Alisha Posted March 24, 2005 Report Share Posted March 24, 2005 This morning I went to the high school I graduated from because the Red Cross was there to take blood donations. Well, I walked in to find about 30 people waiting... so I'm thinking great... I'm gonna be here forever. Come to find out they were taking all the adults before students so I was moved up to the front of the line (I got a bunch of dirty looks from the students! lol) where I waited for a little over 25 minutes to be taken to an area where all the "important" questions were asked. Took my blood pressure 118/64 and then the guy ended up having to prick two different fingers because the first one wasn't good enough. All together this took another 25-30 minutes. I was then seated with all the other people waiting to get their blood taken and was finally called to take a seat in one of the "chairs" you sit in while they take your blood. After being seated there I sat for another 20 minutes before the lady came over to check my veins. She felt around on my left arm and then checked the right one before telling me that my veins weren't "good enough" to donate blood. HOW DISAPPOINTING! I was actually kind of mad because I sat there THAT long, had two different fingers poked for blood and then was told I couldn't donate. Ugh. So I'm wondering, has this happened to anyone else? Or.... am I just some kind of freak? (don't answer that! lol) I wouldn't have minded sitting there for that long if I had actually been able to donate but to sit that long, go through all that and then get told no? Something needs to be changed there.. Best thing about my whole trip up there was getting to see 3 different kids pass out. I guess I have a sick sense of humor by finding that funny, eh? Anyway - just call me Small Veins. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RyanH Posted March 24, 2005 Report Share Posted March 24, 2005 Re: Anyone ever donated blood? Nope Im scared of NEEDLES! I know thats an excuse but im so serious! Thats why i dont have a tatoo! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RDNKHNTR77 Posted March 24, 2005 Report Share Posted March 24, 2005 Re: Anyone ever donated blood? I have given blood twice and never had ne problems. ive seen people pass out after they gave it though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huntn4bucks Posted March 24, 2005 Report Share Posted March 24, 2005 Re: Anyone ever donated blood? Dear Small Veins, I've given blood numerous times and as long as it's taken from my left arm, everything is ok. For some reason my veins in my right arm are buried deeping than the left. I'm a free bleeder too! lol. It doesn't take me long to fill up that bag. I seem to recover quickly too. I guess I'm just one of the lucky ones! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Andrea Posted March 24, 2005 Report Share Posted March 24, 2005 Re: Anyone ever donated blood? When I was in highschool I lied about my weight so I could skip class to go donate blood. ( You had to weigh at least 120 pounds, I weighed 110) I donated the blood then fell flat on my face. LOL Well, at least I got outta class! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gator Posted March 24, 2005 Report Share Posted March 24, 2005 Re: Anyone ever donated blood? Used to every 6 weeks, or whenever thay came around. Had one time they stuck the needle into a tendon or something, hurt like a sumonayouknowwhat. They told me I didn't have to continue, but I did, just on the other arm! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orion_70 Posted March 24, 2005 Report Share Posted March 24, 2005 Re: Anyone ever donated blood? Yep, I've given blood before but haven't lately Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huntn4bucks Posted March 24, 2005 Report Share Posted March 24, 2005 Re: Anyone ever donated blood? [ QUOTE ] Nope Im scared of NEEDLES! I know thats an excuse but im so serious! Thats why i dont have a tatoo! [/ QUOTE ] I have a tribal armband tatoo and let me tell you...it hurt!!! I don't care what anybody says...it's painful...especially on the inner part of the arm where it's tender!!! The initial outlining of the tatoo is the most painful because a finer needle is used (I think). Once it came to filling in the rest, it didn't hurt as bad. Maybe it hurt so bad because I was completely sober!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
popgun Posted March 24, 2005 Report Share Posted March 24, 2005 Re: Anyone ever donated blood? I donated blood every time I was eligible, and the blood mobile was in town. I have given over four gallons, but I have given my last pint. This is why: I happen to believe that the American Red Cross owes it to the "patients receiving blood", to do all they can to test the blood before it is administered. This is something they do, and do well, so as not to give tainted blood to a patient. I also believe that the American Red Cross has an obligation to the "donor", to notify the donor if the blood taken had any abnormalities whatsoever. This is not done with the American Red Cross and I think it is a travesty, an injustice to the donor, and darn near criminal in nature. In 2004, during a routine physical I was found to have a high white blood cell count. During the year, following many CBC's, I was diagnosed with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia. This is a very slow form, and is treatable. I was told that I will die from old age before any of the symptoms become much more than noticeable. I have had this condition, according to the doctors, for "many years", and I think it should have been noticed by the Red Cross and relayed back to me. I notified the Red cross as soon as I heard the diagnosis, and wanted to make sure that none of my blood made it to the "market". They referred me back to the state organization, but I never got a call, email, or letter of any kind. I cannot, nor would not, give my blood again, because this could be passed on to the recipient. However, even If I were healthy enough to give blood, I would not give again to the American Red Cross. My Dad told me how, while in Korea, the Red Cross was "selling" donuts and coffee to the soldiers, while the Salvation Army, directly across the street, was giving it away for free. I let this go, and held no grudge until now. But after the way I have witnessed the American Red Cross treat the "donors", they will never again have my support. I'm through now. .....popgun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HuntingInMaine Posted March 24, 2005 Report Share Posted March 24, 2005 Re: Anyone ever donated blood? I donate regularly and have never had a problem. I have seen people turned away because they had a fever, low blood iron, on medication, ect. that made them unable to donate, but never heard anyone having bad veins and not being able to donate. My mother has veins that collapse, but they still try poking her a few times and usually get it! Maybe you are lucky that they didn't start jabbing you before deciding to give up, you could have some very deep bruising from that. At least your heart was in the right place! