Blood is what makes you other than dead...

[oyceter]

Woe. Am missing wushu again. Well, technically I went last week, but now this means I have two sessions to make up! Maybe will go on Saturday.

I totally forgot that you aren't supposed to do strenuous activity or whatnot after giving blood. I mean, I was going to go anyway, except several people stopped and told me I probably shouldn't.

I'm continuously scared of giving blood, especially when I keep getting pricked on the finger and told my iron count is too low. I don't know why... it really doesn't hurt that much, it's just the thought of a giant freaking needle stuck in my arm.

Ok, ew, I just squicked myself out again.

But! I am at the point where I can watch the blood going into the baggie. The first time I gave blood, I looked over out of curiousity and nearly keeled over. This time, I noticed that the tubes going to the bag were warm. Obviously, it makes total sense for it to be warm, but it was still surprising.

I never really understood those people in books who would faint away at the sight of blood until then. I generally think I don't mind the sight of blood, but the thought that it's mine and that it's outside my body sort of freaks me out.

Comments

[kate_nepveu]

I don't look. I figure I probably don't have issues with it, but why risk finding out?

I like giving plasma or platelets, because they'll put back about 70% of the volume you've lost as saline, and the one time I almost passed out, it was because of insufficient volume in my blood vessels. Of course it takes longer, and with platelets you have both arms tied down, but it's much easier to deal with.

That reminds me, I need to reschedule platelet donation *again* because I didn't realize the Sunday I scheduled for was Mother's Day.

[oyceter]

Ooo, ok, the thought of two needles bugs me.

[telophase.livejournal.com]

The warmth is the freakiest part for me, but otherwise I can survive. tTHe first time I gave blood, it started bleeding again when I was down in the canteen area eating cookies. Everyone else freaked out, but I was just "Oh dear. Give me some of those napkins, would ya?" And that was where I learned from a helpful nurse that saline solution takes blood out of clothing. :D

And I had this really awesome bruise for weeks afterward and I could squick people by showing them. I grossed out one friend so much that she had to put her lunch down half-eaten and refused to finish it.*

But I haven't given blood since I was in college - the last time I did it, someone passed out in the middle of giving - because I've been in the UK for over three months during a particular window of time, so they're afraid I have mad cow.

Moo.




* Blood and needles doen't bother me. But spit in front of me and it's hard to keep from throwing up. I don't understand my own reflexes.

[oyceter]

The warmth was really weird, but oddly cool. I felt rather vampire-like for a second!

The odd thing is, I don't mind the thought of knives quite as much as needles for some reason. Huh. Reflexes really are odd.

[hysteriachan.livejournal.com]

I've never successfully given blood--it takes all I have to manage to let people take samples when I need tests (which is mercifully rare). The first time, I got as far as letting them jab my finger, but then couldn't let them put the needle in my arm. I tried looking, looking away, everything I could think of, but I start twitching as soon as it gets close. The second time I tried, I couldn't even get past the finger-jab. *cries*

Yay you for doing it!

[oyceter]

ewww, I hate the finger prick! Last time I had my finger pricked twice and then got turned away anyway because my hemoglobin wasn't up to it.