Categories: uncategorized
Date: 07 July 2006 20:48:27
I tried to give blood tonight. And failed. In a big way!
I have a rare blood group so have wanted to give blood before, but couldn't cos I've had malaria.
So I went in at 5pm (when the session started) and asked, 1) could I give blood because of the malaria (and explained that I hadn't been able to previously when I tried) and 2) how long would it take as I had to pick up Alien at 5.30ish.
They checked and said it was fine about the malaria as they now have the test, and that it should only take about 30 mins, possibly a little longer. That was fine, because it didn't matter if I was a little late to pick Alien up.
I filled in the forms, talked to the nurse type person, had the iron level test and eventually went to do the actual 'giving blood'.
There was a new person doing the procedure (being 'checked' by an 'old hand') and she'd been doing it 4 days, and not had any problems.
They put the needle in, and it wasn't hugely comfy, but I assumed that was normal. They did the chit chat thing and I asked if it was supposed to hurt, they said not really, but eased the pressure a bit. I was over half way through.
At which point I felt a little faint, then a lot faint, then sick, so I calmly told them this (?!), and then evidently went white as anything, sweated hugely, eyes rolled, and almost passed out.
Lots of people arrived to me, screens were put up and stuff. Shortly after which they remembered I was supposed to be collecting Alien, so I gave them Socks telephone number (which wasn't really that helpful as I had his car because mine is still at the garage), and two of them went off to collect her from nursery.
By this time I was coming round properly and started wondering what Socks was going to do because we live 3 miles from where I was, and its on windy hilly road. He rang to say he'd be ages, but reception in the building where I was was crap so he got cut off. When I'd come round even more (and Alien had arrived by this time), I borrowed a phone and rang him, at which point he walked in. He'd got to the main road and hitched a lift!
What a fun evening.
Don't think I'll be trying that again.