Horrible blood donation experience

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Hello everyone! This is my first post, so if I didn't do it right please forgive me. A little over two years ago I agreed to help my son meet his quota for his schools annual blood drive. I had never donated blood before but was not worried about it and was not the least bit squeamish. I was 34 years old at the time and a little on the heavy side. All went well until I stood up (after the donation), I then began to feel a little dizzy and sick to my stomach, the next thing I knew I was lying down with my feet in the air and my head lowered. The phlebotomist told me that I had passed out but that everything was okay and how it was perfectly normal....so after a coke and some cookies I decided I felt well enough to leave, so I got back up ......... you guessed it! I passed out again! I woke up in the same position with some very smelly thing being held under my nose. This time though I didn't start to feel better, only worse. Every time I sat up I passed out, then I started throwing up, and I was freezing. My husband was called and when he showed up he said I was out and white as a ghost, and the RN kept telling someone on the phone "she's dropping! she's dropping! The last time I woke up I had an IV in my arm and within about 30 minutes I felt 100% better, after about an hour they let my husband take me home and I was fine, with no further problems. I didn't see a Dr because I had no insurance at the time. About a year later when I was at the Doctors office for something unrelated I asked him about the incident. He said it was no big deal and that it happens all the time! Does it? I mean I know people pass out but does it usually end up like this? I began my donation at around 11:45 and finally left there at about 6:30 that evening. The wonderful treatment given to me by the phlebotomists and RN inspired me to return to college (after 16 years) and I'm now half way through (RN class of 2007). Anyway..... any insight on this would be appreciated. I know that many times nurses are more in touch than the Doctors are. Thanks! Charlie

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Well, I have donated blood about 8 times and I've only passed out once. I was donating at the hospital I worked at and I got down to the cafeteria and didn't feel good so I rested my head on a table. Then after 10 min. I got in the elevator and passed out 2 times. Then I stumbled out of the elevator on the wrong floor and passed out again. Someone found me and I had some o2 and juice and was 100% better. I am a pre-nursing student but from my experience they say that it is pretty common. I know that they do track those who pass out so that the next time you donate blood the phlebotomist can keep an eye on you. Don't let it deter you from donating again. :p

Keely

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I have been a Red Cross blood drive volunteer for more than thirty years.

Some years i only do the annual drive with a club i belong to.

Some years it is several.

I also donate several times a year.

I've never experienced a donor passing out. Red Cross employees have told me about it.

One young man had been up all night drinking Mountain Dew and playing video games. He felt faint. The nurse had him lie down and covered him with sa blanket. We had him dring juice while lying down. he was fine in about 20 minutes but had to sit, drink, and eat for another 1/2 hour.

The healthcare emergency i remember at a blood drive was the Red Cross employee who had an MI. I called 911. He was treated in the cardiac cath lab in less than an hour.

SO, what do I know? Just my anecdotal experience is that what happened to you is uncommon. The nurse and others knew what to do.

I my years of nursing I've had many patients suffer the symptoms you had when their BP dropped.

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I didn't mean to say that it's "common" in that it happens all the time but it is one of the side effects they mention that you could experience afterwards as well as dizziness, etc. but it rarely happens. :)

Keely

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Specializes in Maternal - Child Health.

Frightening, I agree, but probably not serious. Donating a unit of blood is somewhat akin to experiencing a moderate hemorrhage. You lose a significant amount of blood from your body in a relatively short period of time, leaving you hypovolemic. Most people's bodies are able to adjust to this volume change readily, causing them no ill effects. Yours wasn't. Your low B/P was caused by decreased blood volume that wasn't corrected readily by oral fluids. That's why you needed an IV, and why it made you feel so much better.

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i work as a phlebotomist at a local blood bank and what i would suggest next time you want to donate, eat well and get lots of fluid before you donate. you didn't mention if you ate or drank anything before donating, but it will help lessen your reactions. also, ask the phlebotomist to tilt your chair back before the donation process begins. sometimes that helps people who have fainted before.

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Specializes in Home Health, PDN, LTC, subacute.

Oh boy, I had the same experience this spring. I was fine until I got up, then I got nauseated, saw stars and passed out. Every time I sat up I got dizzy. It took a good 2 hours before I could walk back to class. My teacher (nursing instructor) said it's nothing to worry about.

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Specializes in ER/ICU/STICU.
Frightening, I agree, but probably not serious. Donating a unit of blood is somewhat akin to experiencing a moderate hemorrhage. You lose a significant amount of blood from your body in a relatively short period of time, leaving you hypovolemic. Most people's bodies are able to adjust to this volume change readily, causing them no ill effects. Yours wasn't. Your low B/P was caused by decreased blood volume that wasn't corrected readily by oral fluids. That's why you needed an IV, and why it made you feel so much better.

I agree. If you were not adequately hydrated prior to donating blood, then your body had a harder time adjusting to the lost. I would suggest hydrating the day before you give blood if you plan to donate again.

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Any advise for someone who will be donating a unit of blood? I will be donating it to myself by the way...I am having surgury and I may well need blood.

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^^just be sure to eat and drink well before you donate. and if its hot outside give yourself a little time after the donation, you don't want to go outside and have the heat hit you like a ton of bricks. also, be sure to eat the juice and cookies your offered at the end. although it may seem silly to sit down and eat juice and cookies it will help you feel better and you'll have a lesser chance of a reaction. let the phlebotomist know if your starting to feel funny or something doesn't feel right.

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I had a similar experience while in nursing school. I didn't like feeling 'ucky', but I didn't let me stop donating...........The American Red Cross did. Since I lived in Europe prior to 1984 and spent longer than 4 months there (thanks to Uncle Sam) I can no longer donate......actually, my whole entire family can't. We all have O-neg and you know that 'everybody' wants it.........we all wish we could.......again, but until they change their rules we can't.

It has something to do with the 'mad cow' thing...well, we've had some cases here recently, so what is the big deal? I was almost up to a gallon and was really looking forward to that pin :rolleyes:

Well, don't let a bad experience stop you from doing a wonderful service!! Just make sure that you eat a 'proper' meal before going and drink plenty of water before going too.

Good Luck!!!!!!!!! :flowersfo

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Specializes in ER.

The red cross rules for donating blood are such a pain. I donated for 15 years, with absolutely no problem, but the restrictions for even a smooth donation are so great it takes about an hour and a half for me to get in and out. Have to read a 6 page document EVERY time, fill out a two page paper, have to wait so long...

If they are recording who has trouble why don't they record who doesn't? I said screw it about 2 years ago, if they want my blood they will have to make it easier (under an hour) for the donation.

For anyone who's wondering, yeah, I've already donated more than I've hung, plus any products my family members have received twice over. I just don't care anymore who dies because I wouldn't subject myself to their buttcovering paperwork and procedures.

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