Trauma at the Blood Center

[sarea]

Yesterday, I received a call from someone at our local blood bank, asking people who have given blood before (or in my case, attempted to) to do so now, since it was the holiday season and we have to make sure all the drunk drivers who will be hurting themselves and others have enough blood or whatever. So since I had attempted to donate blood a couple of months back but the timing didn't work, I figured this was a sign for me to attempt it again.

The first time I ever tried to give blood was in college. My blood was too thick or something, so the flow wasn't good, and a nurse had to sit with me and massage my arm to try and get the blood flowing. And even though I had filled most of a bag, it was in danger of clotting or whatever, so they had to finally give up. The experience put me off donating blood for a really long time (this year, in fact), because not only am I not a big fan of needles, but it was uncomfortable and I had a giant bruise at the site of where the needle went in for weeks and it was all for nothing. The discomfort of the experience would have been worth it if I could have at least made a contribution, but they couldn't even use the blood that was collected. I was afraid that it wasn't just a one-time thing, and I didn't want to go through it again if it was all going to be for naught, so I didn't do it for a long, long time.

I remembered that in order to help thin the blood, I should drink a lot of water. Only, apparently I had forgotten when I was supposed to do that, because you're actually supposed to do it the day before, not the day of. But I hoped for the best, and they went through the procedure again of trying to get blood out of me. Apparently, however, it was not unlike trying to get blood out of a stone. I had nearly filled a bag, when the blood simply stopped flowing. I don't even know how that is possible. The needle's in my vein, the vein is responsible for carrying blood, so whereTF was it???

So the long and the short of it is, THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. They had to stop it (but not until after countless minutes of probing and readjusting the needle and tightening the tourniquet and what not) and all the blood I'd given just went to waste. Argh!! They said I had "problem veins," and I should totally drink water the day before. I'm like, I don't have problem veins. I have veins that are like, "OMG SHE'S BLEEDING. STOP RIGHT NOW." So really? I think they're good veins. :-l But now my arm aches and feels weak and it was again all for nothing. Wah.

I have decided that I will give it one more chance. I would really, really like to be able to donate blood, but I'm not going to do it if it's a waste every single time. Next time I give it a shot, I'll drink gallons of water the day before. And if the same thing happens again, that's it. No more donating blood for me. Three strikes and I'm outta there.

I wonder if I will have a spectacular bruise again this time around. If I do, I will take a picture of it and share with all of you. It's so fascinating and disgusting.

On a completely unrelated tangent, you know that song "Give You Back" by Vertical Horizon? For the longest time, I thought the lyric was "give you a path." And you know, it makes so much more sense. The next line is "somewhere out of here." So wouldn't it make sense to give someone a path somewhere out of wherever? Not back. Back where, anyway? And sometimes, it totally doesn't even sound like he's saying "back." In fact, if the song title wasn't "Give You Back," I would argue for the "path" lyric. Hmph.

Comments

[kirixchi.livejournal.com]

Today is the seventh...dare I even keep asking?

[sarea-okelani.livejournal.com]

I've just spoken to Jade, and I have great news! They have now both arrived. The USPS package looked like someone had beat the crap out of it, and it was all falling apart and someone had taped it back together and what not. Great service, huh? That's probably why it took so long. I'm not sure if Priority Mail is guaranteed or if you would even want to make a rukus about it, but it's just absurd. But at least it's finally arrived, and I think the contents are fine. We'll return it to you, so you should be getting it back, theoretically. I almost wish it hadn't arrived, so you could have just claimed the insurance on it.

Thanks again for all the trouble you went through to make sure it got to me! I can't wait to post pictures of it. :D

[mary-sintome.livejournal.com]

wow, sorry about the blood donation thing, never had the guts to donate , but I think that someday that might happen so.. who know...
well, I´m I lurker,My name is Mariana and I recently found your Lj, I love your fics, and you´re my favourite writer, your stories are wonderful.
just to let you a little bit happy, go to this site
http://www.pinkweddings.biz/images/cakes/charmed.jpg
to see a cake that is pure D/G goodness

[sarea-okelani.livejournal.com]

Wow, thank you very much for your kind comments.

Is it just me or does the blond look a bit feminine?

I've just gone to the front page of "Pink Weddings," and indeed, it's "UK's first gay owned and dedicated gay weddings company of its kind." So I'm not so much w/ the D/G love of that cake, since Ginny has girl parts and Draco is supposed to have boy parts. Heehee.

[mynuet.livejournal.com]

I used to give blood regularly, despite problem veins. Different problem, though. My veins are set deep beneath the skin - big surprise in a fat girl, right? - but they also "roll", which means that they will move themselves away from the needle. I finally got to the point of having a spiel which I went into whenever someone needed to draw blood, whether for donation or medical reasons. "I have deep veins that roll. If you go for the veins you can feel towards the surface, you will get no blood and I will have a bruise. If, however, you put the needle right here *point to spot inside elbow*, you will get as much blood as you want." And then they look at me funny. :P

[sarea-okelani.livejournal.com]

Jade has the crazy rolling veins, too, but she also has a deathly fear of needles.

