August 03, 2005

Feelin' anemic

The Globe had a local news story with this headline: American Red Cross offers concert tickets in blood drive.

MANCHESTER, N.H. -- Blood donors to the American Red Cross in five New England states could win tickets to a Rolling Stones concert at Fenway Park.

People who donate blood for two weeks starting Thursday will be entered into a drawing for a pair of tickets to the band's Aug. 23 concert at the historic ballpark in Boston.

Man, that is a looong time to donate blood.

Posted by rv at August 3, 2005 05:53 PM to news
Comments

Man. I just gave on Tuesday. I'm really gonna feel woozy when I give today...

Posted by: Frodo at August 4, 2005 08:17 AM

I usually push the time limit for giving, I think the cutoff is 20 or 30 minutes. One phlebotomist once yelled across the room, "How's my slow boat to China doing?"

Posted by: Jay at August 4, 2005 11:41 AM

I am usually pretty speedy, although during one semi-recent donation, the flow kept starting and stopping. (I think that the phlebotomist must have hit a valve or something, because usually it goes quite smoothly.) At any rate, I went over the acceptable time limit and my donation was not usable. :(

p.s. I just like saying phlebotomist. Phlebotomist phlebotomist phlebotomist.

Posted by: rv at August 4, 2005 12:27 PM

Phlebotomy story 1: One time I too, had really slow flow. The phlebotomist asks me "have you had anything to drink?" It was early and I'd just had coffee & a bagel. She pounced. "Aha! You know, coffee dehydrates you and thickens your blood." So, if I were to believe her, my cuppa turned my blood into the consistency of toothpaste.

Phlebotomy story 2: Another time, the phlebotomist missed on her first shot. Now, I'm not squeamish (with my own blood) and I don't mind the jab and I'm perfectly fine watching them position the needle for best flow. However, she missed on the second shot, too. Apparently she didn't like the way the third one went in either. After the fourth attempt I was getting anxious. I lost track of how many actual insertions there were and two days later had a black & blue that completely encircled my elbow.

Posted by: Frodo at August 5, 2005 08:22 AM