I feel SO stupid! My company had a blood drive and I donated today. My appointment was at 12:30, and I finally got out of there at 1:45. I ate my cookies and drank my juice, and I felt fine. I walked up 2 flights of stairs to go to my desk to clock out, then walked back down to the break room to get something for lunch out of the vending machine. Wouldn't you know it...all I had was change and I guess their change thing was full because it just kept spitting them out. So, I went without lunch (mistake #1). I didn't eat breakfast (normally don't) but I did eat two minature kit-kats shortly before they drew blood (mistake #2). Since I didn't get anything to eat, I went outside to smoke a cigarette (mistake #3)...no one told me I should wait a few hours before smoking (yes, I know smoking in itself is a mistake, but it's my only flaw..or so I tell people
)
After my 1/2 hour, I walked back up 2 flights of stairs, sat down and plugged in to take calls. I took two...then the world started to go black. You know that feeling when you stand up to fast and everything just goes, then comes back in a few seconds? That is what I was feeling...only it wasn't coming back. I unplugged (without permission) because I honestly couldn't see the computer screen, or hear. My ears were buzzing, I started sweating, I knew I was on the verge of passing out. Deep breaths weren't helping so I put my head down on my desk but even that didn't help. I honestly just wanted someone to shoot me. This lasted for about 20 minutes.
Finally one of my co-workers realized I was as white as a ghost and sweating and went and got the manager. She and another supervisor literally lead me out (past 3 other contracts) to the elevators and took me down to the donor site where they made me lay down for about 1/2 hour and pumped me full of juice. They stuck an ice pack under my neck, and the room itself is freezing (it's not used much) so of course, at that point, I'm DEFINITELY not going to pass out! The nurse said I was probably dehydrated and without eating anything substantial all day my blood suger shot up and dropped REAL quick.
I'm feeling fine now, but it was one of the strangest experiences of my life. I mean, I get lightheaded sometimes but nothing that has lasted that long. But I just feel so stupid. And, apparently I'm the talk of the company.
When I was walking out tonight the group of people in front of me were talking about the blood doning, and one said "Oh, I heard someone from FRTIB had to be taken back down because she passed out at her desk". I almost said "ummm...that was me...and I DIDN'T pass out completely!" but I kept my mouth shut.
Just a word of advise to anyone that goes to donate blood.....EAT!!! God only knows what would have happened if my appointment was later in the day and I was driving home at that point.
After my 1/2 hour, I walked back up 2 flights of stairs, sat down and plugged in to take calls. I took two...then the world started to go black. You know that feeling when you stand up to fast and everything just goes, then comes back in a few seconds? That is what I was feeling...only it wasn't coming back. I unplugged (without permission) because I honestly couldn't see the computer screen, or hear. My ears were buzzing, I started sweating, I knew I was on the verge of passing out. Deep breaths weren't helping so I put my head down on my desk but even that didn't help. I honestly just wanted someone to shoot me. This lasted for about 20 minutes.
Finally one of my co-workers realized I was as white as a ghost and sweating and went and got the manager. She and another supervisor literally lead me out (past 3 other contracts) to the elevators and took me down to the donor site where they made me lay down for about 1/2 hour and pumped me full of juice. They stuck an ice pack under my neck, and the room itself is freezing (it's not used much) so of course, at that point, I'm DEFINITELY not going to pass out! The nurse said I was probably dehydrated and without eating anything substantial all day my blood suger shot up and dropped REAL quick.
I'm feeling fine now, but it was one of the strangest experiences of my life. I mean, I get lightheaded sometimes but nothing that has lasted that long. But I just feel so stupid. And, apparently I'm the talk of the company.
Just a word of advise to anyone that goes to donate blood.....EAT!!! God only knows what would have happened if my appointment was later in the day and I was driving home at that point.