At first the nurse person was having trouble pinpointing a vein to use, and that's when I got my first speech about drinking water, as apparently that also helps them stand out more.

[mynuet.livejournal.com]

After the foot surgery in which I had a local anesthetic injected into the sole of my foot - ten jabs, then another ten when it wore off halfway through her cutting off bits of my foot - my fear of needles pretty much dissipated. I don't like watching it go in, but otherwise? *shrug*

[noelleleithe.livejournal.com]

I gave blood four times. Each time I bruised worse than the previous time, until the final time, I bruised the entire length of the vein -- wrist to shoulder. I gave up at that point. I probably should try again sometime. Good on you for giving it more chances!

My veins are generally good, but they do have a tendency to roll. They also have a tendency to collapse if I go without liquids for more than about 8 hours, which is a very much bad situation when you're having surgery, you've had nothing to eat or drink since before midnight the night before, and the nurse is trying to insert an IV. For my shoulder surgery last January, I ended up with the anesthesiologist setting the IV into a vein on the side of my wrist. For the record: that HURTS!!

[sarea-okelani.livejournal.com]

Yikes! They didn't mention anything about rolling veins for me, but I bet the whole collapsing thing was what was going on. It was just so embarrassing, when there was a guy there who arrived after me and left before me, and he had no problems whatsoever. He even got a pin for it being his 16th visit, making it 2 gallons that he's donated. And there I was, never even able to do one. Grrr.

[selinakyle47.livejournal.com]

My friend has the same problem everytime she gives blood, it just flows so slowly. The last time I went with her, the nurses had to tilt her chair way back to keep the blood flow going.

[sarea-okelani.livejournal.com]

They didn't even try that w/ me ... they just had someone sit/stand with me and try and get the blood flowing, which isn't so much fun when they're jabbing around the area where the needle is. I really wanted to finish the procedure if I could, but at once point it was so unbearable that I really just wanted to stop.

[katieowrites.livejournal.com]

I mostly just read your fics obsessively and lurk, as I like reading about shoes and kate spade and all of that as well, but I had to say how grateful I am that you keep trying. I've never needed blood, but I donate as often as I'm allowed, and many, many of my friends and family members have had their lives saved by blood donors. I know it's definitely a pain (I've passed out afterwards a couple times) -- but it's such a wonderful thing to do. Your effort is definitely appreciated.

[sarea-okelani.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much for commenting; it really helps to hear of people who have really been helped by blood donation. Obviously, I know that giving blood is a worthwhile exercise (despite my facetious comments), or I wouldn't take the time to do it (or more accurately, try to do it), but having someone tell you first hand that it helped them or someone they knew really makes a difference. I was likely going to give it another shot anyway, but now I know for sure I will. *hugs*

[indigochild76.livejournal.com]

I'm a fairly avid blood donor and as a tip to you about donating blood... it is actually good to drink water the day of donation (plus every other day too... heehee). It keeps the veins hydrated and puffy and thus easier for the phlebotomist to find and that sort of thing.

As for the slow flow... a lot of that is probably due to your veins themselves rather than your blood. See, after a while, your veins collapse. Some people's do this sooner than others and some do it at a higher degree than others. When the veins collapse they seal up around the needle and stop the flow of blood. This is actually a good thing (though not when donating of course) because it's your body trying to prevent you from bleeding to death. :-) So be glad you have quick responding veins!!!

Anyway, as for your blood thickness... that I'm not too sure of. I do know that some people have thicker blood and all that... but I've never heard of this sort of thing happening. Very weird. I still say it has to do with your veins and my advice is to drink a lot of water prior to donating, carb up both before and after and just relax and hope for the best. :-)

I wish you luck, sweetie. I know this has to be frustrating for you... I hear you there because it really is quite the undertaking (even when done correctly and with little to no problems)... so I can only begin to imagine how you must feel.

Don't give up though! It's the greatest feeling ever when you see your bag fill up to the brim and get carted off to help someone.

*hugs you*

[sarea-okelani.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the explanation! No one has actually ever tried to fully explain it to me, but the whole collapsing vein thing sounds like it's probably what's going on with me.

I know I should be drinking a ton of water a day, but I'm generally not a very thirsty person so I often forget. Next time, however, I will definitely be making like a camel before I donate. :D

[lissannej.livejournal.com]

OMG Snap! Not only do we write the same fic *wiggles eyebrows* but I have a similar thing with the blood giving. In the end, they told me not to bother coming back because it was too hard -- my veins are deep (they have to put heat packs on) and then the veins collapse half way through and they can't get enough for a bag. Last time I visited the doctor, he tried both arms and ended up having to draw blood from my hand. OUCH. Three lovely, matching bruises. I do so enjoy them.