AB+

(This is my second entry this week involving blood)
I donated my blood last Monday. This is my 2nd time this year. I first started to donate blood 7 years ago when there was a blood donation drive held in the company where I work and ever since that it has been an annual routine for me.

Before donating your blood, you have to sign a form declaring you are free from a list of diseases, your medical history, country you have visited 6 months ago and your current general health etc. Doctor will then ask whether you had enough sleep the previous night, whether you already had breakfast (if not, they will provide a light breakfast for you) and then check your blood pressure.

Next, they poked my finger (which to me, is the most painful procedure of all) to take a few drops of blood to check my haemoglobin and iron status (I think) and my blood type if it’s not stated in the blood donation booklet (especially if this is your first time). I have the stingiest blood of all, AB+. I can take any blood (A, B, O, and AB) but only a person with AB blood can receive an AB blood type. They usually withdraw 300ml out from me.


The second painful procedure would be when the nurse administrated the anesthesia jab (it’s like an ant bite), after that its smooth sailing provided your veins don’t chicken out on you. There was once where my veins were not cooperating and they had to poke both of my arms at several places before coming back to the first one. My arms were blue black for more than a week and I looked like an inexperience drugie. Ha! Ha! But if there is no problem, you only walk out with a tiny plaster on your arm. But this time around, I suffered a mild dizziness but there was no alarm.

The hospital staffs serve everyone a hot chocolate drink and a muffin. I love their muffins ^_^. I then went back to my cubicle to continue my office work and it was only 1020hr. Still a long day to go…