booked to give blood but im scared

[familyfun]

ive always been scared of needles, but after 2 kids, blood tests and anti d injections ive got used to them a bit.
ive booked first time to give blood and im really scared.
how long does the blood come out for?
when you have a blood test and they take 5 littkle tubes, will they take lots more than that?
what if i faint will i be wasting their time?
i am going to do this next week but im panicking already
help

[Mama1980]

Aww familyfun don't feel deflated you tried and that counts.
Just want to add my thanks again to you and everyone else on here who donates blood after two extreme prem delivers and a car crash in the last 5 years you have all saved me and my sons a hundred times over.
Thank you

[Thewhingingdefective]

Oh, just seen you couldn't donate. What a shame, but good on you for going.

[Thewhingingdefective]

Don't be scared! You will be fine and will be well looked after.

Drink plenty of water and eat something before hand and afterwards.

My last donation was last week. I was there for just under an hour but that is cos I got chatting while having biccies and squash. The donation itself took five minutes.

[alanyoung]

Familyfun. Sorry you were not able to donate this time, but keep trying. Most contributors have focussed on improving your confidence about the actual process which is great, but if you concentrate on the good you are doing you will not worry about the process so much, so please go back as soon as you can and try again.

I'm blood group O Negative and apparently this can be given to anyone as it does not cause problems when mixed with blood of different groups. This means it can be given to someone in an emergency (road traffic accident, for example) so I was glad to be able to donate. But even though I am supposed to be a tough GUY, I did literally cry when one of the nurses told me they also give it to new born babies.

If you have a rare blood group, it is just as important to give because there will naturally be a smaller amount of a rare group, but people with those blood groups need it just as much as anyone else. Also, blood groups tend to be geographically based to some extent, so a donor of a rare group may be able to help someone from a different country who needs blood urgently.

Keep up the good work and well done for trying.

[familyfun]

just an update, i went and had the fingerprick test, all was fine till i got on the bed and the nurse couldnt get a vein, said my veins are too small?
she asked me was i sure i was over 7 stone, which im lots over but quite tall.
she said i cant give blood, would need to put on a stone, or try again in 2 years.
didnt think weight had anything to do with it and ive just put on a stone so will have to leave it for now.
felt quite deflated going home, never mind.

[Jestrin]

gobbin my DH does too

[Zavi]

Wow!

Good for you for even trying!

I am very impressed!

Good girl!

[Baffledandbewildered]

You are very brave but please look after yourself afterwards. My then 18 year old son gave blood twice, he was ill after the first time and has never properly recovered from the second time. He is now 22 and still not right always weak and catching illnesses ect. I say this as someone who has received blood transfusion so i am not anti them. Just take care of your self :)

[HermioneE]

Good for you for booking :)

It does take a bit of time so I recommend having a book/phone handy. Only 5/10 mins but it's long enough that it's nice to have something to do.

Blood donation nurses are totally practiced at this though so they'll make it as painless as possible.

Good luck, enjoy feeling nice and smug afterwards!

[gobbin]

I was going to say that jestrin

I am eternally grateful for people who donate as I needed blood after my bowel resection in 99. It was this that prompted my DH to start giving again after many years of not going.

[Jestrin]

Can I say thank you? I received blood after the birth of my daughter who is now 10. I was very ill. Its thanks to selfless people like you, that help people like me.

[OnTheBottomWithAWomansWeekly]

I think giving blood is actually easier than blood tests (I had 5 little tubes taken the other day) as when you're donating, they aren't constantly wiggling the needle when changing test tubes.

You'll have a lovely night's sleep after donating, I always do as I'm nice and tired from it!

I've been going since I was a student (when they used to give out free pints of Harp and Guinness) and they really look after you here too (Ireland). Just take advantage of the free cuppa and biccies afterwards.

[fubbsy]

The Blood Service people are lovely. It's part of their job to put you at ease. I am shy myself, usually just sit reading a newspaper for most of the time.

It will also be an achievement because you could be helping to save someone's life. Seriously a good thing.

[familyfun]

im going on an evening so dp can have kids, so i can drive back, have a bath and go to bed.
if i didnt book an appointment i would go, thats why ive booked as i know i wont let them down.
it will be an achievement for me as im quite shy and going alone.

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes]

It is fine, they know a lot of people are nervous and they are well trained to put you at ease and make sure you are as comfortable as possible. They are also on the lookout for people feeling faint and look after you very well if that does happen (it has happened to me 2 or 3 times over about 25 years). In all that time I have never seen anyone actually faint, just the occasional person feeling lightheaded. I can't watch the needle go in, but after that it is fine (if it is uncomfortable you just have to say and they will adjust it). Do take it easy for the rest of the day though. Well done for deciding to do it.

[StaticSockMonster]

The first time I gave blood I was absolutely kacking myself. I didn't like needles. Or blood. But I was 17 and we were being sponsored as part of our charity week at sixth form so I couldn't not do it.
Since then I gave blood regularly until I had DS.
It does seem an awful lot that they take but in reality is not.
I always found the people who did it absolutely lovely. Answered any questions I had. Put me at ease. And gave me tea a biscuits ;)
I never booked an appointment, ours was a "walk in" thing. Probably best as if I had had an appointment I would have had the opportunity to talk myself out of it!
You are doing a good thing. You are saving lives.
And you know what, if you do change your mind there's always next time.

One thing I would say is don't watch them doing it. Be nosey and see what everyone else is doing. (Or maybe that's just me cuz I'm a nosey cow )

[cq]

I used to give blood regularly when I was a student - anything for free biscuits

Went just last Friday for the first time in about 25 years and it all went really well, despite having invisible veins - they called over the senior nurse who found one and she put the needle in. I couldn't see a thing, just looked away and all was fine.

Took it easy for the rest of the day. Went for a run the next morning and really really struggled. Have only just realised reading up thread that it might have been something to do with giving blood now I'm so old

[familyfun]

thanks

[ant3nna]

It will go in no time. I hardly got any of my book read this time. And you replace the blood in a few days so its really nothing to worry about.

[familyfun]

oh god, that sounds a lot, thats a long time to try and take my mind off it. got to go alone becuase dp will be with dc.
i need to be brave

[ant3nna]

In my experience the blood service people are lovely and if you let them know that its your first time then they will take extra good care of you. I went on Thursday after a gap of 2 years and got fussed over to make sure I was ok. They even brought me over a drink to have before I sat up.

They take 470ml plus about 2 of the small vial things which they use to test your blood to make sure you don't have anything nasty before giving the blood to someone else. 470ml is the best part of a pint so quite a bit more than the small tubes. It takes about 5 to 10 mins. I take a book to keep my mind off it but sometimes go with my mum and we chat to each other.

[familyfun]

thats a shame, im going next week and hope i can give.

[mentallyscrewed]

I'm due to give blood also for the 1st time on Wednesday but am quite poorly so sadly gonna have to give it a miss this session :(

[familyfun]

its not the pain, it doesnt really hurt me to have a needle, its the thought of it going through my skin. yuk

[AmberLeaf]

Its really not that bad!

The staff are lovely and explain what they will do before they do it.

Doesn't take that long, you just lie back while it happens and relax, after you get a drink and some biscuits/crisps.