Getting blood drawn

[planet planet]

I hate it, I hate shots, and I especially hate it when they can't find your vein.

[Leroy]

I used to hate it, with good reason. My first experience with a shot was preschool shot day. Apparently, I moved and the needle broke off and stuck in my bone. I never had another shot until well into high school. They actually used four people to hold me. Once I realized that it doesn't really hurt, I was shocked.

And once you go through the military cattle gun procedure, you are fine with the whole deal.

My wife sometimes passes out when giving blood though.

[Popeye_Card]

I'm fine with shots, but don't like getting blood drawn. About half-way through, I always come to the realization that they're actively pulling blood out of my vein while I sit there, and it makes me uneasy. It doesn't hurt or anything, and I'm fine with spilling my own blood via cuts etc., but just the idea of the needle removing the blood from me--I don't know, I don't like it.

--P--

[Arthur Dent]

I give blood at every opportunity.

I've always wondered what happens if they forget to disconnect you. Does blood keep flowing out until you die?

[ThatGuy]

There were a few blood drives at school earlier in the semester, but because I had to wait a month after stopping Acutane before giving blood I couldn't contribute. I'm O-negative too, so I certainly would've done it if at all possible.

I'll do it the next time around.

[maddash]

I give blood at every opportunity.

I've always wondered what happens if they forget to disconnect you. Does blood keep flowing out until you die?

I've had varying success at giving blood. There have been a few times where I wasn't able to fill up a pint (or whatever the volume is they try to suck out of you). I'm not a big guy, but I'm not small either - 5'10" and around 170 lbs, but for whatever reason there are times when the blood just starts to flow at a trickle. I squeeze the little ball things to get it going, but there have been times when nothing comes out (a few times they've had to just trash whatever I had donated so far because there wasn't enough). So as far as the "keep flowing" thing goes, I don't think I have to worry about that.

Man, going through all the hassle of donating blood and then having someone tell you that you didn't give enough really sucks. Still, I try to give whenever I can. Since I've been hitting the weights again, I've thankfully had no problem with giving blood.

[haltz]

There were always parties the night of blood drives in CoMo. What a train wreck those were.

[Radbird]

I donate all the time - they always need my type (B-). And I ran the blood drives at our church for a few years. For some reason, it's just not something that bothers me.

[Simbagal23]

I don't mind having blood drawn for test work.......however, I specifically recall asking a nurse one time if the needle for donating blood is the same size (thinking, hey, giving blood won't be so bad!). She laughed. Sort of maniacal laugh, too............I have never donated blood.

[jim]

I'm O - the universal donor - so they like me. I don't mind it, but the first time I did it I learned a lesson the hard way. You know how when you are 18 you don't believe anything they tell you? Well i had blood drawn at 1:00, went to baseball practice right after that, and then went out drinking that night.

Bad plan.