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Has any one managed to overcome a tendancy to faint in order to regularly give blood?
I'm pretty squeamish and not great with needles, I've donated around 5 times before when I was a student but I had quite a few faints/near faints - I'd get told to come back in a couple of years. After the last one I stopped, it just felt like I was wasting everyone's time and NHS resources.
But every time I hear the radio appeals I feel pangs of guilt!
Following - the handful of times I have given a blood sample I have passed out. Would be quite nice to be able to donate...
I gave blood a few times but was always close to fainting. Turns out that it's not being squeamish, it's low blood sugar level. I was basically told not to bother as my blood type wasn't a high priority and so I was more bother than it was worth 😅
I’m pretty squeamish and not great with needles,
Me too, but only if I look.
I can cope with it perfectly well as long as i cant see it.
Just look out of the window or something
more biscuits?
Just look out of the window or something
I most certainly do not look at it!
I'm O- so always in demand
I guess it depends why you're fainting, i.e. is it physical or mental? My wife was prone to fainting, but it was primarily physical as she's close to the lower height/weight limit for donation. She's found that drinking loads of water in the day beforehand (not just immediately prior to it) and having something salty an hour or 2 beforehand (like a bacon sandwich) has stopped the fainting. Not sure if that would work if it's more mental, but there might be some sort of placebo effect!
I gave blood twice, 1st time I had a bad reaction, felt faint/dizzy/nauseous and was left on a bed to recover with extra tea and biscuits, 2nd time they didn't even have to ask if was ok apparently I had gone grey. I received a letter afterwards thanking for my donation of O- but politely asking me to not come back because of the severity my reaction.
Go in properly hydrated, do the calf/thigh tensing exercises they recommend and take it easy when you stand up. Had problems first couple of times but none since. It seems to be the hydration which makes the big difference.
Does anyone here (like me) donate platelets?
Not sure what causes me to feint exactly - last time it happened when I had to give a blood sample in the waiting room - one minute I was making small talk when the nurse stuck the needle in then next thing I woke up a few minutes later, on a stretcher hooked up to an ECG machine. Apparently I had a fairly impressive whitey & was convulsing on the floor, breaking my glasses.
Just a tad embarrassing.
If it's the needles then something like CBT will probably help. If you are a lightweight racing snake then you may just struggle as you probably have a low heart rate and it drops too low when you donate. IANAD by the way, but I am into the early 40's donation-wise provided I've drunk enough, failed last time as it just cut-off for some reason!
Not sure what causes me to feint exactly
Possibly the jab?
Not sure what causes me to feint exactly
Possibly the jab?
Lack of pressure on the tip when writing?
Not sure what causes me to feint exactly
Possibly the jab?
True Al, however I can receive jabs no bother - ie flu jab; not a problem at all so not fear off needles. It's also not the sight of blood - cuts and the like totally fine. Needles going into my veins, whole different kettle of biscuits - no chance of not going grey and whiteying. I can only presume it's the change in blood pressure or something.
About 10 years ago I gave blood and mentioned afterwards that I felt a tiny bit dizzy when I got home, after a beer. After that they wouldn't let me donate. I then moved to another part of the country and it became impossible to give blood so I gave up trying.
I used to donate regularly, even though my blood group is terribly common.
It used to be turn up and go, so I'd pop in on the way home from work and that would be that.
They've changed things so you have to book and its a complete barrier to the donation process in my eyes. You have to create an account which doesn't recognise your previously registered details (on the donation card), tried several times and failed. I'll be honest I gave up at that point. It shouldn't be difficult given I already exist on their system.
A few little things _can_ help sometimes on the physical side. Make sure you're well hydrated, not anaemic (iron tablets for a couple of days if necessary) and have recently eaten a decent meal.
