day of full-on testosterone manliness
So the day before last was the day where the bloodmobile would be on the company parking lot. I used the opportunity to get out of work for a little while and do something good in the process, although I'll admit I'm primarily motivated by the coupons and the cookies.
I do have a needle phobia, and have had it for quite some time now -- however, I've been very good at controlling that fear, or at least managing it so that I could give blood without incident the two times the bloodmobile has come before.
However, I could start to sense right away that things weren't going to plan when I was acutely aware of the large needle in my arm, more so than on previous occasions.
I guess what I'm leading up to is that I started to feel very lightheaded, and while my vision was getting really fuzzy, I told the tech I was about to pass out, and did just that. I believe the technical Latin term is having a touch of the vapors.
When I came to, I had cold wet compresses all over my face, and techs were cleaning up blood from the floor as well as my arms. Apparently, to the untrained eye, a fainting spell can look like a mild seizure, which would explain the blood all over the place. I'd chalk it up to a few things: stress at work, and the fact that I'd had a minimalist breakfast that morning (2 Eggo pancakes, banana, glass of milk). One of the nurses said it could also be the body's stress reaction to having a sudden loss of blood, even though the spirit is willing.
They kept me there for another hour to make sure that I wouldn't collapse in the parking lot. (Knowing my employer, they'd probably leave me there as an example to others.) Hell of a way to get out of 2 hours of work.
And the final insult to the manliness factor: a very nice nurse from the bloodmobile called me today to see if I had any lingering aftereffects and whether I still felt all right. I am a delicate flower, after all.
(At least my BP was 100/66, pre-drainage. That counts for something, right?)