Want to donate blood but...

blackraspberry

When I was 18, I went to donate blood for the first time. About halfway through, I started to feel really faint and I almost passed out. For some reason, it really freaked me out and I never went back again.

It's nearly 10 years on now though and I'm feeling like I really, really should donate blood - but just thinking about the last time makes me feel nauseas. Does anyone have any tips about how I can overcome that and just man up?

Aint Eazy Being Cheezy

Are you a man who has ever had sex with another man?

Tilly

Take a spoon of cement.

saucyleopard

Eat a good meal about 2 hours before hand. I gave blood loads of times with no problems until I had to give up due to having a bad allergic reaction and they wouldn't take my blood any more. Its a good thing to do.

El Weirdo

I gave blood once about 10 years ago, but soon after I received a letter telling me that I couldn't donate any more as I had spent too long in the UK and they were afraid of Mad Cow Disease.

Mad Cow Disease?! I'm a fecking panda.

Bill Lee

I don't give blood. Because I won't give blood.

toastedpickles

saucyleopard wrote: »

Eat a good meal about 2 hours before hand. I gave blood loads of times with no problems until I had to give up due to having a bad allergic reaction and they wouldn't take my blood any more. Its a good thing to do.

So for all you know now hundreds of people are going around with some allergic reaction you've given them, and they're like what is this?? Why me lord why meeee?! :pac:

Larianne

Sometimes the mind and body just say 'no'.
I've tried to observe two surgeries. Both times I've felt weak and nauseous.
No problem with working on cadavers though.
Go figure!

So, it's not really a case of manning up! Maybe give it another go though. And just focus on the nurse(s) instead of the needle.

Kovu

I had the same reaction the second time I gave blood. Went really faint headed and white and they stopped the transfusion at about 3/4 of the amount to be taken. But I hadn't eaten anything in 4-5 hours and have low blood pressure anyway so it was my own fault.

Last time I went in I had a bottle of lucozade beforehand and told the nurses what had happened to me on the previous visit. Listened to music and talked to the nurses as they checked me numerous times to see if I was feeling ok. Not a bother that time! Also signed myself up to be tested to be a bone marrow donor as well. Just try it again OP, and keep your mind occupied during it.

Knasher

Eat a good meal beforehand, drink plenty of water and avoid coffee for the day. From my own experience, the first time I donated I felt faint, and the first time I donated platelets it was bad enough that I had to get them to stop half way through. But after that I was 100% fine. Hopefully you will be in the same boat.

Awkward Badger

Believe in yourself.

eisenberg1

Bill Lee wrote: »

I don't give blood. Because I won't give blood.

Make sure to sign a waiver to say you don't want any, in case you ever need it.

Little CuChulainn

I use to donate regularly until something similar happened to me. The attitude of the nurse was really annoying. Like I slowed down my blood flow on purpose to waste her time.

yawhat!

Pugsly wrote: »

Believe in yourself.

Believe in the Shield.

The_Captain

I faint about 90% of the time I give blood, and even when I don't I get really light-headed.
I've been told if it happens again I'm on the banned list.


That being said, I haven't given blood in about 3 years due to travelling to the tropics

Mr. CooL ICE

I never had a problem doing it myself. Just think of the free taytos at the end.

Mmm, taytos. Must give blood again soon.

The Backwards Man

I got turned down last time because my iron count was 0.1 too low (coming off a long shift). Next time I'm going to eat a fortune of spinach beforehand and if that's no good, well, I yam what I yam, and that's all I yam.

danniemcq

I had to give blood for tests years ago and felt very faint and really woozy after but I always wanted to give blood so when i turned 18 I did. It was a bit odd as I remembered before and all that but its only a pint they take and as long as you are fed and watered before hand you should be grand.

They lay you down when they do it so you don't have to worry about falling and when you need to stand up again just take your time and then take a seat (and some drinks and crisps as i think they got rid of the Guinness now)

If its the sight of blood that made you woozy you don't have to look, all you feel is a sting.

danniemcq

The Backwards Man wrote: »

I got turned down last time because my iron count was 0.1 too low (coming off a long shift). Next time I'm going to eat a fortune of spinach beforehand and if that's no good, well, I yam what I yam, and that's all I yam.

Or Guinness, way more fun!

**Timbuk2**

I felt very faint after donating blood the very first time. The trick is to eat something substantial beforehand and drink plenty of water - start drinking lots of water even the night before, as well as morning of.

I'm now on 16 blood donations without any problems - drinking water is key!

Anonamoose

Make sure you've had a good breakfast / lunch before donating....
Works for me....

