Any blood donors here?

wafflehammer · 10-31-2009, 09:02 PM

My dad has been a MLT (medical lab technician) for all of my life and just recently(last few years) had the job of working in the blood bank at a hospital (he prepares the blood for the doctors to give to people) and on top of that my girlfriend's grandfather passed away recently due to having two kinds of cancer. One being bone marrow cancer so he had to receive blood at least once a week. These two things have really made me aware of the need for these type of things....

I just signed up to give blood for the 3rd time. And if I get to do the "doubles" thing again it'll bring my total to 5 units. So are there any givers here at tech-forums? I'm sure someone out there has done it before or at least thought about it

And just to share a story: The last time I was giving it was my first time doing the doubles process where they take 2 units out but only take the red cells and put the platelets back. Well the machine they use basically pumps the blood out of your body. This machine didn't like my veins very well (sadly everyone finds it hard to find my veins..my dad even has trouble with it lol). So a bit into it the machine starts beeping loudly....which results in like 2-3 nurses running over ( I thought I was gonna die). Turns out they just had it set to high for my veins and it was causing them to collapse(which isn't to big of a deal..just kinda like a vacuum being formed) lol...

Just thought this would be something to discuss on here and hopefully it isn't breaking any rules by talking about it (it's medical stuff..but isn't asking for medical advice so I don't see any rules it would break)

35g700 · 10-31-2009, 09:10 PM

I've thought about it but I never have given it. I think when they have the blood drive at my high school this year I'll do it. Last year I wasn't old enough and this year I'm eligible to give blood and I'll probably do it unless I'm unable.

Yamikotai · 10-31-2009, 10:04 PM

I gave blood several times when my mother was in hospital earlier this year (since I happened to be there and needed something to do until visiting hours), but that's about it I think.

Trotter · 11-01-2009, 12:44 AM

I've given a few times. My veins roll, so unless the person is really good they end up butchering the inside of my elbow.

My dad was a life-long giver. He had a plaque for giving over 12 gallons.

Mak213 · 11-01-2009, 08:02 AM

Sadly i cant give. I was diagnosed with High Blood Pressure back before i turned 18 and still have it to this day. As such i am not eligible to donate. I would have given no problem. But HBP has prevented me...

wafflehammer · 11-01-2009, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trotter

I've given a few times. My veins roll, so unless the person is really good they end up butchering the inside of my elbow.

My dad was a life-long giver. He had a plaque for giving over 12 gallons.

yea that's what happened when my dad tried to draw blood for some lab work. He stuck it in...hit the vein..and it rolled over :| so he kept moving the needle around inside of me and kept resticking me till he gave up lol. Needless to say i ended up with a nice bruise :|

that sucks mak :\ are you on anything to help it?

Muffin Man · 11-01-2009, 09:26 AM

ive given blood once. im not afraid of needles or anything like that, but i thought they were gonna use the same size needle that they use when i go for a check-up and they withdraw some of my blood. nope, this lady pulls out this long *** fat needle and sticks it in my arm. it wasent to worst feeling, by it was kinda uncomfortable >.<

Mak213 · 11-01-2009, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wafflehammer

y
that sucks mak :\ are you on anything to help it?

Naw. Long story to that. But basically it comes down to the fact that i have personally seen that they dont always work.

wafflehammer · 11-01-2009, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Muffin Man

ive given blood once. im not afraid of needles or anything like that, but i thought they were gonna use the same size needle that they use when i go for a check-up and they withdraw some of my blood. nope, this lady pulls out this long *** fat needle and sticks it in my arm. it wasent to worst feeling, by it was kinda uncomfortable >.<

it's a 16 gauge needle..they use to use 14 lol ( goes by same size as earrings).

It is a weird feeling though, isn't it? Sitting there waiting while there is something buried into your skin :\ it's odd lol.

What's even more weird is when you do doubles. When they pump the platelets back into you it's in a bag that has a little bit of saline so it won't clot or something like that. Well anyway....when it goes into you it's room temp basically(going from 98.6 F body temp to like 70ish F room temp...). Probably the weirdest feeling I've ever had...it makes you so cold n tingly...

EDIT: and to Mak, my aunt has to take blood pressure meds..I don't think they work all that well either :\

Muffin Man · 11-01-2009, 11:53 AM

oh, well i dont know anything about their sizes lol, i just remember that the needle was big.

and yes, it did feel weird. they had all the people there sitting in what appeared to be some makeshift plastic beach chairs, so i might have been a little worried. like what if it just decides to fall apart while this metal rod is lodged in my arm... if my cousin wouldnt have asked me to, i wouldnt have done it, but w/e its no big deal.

i dont know what doubles is, but that does sound like it feels weird too.

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