Barb, I hear you. Even after I was out of the tattoo/Central American travel zones, about two times out of three I'd be turned away for iron deficiencies. (Which, afaik, is about my likelihood to pass out, not the quality of the blood. So WTF?). My boss was also LBP and would take asprin the morning of any blood drives - doesn't affect the iron content, but for those of us with LBP, it means the process doesn't take 45 mintues.

(And aspirin does not affect the donated blood past an hour or two, to be clear.)

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Bonny, I've tried a few times to donate, but even though I feel fine, apparently my subconscious has white-coat fear so my pulse goes up over 100 every time I try and they won't take blood if your pulse goes over 100. So try to maintain your "zen" as best you can, so your pulse doesn't betray you.

Also, go you!

Also, Wow! That's a helluva list. As always, you're an impressive lady.

If you do it, I'll give it another shot, too, and try to convince my subconscious to chill the heck out.

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Separate post...

Fay, I have no words. So much peace to you and yours.

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Bonny and Zen, good for you. All calm and serene vibes to you, meanwhile.

Yes, the Indigo-go is indeed an Opi color--it's one of the Nic Sticks, and it's a very cool color.

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I'd like to jump on this bloodwagon.

Cheers, Laga!

He or she can aim you at the best sticker. Be sure to drink plenty of water starting the day before; the main cause of dizziness is loss of blood volume.

Excellent advice!

This was my thinking. I could psych myself into surviving anything if Lucy was there to focus on.

You've given me an idea. I will have my buddy hold a picture of Bartleby. I feel like I could lift a bus off of him...this might just be equivalent!

tattoo

Brenda, I won't lie, I was sort of hoping this would get me out of my noble gesture, but the fates would not allow. I had mine done in a clean place, and 10 years ago, so no dodge there. AND, my buddy suggested I eat a lot of kale this week, so I'm on the iron issue. I have, in the past, had low blood pressure. It never occurred to me that THAT might be an issue.

Aspirin helps with that? And is okay to do? Hm.

So try to maintain your "zen" as best you can, so your pulse doesn't betray you.

Oooh. Important point. I'll use my self-hypnosis breathing and Bartleby's pic for this...and, my buddy did me the greatest favor (besides his faith and acceptance) by finding a NON-hospital environment. Turns out the Library of Congress just happens to be doing a blood drive this week. So. 4 blocks from my house, and unlikely to smell all white-coaty...which would have been a trigger.

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if you step out of your comfort zone

If I can do this, I might even be able to learn to swim. (Oh, talk about panic. Water in my ears! I couldn't even take a shower when I was a little girl, the water on my head scared me so.)

The line for the current red badge of courage now starts behind bonny. Hello, Laga! See what you did there, bonny?

So, um, I guess Valium in the blood is right out, then? How about alcohol? No? Dammit.

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Asprin won't raise your blood pressure, but if your blood pressure is already low, the donation process can take a long time. Asprin makes it flow faster.

For me, it was an inconvenience issue. But for you, it sounds like getting it over and done asap would be a plus.

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it sounds like getting it over and done asap would be a plus.

By definition. Seriously.

When I had the blood test to get married, my husband had to lie spread-eagle on top of me (all 230lbs of him) to hold me down. The sticker dug around 5 times. It was a horror show. Faster moving blood would really help.

I told my beloved surrogate mom (who, after 3.5 harrowing weeks in hospital is home and doing quite well, considering) about this adventure and, in her way, she has given me a most awesome gift for my birthday...a poem and a bandaid!

"Your thought for your birthday
Gave me such a lift,
I'm inspired to give you
The enclosed little gift.

If you press hard two fingers
To wipe out the blot
You'll have less of a bruise
On the targeted spot."

Once, years ago, I banged my elbow on a table. She leapt on me, grabbed to booboo and rubbed it so hard, I wailed. The outcome? No bruise! No one ever did stuff like that for me as a kid.

So, the motherly advice makes my heart swell. As does the support here. You all rock.

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Okay, so, I just went to go to the bathroom and found a HUGE field mouse outside. When it saw me, it tried to get away, but there was something wrong with its front legs (collapsed under it), so it just ended up shoving itself around in a circle. I couldn't just leave it like that, so I got one of the guys to catch it and take it out back (small strip of "field" of weeds, a gully, etc. behind the buildings). When he came back in the guy conjectured that it must have fallen (maybe we have a nest in our overhang or something) and broken its legs - and added that he doesn't think its going far. I wish there was something I could do, but I'm never home (and my two cats are). If it happens, I can deal with the "natural order" of one of the local birds of prey finding it. I would not be okay if I left it there to get killed with a shovel by one of the maintenance guys.

But I'm still kind of brokenhearted and mildly freaking out. I wonder if any of the local rescues make housecalls?

And I feel bad for being so dark for so long and then laying this on you guys, but I needed to get it out, so thanks.

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That is SO hard, Epic. Bless your caring self.

It's a really tough call. I've gone both ways...going the extra 5 miles to contact rescues or taking a mouse to a vet to be put down...and other times I've had to shut my eyes and hope that my faith in fate is well-founded.

The fact that you have a heart to be broken is a testament.

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