"May" We Tell You You ROCK?! (Remember! Both donors AND NON-donors are stars!)

[kitty-cat]

I DONATED TODAY!!!!!!!!!!

I was biking to campus this morning and passed the bus.  Long story short, I was able to donate.  And i managed to fill the bag in only 5 minutes.  Apparently the last time I tried to donate, they made too big a hole in my vein which made my body clot too fast.


And sorry if this is kinda weirdly typed- I'm typing with one hand...

[Lynnv]

I am coming out of lurker-dom to say that I donated yesterday.  They like to have me donate platelets instead of blood-which means that I am on an every two or three week cycle for my donations.  I figure that I don't have a lot of $$$ to donate to charity right now, but two or three hours (platelets take longer) every few weeks is well within my budget.   

Lynn

[DottyG]

YEA kitty-cat!!!  I'm so happy for you!

And, Lynnv, WELCOME to the forum!!!!!  What an entrance to make here!

Y'all are both getting added into the total on the 1st page!

(DottyG does the Happy Dance!)

[DottyG]

And, hot-shaker, you get added in as well.

[hot_shaker]

And, hot-shaker, you get added in as well.

I promise not to wear the free T-shirt until I've actually earned it!

[arkzak]

I just got my latest invitation! I'm donating next Thursday!

[DottyG]

I just got my latest invitation! I'm donating next Thursday!

[Nurvingiel]

I can donate in about 3 more weeks - November 16.

I am not looking forward to this, but I think if I mentally prepare myself, the pain won't be as bad. The needle really surprised me last time. The first time I donated blood, it didn't hurt at all.

[Harriet Jones]

I can't stand the finger stick, to me it hurts worse than the needle.

This last time, when I was turned down because of my blood pressure. the Red Cross employee seriously hurt me with the BP cuff -- that's the first time it's ever *hurt* to get my BP taken.

[DottyG]

I just got my reminder in my email, so I thought I'd bring this thread up for everyone else as well.

[Lynnv]

My next appointment is Nov. 6.  But-I do donate really often, as platelet donors can go in every 2 to 3 weeks rather than whatever it is for whole blood.  My husband's school is having a drive, so he is also scheduled in next week.  He donates whole blood (O+) so he doesn't go as often, but he goes just about every time he is eligible.

[kitty-cat]

Well, I just found out that I am A- blood.  And then I did some digging- A- blood types can only recieve O- or A- blood.  I shall be donating again come December

(now for the bruise to go away...)

[TotterGirl]

I can't stand the finger stick, to me it hurts worse than the needle.

This last time, when I was turned down because of my blood pressure. the Red Cross employee seriously hurt me with the BP cuff -- that's the first time it's ever *hurt* to get my BP taken.

I agree with  you about the finger stick.  Regarding your BP, if they hurt you, they are not doing it right.  If you are a larger person, ask for a large BP cuff.

[Outdoor Girl]

Deep-fried Twinkie, the next time you go in, tell them what your BP normally is.  A nurse will make assumptions based on age and weight and pump the cuff up to what she thinks your BP will be.  So if you normally have lower pressure, she will only pump it up to a bit over what your norm is, which should be easier on your arm.

I'm one of those with unusually low pressure for my age and weight.

My Mom was a home-care nurse and knew most of her patients fairly well, many of whom had higher BPs.  She got a little distracted one day with one client and just started pumping the cuff up to the normal level she used with most of her patients.  But this LOL had lower pressure and complained when it started to hurt.  Mom quickly let off pressure and apologized.

[Nurvingiel]

My blood pressure is 95/62, can you believe it? My botched donation was the second time I had donated. The first time I donated, I had no pain and filled the bag in five minutes. The last time, well, the last time something hurt that bad I was on crutches for a month.

I'm going to give another shot (heee) on November 16th and if it's bad again, I'm not going to do it anymore.

My husband enjoyed his experience donating for the first time and he said he'd keep doing it. So even if I don't donate, I will go to keep him company.