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griz Posted March 24, 2005 Report Share Posted March 24, 2005 Re: Anyone ever donated blood? Nope! It would take 15 nurses, 21 Doctors and a sumu wrestler to hold me down and that's before they get started. I figure I give enough blood every time I'm fixing a barb wire fence.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Posted March 24, 2005 Report Share Posted March 24, 2005 Re: Anyone ever donated blood? [ QUOTE ] Nope Im scared of NEEDLES! [/ QUOTE ] Panzy! I used to donate every year, then I was told I couldn't anymore because of an iron deficiency. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Palssonater Posted March 24, 2005 Report Share Posted March 24, 2005 Re: Anyone ever donated blood? I give every 56 days(whenever eligible). They come right to my work. I have a big blue vein that they never miss, and I am normally done "pumping" in about 7mins. I have only had one bad experience with an in-experienced nurse. I just grinned and beared it and let her try again. Jenn is a nurse too, so I know how they need to practice. I just think of it this way. I have broken bones, sliced fingers, cut legs, stepped on nails, split my brow......a little needle is nuffin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tominator Posted March 24, 2005 Report Share Posted March 24, 2005 Re: Anyone ever donated blood? Tried once when I got out of the service. They disqualified me when they got to the question "have you ever been to Haiti?" Ummmmm, yeah, numerous times. I don't even try now with all my medical problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeramie Posted March 24, 2005 Report Share Posted March 24, 2005 Re: Anyone ever donated blood? One time... It may never happen again unless someone is in need. I have a VERY high clotting factor and I clogged the needle countless times. I sat in a chair for well over a half hour and they only got about 1/4 of a pint. They kept moving the needle to free up the stream but it wouldnt last but a few seconds and I would clot again. Finally I put an end to it all. They said that couldnt use that little and I told them sorry but that was it.... I wouldnt mind but my blood doesnt just flow like a river... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norm Sauceman Posted March 24, 2005 Report Share Posted March 24, 2005 Re: Anyone ever donated blood? I am just under 7 gallons in my donations with the Red Cross. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
too_pointer Posted March 24, 2005 Report Share Posted March 24, 2005 Re: Anyone ever donated blood? I gave 1 1/2 gallons before they cut me off. It is so easy to help those who need it, please everyone give if you can too_pointer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ricfirefighter Posted March 24, 2005 Report Share Posted March 24, 2005 Re: Anyone ever donated blood? [ QUOTE ] I donated blood every time I was eligible, and the blood mobile was in town. I have given over four gallons, but I have given my last pint. This is why: I happen to believe that the American Red Cross owes it to the "patients receiving blood", to do all they can to test the blood before it is administered. This is something they do, and do well, so as not to give tainted blood to a patient. I also believe that the American Red Cross has an obligation to the "donor", to notify the donor if the blood taken had any abnormalities whatsoever. This is not done with the American Red Cross and I think it is a travesty, an injustice to the donor, and darn near criminal in nature. In 2004, during a routine physical I was found to have a high white blood cell count. During the year, following many CBC's, I was diagnosed with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia. This is a very slow form, and is treatable. I was told that I will die from old age before any of the symptoms become much more than noticeable. I have had this condition, according to the doctors, for "many years", and I think it should have been noticed by the Red Cross and relayed back to me. I notified the Red cross as soon as I heard the diagnosis, and wanted to make sure that none of my blood made it to the "market". They referred me back to the state organization, but I never got a call, email, or letter of any kind. I cannot, nor would not, give my blood again, because this could be passed on to the recipient. However, even If I were healthy enough to give blood, I would not give again to the American Red Cross. My Dad told me how, while in Korea, the Red Cross was "selling" donuts and coffee to the soldiers, while the Salvation Army, directly across the street, was giving it away for free. I let this go, and held no grudge until now. But after the way I have witnessed the American Red Cross treat the "donors", they will never again have my support. I'm through now. .....popgun [/ QUOTE ] are blood bank here does that popgun the scared the **** out of me few weeks back when they sent me a letter that said i had the same thing then they said they retested it and i was fine i think i would have rather not been told at all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buckbuster11 Posted March 24, 2005 Report Share Posted March 24, 2005 Re: Anyone ever donated blood? Nope, they dont like my blood. I have some kind of blood defiency....I'm having a brain fart so I cant remember what its called. All I know is I cant give it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VtBowhunter Posted March 25, 2005 Report Share Posted March 25, 2005 Re: Anyone ever donated blood? I did before, but not recently and now that you've brought it up, it's tiem to go do so again. Alisha, you're not a freak, lol. When I went for my military physical, there was a girl there and they tried several times to find a vein to draw her blood......eventually she had to be sent to the hospital to have the blood drawn so she could get in to the service. I think it's a problem that women have more then men, especially smaller women. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fisherguy Posted March 25, 2005 Report Share Posted March 25, 2005 Re: Anyone ever donated blood? Once, they told me my blood pressure was a bit low, but still enough to donate. I couldn't stand up without blacking out for about four hours after donating. lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
va_strutstopper Posted March 25, 2005 Report Share Posted March 25, 2005 Re: Anyone ever donated blood? ive given several times Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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