Anyone had trouble donating blood?

asilsjf

I attempted to donate blood today and the gal missed the vein.  She panicked and yelled for the senior person to come over.  They jerked the needle around for 10 minutes, then gave up.  I can go back anytime to try again.  I've donated dozens of times and haven't had a problem, but that sucked and I have no desire to go through that again.  Has anyone else had this happen?  I'm ok with going back to donate again but I want to make sure I get someone who knows what they're doing (this gal had me pretty uncomfortable because she really didn't sound like she knew what she was doubt.  In fact, I was the one who told her that she missed the vein.  Any advice on how to avoid a 'newb'

RoxBride

I have easy veins, as I've been told.

We had a blood drive at work and had a newbie. She couldn't get it in one arm, then tried the other and then a supervisor had to put it in. That was after she tried to refuse me because of 'evidence of IV drug use" until her sup pointed out all the mini holes in my arm were from previous donations.

The next day my one arm had a bruise the size of a golf ball, but the original arm had a bruise at least 12 inches. What the heck she did, I don't know.

Alas, we had to make them promise to never send that girl back, as there were 4 others with bruises too.

 

goldenjes

I have serious needle phobia & used to pass out during shots.  The first time I ever donated blood (post 9-11) I think they went all the way through my vein or something.  I looked over (already sweating) and had a swollen lump the size of a  golf ball.  I thought it was going to pop.

I made the supervisor do my other arm before I left or I knew I'd never be back.  I ended up with a giant bruise for over 6 weeks, but I give blood now.  

Sometimes they refuse me due to low iron counts though.

tra_la_la

I am a really hard stick. My record is 14 pokes. I have learned to ask for the smallest butterfly, a peds if they have it and to ask for the person best with hard sticks. My veins also like to collapse, I end up with some pretty nasty bruises. During pregnancy it was even worse and the Dr. would only do tests I had to do like glucose.

blissfullyignorant

I tell them straight off the bat that I'm a hard stick. They normally don't try to give me a newb because I have tattoos on my arms and the newbs kind of freak out about sticking me through the tattoo. It actually doesn't really make it any harder for them but I have small rolling veins that tend to collapse - so that's difficult.

Heywhitney

The problem with giving blood is they have to use a ridiculously large gauge needle so it doesn't damage the red blood cells when they pump in out of you.

Don't go overboard with telling people you are a hard stick...as an experienced RN that is a person people go to who are hard sticks, it can be really intimidating.

I would tell them up front that you would prefer that only experienced phlebotomists try and make sure that you drink a ton of water the day before and of a blood donation.  Dehydration can make someone who has ropes for veins a hard stick.

That being said, sorry about the bruises!  No fun! 

Meg.eliz

I have really easy veins and that last time I donated they missed my vein. They were able to maneuver it in and I donated but I haven't been back since! It is especially scary now because I am in nursing school and just did my IV cert and I know I wouldn't want myself or anyone in my class sticking me until they had more starts under their belts. Just say you had a bad experience last time and want someone with experience to start the IV.