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Well, yesterday was a harrowing experience! I got to the plasma bank at 7am, ready to donate, and they said I needed to have a "vein eval" (since they weren't able to get any blood 10 days ago). I ended up being there about an hour only to find out that I needed to come back after noon when the "senior phlebotomists" are there. So, I kept on drinking my water and managed to get in 12 cups before the 12pm appointment (and I had a full gallon the day before yesterday - which they say is even more important than hydrating the day of).
Had to start from scratch AGAIN (third time), filling out all the paperwork, listing my medications, having consultation to discuss what each med is for, having a physical, giving a finger prick, weighing, reading the New Donor Manual, having another long flip chart read to me, taking a test about HIV. Whew!
Then, the bottom fell out!!! The nurse (guy) who was doing my physical asked me if I'd ever had any surgeries. I answered the same as I did ten days ago: Gastric Bypass in 2006 and full and partial knee replacements in 2018. He asked me what type of bypass, and why I had it. I told him GBS with Roux n Y and that it was for weight loss. He did some searching on his computer and tells me that I can NOT donate Plasma, ever, because of having had the gastric bypass surgery! Ten days ago, I was accepted after giving the very same information. I was trying very hard to keep my cool, though I was aware of my body language being NOT receptive of this news. Against my will, my eyes started welling up with tears (but I regained control before any fell).
He said he was going to go out and ask if they could give me "some" compensation for coming in. While he was out, I texted my friend Maryann for some extra prayer support. Though very saddened and disappointed, I had to admit that I trusted God that if this (plasma donation) wasn't going to work that I trusted Him to provide for our financial means in some other way. When the guy was out, he talked to someone else about the GBS and SURPRISE, that other person said I absolutely COULD give plasma after having GBS!!! Again, I almost cried.
Then it was on to the hard part - actually GIVING the plasma. Ten days ago, they were unable to find a vein and "infiltrated" me, leaving a bad bruise that I spent 11 days getting to fade almost completely away. There still was a LITTLE bit of a bruise though, and the "anti-GBS guy" said that he didn't know if the phlebotomist would stick me with that bruise still there. Mind you, it was almost completely unnoticeable.
When they got me in the chair, I asked if the girl attending me was a Senior Phlebotomist, because I am such a hard stick. She said she was just there to set up the machine but that, YES, a SP would be doing the actual needle stick. Those are some big stinkin' needles - 17 guage, for anyone who knows about needle size! BUT, She stuck me, pushed a little farther in, then a little farther, and struck gold! HOORAY!!!
The entire process (because of having to fill out everything again) took five hours! Still, I made $150, which is $30/hour - MUCH more than I would have been making sitting at home!
Right now, I've got a small ice pack (wrapped in a bra, lol, so it won't be directly on my skin), being proactive about the tiny little bruise I got from the stick yesterday. I put ice on it last night, too, and put some of the Arnica bruise cream on it. Today, I will buy some chamomile tea, because the SP said that one of her patients told her that brewing some and then steeping it and dipping a rag in and wrapping it to the bruise will cure a bruises in just a couple of days. My goal is to be able to give again on Wednesday or Thursday. M,Tu,Wed are the slowest days at the donation center. Because they are returning your whole blood back into you in the plasmapheresis process, the CDC or Red Cxross or FDA - somebody - says that you can donate twice in each 7-day week.
On the down side (for me), after I finish this glass of Diet Coke, it's back to ONLY water for another 24-36 hours.
On a REALLY downside, I woke up this morning to find out that it was raining - NOT in the forecast! I left the truck windows down last night, and the truck is probable soaked! My husband will NOT be pleased! HOLY Macarel!!! It's supposed to rain for the next 12 hours!!! I guess I better put on a coat and go out there and try to get them rolled up - better late than with 12 more hours of rain in them. (It's still dark outside)
Thanks to anyone who listens to my ramblings. I appreciate the love and support I get here. May you be blessed with a happy and productive Tuesday!
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255.4 lb
Lost so far: 3.6 lb.
Still to go: 105.4 lb.
Diet followed reasonably well.
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Diet Calendar Entry for 24 May 2022:
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1902 kcal
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Fat: 96.30g | Prot: 62.71g | Carb: 216.25g.
Breakfast: Black Olives, Hormel Black Label Fully Cooked Original Bacon, Kraft Sharp Cheddar Cheese, Finely Shredded, Kroger Eggs (Large), Dave's Killer Bread Good Seed Bread, Butter. Lunch: Sunbeam Giant White Bread, Butter (Salted), Stouffer's Lasagna with Meat & Sauce. Dinner: Milk (2% Lowfat with Added Vitamin A), Bananas, Honey Nut Cheerios. Snacks/Other: Grapes (Red or Green, European Type Varieties Such As Thompson Seedless), Rold Gold Pretzel Sticks, Entenmann's Little Bites Mini Chocolate Chip Cookies, Russell Stover Sugar Free Mint Patties (3), Oreo Golden, Russell Stover Sugar Free Peanut Butter Cups. more...
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steady weight
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