Today, I got my blood drawn for a donation and they didn't warn me that I was borderline anemic. I passed out in the middle of Walgreens and woke up to people just standing there, staring. FML
Collection
Fall
Dead leaves, the first cold of the season and an umbrella flipped inside out: fall, the season of grace.
Today, I tried donating blood for the first time because my company was hosting a blood drive. Right after telling everyone I wasn't afraid of needles, I fainted before they could even use one. I woke up surrounded by phlebotomists offering me juice while my coworkers whooped like I'd just scored a goal. FML
Today, I gave blood for the first time, since I'm a universal donor. After it was done, I passed out, woke up, puked, and passed out again. The kind nurses told me I was the worst case they had seen all week. So much for doing something to help others. FML
Today, as a veteran blood donor, I made a friend who was donating for the first time- I told her not to be scared and that I've been doing it for six years and that it was a great way to help people. While at the snack area afterwards, I passed out, started convulsing and went into shock. FML
Today, I went to donate blood for the first time. When they stuck the needle in my arm, I had a panic attack and begged that they take it out. The woman helping me told me she'd take it out in a moment and left. It was then that the Red Cross stole a pint of my blood while I had a panic attack. FML
Today, I went to a blood drive. The nurse taking my blood mentioned that she'd been called in on her day off, and she swore she wasn't drunk. I didn't know what to do, so I just smiled and blinked back tears as she savaged the vein in my arm. FML
Today, when I tried to give blood, I was turned down before I even made it through the information packet. Why? Because I had thought I was supposed to fast for 24 hours beforehand. FML
Today, I had to get bloodwork done. I'm deathly afraid of needles. The whole lobby heard me scream as soon as the nurse said 'hello'. FML
Today, I donated blood for the first time. It wasn't until I passed out on the ice during hockey practice that I remembered the nurse warning me not to do any type of exercise. FML
Today, I went to the blood bank to donate plasma. All went well until the machine went to return my red blood cells. It turns out the nurse sliced my vein and the blood built up in my tissues. I now have a massive swollen arm and bruising, and look like a junkie. FML
Today, I went for bloodwork. It's routine for me, so I was ready for the nurse to put in the needle and take my blood. It went in fine, but right after, she slowly pulled the needle out, then wondered why the blood stopped. She then moved it back and forth in my arm while I panicked silently. FML
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Top comments
C8H18 33
The people who draw blood when you're giving a donation are not your doctor. They had no way of knowing what conditions you have before hand unless you tell them. They are not at fault here.
ImminentDisaster 12
Would they know that before taking the blood and sending it to be analysed?
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Comments (23)
ImminentDisaster 12
Would they know that before taking the blood and sending it to be analysed?
GhostFox 34
Yes. It literally takes a prick of the finger and a few minutes. It's supposed to be standard procedure before being allowed to donate.
joeyl2008 29
I have donated blood in 4 different states and have never had that done prior to giving donating
C8H18 33
The people who draw blood when you're giving a donation are not your doctor. They had no way of knowing what conditions you have before hand unless you tell them. They are not at fault here.
GhostFox 34
Except they're supposed to check iron before they even start any other prep, because if you are anemic or low in iron for any other reason, the blood is completely useless. It's a medical procedure that has guidelines they're supposed to follow, and they failed to do so. OP could have sustained a serious injury from them not adhering to protocol. They are at fault for their mistake.
C8H18 33
That's never happened when I've donated blood. They only had me fill out a form and asked me a few questions. Maybe they just don't care when it's military donating to other military.
Uniquestar7 20
Or OP passed out from low volume status which is not an uncommon side effect of blood donation, even in totally healthy individuals.
khaleesi_reyna 15
Actually, any blood donation place worth beans tests your iron levels before donation (it only takes a few seconds and a small stick on your finger). So yeah it is their fault. If they'd tested OP for iron and it was that low they shouldn't have taken their blood in the first place
CSSDimian 6
I believe OP meant that due to the reduced oxygen carrying capacity of her blood after the donation she had symptoms comparable to anemia, not that she had a pre-existing medical condition.
BlackPhoenixNigh 9
They check your blood iron levels to make sure you are able to donate. Therefore, they would in fact know if her iron levels were borderline.
Namenlos_fml 20
You've never gotten that pinprick where they take a drop of your blood and put it into some liquid? The Red Cross does it. That's supposed to test for anemia. There's a minimum iron level you need to be able to donate.
GhostFox 34
They're supposed to check if donators are in the correct margins for iron (among other values) before starting. If not, they are supposed to turn them away, because they can't take use blood because it's effectively useless. The people doing the blood drive are 100% at fault for failing to follow procedure.
skippydoda 32
OP could have iron that's in the right margins and still have passed out from donating.
GhostFox 34
When you are in the right margins but it's close, they're still supposed to tell you. They also shouldn't be doing it in a non-sectioned off area because it involves people's medical information.
skippydoda 32
I don't what tests you get but when I donated blood they just stick it in some liquid. Either it floats or sinks. That's how they tell of you have enough iron. I usually have lower iron but it still enough to donate and they haven't told me anything. This is a really good place to donate blood. Now when I did plasma they would tell me my numbers for my iron right at the table.
amberfox 11
I always take someone with me when I give because blood donation makes me woozy.
Brian Green 8
And how exactly would STRANGERS at a blood drive KNOW her iron levels???
rampatmonkey 7
BECAUSE they test your iron levels before taking any donations! I've donated many many times and this is one of the first things they do. Quick stab, get a sample on a slide and stick it in a machine, 15 seconds later BOOM! Iron levels. It even has to be higher than just enough to be healthy because donating lowers the iron levels. OP could have passed out from just the blood loss itself, which can happen with no relation to iron levels
RichardPencil 32
Would you have rather they immediately started giving you mouth-to-mouth? Yeah, right?
Robert Owen 5
How could they warn YOU that YOU are borderline anemic? That's ridiculous!
Lobby_Bee 18
At least now you know you'll be less prone to a vampire attack. Everybody knows they tend to seek blood high in iron.
im_teekay 7
Didn't they give you a cup of tea and a biscuit afterwards?
LeoCor 19
I had my blood drawn by my doctors for a blood test, it was 5 vials. I didn't pass out but I lost my hearing, could barely keep my eyes open or sit up straight. It came back I was completely healthy
BananEnigma 24
Vaso-vagal syncope
SpaceToast 25
For those of you wondering, most blood donations check your iron levels, and have you fill out some sort of questionnaire to make sure that you are fit for a donation. These tests can't register if you're ill, but they can accurately tell if you have anemia, or an iron deficiency, and help you determine if you have any sort of sickness. I myself have been to blood donations. You should go talk to your doctor about your anemia, good luck OP.
tonyfan00 38
Walgreens at its finest!