p.a.y._m.y._d.u.e.
Awaken this morning with an urge to have my blood suck out. Being miles and miles away from Transylvania, to find a Dracula would be like needle in hay stack. Therefore it could only meant one thing, next stop - National Blood Bank.
I was being questioned on the obvious during the routine interview (blood one or blood two). However this time it was by a trainee from Ministry of Health accompanied by an experienced physician. After somewhat like 20 seconds of pause while waiting for the trainee to explain the last bit regarding prohibition of certain groups donating blood, I eased her by confirming that I understood each clause of the necessary. While I may seemed like lying true my teeth, the statement itself is a flaw.
Before I could donate my precious blood, I had to go thruogh several minor testing, like uric acid, lipid, and etc (yes, I did fast at least 8 hours). Then I had a light breakfast.
I was then plugged into an unfamiliar machine (picture below).
Yes, I was explained beforehand of another donating method, and was given the choice of a normal whole blood (wb) donation or a plasma/platelets (p+p) donation. Differences:
wb - less time consuming (15-20 minutes), taking everything of what you have
p+p - very time consuming (an hour), taking only two components and the rest is returned back to you
Reason for p+p (a process also commonly known as pheresis) donation only - widely used for medical assistance in dengue haemorrhagic fever, thalassemea, and etc.
It was amusing as on the screen itself showed what I had to do, whether it be sqeezing the Christmas tree in my hand when the screen screams “draw”,
or to release my grip and let the red and white blood cells “return” into my body.
As the minutes gone by, even without observing the screen, I was able to know when to squeeze and when to release, simply by the sound of the machine working by my side. Slow pace tickings mean GO while heartily tickings mean RELAX…lah.
Then the yellowish liquid could be visible in two separate bags.
The screen showing that my plasma donation is coming to a halt.
And underneath the screen would be the ticking machine (filter).
Close inspection could exposed that the blood is drawn into a small bottle at the middle of the machine. Once it is filled to the top, the blood is released back into the body. And it goes on and on until the 55 minutes on the screen is up.
Plasma level seems to be filled much faster compared to platelets. I was in no hurry, and I was feeling somewhat light-headed, very much like on drugs. Immediately I was being instructed to lay back and doctor was called. How embarassing that was!
That was all for me. Another meaningful morning. I was satisfied that I had my blood drawn, leaving me with that tinkling feeling for the rest of the day.
