Bad Experience Donating Blood

[MacDaddy_101]

I'm 17 and yesterday I donated blood for the first time at my school drive. Despite the fact that I drank a lot of water the night before, the nurse still have difficulty getting my vein to pop out. After about 4 more nurses looked, the last one thought she found one towards the side of my arm. It took two tries and a little wiggling, but she got it into the vein. They had to tie both the rubber band and blood pressure band very tight on my arm to help the blood keep flowing. My arm below that point felt almost numb from it. Not long after I got lightheaded and. then nauseous. My temperature went way up and I started sweating so they put ice packs all over me. I hadn't quite finished my donation when they decided that they had to stop because they worried I might pass out. Afterwards I felt pretty dazed, but bounced back within an hour or so. Despite this bad experience, I am determined to continue donating blood. Should expect this bad of a reaction every time?

 

[Gwendolyn]

First time donors and teenagers are more likely to have a reaction, like nausea, dizziness, chills/sweats, low grade fever, even fainting.

But I suspect the not being able to find a vein thing had more to do with inexperienced phlebotomists (needle nurses) than it did with you. Next time you give blood, donate at your local hospital where the nurses know what they're doing.

Definitely mention this reaction to your family doctor - they might want to check you for hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) just in case.


And thank you for donating blood! :angel: