I'm leaving in less than a half hour to give blood for the first time. I am mildly phobic of this, and taking blood in general. Any last minute tips on how to make sure the process goes smoothly so I dont come out of it more phobic than I went in?
My tips aren't last minute but they may help in the future. Always make sure you eat before going (this is close to last minute I guess). Drink lots of water. You should all the time anyway but especially a couple of days before donating. Makes the process go faster. Make sure you stay for cookies and a drink afterward. I find it really does make a difference. The staff at the Red Cross here in Halifax are amazing and I hope they are there too. That can make all the difference in the world. Oh and one tip that is last minute, let them know it is your first time donating and you are nervous. They will be better able to ensure it's a good experience for you then
I only got that water tip yesterday, so I've been chugging water since then. I drink a fuckload of caffeine though, so I wouldnt be surprised if I were a little dehydrated
They should especially the fluid comment because it makes a huge difference. The one time I donated when I hadn't been drinking my normal amount of water took forever. Did they tell you to eat before and make sure you were feeling well? They will ask if you are feeling well before you start but I seem to remember being asked that. Maybe they mention those factors during my reminder phone calls.
Yeah she did mention that I need to be feeling well... I dont remember if she mentioned that I should eat first, but I figured I should anyways. I just had a couple eggs, a couple pieces of whole grain toast, and a small banana muffin! a cup of tea, and 2-3 large glasses of water. anything else?
You'll be fine And remember to eat cookies and drink juice, milk or chocolate milk after! In Halifax they always have the good name brand cookies that I don't buy. Chips Ahoy, Peak Freans, etc. That's the only time I eat those cookies. I always worry about that. I pee before I leave my house then I pee again when I get to their building just in case
I just have a small phobia of it, because of some weird events when I was a kid (sneaking downstairs to see a movie my parents were watching with a woman slitting her wrists and it squirting all over the bathroom walls), and then weird wrist cramps when I was growing (I had to sleep at night holding my wrists because I was afraid they would get cut), and then when I was young and had to give blood, a scary big nurse had to hold me down, etc etc... eventually now it has turned into me associating giving blood with aversive events and causes anxiety, and the more I avoid it, the greater the anxiety becomes. I'm essentially donating blood today to hopefully get over this stupid fear
drink lots of booze tonight afterwards, nothing like a cheap drunk other then that just try and relax while you're there. if you've been drinking lots of water that should definatly help.
donate plasma. Blood goes out blood goes in blood goes out blood goes in blood goes out blood goes in.
I was terrified when we went back in December. Even though it didn't work because my veins weren't plumped up enough, I still got the needle in and the nurses were so good that I wasn't at all scared once I sat in the chair.
Sign up for one match instead! They send you swabs, you swab yourself. They call you if you are ever a match for someone. You donate bone marrow. I will only do it if they give me good painkillers though. I think I might start lying and say I'm allergic to codeine so they have to give me good shit.
They test it all anyways. That's like the question "have you had sex with a guy who has had sex with a guy" or something. Like, how the fuck are you ever going to know that for sure. Even if you ask your sexual partners.
I didn't think they would turn you away for answering yes to that question. I assumed answering yes would mean they would tag your donation for extra testing.
Nope... I didnt even go into full detail about all my slouseyness... The mere fact that I had (presumably) one sexual partner within the last 6 months, regardless of whether it was 'protected' or not, was enough for her to send me away until 6 months had elapsed after my last sexual partner.
i thought about saying something about that, but didnt figure it was my place to say it. not to be shitty about it or anything, or assume anything, but they are kinda interested in your sexlife. oh well, atleast u tried, that's alot more then most people do. hopefully next time you get to
I don't even remember being asked that question. Then again that could just be because it didn't pertain to me. (Don't take that as me thinking you're a whore)
Meh. Such is life. Luckily I'm not ashamed or embarrassed of my sex life... if anything I wish I was having more sex. Also, I do think its silly that if you are in a 'committed' relationship, that you are considered safer than if you have multiple or new sexual partners... since from what I've learned, infidelity is quite common, and people tend to 'trust' their 'committed' partners, and as such don't use protection... whereas someone having sex not in the context of a 'committed' relationship is less likely to suffer from the illusion of trust, and is more likely to use protection.
Hahaha no, I wouldnt take that as you thinking I am a whore. and to be honest, even if you did think I was a 'whore', I really wouldn't care. I was in a long term relationship for a long time too... I looked down on casual sexual encounters for a long time too... I'm just in a different place now
i dont by any means look down on casual sex as a bad thing at all. being a whore and evjoying yourself are very different as far as i'm concerned. i'm stuck in adifferent situation, because i was in haiti i'vegot to wait ayear or smething aboutromething till i can again. something about their high rate of blood disese there or something
I don't look down on casual sexual encounters...I wouldn't do it but I don't look down on other people doing it.
