Blood Drama

Earlier this week Becki and I went to give blood again.
It was one of my New Years Resolutions to give blood 3 times this year. This was my second - the next time I can give is December 29, which means I can just barely make my resolution. Now I just have to remember to go!

Becki wasn't able to give this time - her iron levels were too low. She has to wait 2 weeks before she can go back to try again. Next time we'll try to get a sitter for Ash and have a facial first. It's been months since we had one. For this time, it was really nice that she wasn't strapped down, because she was able to keep Asher entertained while I gave.

We give at the ARUP. All the blood they draw goes to Utah hospitals, which is important to us. They have such a huge need! Both times we've been they've had only 2 or 3 appointments scheduled for the whole day. Wow! It makes me feel good to give. On a spiritual level, I mean. Physically, it doesn't make me feel so good.

This time they asked me how the last time had gone. I'd actually forgotten all about it until they asked, but when they did I remembered that I had a really painful ache in my arm for a whole week after they drew. It went from my hand all they way up into my shoulder and was quite painful.
When I told them that, they said they probably hit a nerve last time.
Hit a nerve. That's one of those phrases that makes me cringe. I have this little involuntary shudder - my back sort of arches and I screw my face up...
Hit a nerve, hit a nerve...the phlebotomist must have said it 3 or 4 times, and I kept thinking it after that. Needles make me all squirmy, anyway, and that phrase on top of it...

Anyway, the cute lady promised to be careful when she stuck me.
So she inserts the needle thing, it's been a couple of minutes, and I start feeling a bit light headed. She's asking me how I feel, I'm sure because I'm a little pale by now, and I tell her it feels a little funny, but lets just finish. Then I tell her it feels like it's vibrating. She looks - Oh, yeah - she says - it is vibrating. I must have gotten you near a valve. I can move it, if you want...
I say no, let's just finish. She says great, it won't be too much longer, you're a good bleeder.
Sure enough, I filled both bags in less than 10 minutes.
She had to recline my chair, because I was getting really light headed and kind of sick, and I had to sit for some time before I got up, but I felt fine by the time we left.

I did fine all afternoon. We had Philly Steak sandwiches and spinach salad for dinner - gotta rebuild those red blood cells! I went to sleep early, then woke up a few hours later to use the bathroom. I got up, walked around the bed to see what time it was on Matt's cell phone, (only 11:30!) then went into the bathroom.
I have passed out only once before, but I've been very close 2 or 3 other times in my life. I know what it feels like when I'm about to faint. There's a rushing in my ears, my vision narrows and spots appear, my skin breaks out in a cold sweat, and everything starts to spin.
So I lay down as quickly as I could on the bathroom floor and called for Matt. He woke up and took care of me, a glass of water and help back to bed after a few minutes. I was fine, of course, but every time I woke up after that (I pee all night - seriously, if I have to use the bathroom less than twice in a night, it's an event. The problem is that I get really thirsty around 4pm and drink until I go to sleep.) I was nervous to get up, so I made sure to be very slow about it. Made for a really long night.
By the mid-afternoon the next day I felt totally fine, but that whole fainting thing was a bit disconcerting.

Still, they managed not to 'hit a nerve' this time - my arms been fine!
Maybe next time everything will go perfectly!