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Original poster

Giving blood

90 replies

stampo · 09/07/2021 15:10

Just wondering has anyone any experience of giving blood? There's a big call for donors where i live and i have O negative so would like to donate. But I'm scared. Does it hurt? Will i feel weak afterwards?

OP posts:
Yellowcrockpot · 09/07/2021 21:39

Oh and last time I even had a little bit of flirty banter with the very attractive male nurse.
dont tell DP

Thirtyrock39 · 09/07/2021 21:47

I'm also o negative but always fail the iron test these days - would love to be able to donate again
It is a bit uncomfortable but literally that - it's not uncomfortable in the way for example a smear test is or similar- you can feel it but it's fine . I'm a very slow bleeder so when I am able to donate it takes me ages but even then it's not painful or unpleasant . And you feel like you're doing such a good thing as well

LST · 09/07/2021 21:49

I wish I could give blood but am unable to as I have received a transfusion! But thanks to all that donate I was right as rain!

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General health
SweatyBetty20 · 09/07/2021 23:32

The plaster is the worst. I only felt a bit woozy once - stupidly hadn’t had enough to eat but they tipped me upside down in those cool chairs and stuffed me full of food and I was fine.

The best bit is when you get a text maybe a week, ten days later, telling you your blood has been used and where - it’s just the best feeling, it’s like a little Lottery win.

Original poster
stampo · 10/07/2021 00:45

So what I'm hearing is i could make an afternoon out of this good deed. Maybe lunch out by myself, then donate whilst having a rest followed by chocolate. I'm sold. My main fear was that it would take an hour and be painful the whole time but you've all assured me that's not the case. I'm in Ireland so not sure you get a text saying where the blood has gone but that would definitely incentivise people to keep donating. It was on the news here saying Ireland was getting blood in from the NHS for the first time in decades due to chronic shortages.

Serious kudos to those of you who've donated so many times!

OP posts:
Oldraver · 10/07/2021 00:46

The worst bit is the bloody horrible isotonic drink they made me have this week, it used to be water or squash but this stuff is rank

And being told not to drink alcohol 😀

Chanel05 · 10/07/2021 00:47

If you can, please do donate. Only 4% of people eligible to give blood actually do. A blood donor saved my life Smile

stilldumdedumming · 10/07/2021 00:59

I donate. Yes the finger prick is the worst bit. But the actual donation does not hurt and staff are ridiculously attentive- if you felt ill at any point for any reason they would know exactly how to help you (I've never seen anyone get ill).

My dp had a massive brain haemorrhage. My first donation after that went to the hospital that saved his life. Pretty poetic.

justmeisit · 10/07/2021 01:02

Oh you definitely don't feel like the blood has left or anything.

PastMyBestBeforeDate · 10/07/2021 01:11

I did faint once but they were totally prepared (grabbed me, tipped the chair backwards to the floor) and I was fine in a few minutes. That was once but otherwise it was a non event and I am notorious at our local phlebotomy site for being difficult.
I received blood so I can't donate anymore but the people that gave those few pints, helped save my life :) Please do it.

Yellowcrockpot · 10/07/2021 02:43

I love this thread, on the simple terms as raising awareness.

I can only second what everyone else says, it's an incredibly wonderful thing to do, and if any side effects, you are so well looked after.

Make a day of it, I always do.

Never ignore medical advice to "take it easy" Grin

.......and be a hero.

AlCalavicci · 10/07/2021 03:03

I agree with everyone , it is not painful at all and you dont feel the blood leaving your arm.

Unfortunately of the 7 times I have donated 4 of them I have fainted ! I am not at all squeamish and was fine while giving the blood it is during the coffee and biscuits I keel over , I have got shocking bad circulation so that will probably have something to do with it but please dont let this put you off , I am just weird Confused

Treat yourself to lunch 1st , with plenty of water ( avoid caffeine and def no booze ) take a book or I prefer audible as holding a book with one hand can be a bit of a pain if its a heavy one .

Make sure you feel 100 % ok before you leave , and take it easy for the rest of the day , remember to eat and drink plenty for the rest of the day too .

Good luck , come back and tell us how it went .

Walkerbean16 · 10/07/2021 22:46

haha yes I think of it as a treat! a child free hour of peace and free chocolate! win win!

newnortherner111 · 10/07/2021 22:47

I have made over 50 decisions and glad to read you have decided to make what I hope is your first of many.

