Giving Blood

[::Snow_White::]

I did it today for the first time.
I was scared, I was freaking out, and I was shaking.
And the worst part was when they pricked you with a straight-pin like needle to see your iron levels.
Unfortunately for me, I had to do it twice!
It has to be 12.5. My left hand was 12. (My mom never could donate because her iron was too low.)
She offered to try my right hand. (At this point, I was thinking "no, thanks" and hoping if I did, it wouldn't be high enough to go.) But I did it anyways, and it was 12.8.
Yipeeee. Now to the scary chair with a huge needle. It was a big needle, and I was sitting there with my friend. (we were helping with it anyways, so I'd seen a bunch of people, it was still scary.) And I was chugging down water like no tomorrow. I was shaking and cold, and scared.
She put all the tubes on my right arm and gave me a stress ball and marked where my vein was and everything. Then I looked away and she told me there would be a small pinch. She did it and I was still flinching and I said "Is that it?"
She laughed and said "That's it." It took about 20 minutes and I was done. My arm is still sore, and they said it's bruised but it'll be fine.
I'm very proud of myself, it wasn't bad at all. I did my good deed for the day.

Now, I didn't usually mind needles, but the faces some people were making...were enough to change my mind about things. And I didn't really freak out until I got to the chair.

Have you ever given blood?

 

[BandGeek911]

Good for you Kayla!
I just signed up for the blood drive for the red cross in march.
I'm really excited, but nervous at the same time.
Thanks for telling me your experience, it's helping me calm down a bit.

 

[PigletGurl]

i was thinking about it, cuz this year i actually could.

you have to be 16 and weigh at least 110, and this year i gained 5 pounds so i qualified... but im afriad i chickened out lmao!!

im not afraid of needles, so i dunno why i chicked out

 

[Cinderelli16]

Awe good for you!
I've always wanted to donate blood, but I don't weigh enough just yet.

 

[AmandaSparks730]

I can't. Well, besides that I'm too thin and too young, I have a blood disorder

I am, though, so grateful for those who donated blood (I actually recieved two of my mom's co-worker's blood after my surgury).

 

[♥Ariel♥]

ive never done it but the first time my DAD did he passed out cause he wasnt levated of whatever..but it was a personal problem...haha

 

[imabrat]

THANK YOU!!! so so so so so so so much!

No, I haven't given blood because I'm too young. But I've recieved blood - I've had at least 10 transfusions of 2 bags each, and platelets.
If someone hadn't donated their blood, I wouldn't be alive right now.

 

[AmandaSparks730]

THANK YOU!!! so so so so so so so much!

No, I haven't given blood because I'm too young. But I've recieved blood - I've had at least 10 transfusions of 2 bags each, and platelets.
If someone hadn't donated their blood, I wouldn't be alive right now.

My counts were super-low after my surgury, so I had to recieve some. Twice. They kept checking my blood, too. Once was at 5:30 a.m. I was like "take...the blood...and...let...me sleep. K, THANKS!"

 

[PurpleDucky]

You have to be 17 down here to donate =/
I will though because my blood can be used for everyone.

 

[::Snow_White::]

Thanks.

It was only a pint but that seemed a lot when they were taking it out of you. 0_o
Some people with higher iron levels were doing it twice, but I barely passed the once.

We have two each year, so this is the first time I could do it, and definately will do it again! (If I pass again hopefully.)
There was a lot of kids from school doing it, none of them passed out, but a few got pretty dizzy and had to lay down.
I didn't really get dizzy at all I just shook a lot from the cold and nervousness.
I got lucky too because the first try they got it in perfectly, some kids they had to dig around in and others had to do both arms to find a vein.

Anyways, yes Melissa you'll feel great about it!
And really it is kind of irritating and weird feeling but it only lasts about the hour it takes to do it and soreness afterwords but nothing too bad.

 

[gymnastgirlflips]

I've never donated blood before, seems pretty scary. I would get sooo nervous. Shots dont scare me or anything, but im not sure about giving blood. Kinda helps to know its not too bad... lol I bet I would be one of the people who almost passes out. Maybe I'll try giving some of my blood soon.

