I failed as a blood donor.
By MsTickle
@MsTickle (25180)
Australia
January 19, 2008 4:14pm CST
True life confession. LOL. Remember those magazines?
This has nothing to do with them.
Over the last few months there have been advertisements on telly encouraging us all to donate blood. I've done this before and think it's a noble thing to do but sometimes hard to get your a$$ into gear. The ad was saying how people who donate blood are special and I really wanted to feel special so I rang and made an appointment and when the day came I travelled 100klms, spent nearly $10 on a proper lunch with lots of fruit jiuce and found the hospital and the blood bank. I filled out the questionairre, had my finger pricked to test my haemoglobin, went through an interview and proceeded to the couch. In spite of all my efforts to be hydratedm my vein would not co-operate. I later noticed that there were 2 puncture marks in that arm...h,mmm, strange. So I moved couches and proffered my right arm and again, the person had trouble with my vein. I was asking what the problem could be and she said I was probably anxious and I laughed and said, No, that 's not it, I'm never anxious with these procedures, they don't worry me. This lady was becoming quite shaky as another attendant was looking at what she was doing. She actually shoved the needle in when she finally got the vein up and as the blood started to flow, I began to feel faint. Like the blood was draining from my head. The attendant stopped the flow when I advised them and there was less than a cupful. :(
The woman was insisting that it was my anxiety that caused this and I don't believe it was. I'll try again in 12 weeks and hope I get a different person.
I was so disappointed. To cap it off, even though I had some more juice and some biscuits and sat a while, I felt lousy for over an hour afterwards.
I wonder if my blood pressure being too high would cause that...it's the only thing I can think of.
How good a blood donor are you ?
Are you afraid to give blood? Why?
7 people like this
30 responses
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
19 Jan 08
What type of health issue has caused this may I ask?
HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB !!~
1 person likes this
@ElicBxn (63643)
• United States
19 Jan 08
Between the fibro & a low red blood count, they get reluctant to take my blood. They are also getting itchy about my blood pressure, its right on the edge of being high. But lets consider that I'm in my mid-50's and menapausal - the same time that my mother's blood pressure shot up.
2 people like this
@mummymo (23706)
•
20 Jan 08
We have so much in common Ms Tickle - I always discover something else in each new discussion! I am afraid my veins are always like that - my dr has threatened to tattoo any spot where they manage to get blood from - it would appear my veins are deeply buried and very hard to find! I used to donate blood but then I went through years of anaemia , taking medications that ruled me out and even if I get off these medications I now have developed a vitamin B12 deficiency which can only be controlled via injections! I would love to say that one day I will be able to give blood again but I have been advised otherwise!
I'd love to say well done you for at least trying , espescially when it was so difficult to do so - I wish there were more like you sweety! xxx
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (160978)
• United States
22 Jan 08
So maybe, Ms Tickle, it is the extra weight that caused the technician to have a hard time discovering your veins. Then the technician got anxious and you just caught on to thier problem. I think the time they had trouble with my veins, it was the technicians anxiety, not my problem. Maybe you were a bit too full that day and it made you queasy. You sound like you know all the right things to do.
2 people like this
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
20 Jan 08
Thank you for saying such kind things lovely lady.
I tyhink my excess weight is my problem because it has caused me to have a blood pressure that's a bit high.
When I wass tudying to be a blood collector I would always volunteer as I had excellent veins...now, they are nowhere to be seen.
2 people like this
@mtdewgurl74 (18151)
• United States
20 Jan 08
You should feel good because you tried to even if you wasn't able to give a full bag you gave what you could at the time. My grandfather was a rare type 0 so he was always donating his blood. His doctor asked him to donate on a regular basis because his type blood they always had a shortage on. Anytime you don't feel confident about someone who is working around you with needles and you don't like how they act you should totally ask for another person. This person may have been new and wasn't as good as she needed to be. I don't have good veins, I was told that when they tried to get an I.V. in my arm once they said I only had one good vein that was good enough to draw blood. I tried to donate Plasma once and they wouldn't let me because they said my blood pressure was way to high and that I had low blood sugar and that I couldn't because I had health issues like asthma and other things. My brother donates his every month. I don't even know what my blood type is, I have never asked.
2 people like this
@mtdewgurl74 (18151)
• United States
23 Jan 08
My brother is a far cry from healthy being overweight by a good 200 lbs, and as for him being young depends on how you look at it. He is 32 years of age. He probably donates every other month then maybe. It was something his girlfriend was saying. He sells his Plasma a few times a month.
2 people like this
@slickcut (8141)
• United States
20 Jan 08
It appears Ms Tickle that you have rolling veins, which is not uncommon a lot of people have rolling veins..When you go to stick the needle in the vein rolls ....my mother and grandaughter was nurses and this is quite common..The light headiness was probably caused by them poking on the veins,this can cause axiety..That is the only two things it could have been unless of course the nurse was un qualified, and she should have been experienced...I have heard many doctors holler at a nurse that pokes you more than once...I heard one doctor scream at a nurse for not being able to insert an IV needle the first stick... I felt bad for the nurse, she looked shocked but he was right..I have been with my mom several times at the hospital while my mom was working....