EdithGrantham · 10/07/2021 22:56

I can't donate at the moment as I'm pregnant and had forgotten about the horrible isotonic drink they've introduced Envy (not envy) Agree with others that taking the plaster off is the worst bit, why is it quite so sticky?!
I started getting pins and needles in my arm when donating from my left arm, think it's more to do with the position of my elbow on the rest but they stopped the donation straight away and then past two times I did right arm and was fine.

DahliaMacNamara · 10/07/2021 22:57

I loved giving blood when my DC were small. You get to lie down, nobody bothers you, then someone fetches you a drink and a snack. And you have the moral high ground rather than guilt at self-indulgence.

I do still donate, even though I have more opportunities for a nice undisturbed sit down these days. And yes, removing the plaster is the worst bit.

SheldonesqueTheBstard · 10/07/2021 22:58

Another seasoned donor here.

Make sure you have something to eat before hand and a good glug of water.

A baggy or short sleeved top.

The people monitoring you are marvellous and will keep an eye on you.

I love donating. It sounds weird I know. I sleep the sleep of the Gods at night.

As an insomniac it is a lovely side effect.

I have only ever felt dodgy once. I came home and tried to cut the grass before it rained instead of chilling a little bit. So my fault entirely.

Good luck Smile

Spanglybangly · 10/07/2021 23:00

On behalf of the recipients of your blood I want to say thank you 💕.

I was a regular donor, and in actual fact work in a blood bank, until 2019 when I received life saving transfusions following the birth of my son meaning I can no longer donate. You have no idea how grateful I am to the people who took the time to donate blood to save my life.

In terms of donating - drink plenty of water. More than you would think you need to ensure you are not dehydrated. Have a snack before you go. The donor carers are so lovely in explaining what is happening. The actual donation doesn’t take long and then you can enjoy a snack and a drink revelling in the satisfaction of knowing you’ve done good.

RebeccaCloud9 · 10/07/2021 23:02

Be prepared for your appointment to be cancelled. My last 4 have been cancelled on the day.

EBearhug · 10/07/2021 23:05

I gave my 50th donation about a month ago. You still get a drink and biscuit, but at your donation chair (though this may depend on the donation centre.) I don't know if tea or coffee was on offer, as I don't drink either, but I know it wasn't when we used to use a local Mormon church as a donation centre, which upset some people.

There's loads of info on the website about the actual donation process. If you've been fine with blood samples at the GP, you should be fine with this. I have never had bruising from giving blood, but I have had from blood tests at the GP. I agree the plaster removal is the worst bit!

If you say you're a first time donor, you'll probably get a longer rest after and be watched a bit more carefully. But they've done a lot of research over the years on how to maintain blood pressure, which is why we're now told to drink a pint of water on arrival and do leg exercises while in the chair.

Do follow the advice about no strenuous exercise after- a chap at uni went and played rugby after giving blood, and fainted on the pitch. I did feel momentarily light-headed reaching up to a high cupboard after my last donation, but usually I don't notice anything.

I don't like being told where my blood has gone, but I know I'm in a minority on that.

So enjoy your afternoon out!

110APiccadilly · 10/07/2021 23:11

The worst bit is the bit where they prick your finger with a needle in the screening (they use the blood to check you're not anemic). Other than that, yes the needle does hurt going in, but that's over quickly.

I've felt tired the day after sometimes, but not always. I've also felt really energetic the day after (there's apparently a reason for this though I forget what it is!) I never know which I'll get.

Ginspiration · 10/07/2021 23:11

Definitely go for it OP its so rewarding!! Though don't do what i did and try to go for a record time everytime you donate... turns out the faster you go the longer it takes to stop Grin

cleowasmycat · 10/07/2021 23:20

As a fellow O- you also get a special keyring saying First Responder and a special phone number to make appointments.

#VIPblood

DontCallMeBaby · 10/07/2021 23:22

Irish protocols might be different but the centre I go to aims to get the whole thing done in under an hour. Actual donation has a limit of ten minutes - last but one time I went I was on a countdown, made it with seconds to spare, I squeezed everything so hard I was sore the next day 😂

The isotonic drink doesn’t appear to be compulsory - I started to ask about it last time as I assume it’s full of sweeteners and I can’t bear them, was immediately told I didn’t need to have it, water was fine.

BikeRunSki · 10/07/2021 23:22

@BlueChampagne

I have donated over 60 times. It hurts a tiny bit when the needle goes in, but is fine after that. You shouldn't feel weak afterwards, but don't expect to do a pb on a 10k either Grin
This. I havn’t done quite 60 though - I’m in the 40s. I rather enjoy it. They are skyways delighted to see me and I get to lie down for 15 mins, then have a cup of tea in peace.
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