Help! I want to give blood, but I can't...

1. About 4 years ago, I gave blood...I didn't have to great of an experience (not having an appropriate breakfast). I was about 80% of the way through when I started feeling lightheaded and they took out the needle.
   
   Then about 2 years ago, I tried again (trying to eat a better breakfast) but I found myself feeling woozy all over again, remembering I guess.
   
   Any advice would be appreciated, as I really would love to be able to give blood.
   
   Kris
2. 

   About 2banurse

   Joined: Nov '02; Posts: 758; Likes: 2
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3. 
   Dec 15, '02

   Joined: Jul '02; Posts: 3,872; Likes: 18

   Are you dehydrated? I used to be a phlebotomist at a plasma center and that was the most common cause of people keeling over. Try to drink lots of fluids before you go next time...
   
   Kristy
4. 
   Dec 15, '02

   Occupation: RN, MS home health Joined: Aug '02; Posts: 7,472; Likes: 49

   Drink tons of fluid one hour before you go -coffee or pop which can dehydrate you. Could be the culpit.
   
   renerian
5. 
   Dec 15, '02

   Occupation: LPN; Self Employed Joined: May '01; Posts: 334; Likes: 25

   Yup--lots and lots of water a couple of hours before procedure! Orange juice can help, too. Meditation is some times helpful. My hubby had the problem of wooziness like you...he finally tried visualizing himself as relaxed and alert during the procedure...he found that this, and carrying on a dialog with the administering nurse during the procedure, really did the trick. Good luck and keep trying!
   
   Peace and Brightest Blessings of the Season to you and yours,
   
   Lois Jean
6. 
   Dec 15, '02

   Joined: Jul '02; Posts: 3,872; Likes: 18

   We always recommended milk, water, juice, or Gatorade. And in large quantities...if you don't go the bathroom every five minutes, it's not enough .
   
   Kristy
7. 
   Dec 15, '02

   Occupation: Nursing student Joined: Nov '02; Posts: 389; Likes: 10

   2banurse,
   
   I have dinky tiny deep veins, coupled with a tendency toward orthostatic hypotension, and I still give blood regularly out of some warped sense of civic duty. That, and the shiny little pin they gave me when I joined the Ten Gallon Club.
   
   I schedule my donations at the end of the day, and all day long I drink AT LEAST one full glass of water or dilute juice per hour. Most people go through life slightly dehydrated, so this compensates somewhat. I also drink two quarts of water the day prior to my donation. I eat a healthier-than-normal lunch and then eat something for dinner (it doesn't seem to matter if it's healthy or not--just to top off the blood sugar) on my way to the blood centre.
   
   Being well-hydrated helps substantially with both the technicians' ability to hit a vein on the first or at least the third try (there's quite a lot of scar tissue in there), and it also lessens the orthostatic hypotension. Also, try to avoid lying perfectly flat while donating--in the mobile drives, this sometimes isn't possible, since their portable tables usually only lie flat, but if you go to the central donation site, they usually have nice cushy donation chairs. Good luck!
8. 
   Dec 16, '02

   Joined: Dec '02; Posts: 191

   Yup, later in the day is best for me also. I found out the hard way that I can't give blood in the a.m. Anything after 1 p.m., as long as I've eaten and had lots of water, has done the trick.
9. 
   Dec 16, '02

   Occupation: Full time student Joined: Nov '02; Posts: 758; Likes: 2

   Thank you very much for the advice. I think I can handle the idea of making sure I am better hydrated; however, my biggest concern is the wooziness I feel when I think of how I felt that time. I'll have to try that meditation.
10. 
    Dec 16, '02

    Occupation: pre-nursing student, secretary - non-medical Joined: Jan '01; Posts: 1,761; Likes: 46

    I get a little woozy too, I have found that donating in the afternoon helps deter this.
    
    Also, while you should have some food in your stomach don't eat a large meal right before you go. For me, that's a sure way to end up unconscious. Not sure why this is so, but I imagine that most of your blood is aiding in digestion at that point.
    
    I usually tell the phlebotomist before I begin that I am prone to feeling woozy and like I will pass out. They usually pay a little extra attention to me and will calm me down and assist if I holler that I feel ill. I've never had them stop taking blood though, usually I just yell that I don't fell well and they will come over and calm me down and put a cool cloth on my forehead and a plastic bag over my clothes just in case I vomit, which has never happened, and let it pass, then I feel all right.
    
    For me the scary and uncomfortable thing is not feeling nauseated or woozy but feeling like I could pass out. It usually only lasts a few seconds though and I usually have enough warning that I can ask the phlebotomist to come over to me in case I do go out, so, it's not too bad. After the feeling passes I am just fine. I also tell the phlebotomist that once I am done donating and the needle is out I would like to lie there for a few extra minutes before I get up. (I once passed out just as I was standing up from the bed).
    
    I'm sure if you tell the phlebotomist about your concerns and prior experiences they will do everything they can to make you feel comfortable and secure.
11. 
    Dec 16, '02

    Occupation: Full time student Joined: Nov '02; Posts: 758; Likes: 2

    Thanks Colleen and everyone. Once I can get rid of this horrible chest cold that I've had for 4+ weeks, I would like to give it another try.
12. 
    Dec 17, '02

    Joined: Jan '02; Posts: 1,614; Likes: 2

    Don't worry about it. I am the same way. It's a psycho-somatic reaction to dying. My sympatetic nervous.sys rules, and when blood is detected leaving Mario, mario will always react. I have tried to give blood three times in my life. Eat right, plenty of fluids, sleep...it don't matter with me. You start draining my Hb and by golly my body won't go for it.
    
    it's a very calming feeling...kinda warm and still. Then this beautiful trumpet noise starts, and all i can do is listen to it more and more intensely. I can't move, and I just drift off to sleep listening to that beautiful trumpet
    then the nurse is popping me in the face telling me to wake up. I do't need that in my life. The last time they told me NOT to try to give blood again. I won't.
13. 
    Dec 17, '02

    Occupation: Full time student Joined: Nov '02; Posts: 758; Likes: 2

    Thanks Mario, but I think I have to give it another try.
14. 
    Dec 17, '02

    Joined: Jan '02; Posts: 1,614; Likes: 2

    Third try is what did it for me. Heh, I was a new marine, after bootcamp, in radio school. They had a blood drive and would give you half a day off if you gave blood. I figured the first two times were a fluke, and had some how "grown up" at age 19. I didn't say anything to the phleb people about fainting, so they left me alone a minute or two. They said I drifted way out, and that my lips turned completely white.
    One day when i grow up i'd like to understand how all those hormones and glands control sympathetic nervous system. You see, on the one hand, you are telling your body to relax and squeeze a ball and give blood. On the other hand, YOUR BODY is saying "whoa-if i'm loosing blood, I'm supposed to be running out of here" In some people, there are hard wired receptors that only function in a fight/flight mode, and for me it's my Hb monitors. Folks who can give blood can over-ride their sympathetic nervous circuitry. Just like I have no problem going into a steam room and hanging out for 15 minutes and some folks are hot in just 5 minutes. Everyone is different - don't beat yourself up for not giving blood, for what? I have to look up now which mechanism is involved with monitoring Hb levels in the blood. It is hard to accept, at first, you are different from others who can give blood. But just as their are type O,B,A blood...there will be folks who can't tolerate active tissue removal.
    I'm surprised giving blood hasn't gone over big as a weight loss method. Lose a pound in an hour, lol!

    Last edit by mario_ragucci on Dec 17, '02

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