Donating blood is not everyone's cup of tea but I always felt that it was something that we should all do. A small contribution, a small inconvenience that would, in the end save someone's life, and I've found out recently that one donation could save as many as five lives. So, it was always well worth my time.
I have donated in the past, but the last couple of years I haven't been able to donate because of a medical condition. Well, in the last year, I have focused more on my health and I've seen my doctor and I have finally decided to take control of this condition and am now medicated. My doctor gave me the green light, and so I scheduled an appointment at a drive that was happening at a local community center. I accompanied a few women from work that were all donating.
When I got there, I was excited to finally be able to donate again but still somewhat cautious and I made sure I made the interviewer aware of my history. After all the necessary questions, blood pressure, and iron tests, I was escorted to my chair. It was a quick process, and before I knew it, my machine was beeping, a sign that my donation was complete. I was asked how I was feeling and I felt pretty good.....
Within a few minutes, the tides were turning and I was quickly feeling very poorly. The room was filled with shadows and the spots were blurred, and then.... only darkness. I was quickly transported into a dream. I was walking through a beautiful field, embraced by the warmth of summer. A warm breeze was blowing, as the flowers greeted me with a wave. So serene. I was aware of someone with me, not sure if it was more than one person, but I wasn't alone. I just can't remember who it was.
I was told that they were rubbing an ice pack on my chest in order to bring me out of whatever had happened to me. I awoke and for a few seconds I had no idea where I was, or what I was doing there. I finally came to my senses and the severe lightheadedness was the worst thing I have ever felt. I began to vomit, which I did a few times. It felt unbearable, my arms felt like they weighed a ton. I was shaky, and the physical weakness was overbearing. I looked down in the midst of all of this, and realized that I was drenched. I had sweated through my clothes and was now feeling cold, so cold in fact, that I was shivering. This continued for over 2 hours, stuck in that chair, because they wouldn't let me get up. They kept asking me if I had eaten and I had.
Thankfully, I didn't go alone, my coworkers saw that I was in distress and waited for me. They got me home safe and I am grateful for them.
This has never happened to me before, and I'm really curious as to what would've happened if the incident went further south. Are the ones collecting the blood donations trained in emergency situations? Are they just phlebotomists? You would think that a doctor or at least nurses would have to be available in case of such an episode. Knowing my history in advance made no difference, because even though I was in distress, they didn't even take my blood pressure again. Which really angered the staff at my doctor's office.
When I got home, I called my doctor's office and spoke with one of the nurses. I explained everything that had happened and they wanted to see me the very next morning. After further examination, they called it a cardiac event. How scary it all sounded. The idea that this whole incident could've gone very badly for me, very quickly. I was sent home after some blood work and an EKG, and was told to rest and hydrate. I got a few days off from work because of it. The physical weakness, some dizziness, and the shakiness persisted. It took me a few days to feel like myself again.
One of my coworkers poked fun at how sometimes when she brings up the idea of donating blood and invites others to come along, they avert their eyes. Well, I need to apologize to her in advance for not making eye contact the next time she wants to go and donate.
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