Donating your own blood...anybody?

[Guest guest]

Hi...

well donated for the first time EVER last nt. With the shortage

locally, they suggested I give 2 prior Just incase.

I wonder how anyone else who has donated (heck at any time) feels

afterwards. I just feel so blucky today.

The experience of giving was ok, no dizzy feelings or what not. They

made me stay for quite a while as I'm tiny by size (the only reason I

haven't donated for others before is I don't quite clear the min.

weight requirement)...so several glasses of apple juice, water and

cookies later and having being driven there, I was finally allowed to

go.

And again, felt ok...by the time I got home, about an hour later (the

donation center here is quite far away), I was really chilly. I ate

dinner-carbs, protein and vegs. But I slept like crud,with that

hot/freezing thing all night (but no fever), tossed and turned til

4am then got some sleep and when I got up I just felt...well almost

hung over sort of (Cloudy headed and once and while a woosh of pure

exhasution and weak knees).

So I'm drinking and eating all I can. Got in a multi vit w/dinner

last nt and will keep going with the supliments (i.e. iron and vit

c)...but any suggestions or ideas...is this normal? I go AGAIN next

Thurs and not so looking forward to it as of today....to pooped and

chilly still.

thanks y'all. Jo

[Guest guest]

Jo,

Congratulations on your first blood donation! I'm a 7 gallon donor,

and normally I give platelettes and plasma instead of whole blood

because of my blood type. From my experience, I've had none of the

reactions to donation that you have had. Donating platelettes is

even a bit more uncomfortable during, but the after effects aren't

their for me either.

In general, just make sure you stay hydrated, and don't have any

alchohol for the first 24 hours. What you may be experiencing might

be due to dehydration. I'd recommend drinking a bit more over the

next week before your second donation. If you still aren't feeling

well, call the donation center and get further recommendations from

them.

An editorial note: Less than 5% of the population donates blood. If

you are able to donate, please do. A single trauma victim can take

20-30 units of blood. What if that victim were your child, brother,

sister, parent, or lover? Give a pint, save a life!

Dammit

> Hi...

> well donated for the first time EVER last nt. With the shortage

> locally, they suggested I give 2 prior Just incase.

>

> I wonder how anyone else who has donated (heck at any time) feels

> afterwards. I just feel so blucky today.

>

> The experience of giving was ok, no dizzy feelings or what not.

They

> made me stay for quite a while as I'm tiny by size (the only reason

I

> haven't donated for others before is I don't quite clear the min.

> weight requirement)...so several glasses of apple juice, water and

> cookies later and having being driven there, I was finally allowed

to

> go.

> And again, felt ok...by the time I got home, about an hour later

(the

> donation center here is quite far away), I was really chilly. I ate

> dinner-carbs, protein and vegs. But I slept like crud,with that

> hot/freezing thing all night (but no fever), tossed and turned til

> 4am then got some sleep and when I got up I just felt...well almost

> hung over sort of (Cloudy headed and once and while a woosh of pure

> exhasution and weak knees).

>

> So I'm drinking and eating all I can. Got in a multi vit w/dinner

> last nt and will keep going with the supliments (i.e. iron and vit

> c)...but any suggestions or ideas...is this normal? I go AGAIN next

> Thurs and not so looking forward to it as of today....to pooped and

> chilly still.

> thanks y'all. Jo

[Guest guest]

Jo,

All I can think of is lots of fluids, your body needs to recover the

fluid loss. 5-6 big galsses of water afterward may help. You won't

have to worry about urinating a lot. if you body needs the fliud it

will not want to get rid of it. Hangoverlike symptoms are usually due

to mild dehydration.

Vitamin waer with electrolite is also a good idea.

Marsha

> Hi...

> well donated for the first time EVER last nt. With the shortage

> locally, they suggested I give 2 prior Just incase.

>

> I wonder how anyone else who has donated (heck at any time) feels

> afterwards. I just feel so blucky today.

>

> The experience of giving was ok, no dizzy feelings or what not.

They

> made me stay for quite a while as I'm tiny by size (the only reason

I

> haven't donated for others before is I don't quite clear the min.

> weight requirement)...so several glasses of apple juice, water and

> cookies later and having being driven there, I was finally allowed

to

> go.

> And again, felt ok...by the time I got home, about an hour later

(the

> donation center here is quite far away), I was really chilly. I ate

> dinner-carbs, protein and vegs. But I slept like crud,with that

> hot/freezing thing all night (but no fever), tossed and turned til

> 4am then got some sleep and when I got up I just felt...well almost

> hung over sort of (Cloudy headed and once and while a woosh of pure

> exhasution and weak knees).

