Giving Blood – Interesting Experience last night

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I decided to give blood last year, I was at Eastbourne Air Show and the stand was empty, so I signed up, I simply thought why not.

They send you plenty of info, although you have to fill in a questionnaire every time, which asks some unusual questions, but I’ll let you enjoy the surprise, a few of them made me chuckle to say the least.

You also find out your Blood Type which I didn’t know, I’m A+ if you wanted to know, which is one of the more common blood types, which means they need plenty of it, if that makes sense.

Anyways, my first donation, I didn’t really think much of it, I certainly didn’t feel any side effects.

But last night, I felt some mild nausea, so I decided to walk to my car which was about 3-400m away, except I did this within about 2 minutes of them removing the needle, I don’t think they noticed me leaving, as you’re supposed to rest, I knew this, but I felt fine, just a little sick.

Anyways, I got about 100m down the road and I started to sweat profusely, then another 50m and my ears started ringing louder and louder. After another 50m my vision was failing, it was gradually getting blacker and blacker, I stopped sat on a wall, and put my head lower (it was instinct) and I felt instantly better, I had about 100m left to get to my car, but even with a brief rest, I just about made it to my car, as I got there I was having problems walking straight.

I was glad to be in my car though, I rolled the seat back and sat there listening to the radio for 5 minutes. At which point I felt back to normal. It was weird, the whole time I was walking to my car, ” I was like shit, I’m not gonna be able to drive home safely like this, but was like, shit I can’t turn back, I’ll feel like more of a dick going back”.

There was no way I’d drive if impaired, I don’t drink, and really think people who do it deserve a prison cell.

As weirdly as it sounds though, I sort of enjoyed it, because I’m the kind of person who learns by reinforcing theory with a practical side. I’m not good at copying someone, I have to learn by myself, and make mistakes on the way. So, not sitting and resting and reaffirmed the information I’ve read in the booklets.

I was fine for the rest of the evening, but had a pretty productive day, I put two massive straining posts in the ground to support a new fence line on top of my normal duties. They do say you shouldn’t do anything physical the next day (the doctor asks before hand), but well, I have to work, but I honestly felt really good today, and no ill effects at all, so don’t be put off, most people will never experience that, I certainly don’t plan on doing it again, I’ll stay for the drink and a biscuit.
dinner..so that could be why I struggled

Still, don’t think you can shake off that shit and get up and leave straight away, looking back, I could of easily fainted if I’d pushed myself harder, and could of hurt myself collapsing.

I did some googling, and the symptoms I experienced are classic low blood pressure problems, I just think I didn’t give my body a chance to recover, you should have no problems if you do that and are of normal proportions and in good health.

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Permalink | Comments (0) | Feb 18, 2010

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