Donating blood

[HelterSkelter]

Donated since I was 16, first blood then later platelets. A month or so ago I had bad case of food poisoning and while getting a drip, the nurse was pissed off at the blood bank. She told me they horribly scarred my veins and it was an issue getting the drip to work, had to put it into a vein on my hand.
Now I do not know if it happens when donating a lot, or if it was due to morons at the blood bank stuffing up when inserting the needle.

 

[StrontiumDog]

^ Good question! How often were you donating though? Looks like a good idea to alternate arms if donating frequently. http://plasmadonating.blogspot.co.za/2012/09/how-to-remove-plasma-donation-scars.html

 

[Kerrits]

The idea is that you become a regular donor and then they will use all your blood everytime. It is international best practice.

Yup, not complaining. I like that they are safe. It's just something that I wasn't aware of, and wouldn't have been if I didnt have some extra time on my hands and read up.

 

[theratman]

Also B+.
Every time I am due for a donation they call me and ask me to please donate. Don't know if they do that to everyone.

Started donating when I was 20 (almost 50 now). Missed very few donations since then (mostly when I was overseas for work).

It is the best thing you can do.

Good on you sir! Wish more folk had your generosity

 

[DA-LION-619]

Lift weights, put on muscle?

Kinda impossible lol, if I lift weights I tend to lose more weight not put on muscle. I even tried those weight gain shakes.
I've donated about 10+ times now I think.

 

[Jet-Fighter7700]

How much blood do they usually take?

Every time I've done it, was really painful and tiring as hard to find veins

Suppose if you get somebody who does it properly, its a lot easier?

Never had a good blood donation experience, always felt Ill afterwards, and I hate needles anyway.....

 

[DA-LION-619]

How much blood do they usually take?

Every time I've done it, was really painful and tiring as hard to find veins

Suppose if you get somebody who does it properly, its a lot easier?

Never had a good blood donation experience, always felt Ill afterwards, and I hate needles anyway.....

A pint I think. The vein is really easy to find on my thin arm so the noobs aren't that bad but I have had bruising occur.

 

[HavocXphere]

The idea is that you become a regular donor and then they will use all your blood everytime. It is international best practice.

Yup. 10 people donating regularly is a lot safer than 20 people donating sporadically from a pure risk perspective.

Also B+.
Every time I am due for a donation they call me and ask me to please donate. Don't know if they do that to everyone.

They should phone yes, as per my above comment. I know they bug the O- guys extra hard though because of the universal donor thing.

or if it was due to morons at the blood bank stuffing up when inserting the needle.

Needles can fk up a vein yes, but I'm pretty sure a normal donation cycle (3 months) isn't anywhere close to dangerous in that regard. I'd imagine you'd need to get stick'd daily like a heroin addict.

Kinda impossible lol, if I lift weights I tend to lose more weight not put on muscle. I even tried those weight gain shakes.
I've donated about 10+ times now I think.

If I may ask - how old are you? I started picking up weigh at 28 without lifestyle changes. Before then nothing I ate affected weight.

Also thought this was pretty cool:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...-babies-half-century-donating-rare-blood.html

 

[DA-LION-619]

If I may ask - how old are you? I started picking up weigh at 28 without lifestyle changes. Before then nothing I ate affected weight.

Also thought this was pretty cool:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...-babies-half-century-donating-rare-blood.html

20, I started donating from when I was in school.

 

[Thor]

20, I started donating from when I was in school.

Hit the gym and eat a crap load.

12 egg whites everyday plus steaks.

:sly:

 

[DA-LION-619]

Hit the gym and eat a crap load.

12 egg whites everyday plus steaks.

:sly:

And eat whole roast chicken I know the stories lol

 

[Thor]

And eat whole roast chicken I know the stories lol

 

[MR.C]

Donated about 6 times, most times when I get a call that they in the area, I'm at work from before they start, and gone by the time I get home.
Was thinking, any health benefit to yourself when donating in terms of lowering blood-sugar levels or blood pressure relief ?
I'm O+

 

[HavocXphere]

Donated about 6 times, most times when I get a call that they in the area, I'm at work from before they start, and gone by the time I get home.
Was thinking, any health benefit to yourself when donating in terms of lowering blood-sugar levels or blood pressure relief ?
I'm O+

Sure

That may explain why the American Journal of Epidemiology found that blood donors are 88% less likely to suffer a heart attack.

http://news.health.com/2014/06/13/4-unexpected-benefits-of-donating-blood/

Also burns calories - about as much as a mdoerate gym session.

 

[greg0205]

Sure


http://news.health.com/2014/06/13/4-unexpected-benefits-of-donating-blood/

Also burns calories - about as much as a mdoerate gym session.

I'm a 12 percenter then... Donated four or five time a year for ages, then went and had myself a little infarction. Been back twice to check and double check but I'm no longer welcome for cookies and juice.

For the folk with needle issues, try this for size. Back in the day, we had a thing called National Service. Some of us were called up to SAMS (the medics) and a handful of those medics were chosen to be operational. Those unlucky few spent six months training, three doing weapons and tactics and three doing medical phase. Generally that meant nights at Hillbrow or Baragwanath hospital treating or assisting with casualties.
Doctors wouldn't let you just jump in 'tho, for drips and such you needed practice... So, on our first night at Hillbrow, our platoon were shown how drip needles worked, and just as soon as we had watched one being administered, our Corporal volunteered me to be the practice pin cushion for fifteen or so of my mates.
Fun fact: If your going to be trying multiple drips, they can't all go in the same place or vein. You start with the veins in the back of your hand and then move on up the forearm... Both arms in this case.
I suppose it's like jumping out of a plane if you have a fear of heights, but short of being impaled on an exhaust sized pipe, needles... Meh.

 

[StrontiumDog]

^ Sounds a bit inhumane!

 

[HavocXphere]

^ Sounds a bit inhumane!

Sounds like Apartheid era army

 

[Pitbull]

Nurse today inspected both arms to make sure the vein looks good before doing even the initial screening.

Give it a bit of time. Tech is getting better:

View attachment 329471


Must admit I look away too - easier to block it out if I don't see it.

lol, my arms look like that without the machine. I have a road map all over my arms, nurses love me

 

[Lupus]

I used to quite regularly until about five years ago when they put the needle in my entire arm felt like it caught fire and I passed out.
Waking up my arm was still burning and I was feeling ill, I've done maybe four times since than and last year's was only a half a pint or so. I do sometimes feel a bit bad as I got to 53 pints when I was in my 20's and now nothing as I don't want that pain again

 

[Aghori]

And eat whole roast chicken I know the stories lol

KFC is pretty good. Especially the yellow sticky bits...packed full of protein!