Originally Posted By: Volvo_ST1
"....... Nowadays I pop a Demerol before donating."
Uh, surely you are kidding!?
Are you selling your plasma or are they so desperate for a pint of anything that they would let you donate after having ingested Demerol?
I donate regularly at an apheresis unit of a local university based hospital. Specifically, I donate platelets (it's hopefully what keeps you from bleeding out if you're seriously injured) that are subsequently used for cancer patients.
The screening to be able to donate (blood, red blood cells, platelets) is very intense in that they restrict what medications or over-the-counter meds you can take within the last 48 hours to the past 30 days.
As such, ingesting Demerol or any other pain medication just before you donate will get you sent out the door forthwith.
Even ingesting aspirin or aspirin containing products within 48 hours before donating gets you sent out that same door.
I always have a good meal at least 90 minutes before donating. That is an absolute must. And I never watch them "stick" me and I always ensure they cover the needle with a large gauze pad.
It's also important to drink fluids (juice or lots of water) immediately after you donate, not when you get home. Eating a light snack at the same time also helps, i.e., cookies, crackers, etc.
And thanks for being willing to donate, especially with your experience with blood-letting!