You Could Use It For a Centrifuge

[madbaker]

That was odd.
I donated blood today for the first time in a few years. They pushed the apheresis machine, which centrifuges out red blood cells and then pumps the plasma back into you. It produces a more-concentrated donation that's already processed. I agreed, 'cause what the heck.

The odd part was the first time the plasma was pumped back in. I started getting a chill down my chest: almost exactly like a fear chill, except that donating blood doesn't scare me. It's just that the anticoagulant is cooler than internal body temperature. They turned down the pump rate and that helped.

Thus, taking it easy for today. I'm still meeting etaine_pommier for drinks this afternoon, but I may play designated driver. The conversation will still be good either way.

Comments

[etaine-pommier.livejournal.com]

Would you rather go tomorrow or early next week? I wouldn't mind staying home and continuing to crank out the sewing today if so :-)

[madbaker.livejournal.com]

Yeah, why don't we push back to next week. bonacorsi may not be able to make it but I think I'm feeling like simply going home today.

[etaine-pommier.livejournal.com]

Done :-)

Feel better!

Yay for you!

[ppfuf.livejournal.com]

Thank you for donating via apheresis. GM and I tried it once, and it really didn't agree with either of us, so we're back to the slow path of donating whole blood.
Please remember to mark your calendar for when you are eligible to donate again. :)

Mega Kudos!

[originalsnarf.livejournal.com]

I'll toss in my word of thanks. 4 regular units of blood = 1 double unit of packed red blood cells, which is what the result of apheresis is. YOU ROCK!! You have my sympathies with the process. I know how hard it was on Riah to sit there for 8 hours at a clip, 3 days in a row. She kept getting wrapped up in blankets straight out of the blanket heater and watched video after video. You deserve massive kudos!

(Now in the correct location. Sorry. My brain seems to have shut off today.)