>

> So I'm drinking and eating all I can. Got in a multi vit w/dinner

> last nt and will keep going with the supliments (i.e. iron and vit

> c)...but any suggestions or ideas...is this normal? I go AGAIN next

> Thurs and not so looking forward to it as of today....to pooped and

> chilly still.

> thanks y'all. Jo

[Guest guest]

Thanks...I think that sounds like a good idea. I will keep on

refilling the water bottle, maybe grab some gadorade at lunchtime...

I kinda feel like a wus--I'm normally a toughy but I just got up from

my desk,headed up the stairs and found I'm just a little weak today.

Guess the second reason I am being a bit more cautious than usual is

I think I mentioned to you that this is my second surg--I had an

accident in college that resulted in a broken jaw in 2 places...well

that happened when I was feeling light-headed and with in moments

blacked out and collasped forward (think Nestea plunge-but forward

and NOT into a pool, but onto the bottom floor of my dorm -cement

with shitty indoor/outdoor rug covering

I was checked out and there was " nothing wrong " medically...just " one

of those things " and was into surg the next day. (on the toughy note,

it happened at about 1:30am and I got NOTHING for the pain --oh an

there was a lot, I had sliced open my tounge and broken teeth and cut

open my chin PLUS the jaw and nothing until nearly 12pm the next day

when they stitched up my chin!)

And last nt, they were looking at me, cause I was being very

particular with my footing---well that's why. I don't like feeling

uneasy on my feet--too much to risk!

THANKS marsha...off to the water cooler...Jo

> > Hi...

> > well donated for the first time EVER last nt. With the shortage

> > locally, they suggested I give 2 prior Just incase.

> >

> > I wonder how anyone else who has donated (heck at any time) feels

> > afterwards. I just feel so blucky today.

> >

> > The experience of giving was ok, no dizzy feelings or what not.

> They

> > made me stay for quite a while as I'm tiny by size (the only

reason

> I

> > haven't donated for others before is I don't quite clear the min.

> > weight requirement)...so several glasses of apple juice, water

and

> > cookies later and having being driven there, I was finally

allowed

> to

> > go.

> > And again, felt ok...by the time I got home, about an hour later

> (the

> > donation center here is quite far away), I was really chilly. I

ate

> > dinner-carbs, protein and vegs. But I slept like crud,with that

> > hot/freezing thing all night (but no fever), tossed and turned

til

> > 4am then got some sleep and when I got up I just felt...well

almost

> > hung over sort of (Cloudy headed and once and while a woosh of

pure

> > exhasution and weak knees).

> >

> > So I'm drinking and eating all I can. Got in a multi vit w/dinner

> > last nt and will keep going with the supliments (i.e. iron and

vit

> > c)...but any suggestions or ideas...is this normal? I go AGAIN

next

> > Thurs and not so looking forward to it as of today....to pooped

and

> > chilly still.

> > thanks y'all. Jo

[Guest guest]

Believe me I know how you feel, everytime I get the slightest bit

dizzy I panic and scream. I am terrified of falling down and knocking

something out of whack.

This may be a dumb question and you probably already posted it, but

is this surgery a consequence of the fall you mentioned? How long ago

was that?

Marsha

> Thanks...I think that sounds like a good idea. I will keep on

> refilling the water bottle, maybe grab some gadorade at lunchtime...

>

> I kinda feel like a wus--I'm normally a toughy but I just got up

from

> my desk,headed up the stairs and found I'm just a little weak

today.

>

> Guess the second reason I am being a bit more cautious than usual

is

> I think I mentioned to you that this is my second surg--I had an

> accident in college that resulted in a broken jaw in 2

places...well

> that happened when I was feeling light-headed and with in moments

> blacked out and collasped forward (think Nestea plunge-but forward

> and NOT into a pool, but onto the bottom floor of my dorm -cement

> with shitty indoor/outdoor rug covering

> I was checked out and there was " nothing wrong "

medically...just " one

> of those things " and was into surg the next day. (on the toughy

note,

> it happened at about 1:30am and I got NOTHING for the pain --oh an

> there was a lot, I had sliced open my tounge and broken teeth and

cut

> open my chin PLUS the jaw and nothing until nearly 12pm the next

day

> when they stitched up my chin!)

> And last nt, they were looking at me, cause I was being very

> particular with my footing---well that's why. I don't like feeling

> uneasy on my feet--too much to risk!

