Blood

[coalescent]

So I just got back from giving blood. And I wouldn't ever want to put anyone off, but I found it to be one of the least pleasant things I've ever done. I hated every second of it. They stopped before taking the full amount - I didn't ask them, they just stopped because I looked uncomfortable. Or because something was up with my blood, it wasn't flowing properly. I'm not sure.

I'm not sure why I hated it so much, either. I mean, I don't have a phobia of needles, and I've given blood three or four times in the past year to various experiments, like Tom's platelet analysis. OK, so those were tiny amounts, but still, it didn't bother me at all, so I thought I'd be fine with 'proper' blood donation.

I think it comes down to the way it was run. Everything was in one big room, so whilst sitting waiting - for ninety minutes - you could see people lying on rows of couches having their blood drained. I had a copy of Asimov's with me, but it's kinda hard to concentrate on reading when nurses are walking past calling out names and numbers every two minutes, so you're listening with half an ear in case they call you up.

It probably didn't help that I had a bag of my mum's blood waved in my face by one of the male nurses just before it was my turn.

So now I feel kinda drained, because I've had half a pint or so of blood taken, and totally pathetic for not being able to go through with the whole thing, and a bit angry with myself for feeling absolutely zero desire to go and try again. And I don't even get to find out my blood group, apparently - because the amount they took is less than a transfusion's worth, it goes to research, and they don' t do blood tests.

Next time, apparently, I should ask for a local anasthetic and drink plenty of non-water fluids before I go. For some reason that I missed, drinking water isn't good enough. Probably something to do with keeping salt/sugar levels up; I wonder if lots of water plus lots of chocolate would do instead?

Phooey.

Comments

[tinyjo.livejournal.com]

I agree - I absolutely hate giving blood. Partly it's the fact that I had a bad experience early on with a junior nurse - she spent about 10 mins poking around for a vein and by the time she called someone over for help they decided I'd probably had enough (I had) and sent me home where I developed a massive painful bruise without having suceeded in donating a drop. Partly it's just the fact that it does low level hurt the whole time they're taking it and then I feel light headed and odd afterwards. I think the only reason I've managed to persevere with it a little is that it's such a long time between donations that my feeling that I ought to do it outweighs my desire not to again.

[malenfant.livejournal.com]

my feeling that I ought to do it outweighs my desire not to again.

Yeah, I'm pretty sure I'm going to end up with that attitude as well. :-/

I like giving blood

[cleanskies.livejournal.com]

Though I prefer actual blood tests to the pint donation, marginally. The colours, the sights, the pleasant sense of having your life fluid drained away. I take something to write rather than something to read, less easy to get distracted that way. I find it relaxing. I get the anaesthetic, though -- nasty without! and even with that I had a nasty bruise last time, very painful.

I've had more blood drained out of me than I routinely contain. Neal's given twice that amount, at least. It's probably not for everyone though.

Re: I like giving blood

[malenfant.livejournal.com]

the pleasant sense of having your life fluid drained away

There's just no accounting for taste, is there? :-P

...

[brassyn.livejournal.com]

i can't do it because i'm anaemic.
my sister is too, and foolishly tried to do it. the result was not pleasant. excessive bruising and blood gushing all the way down her arm, not to mention the accompanying dizzyness and fainting.

but yes, it's something i feel guilty about.

Re: ...

[malenfant.livejournal.com]

How long ago was that? Here, they tested everyone's blood first to make sure we weren't anaemic. It was a neat density column thing.

Re: ...

[despotliz.livejournal.com]

I always meant to give blood, but the 3 hour waiting time put me off. I didn't have 3 hours to spare on a Wednesday afternoon.

They had a cunning idea at my sixth form, where the blood bank actually came to the college to encourage everyone to donate - except I couldn't, as it turned out they had a number of strict conditions and one of them was that I had to be 17.

I'm determined next year I will give blood - I do work in a hospital even if it's not with patients, and it tends to remind me that it's a good idea. Plus I want to know my blood group. :)

While we're all being so public-spirited: http://www.nhsorgandonor.net/

[snowking.livejournal.com]

Fuck. I've lived in Edinburgh for three years now and meant to donate blood for the same time. The centre is about 50 metres from my current flat. You have now guilted me into going tomorrow.

[(Anonymous)]

FWIW, I generally make sure to eat properly (breakfast/lunch) before giving, and buy some chocolate to eat as I walk back. I suspect eating some about 30 minutes before would be sensible too. I did once nearly faint a few hours later but that was probably because I hadn't taken the aforementioned precautions.

Oh, and I have a local anaesthetic because that makes the difference between just initial discomfort and low-level discomfort the whole way through.

I generally find it's quite easy to ignore the people having blood taken, but obviously your mileage may vary. I've certainly seen a set-up where the only places I could sit had the beds directly in front of me.

I guess in the end it's just something that suits some people and not others. If everyone tried it once and only kept doing it if they felt comfortable with it, I'm sure there'd be loads to go around.

-- Ganesh