I hate being a grown-up

[woodardp]

I have a mild fear of needles. I don't mind getting injections, but I can't actually watch them go into my skin. Once they are there though, no problem. I regularly used to give blood, but haven't lately, due to schedule issues. I want to start giving again, and work has scheduled a blood drive for this Thursday, which I'm signed up for

Comments

[psychedelicbike]

I'd love to help you out, but Canadian Blood Services is afraid of my prions. They think I'm a crazy cow. Damn British beef. It tastes so good, but it leaves you tainted.

Summary: Nobody wants my blood.

[quingawaga]

I don't know, I've never donated plasma, only whole blood. I used to donate regularly too, but had to stop for a year when I got my tattoo and then I never really got around to making an appointment to go back, even though they STILL call me every now and then.

It's funny, I always thought that for plasma they just took whole blood from the donor and then separated it later, they didn't put anything back into the donor. I don't remember seeing any different machines that looked capable of doing that sort of thing at the clinic. But then, I wasn't exactly looking for them.

I also thought that 0- blood was the most useful blood type, the universal donor. I didn't realize that AB+ was sought after, too. I'm A- though, I guess I'm only sort of useful. :)

[woodardp]

For most people, that's what they do, take the whole blood, then split it up later. And yeah, O- is the most useful whole blood, but apparently AB+ is the most useful for plasma, plus it is one of the rarest (AB- is more rare)

Couple of FAQ's I've found:
Red Cross of Southern California
Canadian Blood Services Plasma information

Says the wife

[the_nita]

Do the research. Establish what your minimum realistic safe boundaries are. Then suck it up if fear's the only thing still stopping you.

Re: Says the wife

[woodardp]

Oh I know. And I am. Still doesn't mean I like it.

Re: Says the wife

[suburban_mom]

donate for those of us who can but want to.

[woodardp]

Thanks. Will do.

[aherne]

I haven't donated plasma, but I felt exactly this way about anaesthetic last summer. Terrified. I am also afraid of IVs, on the same principle - I don't want stuff going into my veins.

Sometimes I can trick myself into being brave, by making myself feel silly for being afraid. You can try reminding yourself that it's so exceedingly unlikely to harm you in any physical manner, that what you're actually afraid of is the fear, ie. the mental discomfort surrounding it, not the process itself. Who wants to be afraid of a little mental discomfort? Irrational fears are almost invariably worse than the actual process once you get there. Also, take yourself out for gourmet cake or something afterwards as a reward. I don't know about you, but chocolate mousse cake can talk me into a lot of things.

Good luck!

[woodardp]

Hmmm, I do want that new Nintendo...

[aherne]

We're in different economic classes, you and I! *grin*

The problem with that plan, though, is that it would no longer be funny if you said "Piece of cake!" when the donation was over. And from my personal experience, life has been generally better since I started taking that phrase literally.

[woodardp]

Yes, well, I have been out of school for much longer than you have.

And I suspect if I followed your advice, I would easily gain 20 pounds that I don't need to gain.