The Bloodmobile was here
Jun. 14th, 2007 11:26 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dreamsharkI complained to the first intake guy about the "We want your blood" phone calls from Memorial Blood Banks, despite my specific request NOT to be called. He said I'm not the first person to complain about that, and promised to do some followup at headquarters to see if he could fix the problem. I think they only started that nonsense this past year, and it really annoys me. I also had the 2nd intake person remove all phone numbers from my computer entry. Maybe that will do the trick.
My resting pulse has dropped from 72 a couple of years ago to 48, probably because of all the biking. That's the lowest it's ever been, which pleases me. However, my blood pressure is still disappointingly the same as ever: 140/87. They've removed most of the really entertaining sex practices questions from the intake questionnaire, and added more prescription drugs. West Nile virus now appears on the disease list, along with HIV, hepatitis and Mad Cow.
My body does not give up blood easily. I asked for their best needle-poker, and they called for "Tina," who actually managed to hit the vein on the first try. But half-way through the extraction process I moved my arm a little and the blood stopped flowing. Tina managed to get it going again, which was a bit uncomfortable but not too bad. Not something I care to do more than once a year, however. They complimented me on my blood color - nice and red and oxygenated. They bound up my arm with brightly colored adhesive tape, which I was supposed to leave on for two hours. It was too tight, so I ripped it off almost immediately. Apparently there are some people that continue to bleed for an hour or more from tiny little needle sticks, but needless to say I am not one of them.
I usually don't drink sweet drinks, but I took a bottle of cranberry-apple, and it tasted REALLY good. I did feel just a bit dizzy when I stepped down out of the Bloodmobile into the bright sunlight, which is when I decided to take a swig from the little bottle. It helped. Although I realize now that Apple Cranberry Cocktail is kind of a disturbing color for a bloodmobile to be handing out.
My resting pulse has dropped from 72 a couple of years ago to 48, probably because of all the biking. That's the lowest it's ever been, which pleases me. However, my blood pressure is still disappointingly the same as ever: 140/87. They've removed most of the really entertaining sex practices questions from the intake questionnaire, and added more prescription drugs. West Nile virus now appears on the disease list, along with HIV, hepatitis and Mad Cow.
My body does not give up blood easily. I asked for their best needle-poker, and they called for "Tina," who actually managed to hit the vein on the first try. But half-way through the extraction process I moved my arm a little and the blood stopped flowing. Tina managed to get it going again, which was a bit uncomfortable but not too bad. Not something I care to do more than once a year, however. They complimented me on my blood color - nice and red and oxygenated. They bound up my arm with brightly colored adhesive tape, which I was supposed to leave on for two hours. It was too tight, so I ripped it off almost immediately. Apparently there are some people that continue to bleed for an hour or more from tiny little needle sticks, but needless to say I am not one of them.
I usually don't drink sweet drinks, but I took a bottle of cranberry-apple, and it tasted REALLY good. I did feel just a bit dizzy when I stepped down out of the Bloodmobile into the bright sunlight, which is when I decided to take a swig from the little bottle. It helped. Although I realize now that Apple Cranberry Cocktail is kind of a disturbing color for a bloodmobile to be handing out.
