Donating blood

I gave blood for the first time today, and MAN, what an experience! At first I was really nervous, because you have to wait for quite a while before they actually take your blood. They make you fill out this huge questionaire, and they prick your finger beforehand to make sure you had enough hemoglobin, which hurt a little more than I expected, and made me dread the actual blood removal a lot more. Eventually, they lie you down in a chair, and stick the needle in your arm, and you have to stay there for about 15 minutes, opening and closing your arm as they take your blood.
It was really scarey at the time, especially while I was waiting for the needle, but I must say, I am SO glad I did it! I got such a high afterwards - from the light-headedness a bit, yes - but more from the fact that I actually went through with it. It feels SO good! Not only am I helping people, and hopefully keeping someone alive, but I managed to put aside my fears for something I believed in.
Anyways, I am just feeling so proud of myself right now, I needed to share it with you guys.

Who else here has given blood/had a similar experience?

I don't weigh enough to give blood (no kidding).

I haven't, but probably should. You get a Beanie Baby apparently.

A friend of mine did go to donate blood but didn't have a high enough blood pressure. So he has to wait.

Also I can't donate blood until April due to getting a tattoo...apparently too.

Congratulations goo, you have done a fantastic thing and should be proud of yourself! I used to donate blood on a regular basis when I worked in an office in our major city. Unfortunately its now difficult since I work from home and the blood bank or mobile blood banks hours don't match with mine. If I had the opportunity I would still do it on a regular basis as my blood is good old common O+ and most needed.

Besides the obvious community service you are doing, donating blood on a regular basis is good for your health (as long as you don't have any other health issues).

I'd donate blood if I weren't so fucking scared of needles. I remember actually getting out of a blood test when I was younger, because I was screaming so much, they couldn't handle me. Another time, I hid under a chair.

iGSM wrote:

I haven't, but probably should. You get a Beanie Baby apparently.

They didn't give me a beanie baby, but they gave me cookies and juice afterwards, to keep my blood sugar levels up or something.

It was really good juice too. Peach flavoured. :)

I see why people get so enthused about Beanie Babies...they so damn..good.

Anywho, I shall donate blood. And marrow. And DNA!

I've donated some blood before. It made me feel nauseated and kinda wobbly. The milk that they gave me made it all feel better.

giving blood is one of the best things you can do

Good job Goo... My father gave blood for years... Maybe it's time for me to do it also.

i'm not allowed to give blood - based on my asthma medications.

Everybody who can give blood, should give blood. I don't think theres many other ways an average joe like you or me can save a life.

I have given a rather pathetic 10 pints of 0+ in 25 years.

I'm actually not allowed by law to give blood because I lived in England for a year in 1992-93. Anyone who's spent more than 6 months there between sometime in the 80s and the late 90s (not sure on the exact dates) can't because of that remote possibility of spreading mad cow disease. This cuts out more people than you'd imagine - and now they have to advertise on TV saying that they can't get enough people to donate blood! Mwahahaha!

I haven't been for a while *blush* but I've got my 10-pint award ... not a great record in 13 years though. Anyway, now I work at University, I can attend donor sessions in work's time so I'll be giving that a go the next time they have one.