If feeling light-headed, you can try physically squeezing blood back up to your head - it sounds silly but it can sometimes help; tense leg muscles, buttocks, abs and hold your breath for a few seconds to increase blood pressure in your head. Google "Anti-G Straining Manoeuvre" for details on how fighter pilots are trained to do it. Once you learn it, it's a good habit to overcome that light-headed feeling you can get from standing up too fast.
As for fainting because of psychological stuff, others will be better qualified to advise on that...!
I used to give blood. They used to have mobile blood vans come round to my old work.. haven't heard of that for years now.
I don't think it'd be a good idea at the moment though, not with the anti-coagulant meds ... we only wanted a pint, we've got 6! 😆
It shouldn’t be difficult given I already exist on their system.
I also used to be on their system but it seems they purged a lot of records when they brought in the current system (data protection and all that) so I had to start again after a pause - and I nearly gave up completely as they make it so hard to re-register. Consequently I recently got a badge and certificate as well as congratulations from the donation team for reaching my 10th donation, when I've really made about 110.
One possible solution to the fainting is to follow their advice on drinking fluids before and after donating, including the pint of squash while you're waiting. You'll be dying for a pee so much you'll forget about fainting.
I had the same problem on the one occasion I gave blood. It's not squeamishness - injections don't bother me, and neither does the site of blood. I drank plenty of water and ate beforehand, yet I felt very nauseous and dizzy afterwards, and was still a bit rough the following morning. I'm O neg to it would be good if I could find a solution that would allow me to donate.
Anti-G Straining Manoeuvre....... fighter pilots
Do you think the nurses would let you wear some of those fancy anti-G trousers that fighter pilots have??
Scruff it was a boxing joke 🙂
Does anyone here (like me) donate platelets?
I keep meaning to look into it, I've quite a useful group for platelets (A-) if I'm otherwise suitable. The nearest place is about 50 miles away though so unless they pay expenses I probably couldn't afford to donate as often as they like!
Does anyone here (like me) donate platelets
Me! Me! 🙂
i dislike hospitals, needles and stuff. folk describing operations, grazes send me somewhat tingly, and not in a good way. Somehow though - as long as keep looking the other way -- can mange to give blood, up to around 90-100 donations I think now.
Quickest donations would be in Edinburgh, Lauriston Place, cycle up from work down off Bonnington Road, all the way up Leith Walk, Bridges and then round to Tollcross - used to be easily sub 5- and 4-minute donations IIRC..
Speaking as someone who has massively benefitted from blood donations if your in any way unsure of it then please think of the people who could benefit. I received approximately 4 blood and 4 platelet transfusions last year while being treated for lymphoma. I would have no doubt died without them and survived by the kindness of others. Another request is to think of going on the dkms register to potentially donate life saving stem cells. To register isn't intrusive, just a simple oral swab, register here, https://www.dkms.org.uk/en
Top work fellas.
Does anyone here (like me) donate platelets?
Got tested but don't produce enough to donate .
Donation system round here is crap, they used to visit the town, you had to book but they were always rammed full and I had to wait an hour past the booked time last time I did it. Then they stopped coming at all, the nearest place is 15 miles and they still claim they are desperate for donations. No, I'm not driving that far and taking half a day over it.
They're quite neurotic about making sure you drink enough. Changed a couple of years ago, and now you pretty much have to drink a pint of water in front of the nurse before the donation.
Interesting - I know I should donate but the needles/blood thing puts me off. On my bucket list of things to do next year when I turn 50.
I found that taking an iron supplement every day and keeping well hydrated knocked the faintiness on the head for me.
And I am the worlds biggest squeamish wimp when it comes to needles as well...
^^^^^^
After a recent blood test I was told I had too much iron in my blood. Currently being tested for hemochromatosis and if positive I will have to give blood every couple of weeks to reduce the iron, which is not great as I hate needles
Hmm definitely some things for me to try. I don’t think I’m low in iron, the little finger prick test never seems to have any problem sinking. I think for me it’s a combination of physical and mental, ive fainted invarious instances when I’ve been under stress/run down. I think stressing that I’m going to faint again doesn’t help.
