So a funny thing happened to me today and because of it I’m going to have to make up for my workout tomorrow (yipee… Friday, Saturday AND Sunday exercising!).
On the walk in to work there was a blood drive at Embarcadero 3 in San Francisco. I’m all for giving blood when I am eligible for doing it since it’s never negatively impacted me and it’s a good thing to do. I’d also fielded two phone calls from the same blood center and subsequently flaked on two appointments to donate so I figured today was the day to finally fulfill those missed obligations.
At lunch time, after a double serving of oatmeal and 64 oz. of water earlier, I went to the fancy buses, stepped in, and filled out the typical form. Halfway through my first form one of the techs asked me if I would be interested in doing a platelet donation instead. Knowing absolutely nothing about the process I said what any thinking person would say, “Sure.”
If you aren’t familiar with the process let me break it down simply. You get hooked up via needle to a tube, just like a regular donation. Your “donation” goes into a machine where a centrifuge will separate the red blood cells from the plasma. The machine will then infuse your plasma with enough saline to compensate for the drop in volume from the removed red blood cells and they then return your plasma to you with this saline in it. The idea is that they can take a double unit donation instead of a single because they are returning enough volume back to you to keep your blood pressure stable. Simple, right?
I’ve donated blood plenty of times before and I’ve never had an issue. This procedure, however, knocked me sideways. I was extremely drained, fatigued, and everyone around me started telling me I wasn’t looking so hot. This feeling lasted all through the day. Not good.
This morning I didn’t want to wake up. I slept in an extra hour. I figured I would work out in the evening instead. That plan was scrapped. Going to have to work out tomorrow.
Here’s hoping I feel better tomorrow.
-Will
