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Original poster

Someone please talk me through giving blood

58 replies

LemonBreeland · 07/07/2020 09:45

As the title says, I have signed up to be a blood donor. I've never done it before as was often anaemic when I was younger. But now I've signed up I'm a bit nervous.

Can someone please tell me how it all works.

OP posts:
PowerslidePanda · 07/07/2020 15:00

They use a blood pressure cuff instead, has the same effect, though.

Good to know, thank you!

And thanks to everyone else for the info as well - very useful for us novices!

MissusMaker · 07/07/2020 15:19

Just to add, I gave blood last week and the following differed from normal due to COVID-19 precaution:

Screening questions before you enter the building - temp, cough etc
Spaced out seating area
Most staff wearing masks
And most different of all: no going over to the refreshments table after donating, they brought juice and crisp/biscuits to you in your bucket chair (no hot drinks available). This might have been specific to my location but thought I would mention.

It was all managed excellently as usual and I was in and out in about 45mins.

Oldraver · 07/07/2020 15:25

I gave a couple of weeks ago and it did go a lot quicker than usual, and yes the final drink biscuit was bought to me in my chair

Be prepared for being asked your name DOB address loads. I always forget some info at some point

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General health
Griselda1 · 07/07/2020 15:32

Prepare to have your temperature taken before entering.I've given blood now on 5 occasions, no issues at all but I need to be careful to eat properly and drink lots of fluids. On the occasion where I got held up at work and hadn't eaten in 4 hours I felt a bit faint.I don't watch the process or even look bear the Needle. The last time the process slowed down and they gave me a ball to squeeze.

MulticolourMophead · 07/07/2020 20:20

@MissusMaker

Just to add, I gave blood last week and the following differed from normal due to COVID-19 precaution:

Screening questions before you enter the building - temp, cough etc
Spaced out seating area
Most staff wearing masks
And most different of all: no going over to the refreshments table after donating, they brought juice and crisp/biscuits to you in your bucket chair (no hot drinks available). This might have been specific to my location but thought I would mention.

It was all managed excellently as usual and I was in and out in about 45mins.

We still had a tea table last week, chairs spaced out for social distancing, so it seems regional. No tea, though, just cold drinks.

Was still organised well for social distancing.

wowfudge · 07/07/2020 20:37

If your pin prick of blood from your finger doesn't sink in the test tube, they take another pin prick amount - not a vial like a pp posted - and put it into a kind of glass slide that is then machine read. Happened to me a few weeks ago - my iron levels were fine, I think the person training possibly didn't get a big enough sample for the first test.

They are really big on safety, for you as a donor and for anyone your blood goes to. There's usually music playing.

The drink of water is because they've found that dehydration is a contributory factor to fainting or feeling faint. Makes sense as they are taking a fluid from you. I like an orange Club from the biscuit selection. They have crisps too.

Giving blood was one of the most normal experiences I've had outside home during lockdown. I found that reassuring.

MulticolourMophead · 07/07/2020 22:08

Sometimes the drop of blood doesn't sink because there's too much iron. The two vials of liquid are calibrated for the men's and women's minimum levels and once my iron level was at the men's level and didn't react properly when dropped into the tube for women's blood. I had a 2nd test done then, which confirmed I was fine to donate.

museumum · 07/07/2020 22:14

There are loads of staff and they’re so nice. Tell them you feel a bit nervous and they’ll chat to you. I have done six or seven donations (travelled too much in my 20s then had babies and was too knackered) and I’ve only got over the nerves in the last couple of times. If you feel nervy chat you the staff and they’ll keep you distracted.
Drink lots beforehand and wiggle your fingers and toes during....
I always feel fine after but give it a day or two before running again.

DisgraceToTheYChromosome · 07/07/2020 22:34

Good luck and courage OP. I've given about 30 times, I hope to get my gold card before I'm 70 in 10 years. I tolerate it quite well, although the day I cocked up and went by bike...like doing a mountain stage on the way homeBlush

MulticolourMophead · 08/07/2020 03:30

DisgraceToTheYChromosome I know the feeling, tried to walk home a couple of years ago, quite uphill. Not good, I was almost staggering when I got there, went to bed for a nap before tea, with lots of water.

Previously I'd been walking home on the flat, so no issues then.

MulticolourMophead · 08/07/2020 03:36

Oh, I forgot to add that it looks like you can continue to give blood over 70, as long as you have given a full blood donation in the previous 2 years, so im sure youll make 50 and get your gold card.

