I am giving blood for the first time in 2 hours........

and I'm gettting more and more scared. 

Let's hear some good, painless, aren't I doing something good stories please.............!!  :o)

I donate blood pretty regularly for one reason alone:

The cookies.

:o)  I do love cookies.  I just hate needles.

I hate needles, Sunny. Hate them.

But giving blood isn't that bad. The pain for having your skin pierced goes away and you just feel a slightly odd but not painful feeling as you fill the bag up. It's not too bad.

Earlier this year I got blood taken for the first time (within the span of my memory). I avoided it really long because while I can handle vaccinations, I don't like the idea of a needle going in my vein. Anyway the girl who did it was really good, barely felt a thing...the only thing that got to me a bit was hearing the blood, because mine was coming out at a high velocity jet :P (probably different between a vial and a blood bag though).

I've avoided it for years too.  My mom does it all the time. 

For the first time it has been arranged for the van to come here to my work so it's right there, as far as I know I'm healthy, I know 3 people that have had blood transfusions that wouldn't be alive if everyone in the world was like me and didn't give blood because they are a bit scared so I decided that it was time to give it a go!

90 minutes to go.  In 60 minutes I think I'll get myself a twix, that'll help I'm sure.  :o)

I have given over 100 times...it is easy. I even watch the needle go in and also tell them which vein works the best. I guess I could even do it myself if I had too.

I donate every 3 or so months.  I also draw blood for work.  So, I consider myself a pro - but I don't watch the needle go in.  It doesn't hurt too bad (just like a pin prick), I just don't like to watch for some unknown reason.  After the pin prick it's smooth sailing.  The feeling you get afterwards (I'm-such-a-wonderful-giving-person feeling), is completely worth it.

Giving blood is one of the best things you can do. My first time was about a year ago and I donated every three months or so. (now I am on medication and I can't but I will definitley start once I am off it) This may sound weird but after I did it the first time, I felt like I had to keep doing it, for many reasons. For one, I didn't die.. meaning it's a simple way to help others out. Number 2, I am a Nursing major so I feel obligated ha, and three I feel soo much better about it. Make sure you drink a lot of water the whole week before you give, it makes things go by faster. It's maybe too late, but for next time =) Everything will be alright =) Have fun!

i'm jealous.  i love to give blood, but they won't take mine, because i lived in the UK for a few months in 1989-90 and there's no screening test for creutzfeldt-jakob disease.

don't you think if i had creutzfeldt-jakob I'd know by now?

i'm very bitter about this.

Isn't feeling bitter one of the symptoms of creutzfeldt-jakobs along with being highly opinionated?     ;-)

How did it go, Sunnybra?!

I love to give blood, even though it is kind of uncomfortable and yucky.  I think the key is to eat well before, have a snack or drink, and listen to your body.  I hope you had a good first experience...and now not only should you feel good for helping people, but you need to eat extra to replenish your body  (I have heard an extra 300 cals per day today and tomorrow would be in order).  Have a (semi-healthy) treat, guilt-free!

If you felt at all light headed, though, be careful in the shower for the next day.  Friends have told me hot water makes them woozy..and I'll admit one time I even got light headed doing dishes!

Original Post by trhawley:

Isn't feeling bitter one of the symptoms of creutzfeldt-jakobs along with being highly opinionated?     ;-)

NO!!!

It doesn't even hurt.  I think that getting a shot with a tiny needle is much worse.

Yay!!  I'm back, still standing and no haemorrhaging so I think it was a success. 

The tiny finger prick I didn't even feel.  The needle going into my arm killed me, the pressure thing around the top of my arm was a bit tight (could have been psychological too) but after a minute or 2 I got used to it.  Took 10 minutes to fill the bag so I have good blood flow!!  :o)

I'll do it again.

I love giving blood, I love knowing that I am doing something good for another person, and I have never had any problems. 

Mmm, my first thought was that you haven't given blood for a whole two hours and I was going to yell and scream that that's way too much ;)

But no, it's not that bad, I can't do it much because I played football and the training commentments, but now I really am looking foreward to do it again, though sometimes, I will admit, I have gotten light headed

Good for you!!  I just did that on Tuesday, for the second time.  I don't watch them insert the needle because I think that might get to me, but other than that, I don't have any problems.  I haven't had a problem with dizziness or passing out, and I'm going to keep on doing it.  They also give out free t-shirts here, so that's a plus, haha.

I started donating after my husband was diagnosed with cancer...I felt like I had to do SOMETHING to help SOMEONE, and I'm glad I started giving. 

I know this sounds dumb, but the only part that bothers me about the whole ordeal is the finger prick at the very beginning!  That HURTS!  The arm prick is fine, and I even think it is interesting to watch them insert the needle.  And of course, the cookies are a nice bonus. :)

I don't even think about it being at all uncomfortable to give blood - I think of all the people that my donations help.  Not long ago my dad needed 8 units of packed cells and I realized that he could have gotten mine - what greater thing could I do than to help someone whether I know them or not but the experience with my dad definitely put a face on it for me. 

It can be scary at first to donate but the staff are all amazing and will help you all along the way.  You can do it!

Original Post by sunnybra:

I've avoided it for years too. My mom does it all the time.

For the first time it has been arranged for the van to come here to my work so it's right there, as far as I know I'm healthy, I know 3 people that have had blood transfusions that wouldn't be alive if everyone in the world was like me and didn't give blood because they are a bit scared so I decided that it was time to give it a go!

90 minutes to go. In 60 minutes I think I'll get myself a twix, that'll help I'm sure. :o)

I can't bring myself to donate yet, just getting blood drawn for some tests was a big ordeal for me (leading up to it). I can't get over having a whole bag of blood being slowly drained from me :/