> THANKS marsha...off to the water cooler...Jo

>

[Guest guest]

Tough to say, but overall I would say at least partically.

Long short....

3rd grd braces...through sr yr HS...tops off and then back on then

off. retainer.

but they were moving all the time.

jr yr college was the fall.

before the fall, I had a slight overbite (that I never had prior to

the braces oddly enough) and they all were lined up otherwise...but

were not fitting into the retainer well.

then after the fall everything went haywire. that was 12 yrs ago.

up to a year ago, my bottoms were horrible...ZIG-ZAG totally front

bottom...pushed back some so far that my tounge didn't know my lower

palet for yrs and yrs...set all titled up...and on top, overbite was

there-not horrible, but not great for all my diligence...and then the

tooth right to the front started to scootch back...hated that and the

gums were getting very bad...

and tried NOT to do this again, but just had no choice---after all 6

wks of pain is better than EVERY DAY WITH OUT AN END IN SITE.

Had I not fallen where would I be?...chances say I may have just been

writing this a few yrs from now...when I started this in 80 I think

it was, I was " one of the worst cases of overcrowding in a small

mouth that they had ever seen " --and EVERYONE in this county went to

this grp...my girlfriend was the other worst case. We had to make it

fun and competed, since they had to move along our process they

removed 14 baby teeth and then 4 perms too (hers were 12 and 4)--I

WON-haha.

It was forever for me and lots of teasing as a kid...but several dds

have said since that they shouldn't have taken me on as ortho, that

this would be the only and best option for the long haul, but back

then who the heck did this?? no one. so did our best (i hope) back

then. Today I am confident in my surgeon, and the ortho too so I have

good thoughts about my future.

Jo

> > Thanks...I think that sounds like a good idea. I will keep on

> > refilling the water bottle, maybe grab some gadorade at

lunchtime...

> >

> > I kinda feel like a wus--I'm normally a toughy but I just got up

> from

> > my desk,headed up the stairs and found I'm just a little weak

> today.

> >

> > Guess the second reason I am being a bit more cautious than usual

> is

> > I think I mentioned to you that this is my second surg--I had an

> > accident in college that resulted in a broken jaw in 2

> places...well

> > that happened when I was feeling light-headed and with in moments

> > blacked out and collasped forward (think Nestea plunge-but

forward

> > and NOT into a pool, but onto the bottom floor of my dorm -cement

> > with shitty indoor/outdoor rug covering

> > I was checked out and there was " nothing wrong "

> medically...just " one

> > of those things " and was into surg the next day. (on the toughy

> note,

> > it happened at about 1:30am and I got NOTHING for the pain --oh

an

> > there was a lot, I had sliced open my tounge and broken teeth and

> cut

> > open my chin PLUS the jaw and nothing until nearly 12pm the next

> day

> > when they stitched up my chin!)

> > And last nt, they were looking at me, cause I was being very

> > particular with my footing---well that's why. I don't like

feeling

> > uneasy on my feet--too much to risk!

> > THANKS marsha...off to the water cooler...Jo

> >

[Guest guest]

I am also under the weight limit and donated blood for myself.

Didnt have any problems like you are having though. Really--not one

problem.

If you are having these problems after ONE donation, you might want

to consider not doing another one--certainly not so soon. Be careful

with yourself. Dont let yourself get run down before surgery. Time

enough for that later .

Maybe dehydration or low blood sugar isnt your problem. It sounds

like you've been drinking a lot--you've already replaced that stuff.

Remember too that you have to balance the sodium and potassium in

your blood and its harder for your body to replace those things

because it has less in reserve. Blood is salty and has a lot of

other stuff dissolved in it. Thats why its so heavy. Have some

potato chips, maybe a banana, some peanuts.

Also--did the donation center take into account you're on the small

side? They're supposed to take a little less blood from us than they

do from the people who make the weight limit. Thats what they did

for me. They took a little less than usual.

Feel better Jo.

> Hi...

> well donated for the first time EVER last nt. With the shortage

> locally, they suggested I give 2 prior Just incase.

>

> I wonder how anyone else who has donated (heck at any time) feels

> afterwards. I just feel so blucky today.

>

> The experience of giving was ok, no dizzy feelings or what not.

They

> made me stay for quite a while as I'm tiny by size (the only reason

I

> haven't donated for others before is I don't quite clear the min.

> weight requirement)...so several glasses of apple juice, water and

> cookies later and having being driven there, I was finally allowed

to

> go.

