Today I tried to give blood. I have O- and I also haven't done things like get tattoos in foreign countries, lived in England during the 80's (Mad Cow), used dirty needles or slept around. I've got clean blood! So blood donor places tend to call me up and ask me to come in when they are low on supplies.
I first started giving blood back in my early 20's. However, I gave up after a while because they'd turn me away saying I was anemic. I'd say: Really??? I was borderline all the time. So then I got married and started having babies and breastfeeding, etc. And thus, for many years, I was ineligible for that reason. Here and there, in between children and a short gap in breastfeeding, I was able to give. I remember donating for my dad a couple of times when he was having health struggles. But then I started to have female, peri-menopausal problems which again rendered me anemic. I had a little operation to fix that and now I am good to go! I donated blood for Josh's back surgery, just in case, but he didn't need it. Someone else did, I am sure! But for the last couple of years I have been trying to donate twice a year. I've given at the center near the hospital and I've also donated at the church blood drives. This time however, I went into a different donor place. I think that Friday at 3:00 (door closes at 4:00) is not a good time to go and give blood. The place was run by young girls (in their mid to late 20s)who all looked like they had worked a very long week and couldn't wait for the weekend. They were tired. They weren't all that professional. I warned them that I had difficult veins. I do. They always have to call in an older, more experienced nurse to get blood from my veins. At first they couldn't get anything and then apparently you are supposed to donate a pint in 15 minutes. If it takes longer than that, no good. My blood was coming out very slowly and I ran out of time. The nurse said maybe I was dehydrated. I was actually. I realized at that moment I had hardly had anything to drink except coffee. And coffee is really dehydrating! This is ironic because I have been trying conscientiously to drink more water. I developed a kidney stone and this can be a result of being dehydrated a lot. Gosh, while typing this my lips are drying out! Water! Anyway, so I've been trying to drink more water, but today was so busy with so many errands I basically just forgot.
So, alas, my attempt to give blood was a bust today. But I shall try again next time. And I will remember to drink lots of water and not go back to a place run by very tired and very young nurses.
Do you give blood? It is a wonderful thing to do for the ill and the injured.
No comments:
Post a Comment