Twokinds ARCHIVE Forums

Yesterday at my vocational school, there was a blood drive. I donated that day a total sum of 420mL of red blood cells and platelets. Sure, I got a return line to restore my plasma, but man... I'm really faint from it. I apologize if in the next couple of days, my posts may seem incoherent, but that sort of thing will happen when you're short of a quart of blood.

What do any of you guys do if you've donated or lost a full quart of blood? Take supplements to restore your nutritional value?And if you have to carry on at work or school, what do you do to keep from fainting or becoming incoherent and senseless?

Try hitting yourself in the face a couple of times, that should keep you awake. I think soup or stew is a good way to restore your nutritional value. But i don't know that much about it either.
Rock on \../ :twisted:

I've never donated before, by my sister had a really bad reaction to it when she donated for a drive in high school. Sicker than a dog for a few days after, as if she had the bleedin' flue.

Pretty much the main reason I keep my blood in my body, :)

That's a common reaction, especially those with a low immune system. Luckily, mine seems almost inhuman, so I don;t believe I'll be getting sick as long as I stay active.

Now my primary issue is dealing with the withdraw-like side effects. There's a good chance that I'll be far more aggressive in the time that I recover. Low blood count will probably be much like a low blood sugar issue.

Yeah, don't do anything too strenuous for a couple days and keep your bloodsugar up. As long as you don't have a reaction to the anticoagulant (which you'd already know about by now), you should be fine. I wouldn't recommend DDRing or anything like that, no concerts, no clubbing. That's a recipe to pass out.

Did they at least put your plasma in a blood warmer before they pumped it back into you? When I did the full quart they didn't and my core temp dropped like a rock. It was pretty hard on me.

I've donated double blood at blood drives thrice. I'm happy to give blood if it means helping other people. Now that I think about it, I need to give blood again soon. It's been a while since I last donated.

As for the effects, I wasn't really hit all that hard. When they put the plasma back in the first time, I shook like a leaf because it was ice cold. I felt faint when they first started to draw the blood, but after that, I was fine. I got up and wanted to get back to work, but they made me sit down and eat a cookie.

The second time was even more streamlined. They took my blood, put back the plasma, I got up and grabbed a cookie on my way out. I guess that's why I like giving blood, it doesn't cause much of a negative effect on my body.

Agreed there. I'm glad you had a much better set of experiences giving double red. I'd probably do it again if they asked, though I'm sure I'd ask for a blanket right off the bat.

I'm looking forward to getting off the deferred list, even if that is most of a year away.
*grumble*Dang earring*grumble*

I hear that foods high in iron are good to eat before and after donating. Stuff like Liver and the such. Well, thats what they told my wife. I can't give blood, I'm a CJD risk.

Ya know, now I just feel bad, because I'm like a year younger than Tom and I haven't given blood once. I'm gonna go find a blood drive now.

I'm the universal blood type :3
I did one of those school blood tests where they give you a small razor, and you have to stab your finger, and mix your blood with something. SO WHO NEEDS SOME BLOOD? EH?

I've never given blood, but as for my experience with friends who have...just rest, eat good food (no Cheetos or crap food) that'll get nutrients back into your body, and be nice to yourself. Buy yourself a new scarf or pair of gloves, you just donated your blood. Or if you don't live somewhere freezing...sunglasses or something. *shrug*

In theory, I want to give blood. In reality, I have a phobia of needles. I set off the heart-rate monitor alarms when they put the I.V. in my arm for my wisdom teeth. Jumped from 90 to 200 in about a second. Not good for giving blood.

I've given a few times, and I dont know why, but I always feel great afterwards. They make me stay for a while and get my strength back, but I never even feel weak after giving (though I do still have tiny scars from the needles). I have O+ blood, which is kind of good. Anyone can take my blood, but if I ever need some...well...yeah. I guess I always feel so good afterwards because I am fit. I cycle about 100 miles a week, so that really helps. Just keep in shape and eat right, and you should feel great after giving.

i don't even know my blood type. I've through about giving some many times but never actually done it. I want to help but at the same time i'm scared.

I'd be afraid of giving blood too if there was a chance I could get AIDs or HIV or something from it.

needles creep me out, i hate them the only time i ever had to get blood removed was for tests but damn it hurt. by the way how old do you have to be to give blood?