Give Blood...

I have been trying to give blood for years, my Mum has a gold medal in it (seriously, if you do it so many times you get badges), I am quite competitive with my Mum, so I was keen to get started with the badges.

During my twenties I was invincible and selfish, so I didn't bother then.

Then in my thirties I started thinking about other people and contemplating my own mortality and so away  I go.

First attempt... they wouldn't let me. Trying for a baby.

Second attempt.....they wouldn't let me. Just had a tattoo.

Tattooing is addictive so several years passed and several tattoo's and you have to wait a year since your last one before they let you give blood. I finally had a year off tattoo's.

Third attempt - they won't let me. I have had a minor medical procedure.

Fourth attempt - about a month ago. I answer the lengthy questionaire about my health and what I have been up to sexually and in what country did I do this sexy behaviour, they now know more about me than my husband or closest friends.

And after much careful consideration and sideways glances, and a needle prick in my finger to see if I have enough iron in my blood the nurses finally deem me worthy and healthy enough to give blood.

Yay me.. So chuffed.

So I lie there and lie there and lie there. And they get their pint.

Then it all went a bit wrong. I sit up, nausea and much whirlyness. Dear God. Did they inject me with pure alcohol?

Yikes more sitting up, then lying down and no...Moving is not an option.

I reach a real low when the nurse says that it might be good to throw up.

This is not good. I am in  a blood mobile in my work car park, with people I work with, some of which are on my team. Mortified. And it smells of diesel and the blood mobile moves, alot...whirly whirly whirly.

They finally get me into the recovery room at work - everybody is lovely, but still I am desperately embarrassed.

It takes me about 4 hours to get to the point where I can get myself home.

I go to bed and sleep.

The next day I feel like I have been softly bruised all over and have a headache (still think there were injections of alcohol!)

What they didn't ask me was; 'what's your blood pressure like'.

If your blood pressure is a bit low, it may not be such a good idea to give blood if you haven't eaten or drunk anything for a while.

They think that was what happened to me, and I don't want anyone put off by my tale of woe. I am just feeble and useless (the more you read of the blogs the more you will realise this to be true!).

Normal healthy people give blood with no problems at all.

Do give blood if you can, it save lives...My one measley pint might make all the difference to someone and that makes all my nausea and embarrassment worthwhile.

I just might give it a miss for a while, and probably not do it at work. (And watch those nurses..syringes with alcohol, I tell you!!!!)