> And again, felt ok...by the time I got home, about an hour later

(the

> donation center here is quite far away), I was really chilly. I ate

> dinner-carbs, protein and vegs. But I slept like crud,with that

> hot/freezing thing all night (but no fever), tossed and turned til

> 4am then got some sleep and when I got up I just felt...well almost

> hung over sort of (Cloudy headed and once and while a woosh of pure

> exhasution and weak knees).

>

> So I'm drinking and eating all I can. Got in a multi vit w/dinner

> last nt and will keep going with the supliments (i.e. iron and vit

> c)...but any suggestions or ideas...is this normal? I go AGAIN next

> Thurs and not so looking forward to it as of today....to pooped and

> chilly still.

> thanks y'all. Jo

[Guest guest]

HI and yes, they took only like 426 they kept saying rather than

500?! I think...but less.

I think you hit something with the potassium too, I feel some of

that. I have taken steriods for asthma in the past and get spazams

from coming off them...felt some of that yesterday and today. Salt, I

love, but don't think I had a lot of it yesterday either.

Thank you...just good to know you did this too, I have never talked

with someone who donated UNDER the limit!

I go again next thurs, but have a back up date the following week-

just incase. Just got my blood type too, so I could ask a friend so

to speak -if I need to.

I think overall, it was dehyration mostly bec I went home last nt,

after working late--not my plan nor choice--til 8pm-normally like 6,

getting in at 9p, tired, feeling crappy and annoyed-obviously...so I

cut them off! WHO? EVERYONE. Had to be selfish. Sat down outside

while my dog played ball, looked at the fireflies, drank some soda

for a change in taste and just let the cell ring and the moments

pass. It HELPED big time...then went in, did what I had to, and sat

some more, made dinner, had my vits and called it a day. Woke up

today feeling refreshed and much better.

I learned after turning 30 and having a minor surg, (that kicked my

butt day 3 when I was ready to go back to work) that you have to just

stop sometimes and honestly-- be selfish-especially if this is NOT

your normal way. If you're a giver, you need to give to YOU too. Not

such an easy thing to remember sometimes but critical--espec when

ramping up for surg and afterwards.

Jo

-- In orthognathicsurgerysupport , anae3333

wrote:

> I am also under the weight limit and donated blood for myself.

> Didnt have any problems like you are having though. Really--not

one

> problem.

>

> If you are having these problems after ONE donation, you might want

> to consider not doing another one--certainly not so soon. Be

careful

> with yourself. Dont let yourself get run down before surgery. Time

> enough for that later .

>

> Maybe dehydration or low blood sugar isnt your problem. It sounds

> like you've been drinking a lot--you've already replaced that

stuff.

> Remember too that you have to balance the sodium and potassium in

> your blood and its harder for your body to replace those things

> because it has less in reserve. Blood is salty and has a lot of

> other stuff dissolved in it. Thats why its so heavy. Have some

> potato chips, maybe a banana, some peanuts.

>

> Also--did the donation center take into account you're on the small

> side? They're supposed to take a little less blood from us than

they

> do from the people who make the weight limit. Thats what they did

> for me. They took a little less than usual.

>

> Feel better Jo.

>

>

> > Hi...

> > well donated for the first time EVER last nt. With the shortage

> > locally, they suggested I give 2 prior Just incase.

> >

> > I wonder how anyone else who has donated (heck at any time) feels

> > afterwards. I just feel so blucky today.

> >

> > The experience of giving was ok, no dizzy feelings or what not.

> They

> > made me stay for quite a while as I'm tiny by size (the only

reason

> I

> > haven't donated for others before is I don't quite clear the min.

> > weight requirement)...so several glasses of apple juice, water

and

> > cookies later and having being driven there, I was finally

allowed

> to

> > go.

> > And again, felt ok...by the time I got home, about an hour later

> (the

> > donation center here is quite far away), I was really chilly. I

ate

> > dinner-carbs, protein and vegs. But I slept like crud,with that

> > hot/freezing thing all night (but no fever), tossed and turned

til

> > 4am then got some sleep and when I got up I just felt...well

almost

> > hung over sort of (Cloudy headed and once and while a woosh of

pure

> > exhasution and weak knees).

> >

> > So I'm drinking and eating all I can. Got in a multi vit w/dinner

> > last nt and will keep going with the supliments (i.e. iron and

vit

> > c)...but any suggestions or ideas...is this normal? I go AGAIN

next

> > Thurs and not so looking forward to it as of today....to pooped

and

> > chilly still.

> > thanks y'all. Jo