glenstorey
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07:10:49 am on October 6, 2008 | # |
So, I came back early from teens’ camp because I wanted to get some work done at school today, before flying off to Christchurch tmrw for Ulearn. Had to pop in to the bank (they lost a $1400 cheque – maybe more about that later), and as I was driving into the carpark I saw Jono’s car in the library.
So I rang him. Jono was donating blood.
Well, I thought, I have a few minutes free, it only takes half an hour and I haven’t done it for ages – I’ll go give blood. Sorted out the bank, went to the Papamoa Library, and signed it, did the test (I got 165 on the iron test – woot) and ended up on the blood donation bed.
For the record, the NZ blood service is really good and they were super nice and looked after me.
Things were going well, until I started to feel a little nauseous (this was while the blood was going into the little bag), so I said to the lady “I’m feeling a little sick”.
Then I was in my car.
Honestly. I was in my car driving somewhere. But I couldn’t see where I was going, and something was holding me down. I couldn’t find the accelerator or the brake so I couldn’t stop. Someone was in the car with me but they couldn’t help. So I yelled, screamed, at the top of my lungs SH*TTTT!!!!!!!! then, after a brief pause, SH&T!!!!!!!!!.
I’ll break here for a moment – the interesting thing was that when you scream, and you’re unconscious, you actually do get that echoy kinda effect where it sounds like you’re in a glass jar.
Where was I? Screaming. All of a sudden everything went white, and I wasn’t in my car anymore, but in a blood service bed, being held down by eight nurses. Eight.I was a little horrified, a) I felt like death warmed up (my pulse was 52), b) I realised that I’d swore, at the top of my lungs, in the Papamoa library in the middle of the day. c) I felt bad that the nurses had to hold me down. The thing where you put your arm was covered in blood, and I had a red bandage on, apparently my lips were purple and my face gray.
Two or so hours later, after lots of praying (a lot of the prayers sounded like this: dear God I don’t want to spew again), they *reluctantly* let me go home – Jono, my flatmate, who it turns out couldn’t give blood anyway because he had a coldsore, came and picked me up and took me home. Several hours later, I feel mostly fine after heaps of rad people (Jono, Donnah – my other flatmate and Monique) looked after me.
It turns out that I had a severe reaction to loss of blood (the last time I did it was 2004) – probably because I’d only eaten breakfast (maybe 3 or 4 hours earlier) and had a coffee that day. I’m not allowed to give blood again because it could get worse and I could die, apparently. They were pretty serious – like I said my pulse went pretty low (they measured it at 52 half an hour after I fainted), and I had open eyes whilst unconcious (freaky!).
The nurses were awesome. They looked after me really well, and were really caring and helpful – which was cool.
LESSON: Don’t rush. Eat and drink before giving blood. Life is fragile.
Gross photos follow…
If you’re conscious leave a comment.
Aimee Glover 7:22 am on October 6, 2008 | # |
Ew, gross! I had to give blood today (the doctor made me have a blood test), and my veins wouldn’t give any blood. I almost spewed and passed out and they had to put on the bed with my feet up. Then, they got another nurse to assist and tried the other arm. It also wouldn’t give up any blood so they left it in so long that it was stinging and burning. I actually begged them to take it out. They kept apologising, and stuck an ice-pack on it, but I have a huge bruise inside my elbow. Much less dramatic than your story, but to a lesser degree, I feel your pain!
moniquecoetzee 8:09 am on October 6, 2008 | # |
You are NEVER giving blood ever again!!
If you die, who will not take me seriously when I want to get a goat or a peakcock or a lama?!
(but if you do, can I have your lap top?)
Paula Jamieson 9:32 am on October 6, 2008 | # |
Hope you don’t freak out on the plane 2morrow! If you start seeing snakes I’ll save you…..I’ve always wanted to hear someone say the famous saying tho….go on….you know you want to!
Rochelle 7:38 pm on October 6, 2008 | # |
Glen, Glen, Glen. This made me laugh and laugh over my poached eggs this morning! I know I should not laugh, but my laugh was in sharing your pain. It has been so refreshing to start my day reading your’s and Aimee’s bloods stories…I no longer feel that I am the only grinch in the world for avoiding giving blood or that I am some sort of spasmo with skinny veins and serious fainting issues from after having blood tests. It is a very difficult world for peeps like us, but through the sharing of story we can feel at ease….
Loved the short film..also a great watch while eating poached eggs.
Have fun in CHCH
keritrim 12:22 am on October 7, 2008 | # |
I would have LOVED to have seen all this. I saw someone faint once while giving blood, but he merely fainted quietly without the swearing and being held down and so on and so forth. Very dramatic, nice one Glen.