Got pricked...again.

I went to donate blood and all I got was a pricked finger...again!

Because of my past history you would think I would prepare myself by eating foods high in iron before going through this again. I would have done that had I known about the blood drive more than a day in advance. Either way, I went to do it again and I failed. I filled out the paper work and went to get my little physical done and my iron checked. I told the guy that nearly every time I end up with a 12.4 reading (you have to have a 12.5 or higher to give blood). He pricked my finger and went on with taking my temperature, checking my pulse and checking my blood pressure. As he began to put the blood pressure cuff on my arm, he took it away and laughed. He showed me the reading; my iron count was 12.4, yet again. He did, however give me a pamphlet for the lowly people like me to bump up my iron levels.

I walked off in disappointment and felt rejected by Carter BloodCare. It's almost an embarrassing thing when you don't pass a portion of the physical. I know because I've done it several times and I've spoken with others who have had the same problem as me.

The first time I ever gave blood was in 2005. I was sitting in class and they made an announcement for the last call for students to come down and donate blood. I thought it would be something interesting to do and it would get me out of class. It was so much fun! I don't know why I thought it was so wonderful but I felt so good before, during, and after donating. The nurses thought I had gone crazy because of how happy I was.

Ever since then I have tried to donate. I think I've only successfully donated one or two more times since then, but have tried numerous other times. I began taking iron supplement pills but even that didn't really raise my iron levels. I eventually forgot to take them again after I wasn't taking my other medications anymore.

So here I am, with a semi-sore prick on the end of my finger and none of my precious blood drawn from my body. I guess I'll try again another day.