Donating

I always wanted to donate blood but I somehow encountered an issue evertime I tried to do so.

1. Being a foreigner in the USA (during my highschool year)
2. Returning from USA (you have to wait 6 months till your allowed to donate)
3. Receiving Tattoos (all in all a stupid decision but oh well to late for that now → also have to wait 4 months till you can donate)
4. Removing Tattoos (also 4 months but treatment was once a month so .....)

But this time I made it. The last removal appointment was in late july/early august and I could finally donate. Sooo how did it go?

1. I made an appointment online (Didnt need it though but it was nice)
2. Ate two portions for lunch so I had enough energy to regenerate
3. Went to the donation center and didnt know what to do now....
4. Got sent to the waiting room to fill out some forms (you have to do that everytime you visit)
5. with the filled out forms I went to the reception and had to show my ID (!!!Important without you cant donate)
6. Went for Hemoglobin testing (for men you have to have >13,5g/dl I had 16g/dl so I am proud to be vegan and have more then enough iron
   • suck it non believers
7. After a little talk with a doctor I was cleared for donation. So I drank a bunch of water before (I heard its good to not feel dizzy)
8. I got called for donation. After lying down I asked a bunch of questions.
   • The needle is big but doesnt really hurt... Its a little worse than normal blood draw and feels weird but kind of forgettable.
   • They have an intricat tube system attached to the needle → first a small bag for test samples → then through a long tube towards the collection bag.
   • The bag is sitting on a scale which rocks the bag and weighs the donation to 500ml before rotating and pinching the tube leading to the collection bag.
   • After the donation is done, they cut the tube with a heat sealer → this explains the weird third tube coming out of blood products → the blood never leaves the tubesystem.
   • During the donation I was watching youtube and it only to about 4 min
9. I waited about 5 min before getting up but I didnt feel any different so I just went to the reception and signed the papers
10. I got 25 Euros and a free meal / coke → absolut win
11. Waited for another 30 mins before going to my next class

It was a nice and chill experience which I will try to repeat every 2 months. Later that day I did become a bit impatient and removed the pressure bandage after 2,5 h and was watching movies with my partner who layed on my arm. I felt a slight pop and notice that my vein wasnt healed properly. Now I have a big hematoma which looks pretty hardcore but doesnt feel like anything so theres that.

Notice for next time: keep the bandage on for more than 3 hours.... overnight for example.