did you get sick the first time? I donated at the Childrens'Hosp.in DC yesterday, and thought I was going to die afterwards, totally worth it, and I will do it again in 8wks.
2006-09-14 11:04:47 · 8 answers · asked by tamilynn 3 in Health ➔ General Health Care ➔ Other - General Health Care
Thought I was "going to die" as in I was "sick as a dog", only lasted about 20min. and yes, I am going to do it again, every 8wks.
2006-09-16 03:23:53 · update #1
I have donated over 10 gallons.
Usually no side effects, but I have been lightheaded for a few minutes a couple times.
It helps if you have eaten & drank lots of water beforehand.
If you're lightheaded, drink fruitjuice and have a cookie or a muffin.
Many blood collection places have those things out for you.
2006-09-14 11:13:22 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
They may have over bled you. The Red Cross was fined a few years back for doing that. When you take out too much blood, you activate an immunal response that can both make you feel sick, and can be harmful to anyone receiving the blood, because of the presence of these specific type of white cells. They over bleed to try to meet quotas. A lot of our blood is sent the England, where the local blood supply is no longer considered safe due to the presence of mad cow disease, for which there still is not test for donated blood. There was a conference here of representatives donation sites from all over the world. Had some interesting discussions with them.
2006-09-14 18:14:21 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Like someone else here said...I have to ask, "sick how?" There are no physiologic reasons I can think of that would cause nausea, vomiting, etc. If you mean "thought you were going to die" in some other way, please be more specific.
I'm glad you feel positively about the experience despite the illness. I do encourage you to try it again because I really don't know of any reason why the (rather vague) symptoms you describe could relate to your blood donation.
2006-09-14 20:19:30 · answer #3 · answered by kathy_is_a_nurse 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some people do experience light headedness and/ or nausea after doing so- they should have told you everything BEFORE you gave blood though. As far as "i thought i would Die but I'll do it again in 8 wks" You should ask the people at the clinic if what you felt was normal.. most people dont FEEL like dieing after giving a blood donation.
2006-09-14 18:10:42 · answer #4 · answered by ChrissyLicious 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I gave blood several times...first time I got dizzy and almost fainted...had a few good times in between...then once I did faint at the laundromat afterwards (and soaked my slacks), and I was only out for maybe a minute...and last time I was going into a faint the CNA's spent about 10 minutes trying to keep me from going into a coma. Guess I'm not going back.
2006-09-14 18:15:16 · answer #5 · answered by sophieb 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sick how? No, I never got sick. Some people feel faint, but that's not me either. I've donated gallons, literally, and never had any ill effects.
2006-09-14 18:09:03 · answer #6 · answered by keepsondancing 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I felt like I was going to lose consciousness. That's why they usually give you a juice drink and have you lie down for awhile afterwards.
2006-09-14 18:13:28 · answer #7 · answered by beez 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not sick, just a little light headed sometimes.
2006-09-14 18:12:13 · answer #8 · answered by Cary Grant 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