I almost died...or at least it felt like it..

[MineeBaby]

I about DIED today…for real…I was donating plasma, just like I normally do to get the extra 100 bucks a week...and right near the end when i was almost finished, all of a sudden I got all blacked out and nauseous and then I completely passed out..i think…and when I woke up, I couldn’t see, could barely hear (very muffled) and I was muttering stuff about wanting Arthur (he was there and said I wouldn’t stop asking for him even though he was right there) and it was HORRIBLE! I think I passed out again, though I don’t remember..and when I finally came too, I thought I was dying…could see a little more, but not very well, lots of people around me, i couldnt hear well at all, i was nausous, scared, cold, hard to breath...everyone was trying to do something different to try and fix the situation…turns out that the lady in charge of me withdrew TOO much..she miss calculated how much I was allowed to take out according to my weight—I was supposed to be 810 Ml or something and in the end when they went to weigh it, it was at 852…it was apprantly a big deal…ick..it was horrible…but im alive…hahahahahah so that’s my story for today. I started panicing and saying i didnt want to do it anymore and i wanted water and i was scared..they were SO nice to me..i knew a few of the people which was nice..and they got me some water and orange juice and i instantly felt better...i hung around for a bit, got some more water, was laughing alot and was pretty embarrassed..they thought i was just dehydrated until they realized what had happened...what a night. And now im 40 dollars richer...hahahahahha

 

[Princess Michelle]

How scary!

 

[cotye]

Yikes!!! Glad to hear you're ok... Didn't know you could get paid for donating... Up here, it's all voluntary and there's no compensation.

 

[JohnTBap]

Even after your Margarita Fiesta they let you donate????

 

[MineeBaby]

HAHAHHA! thats so funny..yeah i asked them if it was ok and they said no alcohol 10 hours before hand..which doesnt seem long, but it had been since probably sunday morning when it all filtered completely out of my system...hehehehe....yeah, what a week huh? First drink in a long time (due to lack of funds and this the plasma donation) and first time experienceing something like my fiasco today. still a bit lightheaded...athur keeps pumping me with water

 

[JohnTBap]

A little hair of the dog for ya

 

[nativetxn]

First of all, I'm sorry you got so frightened today and felt so badly after donating plasma.

Secondly...I'm sorry but...<b>$100 a week????</b> They pay you that much? I had NO idea. That's amazing

 

[aahmom1]

You took the words wrote outta my mouth Kath.

 

[MineeBaby]

well..its really 50 bucks to donate twice a week, but arthur and i make a date out of it and go together and then use it for honeymoon savings...so we count it as 100 bucks a week sorry if i was misleading, but it is nice..400 dollars a month!!

 

[Kermit]

Wow! That does sound scary. I'm glad you're okay.

 

[browneyes]

I'm glad you're ok now and can laugh about it.

LOL! Y'all have funny dates up north.

 

[dizneenut]

Wow, very scary! Glad you are OK!

 

[Blondie]

Wow! I had no idea they paid that much!

Maybe you should take a plasma vacation and skip a week or two?

Maybe this last experience (even though it was due to their error) is a little hint that you should ease up some on the blood donations? I don't know....that would make me want to quite for a while!

But do whatever you need to do!

 

[Serena]

That would be very scary! It's interesting that what seems like a small difference could do so much.
I'm glad you're alright though. Will there be any problems, or do you just need to rest or something?

Btw, how did you get started, I could use a few extra bucks right now?

 

[Kermit]

Serena, you should be able to donate plasma at most blood donation centers. You can't do it on the mobile vans or anything, but the ones that have offices with full facilities should be able to do it. My sister was going to start donating plasma at one point, but she was allergic to the anti-collaguants (sp?). It's a pretty involved procedure where they take some of your blood out, separate the plasma then put the rest back in you. That may not be a good technical explanation, but that's how I've had it explained to me. While it's illegal to pay for plain blood donations now, they have to pay for plasma because it's too involved for people to do it otherwise.

 

[newmousecateer]

Thanks Shannon! You just make me spit out my coffee

 

[MineeBaby]

Hehhehe..it is a funny date, but between school and work, we hardly see each other, so it is fun to go in and watch TV in adjacent chairs and laugh at each other for being there. To get started, all you need to do is show up and tell them you want to do it. If you look in blood banks in the index of your phone book you should be able to find your local plasma center. I have been drinking lots of orange juice and water since last night...it is funny how that small amount caused such harm. I was going along NO PROBLEM the whole time and then it hit me in an instant...so if i stopped at the time i was SUPPOSED to stop, i think i could have walked out and have been fine. Arthur took me to dairy queen afterwards--they said i needed to eat sugar...hahaha..no complaints here! Im glad i could laugh about it too..it was much different than just passing out..i was in PAIN and it was so scary... i think i will hold off for a few weeks, see how im doing--we usually go on a schedule, just like you would for any other job..but a plasma vacation sounds nice.

 

[MineeBaby]

Hehhehe..it is a funny date, but between school and work, we hardly see each other, so it is fun to go in and watch TV in adjacent chairs and laugh at each other for being there. To get started, all you need to do is show up and tell them you want to do it. If you look in blood banks in the index of your phone book you should be able to find your local plasma center. I have been drinking lots of orange juice and water since last night...it is funny how that small amount caused such harm. I was going along NO PROBLEM the whole time and then it hit me in an instant...so if i stopped at the time i was SUPPOSED to stop, i think i could have walked out and have been fine. Arthur took me to dairy queen afterwards--they said i needed to eat sugar...hahaha..no complaints here! Im glad i could laugh about it too..it was much different than just passing out..i was in PAIN and it was so scary... i think i will hold off for a few weeks, see how im doing--we usually go on a schedule, just like you would for any other job..but a plasma vacation sounds nice.

 

[MineeBaby]

ewwww...i did that post twice thing!!! hahahah....yeah, donating plasma takes about 3 hours the first time you go in because they have to check you over to make sure you are ok. Basic free check-up really. Then each time there after takes about 45 min. They check your iron and protein levels everytime, so you get stuck in the finger just like when donating blood..then you sit down in these comfy (medical) chairs that are hooked up to these machines and they put a cuff on your arm and poke ya! Donating runs in cycles. They first take a small amount of blood out, then they spin it to get the plasma out, then it is combined with anit-coagulant, and then it is put back in your arm...you cant feel a THING other than the initial needle poke...you cant hear anything or see anything..you get to watch TV!! Sometimes they play movies. You have to make a fist with your hand and pump it while the cuff on your arm is tight..this is the taking blood stage..then when the cuff looses, it is putting your blood back in to your body with the anti-coagulant....then the cycle starts over. Every person does between 8-12 cycles depending upon how much they are supposed to donate, which is determined by weight. Arthur is about 184 and he donates about 865 mL...I weigh around 150 depending upon the day hahahahahah and am supposed to give about 815-820...so what happened to me is i gave the same amount that a person weight a little over 30 lbs than me gave....just be sure to know how much you are supposed to give..ask them when you sit down how many mL you are supposed to give and they will let you know. Have fun if you go! we make around 400 bucks a month, which is REALLY nice.

 

[Serena]

Thanks for the info. I'll think about this.