Welcome to the first of many posts. Let’s see how far I can run with this. Suggestions are welcome, but anything I write as a result of suggestions become mine, okay? Cool – this should be fun!
I used to call the phlebotomists in the hospital “vampires” and “blood-suckers.” Let’s just say that I wasn’t very keen on those people because a lot of them suck at what they are supposed to do: draw blood. I still remember asking for one guy by name during one of my hospital stays because he did a good job.
Marcus.
I was 10.
Me and blood draws go a long way back. I’ve nearly kicked nurses out of my home for not doing a good job. I’ve called home healthcare management and asked them to not send so-and-so back out if I need a re-draw because they tried 3 times with the best veins on the planet. That gives them a big fat “F” in my book and I’d have them fired if I had my way.
I’ve even had the misfortune of having the nursing manager come over “to keep up her hours” to maintain her RN license. That woman should be banned from even looking at a hypodermic needle. Shoot, by now I could draw my own blood with a butterfly needle set-up.
Brett Taylor of Florida Blood Services, however, gets an “A+” for his masterful work with his 16-gauge needle. Holy cow, that was a big needle, but I took it like a pro. Yesterday, I donated blood for the first time ever in the bloodmobile that came to our church. This is the first time in my life that I’ve weighed enough consistently to feel comfortable giving enough blood to fill a small children’s football.ย They tested my iron level as 14.5 (on a scale of 10-30 being normal) and passed with flying colors. I weighed in at 116 this morning (hey, it’s the weekend) and they took 1 pint of my 3.6 quarts, leaving me with 87% of my blood left. I felt fine. I still feel fine.
I’ll update this post when I find out what my blood type is in 72 hours, along with my cholesterol levels despite eating 3 eggs per day. On to the photos:
Update:
Blood type: A+ ยท Blood pressure: 120/70 ยท Cholesterol: 103
Quite a milestone, fatso!!! ๐
Awesome reference to our phlebotomist! And thank you so much for being a blood donor. People like you are amazing – so many challenges with health yet you're still thinking about helping others. Inspiring. Have you been a blood recipient as well as a blood donor?
M. Grant
FBS Foundation, Director of Community Relations
Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to comment.
I have not been a recipient to my knowledge, unless I was at birth 31 years ago. I've just never met the minimum weight requirement. No side-effects, so as long as no one says my blood was bad, I'll keep on donating.
It was fun!