-1 pints of blood:1 Chaotic42:-13.6

[DrPizza]

Originally posted by: raptor13
Make sure you eat a good meal an hour or two before you donate. Also, drink a TON of water in the hours before you go. Being hydrated and keeping your blood sugar up while you give is key. The one time I didn't eat before donating, I too almost passed out. All the other times, though (and there have been plenty), it's never been a problem. In fact, the nurses have always complimented me on my large, easy-to-stick veins. 😀


Plus, I'm O+ which the Red Cross just loves. They treat me like a king.

That's definitely the key.. I'm the coordinator at our school for bloodmobiles. I can tell you that of the students who had trouble donating blood (passing out or whatever), NONE of them had a decent breakfast. We had our first 2 bloodmobiles last year... ZERO problems during the first one - I harped on the kids constantly about having a good breakfast and drinking EXTRA fluids (no coffee or soda with caffeine).
Apparently, they were a little complacent the 2nd time around, because quite a few of them decided that since there were no problems the first time, I must have been exagerating.. Students were dropping like flies..... and in every single case, it was because they didn't have breakfast (and/or) lunch that day, and they didn't drink extra fluids.

 

[Chaotic42]

Originally posted by: DrPizza
That's definitely the key.. I'm the coordinator at our school for bloodmobiles. I can tell you that of the students who had trouble donating blood (passing out or whatever), NONE of them had a decent breakfast. We had our first 2 bloodmobiles last year... ZERO problems during the first one - I harped on the kids constantly about having a good breakfast and drinking EXTRA fluids (no coffee or soda with caffeine).
Apparently, they were a little complacent the 2nd time around, because quite a few of them decided that since there were no problems the first time, I must have been exagerating.. Students were dropping like flies..... and in every single case, it was because they didn't have breakfast (and/or) lunch that day, and they didn't drink extra fluids.

That's probably it then.

I don't eat large breakfasts, just a "Nutrigrain" bar on the road. I ate a regular school cafeteria lunch.

Next time I'm doing breakfast, lunch, and a decent snack right before.

 

[Cattlegod]

hey, i gave blood today too

 

[Zontor]

I used to give plasma 2x / week....the 1st time I got a bit dizzy, but you get used to it & it doesn't bother you any more. Like everyone else said, avoid caffeine, drink lots, and avoid fatty foods before giving.

The way plasma donation works is they suck some blood out (you're now short some), spin the plasma out, then they put the blood cells back in (you're still short, but not as much). They do this at least 5-12 times depending on how hydrated you are. It's kinda like giving blood a lot of times a night.....

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Think about it this way though, the pain you went through is much less than someone else who needs the blood and that if you were in their situation you would hope people just like yourself would take a little pain to help them

 

[Chaotic42]

Originally posted by: AgaBooga
Think about it this way though, the pain you went through is much less than someone else who needs the blood and that if you were in their situation you would hope people just like yourself would take a little pain to help them

The pain doesn't bother me, I'm just wondering what I need to do for next time.

It didn't really even hurt, it just made me dizzy and severely disoriented.

 

[OCNewbie]

I've heard that guys that give blood like X times a year are 50% less likely to have a heart attack. Heart disease runs in my family, so I figure I'd like to eventually get in the habit of donating blood. Though I'm a little uneasy about it. Once I had blood drawn, the little small vial at the doctor's office, and that made me dizzy, had to sit down for a bit, got a little sweaty I think and they gave me some OJ. So I don't know how I'd react to a whole pint being taken from me. (they usually take a pint right?)

 

[SWScorch]

haha nice job getting out of work. I've only given blood once, and while I was really hoping I would pass out, and thus get sympathy (boobies) from the girls, I didn't even feel the slightest bit woozy. Everytone thought I would pass out though, cause I was 120 pounds and have low blood pressure. It took me half an hour to fill up the bag because my BP is so low.

 

[TechnoKid]

i think ive donated about 5 or 6 pints already...i tend to get very light headed after they are done, and i do drink a lot of fluids and make sure i eat plenty of food throughout the day before i go to dontate. oh and its been hot in the summer lately, heat can affect it too.

 

[MichaelD]

I got into the blood removal place at like 245

"Blood Removal Place" LMAO!!! 😀:beer: That's funny!!! Good on you for giving blood; a noble gesture. 🙂

 

[Chaotic42]

Originally posted by: SWScorch
haha nice job getting out of work. I've only given blood once, and while I was really hoping I would pass out, and thus get sympathy (boobies) from the girls, I didn't even feel the slightest bit woozy. Everytone thought I would pass out though, cause I was 120 pounds and have low blood pressure. It took me half an hour to fill up the bag because my BP is so low.

Heh, there was no way I could have worked. I had no food, no drink, and I would have passed out.

I started getting really woozy on the ride home. I just ate a lot and drank some juice at home and I feel better, but still a bit groggy.

 

[Cattlegod]

pussy haha. i got up after they took the needle out of my arm. ate my cookie + juice, and walked out. didn't phase me a bit.
for me