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Original poster

Had a funny 'turn' while donating blood earlier. Now I'm scared of doing it again!

34 replies

ManicUnicorn · 12/12/2018 21:57

Just that really. Been donating blood for a while with no problems, went along earlier today and felt absolutely fine beforehand. But when I had the finger prick test it was unusually sore, iron levels were fine though,

When they tried to put the needle in my arm it alsoreally hurt, far more than usual and the woman said sometimes it's more painful than others. Intitally I felt fine and then all of a sudden my hand started to go numb and I felt all floppy and like I was being sucked out of myself. I mentioned this and then next thing I knew the nurse was standing over me, tipping me backwards and talking to me to keep conscious and there's was a fuss getting the needle out of my arm. I felt better as soon as I was tipped back and the needle came out but I was fussed over for ages and was given all these leaflets before being allowed to leave. It was embarrassing, I felt awful for the woman who was taking the blood and there were loads of newbies who were probably nervous enough and then I go and nearly black out in front of them!

I'm fine now, and was told so little blood was taken that I can donate again straight away, but now I'm really scared of it happening again! I'm an O negative so can give to anyone, and yet I don't think I can ever face it again. I can't think why it happened, and the nurse said it happens occasionally but not a lot.

What the fuck went wrong?!

OP posts:

Oorwulliesbucket · 12/12/2018 22:02

You fainted, I do it every time, just eat more biscuits

YouBoggleMyMind · 12/12/2018 22:03

Please don't be embarrassed, my DH has had a funny turn twice and one of those times he fainted. He's since given blood without any issue. It could have been something as simple as low blood sugar. Please don't be put off. My DS has several blood transfusions in January to keep him alive and we have people like you to thank for him being alive today.

Cherries101 · 12/12/2018 22:03

Were you hydrated?

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Original poster

ManicUnicorn · 12/12/2018 22:04

I don't think I properly fainted. I was aware of what was going on the whole time.

OP posts:

Original poster

ManicUnicorn · 12/12/2018 22:05

I'd had two pints of juice right before donating.

OP posts:

Dextrodependant · 12/12/2018 22:06

I often go light headed whilst giving blood and once fainted but it passes quickly. Make sure you drink plenty of fluids and eat enough during the day.

GummyGoddess · 12/12/2018 22:07

Hypoxic Seizure or less severe? I had a seizure and was banned from giving blood for a few years for my own safety.

Maybe you're coming down with something and your body just couldn't take the extra stress?

Toddlerteaplease · 12/12/2018 22:08

I used to go faint if I had a hot drink immediately after donating. My blood pressure is on the low side and hot drinks would drop it even more. Not allowed to donate anymore due to MS.

Fluffyears · 12/12/2018 22:09

It happened once to me. Always fine, as I was donating I felt a bit hot and shaky and couldn’t think straight. The woman said ‘oh that’s fine our rather fast...’ she took one look at me and tipped the bed up so my feet were high and put a fan next to me. It took ages to recover. I’ve never had an
Issue since in the period since.

shesaysgoes · 12/12/2018 22:10

I always ask to lay down as I'm guaranteed to faint otherwise. I have to ask the same if I have a new tattoo, faint at those too

GarethSouthgatesWaistcoat · 12/12/2018 22:11

It's happened to me several times, it's embarrassing Try drinking water/squash during the day, not just downing fluids immediately before? I started taking a multivitamin with iron too.

Not sure what the pain was about.

Did you eat enough throughout the day?

Lumpy76 · 12/12/2018 22:12

Happened to my husband when he gave blood (he’s o neg too co incidentally). He had to be sent home from work he was that unwell. The nurses said something about the speed the blood came out but he’s not dared give any again.

witchmountain · 12/12/2018 22:13

It might just be because the needle wasn't comfortable which made you more aware of everything/feel weird. It sounds like you were on the way to fainting. It happened to me once when I got up too quickly at the end and then didn't sit down (waiting with a friend who was donating for the first time) - all of a sudden everything around me started to get further away. I sat down on the floor before I properly fainted but then had to lie on a bed with my legs in the air and wasn't allowed a hot drink the next time!

Do give it another go, I'm O Neg too and about to make my 50th donation. It's true they sometimes don't quite get the needle comfortable but I've found it happens very rarely - maybe once in all those donations. They used to be able to move it if that happened but I think I heard they can't do that anymore.

SingingSands · 12/12/2018 22:13

I had bad reactions the last two times I donated and I'm now not supposed to donate for 2 years!

My experience is similar to yours, without the painful finger prick/needle insertion. Basically started feeling funny as soon as donation started, rode it out, but then crashed. My bp is generally a little low so probably to do with that, but last two donations were awful experiences which left me sitting in recovery for an hour and barely able to drive home. I was wiped out for the rest of the evening and the next day too. I've never felt so weak! And embarrassed! When I hit the deck last time they quickly pulled a screen round me - nothing a room full of people love more than an emergency screen going up!

The nurses I spoke to said that some bodies just react badly to donating and I'm clearly one of them!

Hope you feel better soon

GarethSouthgatesWaistcoat · 12/12/2018 22:14

It's also on my notes to let me lie flat for 5mins after I've donated. I remind them every time
They usually err on the side of caution and leave me there for at least 10mins

Those measures combined seem to allow me to give blood effectively.

witchmountain · 12/12/2018 22:16

If (when ) you do go again, let them know you're nervous and you'll get extra looked after.

Laquila · 12/12/2018 22:16

I think it’s pretty common, and just because it hasn’t happened before it doesn’t necessarily mean you’re immune 😁

I passed out the first time I tried to hive blood, many years ago, and they wrote me a nice letter basically saying thank you, you can try once more but if you keel over again then please don’t bother coming back.

I’ve had two babies since then so could probably find the vein myself now whilst standing on my head and watching Netflix - I was a lot more mard back then!

Avrannakern · 12/12/2018 22:19

I did that 4 times in a row... And they told me not to come back. I was quite underweight then, but it's been 10 years and I'm a healthy weight now so I want to try again but feel so worried about It!

Original poster

ManicUnicorn · 12/12/2018 22:23

Funnily enough I was banned from having a hot drink afterwards today. The only thing I can think of that possibly contributed was that I went the gym yesterday and am really sore today. But I can't see it?

Ive always felt that you never know when you or someone you love might need blood yourself and that's why I donate, so I don't really want to stop. Might have a good feed over Christmas and try again in January.

OP posts:

witchmountain · 12/12/2018 22:29

The needle might just not have been in the optimum position. If it's uncomfortable it's then very hard not to get caught up in thinking about it feeling weird, leading to your hand feeling weird and you feeling faint.

If you go back in January you could also ask them to stand and chat for a bit longer to distract you. Wiggling your toes can be helpful too, makes you focus on something else.

GummyGoddess · 12/12/2018 22:40

Do they make you do squeezes at the same time?

Idontknowwhyinfrench · 12/12/2018 22:43

I do this every time .
Also when having my ears pierced and with most injections (better with these nowadays).
Also (slightly niche) after ultra running events!

Original poster

ManicUnicorn · 12/12/2018 22:44

You have to make a fist rather than squeeze.

OP posts:

OytheBumbler · 12/12/2018 22:46

A similar thing happened with me. The nurse had to drive me home and leave my car there!

I've not been back and feel guilty because I'm O neg. I've presumed it's because I'm often low on iron.

pasbeaucoupdegendarme · 12/12/2018 22:46

I did this last time I donated.... turned out (two weeks later when the penny finally dropped) I was pregnant 😳

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