Giving away my blood

So I have an appointment to give blood here at work at 2:15. I'm nervous. I've only given blood twice in my life. The first time, I was 17 years old, and they came to my high school on the day of our senior picnic. I must have nearly passed out (I have only passed out once in my life, and didn't realize I'd done it until much later) because they had to put me down flat on my back. My friend Matt, a big football player who ended up in the army was behind me and he did pass out. I always thought he did it to make me feel better. I ended up at the senior picnic later with a rubber glove full of ice on my arm because I bruised so badly.

I gave blood again in college. I don't remember much about it, except that they asked so many more questions than they had in high school. Again, I nearly passed out, and bruised like crazy.

So why am I doing this today? Well, there's a critical shortage in central Ohio, and they finally changed the piercing rules, so I'm "clear" to donate. Plus, it's kind of a test to see if I still nearly pass out and bruise badly. I'll try some yoga breathing to get through this. I'm just not good with needles though, especially when they are removing something from me. Ick.

(no subject)

Okay, so apparently, I am not cut out to have my blood drained in the interest of public health.

I went up for my appointment at 2:15. I was quite nervous, but by the time they got me hooked up, I was pretty calm. A woman from another department (Mary) was next to me. I warned the nurse that I tend to pass out, and she charged Mary with keeping me alert, so we chatted about the project we're both working on.

About halfway through, I got a little dizzy, so they tilted me back so I was lying down. I was fine for the rest of the donation, but afterwards, I was super dizzy. Then, they tilted me back up when I asked them too. Bad idea. I passed out about 10 minutes later. Apparently I was telling them I was ok the whole time, but I was completely passed out. I remember none of this I came to and was laying back again and burning up and sweating. So after another 20 minutes or so, they sat me up again.

After another 10 minutes, I came close to passing out again, though I was able to warn them sooner this time and they leaned me back before I did.

Finally, after another 45 minutes or so, I got to go. They were packing up the equipment and inventorying. The head nurse told me, "Honey, I know you have good intentions, and I appreciate that, so don't take this the wrong way, but maybe you're just not cut out to be a donor." I think she may be right. It's not close to normal to need that long to recover and had I been there earlier, I would have been cutting into their time with other donors. And since this has happened all three times I've donated, with increasing severity, it may be time to cut my losses and quit now.

Two hours and fifteen minutes later, I'm back at my desk, but I still don't feel 100% okay, though I don't think I'm in danger of passing out now. There very well be a migraine in my future. I'm really ravenous though, so there may be Chipotle in my future this evening.

I did really well with the needle though. At least I've proven I can do that part.