Mind you, when I reached 50 units, I got the gold card, a certificate and a pin badge. Like I'm ever going to wear the badge.

NoWordForFluffy · 08/07/2020 09:07

I wish they wouldn't waste money on badges! I wonder if there's anyone that wears theirs?!

Nocaloriesinchocolate · 08/07/2020 09:58

I echo what people say – nothing to worry about and the staff are wonderful. I last gave a few weeks ago and there were notices up thanking patients for coming in during the pandemic. At the end I, being me and not afraid to draw attention to myself, called out for a clap for the. Wonderful staff. Obviously most patients couldn’t join in as they’re busy being recumbent but I thought it was the thought that counted!

iknowimcoming · 08/07/2020 10:17

Drink, drink, drink on the day you go! I sometimes have tricky veins and the biggest thing that makes a difference is drinking loads on the day! I actually went last week and they couldn't get any blood but it was also my 50th time so I felt really deflated after (didn't realise until I got an email the next day congratulating me) - didn't get a badge or anything though - do they post them? Maybe it was because of COVID?

NoWordForFluffy · 08/07/2020 10:29

I find that drinking loads the day before AND the day of makes the blood gush out at high speed!

sueelleker · 08/07/2020 12:04

Be prepared for being asked your name DOB address loads. I always forget some info at some point
I sometimes think it would save time to hang a notice round my neck with the information on!
I went last week, and we had to wait outside until our donation time was called.(I couldn't donate-they stuck the needle in my vein wrong; I'm waiting for the bruise to go down before I re-book)

NoWordForFluffy · 08/07/2020 12:54

@sueelleker, they count a failed donation as a donation so you have to wait 16 weeks (assuming you're female). I had the 'needle in wrong' problem and the app wouldn't let me book until after the 16 week period. Might be different if you ring them though?

iknowimcoming · 08/07/2020 16:22

@sueelleker and @NoWordForFluffy - the nurse told me last week as long as no blood makes it into the bag it doesn't count as a donation and you can book again straight away (and I have)

iknowimcoming · 08/07/2020 16:23

@sueelleker and @NoWordForFluffy - the nurse told me last week as long as no blood makes it into the bag it doesn't count as a donation and you can book again straight away (and I have)

NoWordForFluffy · 08/07/2020 16:49

Ah, that's good. My nurse buggered it up but managed to get some in the bag. I wish she'd failed completely!

It's the only bad donation I've had though. The rest have all been great.

Namechangex10000 · 08/07/2020 16:52

I’m terrified of needles and am pathetic when it comes to needing to have them in me, however, I still choose to give blood because I have a rare blood type and I have the attitude of “if it was you or yours that needed the blood you’d expect it to be available so therefore you should give”

I’ve also never found myself feeling off afterwards, i just go about my business as normal.

BitOfFun · 08/07/2020 17:04

Thank you for doing this- I'm just back from hospital having had a blood tranfusion (2 units).

The smallish bags look about an armful (Tony Hancock reference there for the older among us Grin.)

Can I ask what is probably a silly question? I did ask the nurses but they didn't know.

Are the bags of blood from one individual, or would it be a mixture of several people's all mixed up? I know that it's all the same blood type as the person receiving it, but nothing more than that.

CrumpetandSausage · 08/07/2020 17:17

I was scared of needles when I first started donating many (many) years ago. I found I was coming out on a high because I had psyched myself up for it to be painful and scary and it really wasn’t that bad at all. Definitely try to relax when they put the needle in. And tell them it’s your first time and you are scared. They will look after you.

BlackCatsRule88 · 08/07/2020 17:30

Congratulations on signing up to do it. I agree with everything the other posters have said - I was apprehensive the first time I went a couple of years ago but the staff talk you through everything and know what they are doing and are happy to help.

There’s always a really good selection of biscuits and crisps but make sure you eat and drink plenty on the day you go.

Do the little clenching exercises while the blood is coming out and it’ll come out quicker - it can go down to about 7 mins.

The pain is only for a few seconds and isn’t that bad. Peeling the plaster off afterwards is worse for me!

I love the text you get when the blood is issued as well.

Clotho55 · 08/07/2020 17:43

First of all, OP, well done for making this decision; I've given many times & never regretted it because I feel it's repayment for the transfusions given to one of my aunts and my paternal grandfather a long time ago. The staff at my donation centre are consistently great; professional, caring, knowledgeable. You will be looked after very well, particularly as it's your first donation. Please come back and tell us how it went. Good luck! 👏

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