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Blood Donation
I've been a blood donor for many years, but haven't been for a while due to illness and medication.
The last few times I've been the nurse has asked me if I wanted an anesthetic. I've always said no.
Does anyone know how this anesthetic is given? is it an injection or a spray?
The last few times I've been the nurse has asked me if I wanted an anesthetic. I've always said no.
Does anyone know how this anesthetic is given? is it an injection or a spray?
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I'm trying to presuade a friend to donate, but he's being a big girls blouse about it and I'm trying to put him at ease.
If they ask me I wouldn't want to say no on the basis that I never had and then find out they had been and it now hurts like hell.:D
No, anesthetic is only on request. You should get asked when they take the sample.
I believe its a wipe but details are on the blood website.
They've never asked me or my wife so I assumed they haven't given one. Checking it looks like they do an injection which they haven't done with me.
It also seems that some areas a phasing this out anyway, it really doesn't hurt much.
Give it a whirl, reluctant people, and take a supporter and a book along to the session. You can leave at any time if you decide not to go ahead.
Give it a whirl, reluctant people, and take a supporter and/or a good book along to the session for the waiting area. You can leave at any time if you decide not to go ahead.
Me too. I can't ever give blood as I have had many transfusions in recent years- and I am really sad that I will never be able to donate.
So thank you to anyone who is able to, and does, donate
xxx
Ive been giving blood since I was 17. I quite enjoy it and its nice to know Im helping somebody. I m also on the bone marrow donor list and organ donar list. Personal circumstances have made me this giving. I dont think I do anything extraordinary, Id like to think if I needed it then blood or bone marrow would be there. If I can save one life then its all worth it
I would have thought it would a spray such as Lidocaine, but apparently it doesn't work quickly enough.
I don't think the anesthetic inject uses such a big needle and its not into your vain which may hurt less ? Plus its only in there for a second or two, rather like a vaccination.
Anyway, I'm not a big fan of needles and I find if I look away when the stick the needle in then I'm fine.
Here's the routine.
Pitch up at the location - find your next convenient one at blood.co.uk
Register - it takes a few minutes first time then it's done.
Fill in the questionnaire that requires a bit of background on travel, drugs & sexual matters. It's a tick-box form, no writing needed.
Grab a magazine and read that or make small talk with others waiting, till they call your name.
When they call you a friendly nurse takes a small sample from a finger tip. You don't feel this.
When the next donor bed becomes free you climb aboard, offer your arm and let them get on with it. The minor discomfort when the needle goes in soon passes. Think of children in hospital if you need that last bit of motivation.
Lie there for 10 minutes or so whilst the plumbing does its job. More nurses will keep checking on you and make sure you're ok from time to time. You will be; you are.
At the end, help yourself to a drink & a biscuit, then go home and keep it to yourself. No-one wants to hear anyone bragging about how they gave a couple of pints of blood. There's not much to it really.
I don't know anyone who is "a big a fan of needles", but I know what you mean
I look away too when they stick the needle in but once that's over I'm fine.
Me too - although I've been on the bone marrow list for 20 years and never been a match and I'm probably too old now :-(
Between the screening and donation you have a drink of water.
You do need to remember to drink plenty after the donation: the staff serve you with hot drinks to those who've finished donating at our local venue as its a bit of a squeeze and they don't want you to scald yourself.
Do mention if you've an allergy to elastplast!
I think your ok to stay on the list up until your 65? theres a good chance we might not be called up, but you never know!
correct, the anesthetic needle is so much thinner compared to the blood giving needle, I don't find it that bad, it's just a bit stingy but I'd rather have that than just the bigger needle. I like to watch them put the needle in me (so I don't get any surprises) and I like to watch the blood come out too.
Wow!! 60 donations over how many years?