Blood Donation
After a pin-prick on the side of my finger and some questions I was finally okayed to give some blood.
I proceeded to have an encouraging conversation with the guy with the needle.
- Would you like a local anesthetic?
- Sure.
- Are you sure? It means I have to go and call the nurse for another injection.
- Another needle?
- Yup.
- Forget it. Just do it. I want the minimum number of needles.
- Okay. Just to warn you, I am a trainee. Are you okay with me doing this?
- ...
- I can get a nurse if you prefer.
- ...
- I've done a few already.
- Err... okay then. Give it a go.
Thankfully it all went okay and it was no more painful than a pinch. Didn't feel anything, apart from my fingers getting a little numb.
I had my iPod and people asked me what I was listening to. Well I had a little Ben Harper on to start, and then some Kenickie. I should have lied, as I then had to explain who they were.
Very relaxing though. One nurse suggested they should hand out iPods on entry. What a good idea - just have to stop people running off with them... collapsing on the floor and being dragged back to the bed.
Add a comment
I like the idea of iPods in places like blood labs and in surgery. drop in your own playlist and relax. Perhaps they could just lock them to the tables and use new earplugs each time?
I had to give blood yesterday, too. I have veins that are very hard to find and people always panic when they see them (or don't). They finally pulled in some woman with wild black hair, black nails, and crazy personality. I told her to please not say oops! uh-oh, or anything like that because my imagination is my worst enemy and I have been known to feint. She doesn't even hesitate, puts the needle in (didn't even tap my arm 80 million times like the rest) and then says, Uh-oh, oops! Giggle giggle, hmmmm, darn... now what? I almost slugged her! Luckily, I knew she was kidding and it did keep my mind off of the whole process. BTW - thanks for the info.
Jon, my father had Huntington's Disease and my two brothers have been diagnosed with it. I don't show any signs as of yet and have not been tested, so I decided to participate in their study. It was a little tense. But I am fine today. Just short a few tablespoons of blood.
Cindra - I'm sorry to hear that. Glad you're feeling better. Alicia - I think BYO 'phones is a better idea. I'm always dubious of inserting things which have been in other people's orifices.
I was one of those people who used to be morbidly afraid of needles mainly due lots of blood tests as a child for various reasons. It took a lot of psyching up to do my first blood donation, but despite the needle being one of the largest I had ever contemplated allowing to be inserted into my body I'd ever seen, it was surprisingly painless. It took me awhile to realize this was due to differences in the methods used. Most blood samples for testing purposes are extracted using a sealed vial that has had the air removed making a vacuum that sucks the blood out of your vein. Whereas the larger needle involved in a blood donation allows the blood to flow naturally at its own pace. I've not had a problem with donating blood ever since.
is it true that the national blood service sells blood abroad ????