Fun times donating blood (not)..

[JCJ]

My last lab results showed an elevated hematocrit (52%). No problem, right? Doctor says just go donate blood. Same idea I had in my head as soon as she said that. As luck would have it, there was a local blood drive happening today. I stopped in to give my donation and help myself/others at the same time.

Went through the registration, pre-screen.. No problems. BP was a little high but within limits. Hemoglobin was tested at ~18 (don't recall the scale, but it was within limits for donation).

Get to the bed and the phlebotomist comes over and starts searching for a vein....and searching...and searching. Then she starts probing around with that 16ga needle in (both) of my arms. Three people try it...no joy. I've always been a "hard stick" when it comes to blood draws, but damn!

In the end, they gave up and offered me my free t-shirt and restaurant coupon to just go away. So, I'm kinda stuck. They put me in the donor system anyway and told me to come back in two months.

My only other choice is to have my doctor prescribe therapeutic phlebotomy and I guess go to the hospital lab for that? Only downside is my insurance won't cover it.

What a pain (literally). I'll probably just live with it for two months until I can try donating again.

 

[Megatron28]

One thing that helps is to drink a lot of water the day before and day of the blood draw. This gets you nice ans hydrated which helps pump up your veins. Maybe give that a try the next time you go in.

My other tip is to skip the blood drives. Go to a regular location with a scheduled appointment. The experienced people work at those locations. The newbs are the ones that often get to so the blood drives and blood buses. Also, tell them you need their most experienced person as you have had problems with sticks before.

 

[halfwit]

Just to add to Mega's advice, once you get prescribed therapeutic phlebotomies, you are deferred for life from donating. Do some curls and get some water going next time.

 

[Chiefy]

This could definitely be problematic if it keeps happening. Patients with extremely small veins may eventually be turned away by the Red Cross indefinitely if they are routinely unable to gain IV access.

They'd have to be incredibly small for this to be a possibility, but it happens. They desperately want your blood so they'll try their best to make it work.

As has been mentioned, hydration is very important, as is keeping your body warm prior to venipuncture. Wear some layers or a coat.

If the person sticking you was a phlebotomist she most likely knows her way around a difficult vein, but everyone is capable of having days where they can't hit a vein no matter how hard they try. Threading a 16g into a vein that isn't monstrous can be very difficult, even for a phlebotomist.

Keep trying, but you may want to prepare for the chance that you'll need to undergo therapeutic phlebotomy in the future. I don't know anything about your insurance coverage but it seems odd that they wouldn't cover it if your doctor was able to provide a letter of medical necessity.

 

[JCJ]

Thanks for the tips, guys. I'm deferred from trying again until 5/16 so I'll do what I can to make the next trip a successful one! I'd like to avoid going the therapeutic phlebotomy route if I can get by with donating.

 

[Roush]

No2, L-arginine, niacin, cialis, coq10.. Good sups, get blood flowing, veins expanding..

 

[jon emberlin]

cayenne pepper will make your veins pop out also..

 

[Alpin]

Bad deal.
Now what are u going to do about this 52% hemo??

 

[JCJ]

Bad deal.
Now what are u going to do about this 52% hemo??

Not much I can do. Wait around until 5/16 and hope for no issues caused by the high hemo in the meantime.. Not my favorite plan, but it's all I've got at the moment.

 

[novaman]

Do you guys tell the blood center you are on TRT and all the meds you take while on TRT?

 

[Mprtz]

Do you guys tell the blood center you are on TRT and all the meds you take while on TRT?

No, you should only tell them about medications on the deferred list.
I personally wouldn't lie if asked, but they are not likely to ask.

 

[Megatron28]

Do you guys tell the blood center you are on TRT and all the meds you take while on TRT?

Nope. I only answer the questions that I am required to answer. I do not volunteer additional information which is not relevant.

 

[Havasu]

Do you guys tell the blood center you are on TRT and all the meds you take while on TRT?

Look at it this way. TRT is to keep your levels within the normal range of testosterone, even if it's high normal. It's natural for men to have testosterone correct? Then why would they need to know you have normal testosterone levels since the hormone is bio-identical?.