2 people like this
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
22 Jan 08
I don't have rolling veins. My veins are finer than they used to be. The lady was qualified, not only is she a nurse but she has trained as a phlebotomist. I just find her to be a bit rough. Also, she does this for a living. I would think that if this is was you do for a living that you know the correct procedure.
1 person likes this
@dlkuku (1935)
• United States
20 Jan 08
I gave blood for the first time a few months ago when my church sponsered a blood drive through the Red Cross. I figured I would be fine even though I just hit the weight limit of 110 pounds. I was fine during the whole procedure, and I did everything right, eating and drinking before and after.
But about an hour after I got home, I became sick and dizzy and felt like I was going to pass out, I was like that for the rest of the day.
I have since lost weight, only a couple pounds, and I know I can't give blood due to that since it affected me so badly at the weight limit.
2 people like this
@Cajunhellcat (2073)
• United States
23 Jan 08
Oh no ss but ya just don't give up like ya said try again
2 people like this
@dodoguy (1292)
• Australia
31 Mar 08
Hi MsTickle,
Your cheerfully grinning avatar presents a most amusing accompaniment to your story here. It does give a little cartoonish relief to the trauma of the tale.
I used to give blood but haven't for years now.
I think it all started to go sour when they consistently stiffed me for the bikkies and coffee after donating.
No matter what the locale, no matter who was doing the ceremonies, everyone else who donated would be enthusiastically offered munchies and a drink after the fact, but for some reason unknown to me, I was studiously ignored.
Already weak from blood loss, I had to crawl painstakingly to my car without any post-traumatic nutritional restoration.
I suspect I must have had Vampire blood or something - and they hated me for it.
Anyway, as it happens, I also have a serious aversion to being stuck with a syringe and having my blood sucked out. I had a very real, tangible sense of my essence being drawn from my body - so much so that I was simply unable to look at the blood bag before, during or after the process of disembloodulation.
So it's probably as well that they didn't seem to appreciate my charity. A contorted win-win situation, you might say, when I last went home from the Blood Bank and cried myself to sleep.
I've heard stories about homeless people giving blood for cash payments - and risking their health by going back again and again. I'd assume that those are urban myths, but it's a big world so I guess there might be strands of truth there somewhere.
One personally vested reason I can see for donating blood would be if someone wanted to get a free pathology check. I know I always got a clean bill of health, but if any problems did arise, that would be one way to find out.
I hope you have recovered from your ordeal.
With the price of fuel nowadays, and your time factored into the equation as well, that's going to be some mighty expensive blood going into cold storage there. I hope whoever gets it appreciates that fact.
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
4 Apr 08
Oh goodness me! what bad form. 
Perhaps you are a robust looking handsome chap and cause the collectors to feel all a twitter in your indomitable prescence?
I'm sad that you now hold the procedure in aversion but I can understand it. Many hate the thought of simply having a needle stuck into their vein...why do it unless absolutely necessary? I happen to be a collector myself....muhahahahaha....so I can tell you that vampire blood is highly prized. Keep this between us though will you as it is a well guarded inside secret.
One would think that the distance, time and price of fuel along with my life blood would be surety of a valued reward but all I received was apple juice. There was perhaps the paltry addition of a pkt of 2 token packaged bickies such as those passed out by airlines and in hospitals at tea time but too insignificant to be considered. A selection of rich chocolate type cookies would be preferable or even Scottish shortbread.
Perhaps you are a robust looking handsome chap and cause the collectors to feel all a twitter in your indomitable prescence?
I'm sad that you now hold the procedure in aversion but I can understand it. Many hate the thought of simply having a needle stuck into their vein...why do it unless absolutely necessary? I happen to be a collector myself....muhahahahaha....so I can tell you that vampire blood is highly prized. Keep this between us though will you as it is a well guarded inside secret.
One would think that the distance, time and price of fuel along with my life blood would be surety of a valued reward but all I received was apple juice. There was perhaps the paltry addition of a pkt of 2 token packaged bickies such as those passed out by airlines and in hospitals at tea time but too insignificant to be considered. A selection of rich chocolate type cookies would be preferable or even Scottish shortbread.1 person likes this
@scorpiobabes (7225)
• United States
27 Jun 08
I used to be very good about it (two gallons in four years), but once I was diagnosed with MS, they stopped taking it for a number of years (they wouldn't even allow me to help after 911--I was going to contaminate the blood or something???), but now they probably could (they allowed people with MS to donate again, since it's not a blood-borne disease). I think I might have a problem though...between low blood pressure (somewhere around 90 over 60) and having a poor diet (due to being broke) renders me nearly useless as a donor! 
2 people like this
@Modestah (11179)
• United States
22 Jan 08
having blood drawn does not make me anxious in the least - though if the tech does not listen to my advice it can be a bit uncomfortable.... my veins like to dance around too, and they are thin so they have to use a small canula (sp) if they do not listen to me about the size they will end up causing my vein to be vacuumed into the syringe and that pinches like the dickens.
