Post by WinterWine on Jan 19, 2015 20:53:24 GMT -5
I have always been terrified of needles. But this summer when I was no longer under any travel restrictions, I decided it was finally high time I got over my fear and donate blood. I figured I'm young, and healthy, and it was only fair to do my part for those that are sick.
Well I've don't it twice now, but not with much success. I did it once this summers and felt okay afterwards, but not great. I took the bus home, and had to stand bc there were no seats. I started feeling flush while on the bus and nearly fainted, had to ask some lady to give up her seat and H picked me up from the park and ride bc I didn't feel well enough to drive.
Well I donated blood again today. I felt totally fine until the phlebotomist pulled out the needle, and then I got all hot and tingly like I was going to faint. I proceeded to lay there for 30 minutes with ice packs on me. I never actually fainted thankfully. Both times I had drank a lot of water and eaten a good lunch beforehand. I'd like to keep donating since I think it's a valuable cause, but at the same time I feel silly doing so if I keep having this reaction. Has anyone else struggled with giving blood to then later have success? I'm young and healthy, but also have a fairly thin frame( not saying that to be an AW, but wondering if that's part of my issue).
Post by krisandgrace on Jan 19, 2015 21:01:20 GMT -5
There are so many things you can do by donating your time but it sounds like donating blood isn't for you and that is okay. Find some other way of giving. I donate every 8 weeks but I have no fear and have never felt anything like what you are discribing, if I did I wouldn't donate.
I'm fine if I don't look at the arm they're drawing from and I don't let myself think about what's going on. Usually I sing songs in my head and take deep breaths through my mouth (if I breathe through my nose I smell medical stuff, which can also trigger me). If I think too much or see the needle I get faint very quickly. Don't feel silly, it happens to a lot of people.
I actually never had a problem with seeing the needle (thank goodness, because I have to get frequent lab work now!) but I did faint ~5 minutes after giving blood. I should have stayed seated longer and ate the sugary/carby snacks they provided, but I was anxious to get back to work. my boss helped break my fall, lol. I felt fine after having a snack and sitting for a bit.
I tried to donate again in college and that's actually when I found out I was anemic. no more donating blood for me. my grandma goes like clockwork still; I've always really admired her for that.
Post by MixedBerryJam on Jan 19, 2015 21:11:39 GMT -5
Have you thought about trying to donate platelets instead? It takes longer (1.5-2 hours) but they take the blood, run it through a centrifuge, and return the red cells (all this is done through one needle). www.redcrossblood.org/donating-blood/types-donations/platelets
Post by WinterWine on Jan 19, 2015 21:15:53 GMT -5
Thanks ladies. tacom I had to have blood drawn for monthly labs while I was on Accutane a few years ago- that helped with my fear of needles for sure, but Something is still off. I'm sorry to hear you fainted ( but also glad to hear I'm not the only one with issues). @kaylie I do the same thing with not looking at the needle and distracting myself.
krisandgrace You bring up a good point that there are other ways to give back. I just really wish I could do this without such a challenge. I feel like I've gotten over my fear a lot and am not too scared in the moment, but maybe it's still effecting me.
Post by WinterWine on Jan 19, 2015 21:24:50 GMT -5
Ok well maybe I should have just googled this haha. It looks like the minimum weight is 110 lbs. I weigh between 118-125 normally, am 122 now. I'm definitely still over the threshold, but maybe it's too close for me personally. Apparently blood volume is proportional to your mass, so those with less mass are impacted more. I definitely always thought the limit was 100 and I was well over. Bummed that I may have just found my reason :-(
I'm no where near 110 lbs, and I passed out the one time I donated. It was really slow filling, and they moved my arm a bit and it started filling much more quickly, and then they were dropping my chair bag and giving my OJ through a straw. That scared young college-aged me out of donating for awhile, and then I got a blood cancer. So no donating for me.
FWIW, I've also passed out during a scope at an ENT (forgot the type of scope), after whacking the funny bone in my knee, and from heart burn. But am find with needles in general (so many needles and blood draws, see also blood cancer). Go figure.
Post by delawarejen on Jan 19, 2015 22:51:18 GMT -5
I'm a big champion of blood donation - but if you're not tolerating it well (especially after trying it more than once), there's no point in pushing it. Not everyone is a good candidate. There are other ways to support the cause - making a donation, encouraging others to donate, volunteering at the canteen.