3 drops of my own blood in any circumstance and I faint / almost faint. Pure squeamishness coupled with low BP
Other peoples? I can deal with bucketfuls but my own? I'll be the one on the floor going white.
Interesting – I know I should donate but the needles/blood thing puts me off. On my bucket list of things to do next year when I turn 50.
Odd thing to put on a bucket list. And why wait until you're 50? Blood isn't like a rare bottle of red. It doesn't mature with age!
I had to give a blood sample recently and I am very squeamish about needles. I got chatting to the nurse about the fact I can't donate and she said not to worry as they are massively over-subscribed in our area anyway (this surprises me as I assumed there would be some central bank).
Still, it makes me feel a bit better.
And I am registered for chopping my body into little bits after I'm dead - they can help themselves to anything they want then.
not to worry as they are massively over-subscribed in our area anyway
I get the impression that there must be 2 competing groups in the blood transfusion service, one putting out the “short of blood, we’re all gonna die” messages and the other trying to put people off. Currently waiting to donate in a queue 30 minutes beyond appointment time, so there’s no shortage of donors here!
they've closed off all the local donation sessions round here and now only do it at a centralised location that isn't close to my home or work so I don't.
but they still phone me regularly as though the call centre staff are on commision for making appts....
I used to give regularly, then we moved and due to spending every spare waking moment sorting the house for what felt like a decade (more like a few months, but still) I got out the habit.
Inspired by this thread I decided to start again. Holy cow! I've tried to register on the website to find out when the next donation session near us it, but it won't let me complete my registration. Won't tell me why, or what's wrong, just gives me a number to call. Which I suppose I'll have to do now. But nice one guys, great job with making it easy.
I'd really like to champion the people who can and do donate blood, my nephew is regularly on the receiving end of blood and platelets due to a bone marrow deficiency he developed at the age of 21.
I have had fainting spell whilst giving blood on my last occasion but not previously so am waiting to hear back from ScotBlood. My wife has a rare blood type and they ask her to donate 3-4 times per year.
Whilst I am at it can I ask if you are willing and able please also consider putting yourself on the Bone Marrow donation register via https://www.anthonynolan.org/8-ways-you-could-save-life/donate-your-stem-cells the actual registration is a simple saliva swab but you could drastically improve someones life for the better. In particular they seek out healthy, fit males under 30... (yeah Yeah no one like that on here but perhaps you might know someone like that...)
more here - https://www.nhsbt.nhs.uk/british-bone-marrow-registry/how-can-i-help/
I just tried to re-register after not donating for a few years, I had the same issue with going through all the forms then being asked to call the number. I did and they sorted it online for me, they can't have deleted all of my old information as they knew how many times I had donated in the last 8 years.
I agree it does seem harder than it should be though, but maybe they aren't as desperate for blood as I imagine?
Haven't fainted yet but do hate needles, I just look away and ignore it for a few minutes.
SBH, absolutely, I did suggest/request people register themselves and as you say its a simple oral swab to register. Talking from experience bone marrow samples sound horrific but in all honesty are not that bad, just think of going to the dentist for a filling but just elsewhere, uncomfortable but perfectly bearable.
For all of those who are unsure about giving blood, maybe just make an appointment incase they have excess stores of blood type MTFU and they can give you a transfusion as I think some may well benefit.
The registration thing can't be holding many back, they are always rammed when I go!
I was inspired to sign up following the 'B-Positive' choir on BGT last year. I'd done it a few times many years ago but have been twice since now since then. I'm always surprised how long you have to wait in between sessions.
I've looked at the platlets but it takes longer to donate that doesn't it?
Just to add, I always find their texts interesting. Good to know where my blood's been sent and it's not always as local as I thought it would be!
Nah the sign up won't stop me doing it, it's just annoying that it doesn't work!