 

[Pearls]

I've donated blood before.
They missed my vein twice, then my blood clotted and they had to adjust the needle (TOTALLY NOT PAINFUL!), and basically I couldn't to even fill up m bag D: I threw up afterwards, to boot.

If I do it again, it definitely will not be through my high school. I want to do it again, because I know there are people out there who could use it, I just wish it had been such a bad expirience.

 

[Damhsa04]

I went to donate in November but my iron was too low so I had to wait two weeks.
So I did it through my high school. I was completely fine the entire time until I saw the needle sticking out of my arm and the bag of blood. I got very woozy, my heart started racing, and then I threw up. I was so embarrassed. But everyone around me said that I was a very quiet puker.

I won't be donating blood through my school again..

 

[chisnpeke]

I tried to do it at school my senior year. When they checked for the iron levels they weren't getting much and they kept doing it and I got so nervous I passed out. The last thing I remember the guy saying was "you won't be giving blood today" then I went out. I woke up on the floor because they dragged me over there.

Needless to say I haven't tried it sense.

I've had it taken for blood tests before and I pass out everytime. It's not meant for me.

 

[::Snow_White::]

Aw, I'm sorry for all your bad experiences.

The bag and the tube coming out of my arm and all that blood, I couldn't look at.
I would look over to it and be would feel a little sick, so I just kept drinking my water and watching other people and I was fine.
I just now took my band aid off, the hole is about the size of and earring piercing. Not as big as I thought.
We could be 16 as long as a parent signed a paper.

 

[imabrat]

My counts were super-low after my surgury, so I had to recieve some. Twice. They kept checking my blood, too. Once was at 5:30 a.m. I was like "take...the blood...and...let...me sleep. K, THANKS!"

Every. Single. Day. Depending on the hospital, they did their rounds anywhere from 5:30 to 6am. That's the time the lab opens so they send it down.
To top it off, I never slept. If I did fall asleep, sure thing a nurse would wake me up 20 minutes later. Soo annoying.

ETA; For anyone who can't handle the needle being in them and seeing it - don't worry. I've recently been able to handle it, and I've been getting needles anywhere from daily to tri-monthly. It's tough, but I think once you understand the logistics of having a needle inserted it's not so hard anymore.

 

[AmandaSparks730]

Every. Single. Day. Depending on the hospital, they did their rounds anywhere from 5:30 to 6am. That's the time the lab opens so they send it down.
To top it off, I never slept. If I did fall asleep, sure thing a nurse would wake me up 20 minutes later. Soo annoying.

ETA; For anyone who can't handle the needle being in them and seeing it - don't worry. I've recently been able to handle it, and I've been getting needles anywhere from daily to tri-monthly. It's tough, but I think once you understand the logistics of having a needle inserted it's not so hard anymore.

I hated that! I would sleep, then OH, time for vitals! Fine, do that, back to sleep. Oh, breakfast time! Time to eat! Go back to sleep. Guess what, we need to do physical therepy now! I always fell back asleep after that, lol.

They gave me tons of meds, so I was sleeping 12+ hours a day. I felt so bad, I fell asleep on all of my visitors, including my best friend!

 

[AmandaSparks730]

Sonya's right. I'm so used to needles by now. I've had IV's in for days, and after awhile, I didn't even feel the needle. I even forgot it was there, til I tried to move my arm!

After being poked/stabbed so many times, you get used to it. The pain goes away, too. Becomes second-nature, really. At least for me.

 

[Sparx]

I've donated blood before.
They missed my vein twice, then my blood clotted and they had to adjust the needle (TOTALLY NOT PAINFUL!), and basically I couldn't to even fill up m bag D: I threw up afterwards, to boot.

If I do it again, it definitely will not be through my high school. I want to do it again, because I know there are people out there who could use it, I just wish it had been such a bad expirience.

i had an iv once, and they kept adjusting the needle, and then it was on the back bend of my wrist (OUCH) and i couldn't move my hand without shoveing it into a bone or something. that hurts SO bad.



no, i've never given blood, but i plan to this year.

 

[Babyjustrun]

I've never given blood, but i've had blood tests done before, so I wouldn't mind it.
I plan on going sometime soon now that I'm old enough.