Yesterday was a very busy day. First off, I had school, like always. Then I had lots of Auntie time with my nieces Anabelle and Heidi. (I love to see my nieces because they are the cutest little girls in the whole world! --That includes Emily--) So, I had lots of fun and cuddles while we babysat them so my sister could donate platelets. Well, then I had to get my homework done sometime before bed, so I was able to work on it a little when Anabelle was watching a movie and Heidi had Grandma time. Then, we had a super quick dinner so Shirley could run and pick Chris up from work.
After dinner, I had this urge to go donate blood at our stake blood drive. Time was kind of short because I still had choir practice, but I decided to go for it anyways. So, last night was my first blood donating experience. I had tried before at the school blood drive, but my temperature was .1 degree too high, I think it was from chewing gum/drinking shortly before taking my temperature. Oh well. Anyways, last night I went in and filled out the papers and then got to the iron test, but my blood sank too slow. Luckily, after centrifuging my blood, I passed everything and was sent off to donate. When I got to the chair, the phlebotomist asked which arm and then had to be very careful to find the small vein (with her fingers). She was able to find a good vein, but I had to stay still for about 10-20 minutes before she could actually begin the draw. The needle stick went fine, and the blood was really flowing. I must have veins like my Mom because I was halfway done filling the bag after just 30 seconds. When she saw that, she made me stop rolling the little squeezy thing and then it was only another 3 minutes before I was done. Wow! The phlebotomist said that was SUPER fast. Then, I clotted really fast, so she said that I should think about donating my "good platelets." (I guess I'm just the kind of person who is always in a hurry. :-D) Well, after sitting still for so long with the A/C running, with bare arms and feet, I was cold and shivering. She didn't want me to pass out so she ended up making me sit still for another 20 minutes, even though I wasn't light headed. ARGH!!! I needed to get up and move, not sit still! Oh well. When she finally let me up, I was able to warm up fairly fast. I was very pleased with how well everything went, but it was SUPER lame that they didn't hand out shirts or ice cream coupons or anything, at least not to me.
Immediately following the attack of the vampires (:-D) I had to rush off to stake choir practice, which I was already 30 minutes late for. OOPS!!! So, I got to choir safely and then everything went fine from there, except for a little weakness in my arm and tenderness of my finger.
After choir practice, I then had to rush home to finish my homework, which took me about another hour to complete.
Well, that is the story of my ultra-busy Thursday, filled with school, fun, homework, choir, and a vampire attack. :-D
Oh, by the way, my arm looks really bruised from the blood donation, but it doesn't really hurt that much. Also, the vampire that took my blood was a Swoboda, for those of you who recognize that name. She is the niece of Katie's, Billie's, David's, Laura's, etc.'s Dad. What a small world, huh?
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6 comments:
Too bad you didn't inheret the same HUGE, easy to find veins that I got. Oh, and chewing gum or drinking would actually make your temp appear lower, not higher. Once I ate a burrito right before going in and my temp was too high. They made me wait a few minutes and try again.
You should totally donate plateletts. It takes longer, but you get to donate more often, it counts as a double donation, you get to watch a movie, and they pamper you with a heating pad and blankets (because your blood is a little colder going back in.) Oh, and it makes your lips tingly. They give you Tums for that.
If you want to ensure you go home with a free t-shirt, just be sure to bleed on yourself. Not sure how exactly one does that on purpose, especially if you clott so fast, but just an idea.
Glad you've had the experience of giving blood. Now convice your brother to do it, and we'll be good. You should see the size of Will's veins. The last time he got an iv, his blood actually squirted out before they could hook on the saline bag. (That's how you bleed on yourself even with good platelets.)
For Nancy: I almost passed out and then bled all over myself when I was done giving platelets. That's never happened to me before.
wow, it's okay that I don't have easy to find veins, I just have to be more patient in the chair until they get the line in me, because then it goes super fast, so I guess it all balances out. :-D
Wow you are awesome!! I don't know how you do it all! I've never actually given blood before. When I was in high school I was always too underweight (I was 5'1" and like barely 100 lbs). So yah. But NOW although I have gained some height and weight, the thought of seeing my blood being sucked out of my arm and into a bag next to my chair makes me want to faint. I don't know what it is. I never thought I used to be this way, but my friend Jake had heart surgery a couple months ago and we went to visit him in the hospital...yah, he had tubes running from his chest into these boxes on the floor and there was obviously blood and other fluids draining and I start to get all fuzzy headed and out of breath. Pretty sure I could never ever be a nurse. Hopefully I don't pass out when I have kids!! haha. Anyways, way to go on being super busy and still amazing!
Hey Katrina, I know this is a little late but the reason they had you sit still is because they were afraid you were going into shock. Corrina has told me about the one time she gave blood. She felt cold, etc and they made her stand up and walk around until they realized she was going into shock. (you'd have to ask her for the details). I've only given once, mostly because i'm lazy but after the first time, they asked me not to give for a year. One way to get a soda when everyone else just gets juice is to tell them you are feeling a little light headed. I hadn't eaten all that great that day before going in so I got a little light heded and they gave me a sprite (score!!)
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