Got rid of some old blood today

[Poppy]

Went and donated a fat bag of juice and 6 big vials this morning.

I’ve noticed your heart can pump those bags full as i was fiddling with it while the lady was tying things up.

It took a little longer than usual. They had a trainee working on me. She did everything but the stick.

@Kad1 I didn’t time it but it was one of my fastest pumps yet. Wished I would have put the clock on it.

@NeuroRN I guess the Red Cross uses the vials to test the blood every which way but loose???

They explained the double red…apparently O (mine is o neg) is golden. They pump out twice as much… separate the red blood cells from the plasma and pump the plasma back in ya. You can only do this every 4 months versus 2 months for a regular bag.

This brings up the question of which is better for “us with the thick blood”… one bag of red every 2 months or two bags every 4 months?

Any suggestions?

 

[Tack]

The thought of all this is making me light headed. But it will probably be something I’ll have to start doing when I start cycling. I’m curious to know some of the responses as well.

 

[Poppy]

Mine got so thick… my doc said it was like pumping pudding through my veins.

He got my attention with the stroke and heart attack warning.

 

[NeuroRN]

Yeah they gotta test every bag for type and screen, disease, covid, etc.

O neg is the closest thing to literal gold.

As far as donation? I have no idea.

 

[Dirtnasty]

The whole blood every 8 weeks I’m also told they arent supposed to do anything but that when on trt.

 

[Poppy]

Makes sense

 

[Poppy]

Makes sense.

 

[Poppy]

@Dirtnasty @NeuroRN

I don’t want to go in and donate a double and start to feeling bad and have to wait the extra time.

I personally can tell a big difference after i donate.

 

[Rusty]

When I donate blood I have more energy almost right away. I feel less fatigue as well. I always look forward to donating. It’s not like donating for a normal person.

 

[Dirtnasty]

I honestly never tell a difference but I usually go right after workout so I’m pretty tired from that

 

[Poppy]

Your labs will be your guide. I suppose it’s possible to cycle on and off peds without having abnormal levels…

There’s arguments against the need also. My doc said so and I’m doing it. It did bring my levels down.

 

[Kad1]

6 min is my fastest, amd I do 1 bag every 56 days

 

[JLee]

I did a regular donation Saturday. 5 minutes and 30 seconds.

 

[Poppy]

Mine was quick but I don’t think it was 6 mins. It was fastest for me…

 

[Poppy]

Darn … @JLee got a big ole engine pumping!

 

[JLee]

I always check out what they have for snacks before I go to the table. They had Welches gummies and they always tell me to eat as many as I want. I swear it’s the only thing that motivates to keep donating blood

 

[Dirtnasty]

I don’t know how fast I am. But the damn thing seems to ding right after
They walk away. And I love getting compliments on how easy it is to find a vein I got about 2 weeks May do blood work and donate same day make it whole sale blood give away day

 

[Rusty]

I’m gonna time mine hopefully this weekend if I can get I

 

[JLee]

Saturday the woman thanked me for being veiny and I swear drove that needle through my arm and into the table. Instant pain! I wish I had taken a picture because I had a two inch purple line in my arm that night, whole area bruised and then red blotches broke out around it! Never seen anything like it. Today the line is gone and most of the blotches. Still black and blue but fading. I see that woman again I’m grabbing my Welch’s jelly snacks and going home

 

[Dirtnasty]

I laughed hard