Fainting while having blood drawn: C/D?

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It just happened this morning. I thought I was doing fine until I woke up on the floor after a really weird mini-dream with the labtech leaning over me.

I still have a headache. I'm not 'afraid' of needles... and I'm really not afraid of blood. But whenever I have blood drawn, I conk out.

― andy, Friday, 26 March 2004 22:00 (twenty-two years ago)

Did you get a teddy bear?

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Friday, 26 March 2004 22:21 (twenty-two years ago)

or Nutter Butters?

― Donna Brown (Donna Brown), Friday, 26 March 2004 23:08 (twenty-two years ago)

this has happened to me. it felt kind of like a seizure though. the nurse said "ah, its always the big blokes"

― mullygrubber (gaz), Friday, 26 March 2004 23:16 (twenty-two years ago)

haha i read "labtech" as "laibach"

― g--ff (gcannon), Friday, 26 March 2004 23:20 (twenty-two years ago)

Was it a sexy labtech? With glasses?

― Vitamin Leee (Leee), Friday, 26 March 2004 23:27 (twenty-two years ago)

I received no nutter-butters, only the headache. I don't know why I have such a problem. If I cut myself and bleed everywhere, no problem. I've had some tattoos and never thought about the blood.

But as soon as some white-coated clinical-type shoves that needle in, it's ALL OVER. I felt hot and dizzy and thought I was doing fine. Then I woke up on the floor.

And mully, the nurse did say it looked like I had a seizure.

― andy, Friday, 26 March 2004 23:33 (twenty-two years ago)

One cause of fainting is a sudden drop in blood pressure. Such a sudden drop is associated with shock. Shock is, among other things, your body's last ditch, hail-Mary response to prevent your immanent death from blood loss. Some people are just very sensitive to blood loss, or the sight of blood and it triggers this reaction.

BTW, classic. Ask any phlebotomist.

― Aimless (Aimless), Friday, 26 March 2004 23:41 (twenty-two years ago)

In that case, my body is scared of pee loss.

― Markelby (Mark C), Saturday, 27 March 2004 00:29 (twenty-two years ago)

I fainted while selling plasma once, same thing, shock. Pissed myself too. Don't sell your plasma if you haven't eaten in a while, kids. Also there's a reason for the weight minimum, don't put books in your pockets.

― teeny (teeny), Saturday, 27 March 2004 01:03 (twenty-two years ago)

You got some deep pockets there.

― Vitamin Leee (Leee), Saturday, 27 March 2004 01:09 (twenty-two years ago)

i often pass out while having blood drawn. usually, though, this has to do with a. my smallish veins which are hard to find and require numerous sticks or b. novice phlebotimists.

what i have a problem with, and andy pls don't take this personally as tons of people have done it before you, is the use of C or D when people really just want to discuss something/share experiences.

I mean, come on, who's going to say PASSING OUT IS CLASSIC!

― Ask For Samantha (thatgirl), Saturday, 27 March 2004 01:15 (twenty-two years ago)

10 year old boys who hyperventilate with their heads between their knees, then get up, hold their breaths while their chums bearhug them?

― Vitamin Leee (Leee), Saturday, 27 March 2004 01:16 (twenty-two years ago)

I almost did this once with blood, but caught myself in time. However, I definitely passed out after eating 15 mini candy bars on Halloween two years ago, sprinting up the stairs so as not to miss any trick or treaters while I peed. It wasn't the first time I've woken up on a bathroom floor with my pants at my ankles, but it was the most painful.

But I didn't spill a drop. Aw yeah!

― Begs2Differ (Begs2Differ), Saturday, 27 March 2004 01:33 (twenty-two years ago)

wait, you were peeing on the stairs?

― s1ocki (slutsky), Saturday, 27 March 2004 01:36 (twenty-two years ago)

have you ever passed out while peeing and you come to and you're still standing and still peeing?

― s1ocki (slutsky), Saturday, 27 March 2004 01:36 (twenty-two years ago)

i get the feeling i've brought up this important topic on several threads already!

