I booked an appointment and donated blood today through blood.ca
It was a pain in the butt for me to do because the cloest place to donate is a 6 hour round trip.
I actually tried to drain 1 pint from myself the other day with no success. I used a 20g pin and a blood pressure machine to try to do it. I easily got it in the vein, but it would have taken hours to get the 450ml.. Today I found out why I couldn't get it out myself lol.. The pin they use to donate blood looks bigger than a 18g. No word of lie.. I think its bigger then the pin they use for drawing blood for blood work.
Either way, I'm glad I went. I found out my iron was actually bang on. Last time they were tested they were quite high.
It was my first time donating and even if my blood work doesn't need it anymore, I'll donate anytime I have a bit of time in the big city.
The process takes about 45 mins. You book your appointment a few days prior to ensure your not waiting. Then you go in and register, complete a quick on line form, then someone will take you into a private room to quickly go over your form, then they take your iron level on the spot (to ensure you have enough iron to give some up), then you wait to be called. Once your in the chair, its honestly 5-7 mins from pin prick to the time they pull it out. Then you have to stay sitting for 2 mins. Then they want you to stya in the lounge and drink some water and have a snack. They can't make you stay, but I did because it was my first time.
It does help to go in hydrated for sure.
Anyways I was a bit nervous going through the survey. I thought they might say no to me since I do my own injections, but they didn't... But one question was asking if you have done any illegal drugs in your life. So steriods would count. I clicked no because I know they check your blood before using it for donations anyways. They actually take about 4 or 5 viles out of you just for testing purposes.
All in all, if your on TRT I think its a easy worth while thing to do.... And they people who run the donation clinic are VERY grateful to anyone who goes in and adds to their supply.
It was a pain in the butt for me to do because the cloest place to donate is a 6 hour round trip.
I actually tried to drain 1 pint from myself the other day with no success. I used a 20g pin and a blood pressure machine to try to do it. I easily got it in the vein, but it would have taken hours to get the 450ml.. Today I found out why I couldn't get it out myself lol.. The pin they use to donate blood looks bigger than a 18g. No word of lie.. I think its bigger then the pin they use for drawing blood for blood work.
Either way, I'm glad I went. I found out my iron was actually bang on. Last time they were tested they were quite high.
It was my first time donating and even if my blood work doesn't need it anymore, I'll donate anytime I have a bit of time in the big city.
The process takes about 45 mins. You book your appointment a few days prior to ensure your not waiting. Then you go in and register, complete a quick on line form, then someone will take you into a private room to quickly go over your form, then they take your iron level on the spot (to ensure you have enough iron to give some up), then you wait to be called. Once your in the chair, its honestly 5-7 mins from pin prick to the time they pull it out. Then you have to stay sitting for 2 mins. Then they want you to stya in the lounge and drink some water and have a snack. They can't make you stay, but I did because it was my first time.
It does help to go in hydrated for sure.
Anyways I was a bit nervous going through the survey. I thought they might say no to me since I do my own injections, but they didn't... But one question was asking if you have done any illegal drugs in your life. So steriods would count. I clicked no because I know they check your blood before using it for donations anyways. They actually take about 4 or 5 viles out of you just for testing purposes.
All in all, if your on TRT I think its a easy worth while thing to do.... And they people who run the donation clinic are VERY grateful to anyone who goes in and adds to their supply.