[CrazyEye]

If you recall, last time I tried donating (my first time ever) it didn't go so well. On top of the vomiting, nausea, sweating, lightheadedness, and nearly passing out, I was only "drops away" from giving a full pint when they realized that a clot had formed in the needle and tube and the last 15 miserable minutes were all for naught.<br><br>
So, tonight I'm doing it again. Wish be better luck than last time!

 

[Lintu]

Good luck!<br><br>
I have the same problem, unfortunately. Are you going to try anything new to prevent it? What's helped me is having them lean me back when I first start the donation.

 

[CrazyEye]

I'm going to eat and drink like there's no tomorrow all day. This time it's in the evening instead of the morning. And, yes, I'll ask them to lean me back from the start.

 

[Gingerbread]

Oh, good luck! And good for you to try again. I hope it goes well.

 

[CrazyEye]

Hmmmm. Maybe third time's a charm? <img alt="icon_scratch.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/icon_scratch.gif">

 

[seattlegirl]

Holy crap. I'm impressed that you tried again. I have to lay down to give the teeny blood samples at the doctor's office or I pass out!

 

[wyrillco]

Did it not go well?

 

[CrazyEye]

The donation was fantastic. Then about 5 or 10 minutes after I was done the dizziness came, I almost blacked out, then had some vomiting. Believe it or not it was 100% better than last time.<br><br>
I think I'll try one more time. They said, along with all of the hydrating I did, to eat a meal 1.5 hours before donating. My last meal had been 7 hours earlier and my last snack had been about 4 hours earlier.<br><br>
The cool thing is that DH donated for the first time and did fine!<img alt="banana.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/banana.gif">

 

[QuixoticNotions]

Oh yeah, the meal thing-- totally,

 

[Gingerbread]

Food definitely helps me. Donating platelets, I'm hooked up to the maching for almost two hours, so I have some snackage right before, and if I'm not feeling chipper, I'll ask a nurse/LPN to get me some juice or a snack.<br><br>
Perhaps if you have juice right after it would help, too.

 

[CrazyEye]

That might help. I had just had some Snackwells before I almost blacked out. Juice would probably be more effective.

 

[Gingerbread]

Try to make sure you have it with you while donating, so you can drink it while donating (I don't think there's a problem with that). The ladies at the Red Cross I go to, expect me to eat before I donate, and have never minded if I brought something to the chair with me.

 

[runrchk]

Good for you for donating considering what it does to you. I am glad it was a better experience this time. Hopefully, next time will be even better. Congrats to hubby too for donating!

 

[Lintu]

Good for you for trying again. I have the same reaction, so now I don't donate anymore. I feel bad, since I'm type O, but when you black out, vomit, have nurses say "she's shocking!", it's kind of a turnoff.