― s1ocki (slutsky), Saturday, 27 March 2004 01:36 (twenty-two years ago)

See now this thread is putting me off giving blood :( I know so many people who faint after it and I seem to faint easily (lowish blood pressure), and fainting isnt fun :(

Can you give blood if you're addled with booze and crap like I am? Mine cant possibly be much good to anyone!

― Trayce (trayce), Saturday, 27 March 2004 07:06 (twenty-two years ago)

Trayce, if you were local I'd happily go donate blood with you. Er, well, maybe "happily" is poor word choice, but it'd be good. We could go pig out somewhere, then sit around chit-chatting for 45 min, then drive on over to the blood donation center, then donate blood while complaining about the music on the radio, then sit for a few minutes, then get up and enjoy the free punch and cookies. It'd be a completely unique experience and I'd totally be your hand-holder while you went through it!

At good blood donation places, BTW, they will check your blood pressure and determine whether you should be donating or not. They check for a whole lot of things before you actually get to the point where they start the whole donation process. And I don't think they'd have a problem with someone giving blood if that someone is fond of potent potables. I think they only have a problem if you're someone who's fond of injectable illict substances.

― Many Coloured Halo (Dee the Lurker), Saturday, 27 March 2004 07:14 (twenty-two years ago)

Let's go back to "Peeing On Trick-Or-Treaters: C/D?"

― VengaDan Perry (Dan Perry), Saturday, 27 March 2004 20:21 (twenty-two years ago)

To my shame I have never given blood, because even a blood test puts me on the brink of unconsciousness. Some people just can't accept this as an excuse though, and eye me warily.

In American these days, giving blood is some sort of important and symbolic civic duty. It shows that you stand in solidarity with the lovers and protectors of freedom against the Evildoers.

― Aaron A., Saturday, 27 March 2004 20:37 (twenty-two years ago)

i've only given blood once, and i didn't faint but i came really close and just felt dizzy and puke-y. Also, in the middle of the whole thing, my blood just stopped coming out. Like, there were needles and stuff in my arm, but no blood. Then the lady decided to flick it real hard and it almost popped out of my arm...that's probably part of the reason i almost passed out. Also, I did faint once while watching my mom get a shot in her back. I got orange juice in a donald duck can.

― stolenbus (stolenbus), Saturday, 27 March 2004 20:43 (twenty-two years ago)

This happened to me when I got a meningitis shot or something last summer. I went to donate blood a few weeks ago and was really scared, and when they pricked my finger for iron my head got briefly fuzzy too, but the actual blood donation was fine, I guess because it's done lying down.

Giving blood is talked about as a duty and that really annoys me. Yes, guilt trips work, but still, if there's anything you have a right to it's your own blood.

― Maria (Maria), Saturday, 27 March 2004 22:15 (twenty-two years ago)

I've never had any problems while giving blood, but I did once feel on the verge of fainting watching my parents have their blood drawn for an HIV test when we were applying for our green cards. The vials were pretty large, and seeing them fill up with the stuff made me all kinds of queasy.

― the krza (krza), Sunday, 28 March 2004 01:49 (twenty-two years ago)

Only time I've ever fainted.
Last time I gave blood.
Oh, well.

― Skottie, Sunday, 28 March 2004 14:51 (twenty-two years ago)

I've fainted every time I've ever had a blood test. Last time I was really confused when I came to, and there were three nurses trying to steady me only I thought they were fighting me for some reason and I started kicking and shouting at them. It was a bit embarrassing when I realised. I sent off for a whole load of information about giving blood a year ago, only I keep wimping out and haven't done it yet. They send me a magazine for blood donors every so often and it makes me feel guilty.

― Cathy (Cathy), Sunday, 28 March 2004 19:36 (twenty-two years ago)

three weeks pass...

alternately, giving blood so you have an excuse to fall asleep in your night class/at work/not perform spousal duties, etc. C/D?
Classic if it means i dont have to listen to that airheaded "professor" figure out how to automate plugins in ProTools.

― Felonious Drunk (Felcher), Wednesday, 21 April 2004 19:17 (twenty-one years ago)

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