August 27, 2004

No one wants my blood *sniff*

Today I was told that I am permanently deferred from giving blood. So sad.

Until I left for college, I would burst into tears at the threat of a needle coming close to me. (I'm not exaggerating - I cried over a tine test when I was almost 18. This stemmed from an experience when I was 4 years old, being poked over and over as phlebotomists tried to get blood out of me. I still remember the trauma.

Then I went off to school and developed a sense of civic duty. There are people out there who need blood and I've got it. So I sucked up my fears and made a habit of giving blood every few months. In the years following, I was often deferred, due to anemia, or not weighing enough (at the NYU Blood Bank, you only had to weigh 100 pounds), or travel, recent piercings, etc. Since moving to Hawaii, I've only succeeded in donating blood two times, including today.

So, today, I screwed it up my future opportunities. They got my blood, they bandaged me, and then I felt a bit queasy. I thought about not saying something, but decided I should.
"Excuse me, I feel a bit nauseated."
The phlebotomists immediately responded with cold towels, smelling salts, instructions to cough.... Thank goodness they did. I've never felt like that.

What if I had ruined my 20 year record of not hurling? I guess it would have been worth it, since I'll never be able to donate again. However, I'm glad it didn't come to that. I hold out hope that one day I'll be large enough and hypertensive enough that a plummet in blood pressure will be a good thing. And then maybe they'll take me back.

Posted by Shokufeh at August 27, 2004 10:13 PM
Comments

Dont feel too bad... At least blood comes out of you. Last time I tried to give blood they poked and prodded my arm for several minutes before one of them was able to get the needle in. And then after a half hour or so they realized it wasn't even filled halfway so they had to throw the bag away. ^_^

Ryan

Posted by: Ryan at August 29, 2004 02:41 AM

Thanks for making me laugh, Ryan.

Posted by: shokufeh at August 29, 2004 04:47 PM

so after you almost fainted, they banished you, telling you not to ever come back? seems kind of cruel.

Posted by: meisa at August 30, 2004 10:08 AM

This is interesting...just the other day we discovered the husband can never give blood again...because of his cornea transplant. I guess that makes sense, we have no idea who the donor was or what they may have been up to, but the risk cited is CJD (related to mad cow disease). Especially ironic as we're both long time vegans. Life is strange.

Posted by: Sharyn at August 30, 2004 11:44 AM