the day of donation. I think it helps to have a good meal sometime before donating and also some time afterwards. A friend fainted many hours after donating because they hadn't had enough nourishment. They just got too busy to sit down and eat and drink.
Best of luck! Thank you for taking the time and effort to donate blood.
posted by goodsearch at 1:01 PM on July 27
Best of luck! Thank you for taking the time and effort to donate blood.
posted by goodsearch at 1:01 PM on July 27
I've been turned away for iron before and I've refined my method a bit now. I take both an iron pill AND a b12 pill every day with my normal medication. I have found it helped my energy levels, too. I was just told that sometimes wait a week or two more than the minimum time between donations can help your iron come back. Also, make sure they test the other hand if you do end up low that day. I've had a difference of 1.5 between hands before!
Hydration should start 3 days before the donation according to one of the nurses.
I have no issues seeing my blood, but I do usually have to try to look to see it. I'd tell them you want to avoid seeing it. They have no issues with me using my phone or whatever with my other hand. I think there is a max amount of time they will let you be hooked up with needle in because sometimes I am slow and they have me do fist squeezes to make sure it doesn't slow down too much. I am usually on the higher end of the scale, guessing about 12 minutes.
posted by soelo at 2:19 PM on July 27
Hydration should start 3 days before the donation according to one of the nurses.
I have no issues seeing my blood, but I do usually have to try to look to see it. I'd tell them you want to avoid seeing it. They have no issues with me using my phone or whatever with my other hand. I think there is a max amount of time they will let you be hooked up with needle in because sometimes I am slow and they have me do fist squeezes to make sure it doesn't slow down too much. I am usually on the higher end of the scale, guessing about 12 minutes.
posted by soelo at 2:19 PM on July 27
I've donated through BloodWorks before and they were very nice and gentle. I was a little bit lightheaded when I was done -- a tiny bit -- and when I said that, the person supervising me said "juice in bed!" and had me sit back down on the recliner and drink a juice, and come on, when was the last time someone told you to get comfy and hand you a juice, it was great. But if you feel fine when you're done you can just walk on out, or at least that's what someone did while I was donating (she was a frequent donor).
You can read on your Kindle or whatever you want, but you'll have only one arm free if you don't want to be too aware of what's going on with the arm they're drawing the donation from.
I let them pick which arm to use, based on which had veins they thought looked easier to get a draw from.
I also endorse drinking lots of water the day before.
I was a bit tired the rest of the day and maybe a little tired the next day, but nothing extreme.
posted by The corpse in the library at 3:11 PM on July 27 [1 favorite]
You can read on your Kindle or whatever you want, but you'll have only one arm free if you don't want to be too aware of what's going on with the arm they're drawing the donation from.
I let them pick which arm to use, based on which had veins they thought looked easier to get a draw from.
I also endorse drinking lots of water the day before.
I was a bit tired the rest of the day and maybe a little tired the next day, but nothing extreme.
posted by The corpse in the library at 3:11 PM on July 27 [1 favorite]
High five, donor buddy!
I used to hate needles, but I overcame that by giving blood: thinking about the good I was doing got me in the door, and then I scarfed down as many snacks as I could. (It's a lot if you can repress your good manners.)
I have gotten used to the process over time: it wasn't a logical fear, and so exposure helped. Now I am generally more relaxed at the doctor's office, which is pretty great.
I donate platelets every month now, and so I know that you can do this if I came so far, too!
posted by wenestvedt at 8:16 PM on July 27
I used to hate needles, but I overcame that by giving blood: thinking about the good I was doing got me in the door, and then I scarfed down as many snacks as I could. (It's a lot if you can repress your good manners.)
I have gotten used to the process over time: it wasn't a logical fear, and so exposure helped. Now I am generally more relaxed at the doctor's office, which is pretty great.
I donate platelets every month now, and so I know that you can do this if I came so far, too!
posted by wenestvedt at 8:16 PM on July 27
Oh yeah, feel free to grab as many snacks as you want! That’s what they encouraged me to do.
posted by The corpse in the library at 9:32 PM on July 30
posted by The corpse in the library at 9:32 PM on July 30
You are not logged in, either login or create an account to post comments
I'm there for about 45-60 minutes. (I do the Quickpass questionnaire first thing in the morning at home, and that takes about 10 minutes.) At the donation center, it takes me about 10 minutes for intake and iron testing, which is done with a quick needle prick in the finger, 5-10 minutes lying in the donation bed while they are prepping for donation (gathering supplies, confirming my name and DOB, and marking where they want to insert the needle, doing the antiseptic wipe), then about 8 minutes with the needle inserted, and 10-15 minutes in the canteen.
For the part where you are donating, they give you a squeezy ball and you give it a gentle squeeze every 10 seconds. I usually mess around on my phone for this 8 minute period. You don't want to get engrossed in a book because you do need to keep squeezing every 10 seconds or so.
If you tell the person working with you that you never want to see blood and you don't want to see the needle being inserted, they can 100% accommodate that without difficulty.
I typically donate during my lunch break and I feel fine for the rest of the day. Maybe slightly tired until I eat again and have more water. I recommend drinking a lot of water that day, both before and after the donation, and eating reasonably good foods that day. I would wear a short sleeved shirt and bring a sweater or hoodie to put over you if it's chilly in there.
I'm not sure about the iron supplements question.
I hope you are able to do this. It's an amazing way to support strangers and it feels rewarding. Good luck to you.
posted by happy_cat at 10:00 PM on July 26 [1 favorite]