BbbLooOOD
Just like to share a first time experience with blood donation.
History
Previous attempts were quickly denied since undergrad days because I was either on my period, or I did not meet the 45kg criteria.
Then when I joined SRC I finally met the 45kg criteria to later be disappointed again because I have low-blood pressure.
Present
Yesterday after lunch, I went to check my blood pressure. She confirmed that I passed the blood pressure criteria. I told the Dr that I meet the weight criteris, but she didn’t believe me. To convince the Dr that I was a healthy 49/50 kg, I had to step on the weighing scale. Then, I told her that I also have ’shortness of breath’. She said as long as I don’t have it often it would be ok.
So they drew blood out from me. The nurses noticed how slowly the blood flow was, and felt that it was because I was a first-time donor. One by one other people completed their donation, rest period and eating period and here my blood flow is still….flowing AND the packet isn’t quite full.
Suddenly, I started to shiver uncontrollably, and breathe like a woman in her lamaze class. I told the nurse that I was shivering all over, and they noticed that my fingers were turning blue. Apparently they claimed the color from my face and lips were fading.
Everyone was afraid that I was going to faint.
Just as they wanted to deploy help, the packet was full. Them nurses covered me up in a blanket, and gave me…something which I stared at with suspicion….glucose water to drink. I was aching to get out of the contraption and return to work, but was forced by them nurses to sleep.
What took others 20-30 mins, took me a whopping hour to finish the blood donation. All I knew was afterwards I needed food as I was shivering, feverish, numb and tired.
After a few hours, I checked my donator log book, and realized they categorized me as type ‘B’. Then I stopped. In SRC, they categorized me as ‘AB’. What the……
Need to get confirmation so nobody gets a blimmin transfusion from my blood!
Overall, the process was exciting and I’m glad that I did it. I’ve been wanting to donate for a very long time.
Finally!
-Asma wan signing off-
