Questions about giving blood.

[slipknotmcfadden]

I get woozy almost every time I donate whole blood, just about when the bag is almost full. Easy to fix though - all they have to do is lean my chair back and I'm fine in seconds. Obviously a physiological reaction to loss of blood - probably a pressure thing, since I'm usually around 120/70. I have no problems seeing the needle go in, seeing the blood go into the bag, etc.

I also donate platelets, which I can do every 2 weeks. Since it takes about 2 hours for the whole process, I can bring a DVD and watch it on one of their players. The sodium citrate (anticoagulant so they can put the blood back in) messes with me quite a bit - the shivering chest, the tingly lips and cheeks, the cold-that's-not-cold effects that were described earlier.

Some of that is not actually a direct result of the blood temperature when it re-enters. The tingly feelings in your face, especially, are due to the sodium citrate leaching calcium out of your bloodstream. This is the primary function of sodium citrate, calcium being a component necessary to clot blood, but calcium is also a neurotransmitter, so the nerve signals get a little screwy, causing something not unlike the "pins and needles" feeling from sitting on your leg for too long.

The best way to prevent it is to take a TUMS with calcium soon before or right after they unplug you. It probably works with any apheresis donation, not just platelets. The phlebotomists keep some TUMS on hand.

 

[HeyLeroy]

Do I have to donate my own blood?

 

[rats]

Just a couple of quick points....

1. All UK donated blood undergoes "leococyte depletion" whereby the white blood cells (which are the primary risk for the already low possibility of CJD infectious prions) are removed.

2. Bone marrow donation is not like giving blood. You need to have a general anaesthetic, then people stick large needles into various bones to suck out as much marrow as possible. Its very painful, hence the need for a GA. You often need a transfusion yourself afterwards.

Actually, that isn’t necessarily true. I donated stem cells with the PBSC donation method. See: PBSC Donation.

Basically, you get injected for a few days with a drug (filgrastim) that promotes [blood-forming] stem cell release in your blood. You then get attached to an apheresis machine for a day. I ached terribly and was generally useless for about a week, then my immune system was rubbish for about six months, and wasn’t allowed to give blood for a year. Definitely no regrets though!

 

[Deetee]

Actually, that isn’t necessarily true. I donated stem cells with the PBSC donation method. See: PBSC Donation.

Basically, you get injected for a few days with a drug (filgrastim) that promotes [blood-forming] stem cell release in your blood. You then get attached to an apheresis machine for a day. I ached terribly and was generally useless for about a week, then my immune system was rubbish for about six months, and wasn’t allowed to give blood for a year. Definitely no regrets though!

Interesting site. The usual form of donation is how I describe it above however. I guess if you are registered as a donor, you have to keep your fingers crossed that it's PBSC that is needed when the time comes, and not standard marrow donation.

 

[Bunk]

I do this one. "Double reds" they call it--taking out 2 units of red cells. Basically, they take a pint, centrifuge it, pump the plasma and some saline back into you, take another pint, do the same. It can give you a very weird feeling as the plasma goes back in. I would not recommend it for someone who is uncomfortable with donating blood, for any reason. Especially Pyrrho. And it takes roughly twice as long to do.

I did that for the first time about a month ago, even though I tend to get lightheaded during donations. I also have low blood pressure. Oddly enough, during the double reds donation I got lightheaded almost immediately, but after that cleared up I was fine for the rest of the donation. I'll probably do it again.

I'm pretty sure that really intelligent people get lightheaded during blood donations because of the massive oxygen requirements of their brains. I find that just having them lay me back makes the donation go well without any dizziness. I also find that tapping my toes together during the donation helps keep the circulation flowing well.