Nash Bridges

Sounds like you had low blood sugar that particular day. Next time:

- Drink plenty of water in the hours beforehand.
- Have a good meal 1 or 2 hours beforehand.
- Have a bar of chocolate or fizzy drink immediately beforehand, they are freely available there.

I have given blood numerous times, the only time I have gotten lightheaded afterwards is when I'm donated on an empty stomach. Eat and drink lots beforehand and you'll be grand.

It is a pity the Guinness is gone however :-(

Little CuChulainn

Nash Bridges wrote: »

Sounds like you had low blood sugar that particular day. Next time:

- Drink plenty of water in the hours beforehand.
- Have a good meal 1 or 2 hours beforehand.
- Have a bar of chocolate or fizzy drink immediately beforehand, they are freely available there.

I have given blood numerous times, the only time I have gotten lightheaded afterwards is when I'm donated on an empty stomach. Eat and drink lots beforehand and you'll be grand.

It is a pity the Guinness is gone however :-(

I've also been told that getting your heart rate up and keeping yourself warm will make it easier and faster to find a vein and collect enough blood. So wear a jacket, stick a hot water bottle in the sleeve and run around for twenty minutes before you go in.

murphjohn121

Ive done it many a time and have felt faint a few times. I think it is just natural, but the majority of it I have been fine.

Try again and you will be fine!
JM

Bill Lee

eisenberg1 wrote: »

Make sure to sign a waiver to say you don't want any, in case you ever need it.

Tis a lyric from the latest Rubberbandits number.

I am actually willing to give blood.

MadYaker

I tried to give blood a while ago but they wouldn't let me because I spent a few months in Africa. My blood is grand like I don't have any diseases or anything but they don't care, the flat out refused me purely because of the country I was in.

losthorizon

El Weirdo wrote: »

I gave blood once about 10 years ago, but soon after I received a letter telling me that I couldn't donate any more as I had spent too long in the UK and they were afraid of Mad Cow Disease.

Mad Cow Disease?! I'm a fecking panda.

No offence El Wierdo but technically, your life isn't worth insuring.

JanaMay

Don't worry about it OP. I've given blood quite a few times and only once did I have the reaction you described. It doesn't happen every time. I was mortified when it happened to me, I kept saying sorry, as if it was my own fault. Take the advice given here, make sure you've eaten well beforehand (at least an hour or two). You'll probably be ok the next time. To be honest, we should all do it as often as we can. Having said that, I haven't donated in a while....

keano_afc

I gave blood today, my third time doing it. Felt woozy the first time but good preparation makes all the difference. Drink plenty of water before you go - at least a litre. Also eat a decent meal in the couple of hours before you go, it'll make things easier.

Good luck if you do it.

daveohdave

First time I gave blood I got it into my head out was a medical procedure, so I shouldn't eat beforehand; and of course it's the other way around with donations. Never happened again.

Links234

blackraspberry wrote: »

Does anyone have any tips about how I can overcome that and just man up?

Have you tried donating someone else's blood?

Anonamoose

mmmmm Guinness

Darkglasses

Donated blood for the first time a few months ago, had no problem at all. Felt very hot afterwards but that's all. Will be going back to donate at the end of this month.

Sunnyisland

I gave blood once,went again and they refused saying my iron was to low, so I put it on the top shelf.

biko

As said, go an hour after lunch and bring a bottle of water to sip during, as well as music to listen to (it'll distract you).
Afterwards go sit down and relax before you leave.

hairyprincess

The Backwards Man wrote: »

I got turned down last time because my iron count was 0.1 too low (coming off a long shift). Next time I'm going to eat a fortune of spinach beforehand and if that's no good, well, I yam what I yam, and that's all I yam.

That's exactly what happened to me about 2 years ago and I haven't managed to get back since as the times are really awkward round these parts. Apparently if you have a low iron count three times then you are banned for life, a wee bit extreme imo.

A cow called Daisy

Donate a pint of blood?

No way. That's nearly an arm full:D

hairyprincess

MadYaker wrote: »

I tried to give blood a while ago but they wouldn't let me because I spent a few months in Africa. My blood is grand like I don't have any diseases or anything but they don't care, the flat out refused me purely because of the country I was in.

It's a precaution, based on the country you were in. You can't categorically say that there is nothing wrong with your blood, you could have any number of diseases.
It's the same for people who loved in the UK, it's a precaution against CJD, they discount everybody because they can't test for it thus can't take the risk of giving people infected blood.

Ice Storm

hairyprincess wrote: »

It's a precaution, based on the country you were in. You can't categorically say that there is nothing wrong with your blood, you could have any number of diseases.
It's the same for people who loved in the UK, it's a precaution against CJD, they discount everybody because they can't test for it thus can't take the risk of giving people infected blood.

Ooh matron!

Rocket19

blackraspberry wrote: »

When I was 18, I went to donate blood for the first time. About halfway through, I started to feel really faint and I almost passed out. For some reason, it really freaked me out and I never went back again.

It's nearly 10 years on now though and I'm feeling like I really, really should donate blood - but just thinking about the last time makes me feel nauseas. Does anyone have any tips about how I can overcome that and just man up?

You'll probably be fine. Just let them know that you were sick last time, and they'll keep an extra eye on you.
It's possible your iron levels were a bit low or something?

Keep hydrated and make sure you eat a decent meal before donating, as this can make a big difference!

Rabbo

I've always wanted to give blood but even reading this thread had made me woozy.
Don't think I stand a chance

AlanS181824

Not sure I'd ever be able to donate blood, wouldn't be able for the sight of blood....

Darkglasses

Rabbo wrote: »

I've always wanted to give blood but even reading this thread had made me woozy.
Don't think I stand a chance

Be confident, it's definitely worth a try just once. I have no idea what the actual statistics are but I strongly suspect more than half the people who do it have no problem giving blood. I certainly didn't have a problem when I gave blood for the first time earlier this year.

Carry

blackraspberry wrote: »

When I was 18, I went to donate blood for the first time. About halfway through, I started to feel really faint and I almost passed out. For some reason, it really freaked me out and I never went back again.

It's nearly 10 years on now though and I'm feeling like I really, really should donate blood - but just thinking about the last time makes me feel nauseas. Does anyone have any tips about how I can overcome that and just man up?

Had the same problem in my early twenties. The procedure itself was fine, I'm not freaked out by blood or needles, but afterwards I almost fainted and felt very dizzy for several (!) days.
It was due to low blood pressure, so I didn't donate blood for several years.

But when you get older usually the blood pressure gets higher or normalizes when you've had a low one.

Get your blood pressure checked and stick to the advice given here (decent food beforehand and plenty of water).

donkey balls

I remember during the 90s donating blood over at Mespil road and depending on what Nurse was serving you might get a few glasses of either Guinness or Harp:D,It was a cheap way for me to get pis*ed later that Friday evening as I hadn't got a pot to p*ss in back then.
I haven't donated blood since last year as I donate platelets once a month now normally before work so even if the free beer was there I couldn't avail of it:(.

Darkglasses

Pat Custard wrote: »

My friend wants to donate blood but he can't. Because he is gay.

My friends mother wants to donate, but she can't. She lived in the UK. Ridiculous.

Why is it ridiculous? Both are relatively high-risk for blood being unsafe for transfusion. Screening is a safeguard but it isn't completely reliable.

Abertlocan

Pat Custard wrote: »

My friend wants to donate blood but he can't. Because he is gay.

My friends mother wants to donate, but she can't. She lived in the UK. Ridiculous.

Surely with the amount of HIV+ people in the country and abroad there would be a market for collecting HIV+ blood. Certainly in places like the UK and USA.

Anyone that is HIV+ on antiviral medication their CD4 count or Viral Load is going to be at an undetectable level which would make it virtually impossible to contaminate.

Capt'n Midnight

MadYaker wrote: »

I tried to give blood a while ago but they wouldn't let me because I spent a few months in Africa. My blood is grand like I don't have any diseases or anything but they don't care, the flat out refused me purely because of the country I was in.

Malaria kills about half a million children in Africa every year so you've to wait a year to be sure.

MRnotlob606

are you a communist ?

Darkglasses

Pat Custard wrote: »

Blood is screened anyway isn't it? So what's the harm?

I'd say the prevalence of AIDS is the same among the gay community as it is in the non-gay community.

If it affected gay women would they have changed it?

If someone had mad cow disease contracted in the 80's .. I think they'd know at this stage.

Like I said, it's not completely reliable. There is a period after having contracted HIV where the virus is undetectable.

There are plenty of statistics easily available on the prevalence of HIV/AIDS, so you don't have to guess. It is statistically much more common among men who have sex with men.

As for CJD, people with a lot more medical experience than me still deem it a risk, so I won't speculate as I don't know enough about that.

Fortunately, blood transfusion services in Northern Ireland and the Republic are in a position where they can afford to not take blood from people with relatively high-risks, so they don't. It's about patient welfare, and nothing else. And I hope we can both agree patient welfare is by far the most important thing in blood donation.

Abertlocan

Darkglasses wrote: »

Like I said, it's not completely reliable. There is a period after having contracted HIV where the virus is undetectable.

There is also the 3 month window period after exposure.

Someone can be tested HIV- and not show up positive for up to three months.