Ugh!! Day

Jun. 25th, 2008 05:12 pm
dalthauser: (Default)
[personal profile] dalthauser
Today was the day I went to donate platelets in San Antonio.  I'd planned to finally visit the Green vegetarian restaurant there for lunch - then over to Whole Foods to pick up a few things on the way home.  I did donate......

Please forgive the whining......

It all started when I was up the road a few miles and realized I forgot my digital camera.  It goes everywhere with me, and it wasn't in my purse.  Bad omen. 

I got to the South Texas Blood & Tissue Center on time (after having to double back because I missed it).  The screening took a long time, and I didn't get into the donation room until 9am. 

Then the tech insisted on using my right arm to take the initial platlet test -  now I have three really dark blue bruises where she jabbed me and jabbed me and moved the needle around looking for a vein.  So, they find out I have PLENTY of platelets (they said like a man - - I think that was meant as a compliment). 

They hooked me up to the machine and put on a DVD (Juno - loved it) and they finally started the procedure at 9:30am.  It finally finished at 11:15 am, and I was a little annoyed since I wanted to be at lunch by 11am.  I left the building finally at 11:30am and hit the road to find Green.

After the first three attempts to find it (backtracking to where I knew where I was each time and starting over0 I was beginning to think it was not meant to be.  On the fifth (yes, I'm persistent) try I ran into a sign pointing the way to I-35 North (the way home) and I took it as a sign....... (by this time it was 12:55pm)

On the way back North I saw the sign for Eisenhauer road and thought "ok, this doesn't have to be a total loss - I'll stop at the big Goodwill "everything for a dollar" supercenter.  I got off and turned down the wrong road in major traffic, backtracked and got to the right road 20 minutes later and pulled into the parking lot...... it's not there anymore!  Jeez!!!!  LoL  I swear I just laughed. 

Now I'm home - and I'm putting primer on hallway trim and installing chicken nest boxes (I'll post on this later).

Whew!

Date: 2008-06-26 04:35 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] eats-veggies.livejournal.com
Ah yes - Europe and Africa. What gets me is the gazillion sex questions.
Did you ever have sex with somoene from Africa in the last 5 years
Did you ever pay to have sex
Did you ever have sex with an intravenious drug user
Did you ever take money for sex

They need to save people like me time and make the first question
Have you had sex in the last 4 years?
Yes - answer the the rest of the sex questions
No - roll up your sleeve

Date: 2008-06-27 01:17 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] walksbeauty.livejournal.com
wooo... that's amazing they ask those questions....... wouldn't it be easier and safer to test for HIV, AIDS, Hep C, whatever.?

Date: 2008-06-27 02:06 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] eats-veggies.livejournal.com
I'm pretty sure they do tests on the donations. They are probably trying to avoid the expense of the procedure by interviewing first.

I'm not sure if I'll donate platelets again due to that experience and also it's so far away (gas $$$). Maybe I can combine it with a dental appointment then I'll already be in SA. I give whole blood on a regular schedule - so I do my part already :-)

Date: 2008-06-27 02:43 pm (UTC)
From: (Anonymous)
Good for you! Above & beyond the call of duty... I've never given blood and never plan on it.. I'm just a chicken when it comes to needles in me. Feel woozy thinking of it in my arm for an hour or however long.. ergh!

Is SA San Antonio?

Sure, that makes sense... the questions would screen.... testing is expensive...

Date: 2008-06-27 03:58 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] eats-veggies.livejournal.com
Yep - SA is San Antonio.

It is kind of a creepy feeling - especially if the tube is laying on your arm and you feel the warmth of your own blood coming out.

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