Tuesday, August 01, 2006
Reckless?
Cool. My iron was high enough to donate blood today. It's such a hit-or-miss thing--I've gotten to the point where I ask them to do the finger prick before we ever get to the questionnaire, so I'm not wasting their time if I can't give.
It's so weird how sometimes--like today--I'll decide to go in on the spur of the moment, and I haven't been eating for high iron, taking my vitamins and supplements, or anything, and my iron levels are high enough (12.6, and the cutoff is 12.5, but still--I tend to fluctuate between 12.3-12.7). Other days, I'll be planning to donate, I'll be taking supplements and eating right, and still... nothing. My blood is weird. (But at least it's not reckless!)
It was really funny, Kim--after you and I were talking about donating marrow, there was a conversation on one of the online boards I hang out on about being added to the bone marrow registry, and I was surprised at how many people want to do it, since it wasn't something I'd thought of before. But it really does reinforce the fact that I want to donate marrow one of these days--join the donor registry (or whatever Canada's equivalent of that is) when I get back.
Seriously--I'm always surprised that more people don't donate blood. It's such an easy way to give. Plus, you get free Oreos. So go donate. Okay? /PSA
5 Comments:
Well I'm giving blood on September 5th, so I guess you won't be coming with us, BUT I am planning on signing up for marrowing (and perhaps Trevoures) so if you can, you should come with and we can be marrowers together.
The blood bank here in Australia will ALWAYS prick your finger first to test your haemoglobin, then take a unit of blood if it's high enough. I last donated about a month ago where I was working and I have to say that the darn finger prick hurts more than the large bore needle that they jab your vein with!
But hey, I agree, go donate blood! It saves three lives at a time!
I haven't given blood in two or three years, mainly because every time a give blood something traumatic happens.
For example, I've been 95% done the pint and they've said that I'm not pumping fast enough, so they pull out the needle and throw out my blood.
I've had bruises that are the diameter of a baseball on my arm that last for a week.
I had a nurse put in a needle that hurt during and after she put it in and she refused to take it out.
Yes, I know that I should give blood. But the pain during and (sometimes) after is a little bit more than I can bear time and time again.
Kim--
When you guys go, I'll go do a plasma/platelet donation, because that can be done after 3 days.
Jen--
I'm lucky; I don't bruise too easily, so I've never had a problem, beyond my iron levels. Well, that, and not being able to give for a year after a piercing/tattoo!
I am glad your blood is not reckless. Haha!
Laurel
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