2 people like this
@faith210 (11224)
• Philippines
23 Jan 08
Hi Ms tickle! Oh I did try to donate before but I failed to. I went to a hospital, they made me fill out forms and after that when they weigh me and got my blood pressure, they say I am not fit to donate blood. i ask them why..they say it is because I have a low blood pressure and I an underweight. Gosh I was thin that time and when I was so young I had typhoid fever which is also one of the main reason why I can't donate blood. I would love to donate however. Take care and have a nice day! :)
2 people like this
@bellaofchaos (11538)
• United States
24 Jan 08
Me I'm not a very good donor at all. Unfortunately the thought of giving blood almost sends me into a panic attack. LOL!!! My other half does it when he has the time and he's able. But me nope I'm terrified of needle I have on occassion blacked out when I was having blood taken for bllod tests so I'm absolutely positively terrified of what would happen if I were to give blood. The needles are what sends me into a tizzy. LOL!! You would think after 5 kids tht needles would be nothing but I assure you that they still upset me as much as they did when I first got pregnant. So unfortunately even though blood giving is a good cause I just can't seem to bring myself to do it. Have a nice day.
2 people like this
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
25 Jan 08
Needle phobia is something very real. I think it's quite natural to be worried and afraid at the thought of a needle shoved into your vein. It's not something that bothers me .
Many people find, however that when they face their fear and go ahead with the procedure they find it wasn't as bad as they thought.
If ever you need to give blood and worry about fainting, just ask if you can lie down for the collection to take place. It's no problem and the collector would rather you lying down than falling down. :)
1 person likes this
@sun2day (1062)
• Virgin Islands (U.S.)
27 Jun 08
I have never given blood. I suffer from low blood count. I am not afraid of needles like that.
It sounds to me like you have small viens; and maybe the nurse was a little nervous like every one else.
Were you relaxed at the time, for she seemed to have been well qualified.
But am glad you were ok in the end.
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
3 Jul 08
I'm actually a collector myself. This person is a bit rough and might be qualified but that doesn't make her good at her job. I was quite relaxed and comfortable. She tried both arms and pushed the needle through the other side of the vein in one arm. The next time I went was ok as she wasn't there. I think I will be nervous if she is there the next time I go.
@Twogen1987 (87)
• United States
22 Jun 08
I would love to give blood..but I pass out everytime There is a needle involed. I am terrified of them, and turn absolutley white when they are around!:(
2 people like this
@itsyblue (71)
• United States
20 Jan 08
I work as a phlebotomist and I don't think you have a problem it sounds to me the person drawing your blood had the problem. While it it true some people do have small veins and it is difficult to start the blood flow, sometimes impossible, the person trying to obtain your blood should of told you that you had small veins or rolling veins or whatever the problem was. They should have not told you that it was because you were anxious. If they felt you were they should have talk to you and tried to aleve your anxiety not increase it.
If I were you I would try again and explain that you had difficulty the last time, and ask for the most experienced person they have, it should not be a problem. Good Luck
2 people like this
@jjwatson28 (572)
• United States
21 Jan 08
I think it was the lady taking your blood. I would ask for someone else next time. Good luck next time. What a great gift to give.
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
21 Jan 08
I'm truly sorry you had such a bad experience while trying to donate blood, Ms Tickle. There just might be a reason you shouldn't try again. You should check with your doctor again before trying a second time. Things do change from year to year. I have never donated blood because I have had high blood pressure for a long time now, and always figured I would not be a good candidate. I have no fear when it comes to giving blood, only that who is drawing it knows what they're doing, lol.
2 people like this
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
24 Jan 08
Nurses must be certified to take blood these days. You also don't have to be a nurse to be certified. I'm a certified venipuncturist.
I had to have some blood samples taken yesterday and the nurse who did me was NOT certified and did notwear gloves?
I'm just disappointed I was unable to donate as I have no problem doing that sort of thing normally.
1 person likes this
@kayrod2 (1304)
• Australia
20 Jan 08
I must confess. i dont give blood. i often think about it, but cant bring myself to do it. Im a chicken. I have a fear of needles. Just having a blood test sends me into a panic. once its over though, i always wonder why i worry so much. but i have always been like it.
best wishes and take care
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
21 Jan 08
Hello Kay, long time no see. Guess you've been busy with your new shop. Hope it's going well.
Needle phobia is a very real issue with a lot of people and one that is often dismissed as silliness or an attention seeking act. There have been some extreme cases of needle phobia. You are not alone and your fear is normal. If you would like to, ask if you can lie down to get your specimens taken. There is a couch in every room/cubicle for this sort of thing so you needn't worry about asking. All the best to you Kay You've been missed dear.
1 person likes this
@luvstochat (6907)
• United States
20 Jan 08
I have never given blood although I have thought about it they always have the blood drive when I don't have anyone to watch my 4 year old though and I can't have her running around the place while I am hooked up to an IV.
2 people like this
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
22 Jan 08
Yes, it's not the place where you want kids. They can get into too much mischief and could disrupt the staff or donors. There were 2 older kids in the waiting room while I was filling out the registration forms and they were misbehaving terribly.The parent didn't remonstrate with them or shush them...oshe just ignored them. That cheeses me off.
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