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Giving Blood - How About You?

September 15th, 2009 at 01:47 am

Paulette kicked my butt in gear.

Text is http://pauletteg.savingadvice.com/2009/09/12/witterings-on-a-warm-saturday_53562/ and Link is
http://pauletteg.savingadvice.com/2009/09/12/witterings-on-a...

Actually, it's a long story. But I stored blood for (my own) surgery at one point (age 16?) and realized that it wasn't so bad. So I signed up to donate, but alas, weighed too little. (I know - what problems to have!)

Of course, through storing my blood, I got on the list, and they used to call me all the time. & I had to repeatedly point out I didn't qualify. IT was actually rather obnoxious.

So at some point, post college, when I actually became a regular sized person, I decided to donate blood. I signed up 3 or 4 times over the years, but heck if anyone would call me back.

Doesn't that figure?

With time and distance it lost its appeal I guess. It doesn't sound terribly fun, though I've had times in my life where I was poked and prodded often, so I know it isn't the end of the world, and you get used to it.

---------------------------------------

So I read Paulette's post that she gave blood, and I tried again. Her post was just perfect timing. "Yeah, I should do that!" As I have said many times before.

My dh knowing my whole blood giving saga, just laughed when I told him. I told him I would show up uninvited if I had to, this time. He didn't seem so convinced. HE said, "Good luck with that."

So, I decided to skip Red Cross altogether. I decided maybe the issue was them - maybe they have more donors than they know what to do with. Maybe there is a mark on my record that I am uncooperative - because I kept telling them I weighed too little. I don't know!

I found the biggest supplier of blood in my region, and became even more convinced as I read on their website about how much giving blood saves lives, etc. I was also extra pleased it was only once every 8 weeks (at most). I didn't want to give blood like every week or something (something that stopped me in the past - not wanting them calling me incessantly, etc. I have low blood pressure, I faint easily, and I probably wouldn't want to do it any more than 6 times a year - no matter what the standards are. So I was rather relieved they weren't going to badger me to give blood every 2 weeks or anything like that. I just didn't know what to expect!).

So I did their little online form, and somebody immediately scheduled an appointment for me, tomorrow.

Boy, that was 10 years in the making...

I thought I would try to convince dh to give blood. I thought he may be hard to convince, but he was like, whatever.

Well, that was too easy. Paulette unexpectedly spurred me to action, I thought I would do the same here.

& I feel good knowing that it was so needed. Clearly, the need is there. I didn't expect I would be doing it TOMORROW! No time to get cold feet, eh?

Who's next?

11 Responses to “Giving Blood - How About You?”

  1. creditcardfree Says:
    1252976028

    Thanks to you and Paulette for giving blood! I'm one of those people who has little veins, can't stand people poking at me, faints when I have to give blood in a standing or sitting position. I have to say I felt a little nausetated hearing about it in your blog post as well! My fault for reading. But thank you!!

  2. monkeymama Says:
    1252976182

    I understand - that's why it is so important for those less squeamish to "Just Do IT!!!" I actually do not have fainting issues with giving blood itself, and I have really good veins. Which helps. They always get so excited when they see my veins - but also means it is very easy on me. If it's a good nurse/worker, I won't even feel a thing. (Here's to hoping I get someone good).

    I wouldn't give blood if I had roly poly veins - I've heard stories and seen the bruises. Ouch! Nor if the sight of blood made me sick.

  3. monkeymama Says:
    1252977971

    P.S. I just realized I probably thought one should give blood more often because I did for my surgery. They should have told me that was unique! I probably did give blood 2-3 times a month before surgery, because you can only store it so long.

  4. Jazzmint98 Says:
    1252985082

    Mmmm....no thanks! I have the exact same issues that CCF does. It's great that you were able to donate blood though.

  5. kimiko Says:
    1252987816

    The blood drive at my local library even offers free AMC theater ticket. Unfortunately I can't give blood, or rather too scare to give blood. I had to go for blood test twice in my life and both time the nurses had such a difficult time locating my veil that they punctured all sort of places causing massive brusing. One even entertain the idea of taking blood through the veins on top of my hand. My dad has the same problem. The weird thing is that we both have very light, translucence skin. So translucence that you can see numerous blue veins running underneath. Yet the nurses can't find one to draw from on the first try.

  6. zetta Says:
    1252993269

    My mom scores all kinds of freebies from giving blood -- t-shirts, free soup plantation meals, movie tickets, etc. So check out the various places that host regular bloodmobile drives -- you often don't even need an appt for those.

    I used to give blood a lot but have been out of the habit since kids came along.

  7. FrugalFish Says:
    1253022592

    Good for you. Here's hoping it will be an easy and satisfying experience!

    DH is a universal donor (do they even use whole blood anymore?) so he use to give whenever asked. He has had less than a stellar experience with Red Cross over the years. One of the most annoying things is that we live in one county and he works in another, and RC would not allow him to register in his work county, so he has not been able to donate blood for a couple of years now. Ugh, politics...

    Good luck and enjoy your juice and cookies!

  8. monkeymama Says:
    1253024557

    I was a "universal donor" but they no longer universally donate any type of blood. So they don't call it that any more. (I just learned this yesterday, myself - that I am no longer universal!)

  9. dmontngrey Says:
    1253038719

    I don't mind giving, but we haven't been in almost two years now. Sad, but we just can't fit the appointments in our schedule!! I know that's a horrible excuse, but I always find out about the ones we could have gone to AFTER the fact. Why can't they advertise all blood drives on givelife.org? They seem to be missing quite a few in my area for some reasons.

  10. debtfreeme Says:
    1253040542

    I give blood every 8 weeks. Our agency brings in the local blood source people and they bring in their big mobile unit. It is so satisfying to be able to do it and I feel so good once it is done.

    There is a type of infection I have never been exposed to making my blood O-negative, negative. They can give it to premature babies and infants needing surgery or transfusions. Hearing that the second time i gave years ago made it an easy decision to do. I bring my i pod and watch a movie or frontline episode while helping someone else.

  11. nmboone Says:
    1253083544

    I'm one of those people who can't give because I don't weigh enough! I'm tiny!

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