I've just sucked one year of your life away.

"PotbellyJoe and 42 others" (potbellyjoe) 11/11/2015 at 23:14 • Filed to: Give Blood

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“I’ve just sucked one year of your life away. I might one day go as high as five, but I really don’t know what that would do to you. So, let’s just start with what we have. What did this do to you? Tell me. And remember, this is for posterity so be honest. How do you feel?”

For whatever reason, this quote came to my brain when I was giving blood tonight. I would say to everyone, one pint can save, or at least really help, two lives. So if you can give, do so, please.

My local hospital has a donor center that is really easy and the nurses do a seemingly better job than the blood mobiles that come to your work. Regardless, it all goes to help people.

My grandpa benefited from blood donations after he beat cancer and had a hell of a time getting his red cell count back up to normal. Other friends needed the plasma and platelets at point due to diseases. It’s easy and doesn’t cost anything, in fact many times you will get perks for donating.

/soapbox

boredalways > PotbellyJoe and 42 others 11/11/2015 at 23:20

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B+ up in here.

Just donated last week.

DrJohannVegas > PotbellyJoe and 42 others 11/11/2015 at 23:20

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I should think that no man in a thousand years will get as woozy as I did from this photo.

Seriously. My needle phobia even works through photos. Sweet. Kudos for giving. I hope that, one day, I can do it, too.

PotbellyJoe and 42 others > boredalways 11/11/2015 at 23:22

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I joke that my blood is the only A+ I ever got.

PotbellyJoe and 42 others > DrJohannVegas 11/11/2015 at 23:23

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Haha, I should probably place a warning on the headline. Although i figured the covering would be enough. Sorry.

Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing. > PotbellyJoe and 42 others 11/11/2015 at 23:23

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Just gave on Monday. Before I moved I used to give platelets as well, all part of a plan to overcome a fear of needles. I figured that if I was going in every two weeks I’d eventually get used to it, which I did. I didn’t mind the aphaeresis when it was just one needle, but the local agencies here still have the two needle setup, and I prefer having one arm free even if the process takes a little longer. That, and half as many needle sticks...

andthelike > boredalways 11/11/2015 at 23:24

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I’m also B+! I always want to donate, but I never can because I’m always in season for running. I hope to someday follow in my grandfathers footsteps. over his lifetime, he gave 7 gallons of blood.

DrJohannVegas > PotbellyJoe and 42 others 11/11/2015 at 23:28

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Nah, it’s cool. I knew what I was getting in to, and that’s part of the reason why I clicked.

Fun fact: I don’t need to see the needle. It’s the concept of the needle which seems to do it. Phobias are fucking stupid like that.

Edit: I saw Gran Fury’s post below, which sort of expresses the same thing. The Doc feels doubly bad because his veins are filled with O-type goodness.

boredalways > andthelike 11/11/2015 at 23:29

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Back in my college days I would donate plasma as well. Gotta have beer money!

Wacko > DrJohannVegas 11/11/2015 at 23:35

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So you play a Doctor on TV then?

boredalways > DrJohannVegas 11/11/2015 at 23:38

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Ask for a bite block, blindfold, and music via headphones. The technicians are so quick with the needle you’ll barely feel it going in.

Wouldn’t hurt to have a friend go with you as well.

DrJohannVegas > Wacko 11/11/2015 at 23:39

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Not all doctors are the kinds of doctors who help people.

DrJohannVegas > boredalways 11/11/2015 at 23:43

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Haha. I lose consciousness. (Fight or flight, I suppose.) I’ve given samples for blood panels where I’ll be chatting with the tech at one moment, then out the next. On occasion, my semi-conscious brain decides vulgar utterances are the way to go out. At least I get giggles in the room.

The last panel I did I made it through, but my resting heart rate was 120% my normal right before the draw. Upside is that shit flows quick at that rate. Almost won a medal for my 3-vial time.

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > PotbellyJoe and 42 others 11/11/2015 at 23:43

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I dont know my blood type, probably should though...

Regardless, they wont take my blood, I have too many auto-immune disorders

Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing. > DrJohannVegas 11/12/2015 at 00:04

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O+ here, so they’re always calling me.

I couldn’t donate for the longest time because my blood pressure was way out of whack. As soon as I got laid off my BP returned to normal levels, or at least close to normal (130/85 yesterday as opposed to the 160/110 when I was working at that miserable job). If I just drop a few dozen pounds I’m sure it will be perfectly acceptable.

Funny you should mention the mental thing. I can’t eat organ meats (liver, kidney, lung, heart, things like that (and tongue and brain)). I’m sure they taste good, but it’s the mental thing that prevents me from doing it. Word to the wise - if you suffer from this same phobia (or whatever it is), don’t look at the ingredients on something like a Slim Jim...

Wacko > DrJohannVegas 11/12/2015 at 00:08

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don’t worry, I know that. Had a gym teacher who had a PhD, and demanded to be called doctor ....

DrJohannVegas > Wacko 11/12/2015 at 00:10

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The internet, and in a tongue in cheek way, is the only way I will ever actually declare a title of the sort.

Sam > boredalways 11/12/2015 at 00:14

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Is it sad that I don’t know my blood type? I think it’s A-, but I wouldn’t bet my life on it.

Alfalfa > PotbellyJoe and 42 others 11/12/2015 at 00:18

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Old Red Wagon > PotbellyJoe and 42 others 11/12/2015 at 02:59

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I just donated about three weeks ago, i’m gonna try to make it a norm to donate every four months. Kudos to you for donating, more people should.

Roundbadge > PotbellyJoe and 42 others 11/12/2015 at 07:37

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I’m O+, and should give more often, but don’t.

I got into the habit of donating for a while, and did so a couple of times a year. The last time though, I had a nurse who couldn’t find the artery. She must’ve stabbed me 5 or 6 times. The first couple I was okay with, but I eventually began to lose interest.

She eventually got one going, but was only able to fill one bag. The flow just stopped when it came time for the second. She said, “I’ll have to try again.”

“The hell you will.”

“Your donation won’t count if we don’t get two bags.”

“Sucks for you!”

Ended up with a nice bruise and no desire to donate again.