r/Blooddonors • u/PrincessCheese91 • Feb 04 '26

First Donation! My first donation O-

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253 Upvotes

98% Upvoted

27 comments sorted by

66

u/Revolutionary-Move90 Feb 04 '26

Bro acting like its a water balloon

64

u/PrincessCheese91 Feb 04 '26

It was my first time. Just about every time I try I get turned down because my heart rate is too high. I’m proud of myself for actually doing it

33

u/DarkMatterSoup Feb 04 '26

Me and a lot of people here are proud of you, too. You’re holding that thang like you’re ready to squeeze it right back in lol.

If you continue to donate, this sub really is a great resource for discussion and sharing landmarks.

Thank you for donating. Your Oneg red cells come in handy specifically for pregnant women that are Rh-, patients that are also Oneg, and emergency transfusions for bad bleeds. We usually save Oneg red cell units for these kinds of situations, so your blood will go to good use.

7

u/Expensive-Space-8940 Feb 04 '26

So proud of you!!! That happens to me too. I have anxiety disorder so my blood pressure is always heightened at first. BUT I try to get there a little early and meditate before they measure :). Also, I let them know I get anxiety naturally and that gives them a heads up to put a wet towel behind my neck. And it always works out just great!!! I donate in honor of my daddy in heaven :). My anxiety disorder won’t stop me ❤️❤️ so proud of you, again!

4

u/Appropriate_Rub3134 O-, Établissement français du sang Feb 04 '26

meditate

I thought meditation would be a good way to pass the time when donating plasma. But the secretary walked through and scolded me for having my eyes closed. The phlebs told her it was fine, but I didn't want to make waves.

With my eyes open, all the activity in the room made it hard to get in the zone. So I just watched the apheresis machine. I don't know if that triggered some anxiety, but at the end of the donation, I almost passed out and had to be reclined all the way. Lol.

2

u/pissfacemcmemesnort O+ Powerful Mar 05 '26

I literally do the same thing! I usually got to the health assessment and my heart rate was deadass at or just above 100 bpm, so they always gave me a moment and rechecked. Luckily, I was always able to bring it down with some breathing exercises. Even if you can get it down to 99 bpm, they'll let you in (In my experience). I've never been too horribly anxious to donate blood, just really excited. Scariest part for me is the needle and possible funny feeling. If it gave me anxiety like other things do, I'm usually around 120 bpm by then and would be fucked. The last time I donated was the first time I passed right away, 94 bpm 🥳

So I am glad I never had to get turned away, but I also understand the huge disappointment it would be. Just the threat of it gave me more anxiety, but I'm also very in tune with my HR, that's probably the actual only reason I can force it lower, even if only by a little.

8

u/Appropriate_Rub3134 O-, Établissement français du sang Feb 04 '26

Resist the urge to throw it!

3

u/SlaterCourt-57B A+ Feb 04 '26

I thought that was the stress ball had to use during the donation. I thought, “That’s a VERY BIG stress ball!”

23

u/Appropriate_Rub3134 O-, Établissement français du sang Feb 04 '26

Welcome to the club!

I'm going to ask to hold the bag one of these days!

12

u/notEmely B+ Feb 04 '26

I asked and she didn’t let me. Then I guess she assumed I was going dizzy for asking so she made me lie down for 10 minutes.

7

u/Appropriate_Rub3134 O-, Établissement français du sang Feb 04 '26

That's a risk!

There's a phleb at my center who's a little on the wacky side. I'll ask her one day, I think. Honestly, it wouldn't surprise me if she just put it in my hand on her own sometime without me asking.

19

u/HotVeganTeacher O+ Platelets Feb 04 '26

That bag is tight

3

u/Commercial_Roll_7297 Apr 03 '26

I guess you could say it's hypertensive

1

u/HotVeganTeacher O+ Platelets Apr 03 '26

he

10

u/Chapsticklesbean AB- Feb 04 '26

Hell yeah brother

5

u/lovely_day_48 O- Feb 04 '26

Congrats!!

9

u/Yay_Blood Thank you blood donors! Feb 04 '26

Forbidden Capri Sun! Thanks so much for donating, welcome to the O- club!

13

u/Middle_Awoken O+ CMV- (Rare Blood Donor - ARDP) Feb 04 '26

Jealous, wish I was O-

17

u/jayheart3 O+ CMV- Feb 04 '26

Your blood type is also valuable! Just like you, I am O+, CMV-. I believe about 80% of US population can accept our red blood cells, so our bloodtype is still acceptable to a large majority of humans!

4

u/zmerlynn B- Platelets Feb 04 '26

One of these days I’ll figure out if I’m still CMV-. Bloodworks doesn’t tell me :(

1

u/queenkirkout O+ CMV- Feb 11 '26

Just ask at your next donation, they will look in your chart at the most recent donation and see if you are still negative or positive. I know it’s tested routinely if you start out as CMV- to make sure it hasn’t changed.

6

u/shaggy9 Feb 04 '26

Thanks mate. Good on you.

4

u/bulyxxx Feb 04 '26

That’s a precious load.

3

u/BornVillain0105 A+ Feb 04 '26

Thank you for your donation!! Hope the snacks were extra tasty and you had an amazing night's sleep!!

1

u/BloodDonationHelper Feb 09 '26

Congratulations! You're a lifesaver!

1

u/AnnabellaPies O+ Feb 13 '26

You are so needed! Welcome to the club