Cancer Posted September 27, 2006 Report Share Posted September 27, 2006 Re: The Last Word My wife makes me go to the doctor regularly. I'm really not looking forward to my physical this year; having just turned 50, a new array of stuff will get added to the list of intrusions. I have been hypertensive my whole life; my cholesterol count has always been borderline high, with a good-to-bad ratio in the -laugh-out-loud-nervously range. So what new irritations will get appended to the list? Bleah. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AliceTheOwl Posted September 27, 2006 Report Share Posted September 27, 2006 Re: The Last Word Comfort yourself in the knowledge that at least they won't stick a needle in you and wiggle it around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cancer Posted September 27, 2006 Report Share Posted September 27, 2006 Re: The Last Word ... on purpose, maybe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AliceTheOwl Posted September 27, 2006 Report Share Posted September 27, 2006 Re: The Last Word You mean this happens to people with normal veins, too? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cancer Posted September 27, 2006 Report Share Posted September 27, 2006 Re: The Last Word I've had it happen to me, but not often. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AliceTheOwl Posted September 27, 2006 Report Share Posted September 27, 2006 Re: The Last Word It's a lot more painful with a regular needle, really. Usually they use "baby needles" on me, which are smaller and more flexible. But my palms are sweating just THINKING about this stuff . . . Brr. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lemming Posted September 28, 2006 Report Share Posted September 28, 2006 Re: The Last Word You mean this happens to people with normal veins' date=' too?[/quote'] First time I ever had a blood draw by someone other than my mom was in college. (My mom was a med tech) The nurse slipped when putting on the second test tube and pushed the needle so it went over. I had a horrific bruise for a month. Worst test I ever had was the camera to check my bladder. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bazza Posted September 28, 2006 Author Report Share Posted September 28, 2006 Re: The Last Word It doesn't help that I have uncooperative veins. Any attempt to draw blood winds up with me wondering if this wouldn't be less painful if I'd just brought a razor blade. The last time I had a blood draw (around Christmas of last year), I offered to let them try the vein in my leg. The nurse exclaimed, "But that's painful!" I rolled my eyes and said to her, "More so than this?" They wound up going through the one in my wrist. The nurse winced in sympathy pain as she stuck me with the needle. I was bemused. When I get a needle to draw blood, most of th time I can't look at it going in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Narratio Posted September 28, 2006 Report Share Posted September 28, 2006 Re: The Last Word Yep, I can relate to that. The viens in my arm run deep and thin. I always end up bruised after they've spent 15 minutes jiggling the needle around. These days I just tell them to draw it from the ones on my hands upper side. They're large and close to the surface. Likewise "But that will hurt you..." And the tech starts wiggling the freaking needle... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cancer Posted September 28, 2006 Report Share Posted September 28, 2006 Re: The Last Word I first donated blood more or less on a dare to myself, because of the needle thing. It didn't go badly. But a little while later, eating in the dorm dining hall, I noticed that dinner was even more devoid of taste than normal. A few other oddities (vague numbness in the tongue, toes) made me realize I was going into mild shock. So I had one last glass of sugar water, went up to my room and went to bed. I've never had any problems like that since, not even the time the incompetent tech couldn't find a vein in four tries (two in each arm). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L. Marcus Posted September 28, 2006 Report Share Posted September 28, 2006 Re: The Last Word . . . No-one's comin' near me with one of those needle things . . . Blood is meant to stay on the inside . . . Needle:angst: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AliceTheOwl Posted September 28, 2006 Report Share Posted September 28, 2006 Re: The Last Word When I get a needle to draw blood' date=' most of th time I can't look at it going in.[/quote'] I'm the same way. I turn my head away and I say, "Just give me a half-second warning." re: blood donation . . . The third time I donated blood, I hadn't eaten anything that day. I felt SOOOOO sick afterwards. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cancer Posted September 28, 2006 Report Share Posted September 28, 2006 Re: The Last Word Well, they ask you if you've eaten when they do the pre-draw interview, and they have good a reason for asking. If you haven't, either they turn you down, or (if you have time) they send you the canteen to stoke up first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AliceTheOwl Posted September 28, 2006 Report Share Posted September 28, 2006 Re: The Last Word I guess they forgot that step. I hadn't realized before that day that losing blood could make you nauseated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cancer Posted September 28, 2006 Report Share Posted September 28, 2006 Re: The Last Word My worst oops (I don't the shock on the first time as an "oops") with a blood donation was sitting in the dorm lounge after giving, and joining in when someone came in asking for help carting a bunch of stuff to their car. Didn't hurt, but I ended up with technicolor arm for the next week or two. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SatinKitty Posted September 28, 2006 Report Share Posted September 28, 2006 Re: The Last Word I last Donated Blood in 5/01, and almost have my 4 Gallon Pin. The thing is, these days I get so nervous about the needle my pulse and BP are too high to donate, and it's very embarrassing, I feel like everybody's STARING. Also since then no Plebotomist has been able to get anything from my arms. Many have tried. None have succeeded. For the past 4 years or so when I need a blood test or an IV they have to use my wrist or hand. I don't think I can be a Blood Donor anymore. I'm sad about this because the last time I was asked was just before Thanksgiving and had I donated, a needy Family would have received a free Turkey in my name. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cancer Posted September 28, 2006 Report Share Posted September 28, 2006 Re: The Last Word I'm pretty sure I've given more than 10 gallons, but scattered across five different locations. They haven't disqualified me yet. In Austin I said that I gave blood so often because they were the only people in town who wanted me for my body. AFAICT, that was true. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L. Marcus Posted September 28, 2006 Report Share Posted September 28, 2006 Re: The Last Word . . . Gallons? Gallons?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cancer Posted September 28, 2006 Report Share Posted September 28, 2006 Re: The Last Word ... I've been doing it for more than 30 years ... But I admit I started before my father became administrator of a blood center. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L. Marcus Posted September 28, 2006 Report Share Posted September 28, 2006 Re: The Last Word . . . Ever read David Brin's short story The Giving Plague? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conduit Posted September 28, 2006 Report Share Posted September 28, 2006 Re: The Last Word I had to give up donating because my blood clots too fast. I can't get out enough in time for them to use it since is clots in the needle/line. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cancer Posted September 28, 2006 Report Share Posted September 28, 2006 Re: The Last Word Both my wife & donate; we're on opposite ends of the chart. She's O negative; I'm AB positive (and heterozygous for the positive; both our kids are negative). We're a walking heredity experiment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L. Marcus Posted September 28, 2006 Report Share Posted September 28, 2006 Re: The Last Word Hereditariry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AliceTheOwl Posted September 28, 2006 Report Share Posted September 28, 2006 Re: The Last Word Both my wife & donate; we're on opposite ends of the chart. She's O negative; I'm AB positive (and heterozygous for the positive; both our kids are negative). We're a walking heredity experiment. I'm B positive, but they won't take my blood anymore. Josh is O positive, and I'm always bugging him about donating when I normally would've. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lemming Posted September 29, 2006 Report Share Posted September 29, 2006 Re: The Last Word I guess they forgot that step. I hadn't realized before that day that losing blood could make you nauseated. I know that one from not donating... I'm OK with watching the needle and all, but I haven't donated since I spent more time than allowed in England. Damn third world country! I suppose I could go there to donate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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