GIVING BLOOD - can you give me the full (gory) details of how you donate blood? I am a wuss and need a virtual slap round the chops.

[yorkshirepudding]

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It really is very quick and doesn't hurt. It is an amazing thing to do and really can save a life.

Well done for considering it, I did for ages before I started to donate

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If you feel that bad about it maybe best not think of it anymore

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essbee gives a very good account of the process. I would agree Mary Poppins about looking the other way.

I always get there feeling ok about it then work myself up into a state!! The finger prick always makes me jump and then I worry about the needle going in but it's never as bad as I think it'll be. I never learn!

Can you go with a friend the first time? All the staff are lovely though and will talk you through it and make you feel at ease.

Good luck!

Look at it as a way to get over your phobia -after you've done it once it'll be a breeze. Aversion therapy AND saving a life. Bonus. Donated blood saved my life (thinking of the deaths during childbirth thread )but I can't donate any more because I've had donated blood so if I've persuaded you, that'll be donating by proxy.

I hate needles but have always given blood. Somehow the atmosphere of the sessions and the glow I get from doing a good thing help me through. Its really easy.

However when it came to the point that I needed a transfusions my reaction was rather different. I made such a fuss about seeing the pack of blood on display that the nurses had to construct a screen to hide it from me as it dripped into my arm .

It's not 30 mins of actually sitting with the needle in your arm, you'll be there for half an hour overall (depending on the queues). As someone else said when the needle's in you don't feel it. It's just when it goes in. Just keep looking away! You can always try it and if it's awful for you, never go again but if you don't try you'll never know.

I finally decided after my friend needed blood to save her life.

I am thinking about bone marrow donation as they can now take that from blood.

Betwee the link to the virtual session and essbee you are pretty well covered. I've always given blood whenever I can, it is a great thing to do.

Last time I went I took a friend who was giving for the first time. She is very very phobic of needles. If she can do it anyone can.

I hope you decide to give it a go

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I too have been wrestling with giving bloor for years! I couldn't do it for 10 years as I'd had the yellow fever jab but I can now. I promised myself I would become a regular donor when my DD1 had around 2000 donors worth of immunoglobulin.

I can do the arm bit. Its the prick in the top of the finger makes me want to vomit inside out.

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You need to ask the nurses to arrange you in such a manner that your head will be turned away from your arm and towards the rest of the room so you can have a butchers as to what is going on. Last few times I have been there have been floating chatters who come and sit next to you the whole time and just chat away about whatever (bit like the hairdressers).

and then you get your biscuit and cup of tea/juice.

In Australia they gave you a meal with cake, I tell you Britain needs to get with the cake programme if they want to increase donor numbers.

You will probably find that you don't feel that stressed after the first minute or so, your initial feelings of fear will calm down, your body can't stay afraid for long; and once you've done it once it gets much easier! Take someone with you first time and bring something to take your mind off it. Please do it if you are thinking about it and it seems at all possible for you, wonderful blood donors gave us several extra years with my lovely dad who had leukaemia and needed lots of transfusions, it's the easiest way possible to do something really incredible!

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Gosh, the gruesome bit's all over in MUCH less than 30 minutes unless your BP's incredibly low - and by the sounds of things your BP is likely to skyrocket when you're in there, you'll have the bag filled in 30 seconds!

Let the staff know you're nervous, they're real pros and will put you at ease.

I think the best thing about the sessions here is the atmosphere - everyone turns out in force to the local hall to donate every time the bus comes round, and there's always good crack over juice and biscuits afterwards. The horrible bit isn't that bad (it's just a little cannula, not a huge great weapon!) and really won't take long

yes, you can drive. I think they tell you to avoid strenuous physical exercise for a few hours afterwards.

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Yes, driving's fine, but my top tip for feeling OK is to make sure you've eaten properly an hour or so beforehand, unlike me who thought that a Fudge ten minutes before I donated would make up for a day of missed meals - was bouncing off the walls until the squash worked its magic!

Yes, yorkshire, very similar, but in the crook of your elbow. Honestly, it's no big deal. You're a big brave girl!

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