Ok well maybe I should have just googled this haha. It looks like the minimum weight is 110 lbs. I weigh between 118-125 normally, am 122 now. I'm definitely still over the threshold, but maybe it's too close for me personally. Apparently blood volume is proportional to your mass, so those with less mass are impacted more. I definitely always thought the limit was 100 and I was well over. Bummed that I may have just found my reason
I don't think it's necessarily your weight as we are similar weight but it's probably mental. I am totally fine unless I think about it and then I (internally) freak and have passed out twice. I've donated 25+ times with no issues but the very few times I got sick was the only times I started to think about it.
Just need to distract yourself (cell phone, friend, whatever) or just don't donate. Also make sure you drink something with sugar even if you're not thirsty or feel fine at the beginning and don't pump your arm too fast.
Post by UnderProtest on Jan 20, 2015 4:16:56 GMT -5
I think it's a worthy cause, but sometimes it just doesn't work out. I tried several times to donate blood with various issues (it takes FOREVER for me, I've had the vein stop giving blood, then they had to try the other arm, I feel faint, etc) to the point where the Red Cross people told me I wasn't a good candidate. They won't ever tell people not to donate blood, but what they said to me was about the closest they come. I feel bad not donating, but it just wasn't a good situation. Good luck to you in your decision!
This has happened to me before too. I am tall and fairly thin but not close to 110lb! I think from memory the nurse had screwed up the needle and it went right through my vein so I ended up with a bruise that went from my wrist up to just past my elbow. I was ok immediately afterwards but about an hour or two later I almost blacked out while I was walking. Thankfully I was still near the screening area they had set up and plonked myself on a chair before I fell over. It was quite scary but thankfully it hasn't happened since. I have been rejected a lot for low iron though lol
I would think if it's an ongoing thing you'd be better off looking for other ways to help. But it's good you've given it a shot, even with a needle fear!
Sorry to hear that this happened to you. I have no fear of needles and have never had the sensations you are describing. That being said, I think that if you aren't tolerating it well that you shouldn't feel bad at all about no longer donating blood.
The last time I tried to donate they wouldn't let me because my blood pressure was too high.
I agree with much of what others have already said. Maybe donating isn't for you and that's ok. There are other ways to help the cause if you want to help.
If you want to try again, though, there are some things that you can do to help. First, I get fainty at the thought of some medical procedures, but I'm fine with things actually happening. Because of this, I just don't think about the needle in my arm or look at it. I play on my phone the entire time I'm donating to distract myself. Second, the place where I donate won't even let you leave until you've been sitting in the "cafe" area for 15 minutes after donating, so that seems to be the amount of time that needs to pass to make sure you're fine.
Even with this, sometimes conditions align (where you are in your cycle, hemoglobin levels, what you've eaten, how you've exercised recently) that will make you fainty after donating, despite doing everything "correctly". I've been donating every 8 weeks for over a year now and I got fainty and had to lie down with a cold compress a few months ago fater donating.
I give blood all the time. Gallons and gallons. When I met DH, he told me he had tried to give blood in high school, and had a reaction similar to yours. Well, I needled him (haha) about it enough that he finally went to give blood with me. I watched him turn as white as a ghost while only filling up half a bag. We had to stay there for over an hour so he could recover. And I've never asked him to give blood again.
It's certainly a good thing to do, but there are other ways you can give back. They always need volunteers to help with the blood drives, and if you don't want to do that, just volunteer somewhere! It's so worth it!
WinterWine - thanks. It was over 10 years ago, so I'm considered "cured" by oncology (10 years for lymphomas, 5 years for most cancers). But it is a lifetime ban on donating.
I give blood all the time. Gallons and gallons. When I met DH, he told me he had tried to give blood in high school, and had a reaction similar to yours. Well, I needled him (haha) about it enough that he finally went to give blood with me. I watched him turn as white as a ghost while only filling up half a bag. We had to stay there for over an hour so he could recover. And I've never asked him to give blood again.
It's certainly a good thing to do, but there are other ways you can give back. They always need volunteers to help with the blood drives, and if you don't want to do that, just volunteer somewhere! It's so worth it!
You are my H in this story. I had always wanted to donate but never got up the courage. He semi-guilt tripped me into doing it this summer. His heart was in the right place, I think he just didn't understand how much blood draws can effect some people.
I think you ladies are right that I should find other ways to volunteer and give back. I used to volunteer all the time, but haven't the last few years as my job has become more demanding. Time to get back to it. Thank you for the support, and for everyone whose post I "liked" it was for the tips and help, not liking your horrible experiences :-)