giving blood

[punit328]

on thursday i think i may donate some blood. I dont really have to, just though itd be nice to do. For those of you who have donated in the past, what is the experience like? I have never donated before and i dont know my blood type and i have two tattoos on my arm so is any of that going to be a problem? any help would be appreciated.

 

[Wimbo]

it's a piece of cake... just eat before you go & don't be dehydrated (don't drink too much booze the night before).
It is a really good idea to know your blood type, and they will test it when you donate. Memorize it in case you ever need blood fast. And make sure your family knows it as well.
The needle is really small. Just a small pinch.
If you get feint at the sight of blood, then look away.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

There is a amount of time you have to wait before you can give blood after getting a tattoo. I can't remember how long it is but don't think it is very long. Well there was one some years ago, don't know if there still is.

 

[danielofthesaints]

Most often its a 12 month waiting period. If you have a high iron content in your blood, they might ask you to donate plasma. if you do, you will experience a slight drop in your core temperature, but will only last 30 minutes or so.

 

[Hoofbite]

There is a amount of time you have to wait before you can give blood after getting a tattoo. I can't remember how long it is but don't think it is very long. Well there was one some years ago, don't know if there still is.

It's a year.

 

[Phoenix]

Wish I could give blood. Can't. Red Cross won't accept donors who were living in Europe during Chernobyl.

 

[Seven]

No problem. They'll just scrape off the tats first and then the blood thing is a cake-walk. When you're coming around again they give you juice and cookies. When they ask you how much you'd like to donate.......say 3 pints. They'll know what you're talking about. Good luck!!

 

[VietCowboy]

I tried to give blood once. They couldn't find a vein in either of my arms, and the blood they pulled was too little too slow. I might try again in the future, but I've been avoiding it b/c of that experience.

 

[Yeagermeister]

I doubt they'd take mine even if I tried....high BP and diabetes

 

[Kangaroo]

I given a lot of the years even give red blood cells if they need it that one kind of interesting and I always have to go pee after wards because they pump saline solution back in you.

I make the staff nervous because I always pop up and try to get going they want you to take it easy to make sure you do not pass out and yes I seen people pass out.

The blood flows easy if you relax if you are nervous it takes longer because you tense up. If you are nervous take your phone and surf the web or a book hell sometimes I almost fall asleep because I just get comfortable and relax

 

[Hoofbite]

I doubt they'd take mine even if I tried....high BP and diabetes

Not sure but you might be able to.

Unless you are in a hypertensive crisis (which would require you to go to the ER), I think you'd be pretty good to donate.

Not sure about diabetes but I wouldn't think that would stop it.

 

[danielofthesaints]

If you have hypertension or diabetes, the chances of donating blood are still very high. You have to make sure that you maintain a healthy lifestyle, hydrated at the time of donation, and for each respectable case, (Hypertension):healthy, maintain a satisfactory BP reading & (Diabetes): maintain a healthy glucose level at the time of donation.

Is the reason you need to pee just because you drank more fluids than you usually intake, Kangaroo? I know they really push for you to be well-hydrated for the donation.

 

[63echo]

Wish I could give blood. Can't. Red Cross won't accept donors who were living in Europe during Chernobyl.

They also won't take it if you lived in Europe during that whole mad cow thing a decade ago. I used to give every time they showed up here at work (once every quarter or so) and now I can't so I have to find my good deed elsewhere now.

As to the process, it wasn't that bad though I had a tendency to be really faint afterwards. I'm a bigger guy so I always figured losing a pint wouldn't affect me much, but it always did. The "feel good" was worth any minor discomfort, though.

 

[kristie]

i gave blood last summer. one of the best decisions i have ever made.