This morning I saw on twitter that @MIblood was having a blood drive over in my neck of the woods at the Cascade Library and they were in need of more O- blood. I don't have O- blood but I figured a little extra A+ blood couldn't hurt. I've been meaning to give blood again after having a few less than pleasant experiences in high-school. You need to weigh at least 110lbs in order to give blood and when I was in high-school I was right on that line and probably shouldn't have really given blood to begin with, and then I always seemed to end up fainting / feeling sick immediately after. My mom put the kabosh on me donating again. An additional fifteen pounds later, I'd say I'm in the clear. I did eat a hot-dog appetizer just incase (apparently all the blood drives in Michigan grill hot dogs in the summer)! I also had another one afterward for dessert. :) I learned a few new things while I was there. As I was reading over the pre-screening checklist I got nervous that I because I checked "yes" twice (for having surgery within the past year and for leaving the country) that I wasn't going to be allowed to donate. Apparently for certain questions though you can still donate, they just have to get a little more information from you. I was in the clear. The second thing I learned was that you donate ONE POUND of blood. I had never realized that. No wonder I got sick. The third thing I learned was that they do NOT let you request "baby needles" like the Doctors do. My veins are infamous for tricking nurses into thinking they are nice and plump and then immediately collapsing as soon as the needle is inserting. They are such a tease. Baby needles usually work for me, but I didn't have this option. I was right, my vein got all messed up and they had to re-do it, even after I warned them.
As I was laying their on the table one of my parent's best friends, Bob, walked in and laid down next to me. I probably started pumping 5-1o minutes before him but he still finished before me. (That's what she said?). I asked the nurse why I was so slow and that's when I learned that the three things that affect how quickly your blood fills the bag are 1) how hydrated you are 2) the size of your veins and 3) how the needle is put in your arm. Next time, I'll probably try to drink water before. Overall, it was a really easy, painless experience and I recommend everyone go out and try to give some blood this week (unless you've gone within the last 8 weeks)! Help save a life! :)
- Lizzie
P.S. Sorry for the graphic photo. That's my arm. And for the record, that's iodine on my arm, not jaundice.