Glad I got to do it. Loaded up a long YouTube documentary I was meaning to watch on the TV and had a pretty smooth donation. Was still very cold and fidgety because of that during the donation, even after bundling up and asking for a blanket.

  • db_null@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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    7 hours ago

    Well done!

    My first platelet donation failed at 80%, still usable but a bummer. My veins are a bit too deep. Do you also get the weird taste in your mouth? So bizarre but easily fixed with a calcium lozengen.

    I’ll try again soon, wish me luck. Worst case I’ll go back to whole blood.

    • Emotional_Series7814@piefed.zipOPM
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      5 hours ago

      My firsts had lots of infiltrations, but it seems to have stabilized, especially if we always use a specific arm as draw and other for return.

      No weird taste, but I’ve always asked for some Tums right before donating just in case. So it is entirely possible it would happen to me if I didn’t take this preventative measure.

      Best wishes!

      • db_null@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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        4 hours ago

        Interesting, for me it was one needle and it first drew some blood, then pumped it back in the same way. Eventually nothing came out anymore and I started to feel things vibrating up my arm so they aborted. One job for each arm could be worth a try, I’ll ask them about it next time.

  • Pencilnoob@lemmy.world
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    16 hours ago

    congrats!

    I just donated whole blood again, this time I barely even noticed it. I remember the first few times I felt really fatigued and out of breath for a few days after, this time I just hopped off the table and was shoveling compost the next morning no trouble. That’s s cool side effect, that it’s gotten easier

    • PhatalFlaw@lemmy.world
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      15 hours ago

      I take an iron supplement a few days before donating, it both nearly guarantees I hit my hemoglobin numbers, and also makes me feel better after.

      • Pencilnoob@lemmy.world
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        8 hours ago

        I’ll have to try that out next time!

        I wonder if switching to cast iron for almost every meal and eating way more greens and beans (vegetarian) this last few months is why I felt so good after. Maybe my iron was high from those environmental sources. It would be a bummer that I don’t have a mutant healing power gained from donating so much, but I’ll take that healthy eating has such a powerful effect.

  • Dionysus@leminal.space
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    16 hours ago

    As someone with family who’s fighting cancer and has received multiple units, thank you. Truly thank you!