As one can see, I have already marked this scary adventure off of my list. I will not lie, I am deathly afraid of needles.
The bank I work at sponsors a blood drive every 112 days, and I had just finished my list on Tuesday and the next blood drive was that Friday. I thought to myself, there is no time like the present to get started on this list and signed myself up. I don’t know if it was smart or stupid on my part, but I picked the 3:00 pm slot. I mainly did it that way so I would have enough time to drink water and get liquidated. The day drug on and on and coworker after coworker went downstairs to donate. As my time got closer, we talked about what happens when you give blood. They informed me that the worst part was getting your finger pricked to check for iron. I thought well if that is the worst part, then I should be okay.
Well 3:00 rolled around and I started down the stairs. Other coworkers were down there cheering donating coworkers on. I thought this is great…I have an audience…
I went through the “interview” process, where they collect all of your information. She informed me that she was getting ready to prick my finger and I would feel a little sting. I prepared myself and looked the other way. I felt the needle, but it did not hurt. I figured I was going to be fine…
I had to wait a while before I could donate since the nurse was busy with two patients already. My turn came and I hopped in the chair. She checked my veins and then got me ready for the needle. She said I would feel a little prick and then a sting. She slowly mentioned that there would be a burn, as she was sticking me with the needle. There was a burn alright! I thought I was going to jump out of the chair! I just kept my eye off of my arm the whole time blood was draining from my body and another coworker was there keeping me occupied. Well she got ready to go back to work and I reassured her that I was feeling fine. She non-the-less got out of the room and I started feeling lightheaded. The nurse tipped me back and said I was already done giving and that it all was psychological. I told her probably, but that black was closing around my eyes. Well I laid there and started to feel better. She sat me back up and I was fine for a while, then my stomach started to turn. So back I went again. After about another 5 or 10 minutes I was fine. I did not get any pictures of myself giving blood (thankfully), but I did take a picture of the awesome sticker I got for completing the task!
The bank I work at sponsors a blood drive every 112 days, and I had just finished my list on Tuesday and the next blood drive was that Friday. I thought to myself, there is no time like the present to get started on this list and signed myself up. I don’t know if it was smart or stupid on my part, but I picked the 3:00 pm slot. I mainly did it that way so I would have enough time to drink water and get liquidated. The day drug on and on and coworker after coworker went downstairs to donate. As my time got closer, we talked about what happens when you give blood. They informed me that the worst part was getting your finger pricked to check for iron. I thought well if that is the worst part, then I should be okay.
Well 3:00 rolled around and I started down the stairs. Other coworkers were down there cheering donating coworkers on. I thought this is great…I have an audience…
I went through the “interview” process, where they collect all of your information. She informed me that she was getting ready to prick my finger and I would feel a little sting. I prepared myself and looked the other way. I felt the needle, but it did not hurt. I figured I was going to be fine…
I had to wait a while before I could donate since the nurse was busy with two patients already. My turn came and I hopped in the chair. She checked my veins and then got me ready for the needle. She said I would feel a little prick and then a sting. She slowly mentioned that there would be a burn, as she was sticking me with the needle. There was a burn alright! I thought I was going to jump out of the chair! I just kept my eye off of my arm the whole time blood was draining from my body and another coworker was there keeping me occupied. Well she got ready to go back to work and I reassured her that I was feeling fine. She non-the-less got out of the room and I started feeling lightheaded. The nurse tipped me back and said I was already done giving and that it all was psychological. I told her probably, but that black was closing around my eyes. Well I laid there and started to feel better. She sat me back up and I was fine for a while, then my stomach started to turn. So back I went again. After about another 5 or 10 minutes I was fine. I did not get any pictures of myself giving blood (thankfully), but I did take a picture of the awesome sticker I got for completing the task!
Overall it wasn’t a bad experience, and they say the first time is the hardest. I am very likely to do it again just because I know I have already saved someone else’s life and that is one of the greatest feelings of all! :)
1 comment:
You did great! I'm proud of you!
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