Like blood from a stone!

Well - OK - like blood from an arm.

I gave blood yesterday and this is the funky new plaster you get. You can take it off after 6 hours or so, but well, partly I like the reminder and maybe someone will notice and ask me about it (despite it being under a shirt AND jumper). Its probably the most selfless thing I do, donating blood - no idea if it will be used, or thrown away or what, but if feels vaguely good. I once got interviewed for a psychological questionnaire about why I give blood (OK the girl doing it was quite cute, but that was irrelevant). I had to answer question about why I did it, and how I felt and so on. I guess others are interested in why people do something so altruistic.


Their computer had broken down - spreading a little confusion. They had only just opened up shop, and I already had my form filled in, sent in the post, so I was whisked through.

You now have to drink almost a pint of water/orange squash before hand. Some study or other showed it beneficial.

I barely had time to sit down before I was called into the pricking booth, drink still in hand. She checked my paperwork then jabbed my thumb in a very professional way - like she'd done it before, 1-2000 times I guess. My blood sank in the fluid straight away - so I have lots of iron apparently. Then out and almost straight to a bed after that - still with my drink in hand only half downed! Sometimes you have to wait a while.

There have been lots of changes over the years since I started. They use to have doctors to put the needle in I think - or at least some specialist. The nurse would set everything up, blood pressure cuff on and so on, and then say in a loud voice "Thank you Doctor" and one would wander over and sort you out. Now they all seem qualified to stab you.

We use to get the option of a local anaesthetic, not now though. If it was an option - I often took it. I would tell myself right up to the moment, its not so bad - I can easily handle it, but then at the last minute I'd wimp out - usually.

Anyway - its not sooo bad. "A sharp scratch" - well yes, but its a large metal thing (its not that big really - just seems so) going into my arm where no metal thing should really be going, it is a little visceral. I usually don't watch the needle going in. This time there was a sharp scratch and a bit of a sting, I thought "that's OK then", then looked over to watch her shove it deep inside the vein. I'm not squeamish, but that did make me a little uneasy - it seemed to be pushed in a good few inches, up to my shoulder probably, in my imagination anyway! They then take 3 samples in tubes, I usually watch this, as the bar-code up the vials and see my very dark purple blood fountain into them. I'm fascinated by the technology, they have it down to a very fine art now. Bits of the tube they have to crush before starting - I'm betting that's an anticoagulant.

We also use to get plastic tubes to grip and relax fingers around, but apparently a study was done and they counted how many germs were passed around on such things - they were withdrawn! You now have to imagine them, or not, but I think it flows faster if you do.

They also just use to put the collecting bag on a small balance and eyeball it now and again, but now it flows through an instrument that beeps when its done. It has figures on it so I suppose its measuring or weighing it. Competitive me could see the machine of the lady next to me - just. I started after her, but my numbers overtook hers and I was done well before her... get in!

We use to have to lie there for some minutes after, or be escorted to a row of camp beds to recover. Now they want you sitting up on the bed soon after. This is the hardest part for me, sitting up with your legs out straight on the bed holding the pad on your arm for 3 minutes. I don't seem to bend that way naturally and its hard to keep the pose. After that, you can dangle your legs over the side, and that's much easier.

Coffee, orange juice and 3 biscuits... the rewards. Also a slightly light headed feeling sometimes, like having just had a small glass of wine. I sometimes meet an old friend here, who I knew many years ago as an undergraduate, but we don't always coincide, and yesterday we didn't. I once, in a bizarre twist, met a lecturer in Islamic studies here who I'd been introduced to only the previous day, and had an interesting conversation. This time no one much to speak to - probably because I went through so fast.

Very occasionally there is some drama, only once have I seen someone faint, sitting nearby at the recovery table - they just folded up and slipped to the floor. Joining in the spirit, the man nearby arranged for his wound to spurt blood at the same time which brought nurses converging on the table from all around! Two for one! This is very much the exception though.

No such drama this time, and no waggon-wheels which have appeared occasionally.

Wow - through in 30 minutes including the drink. Back to work...