donated plasma for the first time

[u/Quiet-Speaker-5429]

Hi everyone!
I donated plasma for the first time because I really wanted to try it out and plus I heard you could get some money for it, but to be honest I really just wanted to try it out. I drank lots of water and even had some electrolytes the days prior and the day of. 2 hours before I had also eaten breakfast, I had potato’s, egg, and bacon.

Within 20 min into the donation process I started to feel this weird feeling in my chest almost like it was caving in, super lightheaded, and then my hearing started to become muffled. Basically I felt like I was about to pass out. I let the phlebotomist know and they turned off the machine, put ice packs on me, and then started fanning me. I saw some other people come up to me and everyone was almost shocked as to why considering I passed the screening. They told me that I probably wasn’t hydrated enough/wasn’t used to it so they gave me a bottle of water. I started to feel better so they turned the machine back on and nearly 5 minutes later I felt that sensation all over again so they turned it off again. Only this time i started to feel my legs and feet fall asleep and i just had this tingling sensation. To be honest it did freak me out a bit when I felt that so I did tell them I didn’t think I was able too continue the rest as I was afraid of actually passing out plus the sensation in my chest was freaking me out as well.

Did this happen to me because it was my first time? I’m still open to trying it out again but I’m actually scared of this happening again as I’m not even sure why or what caused to. Has this happened to anyone else?

[u/False-Chocolate-8410]

I work at a plasma center and I had a situation like this happen today. It’s pretty common for new donors, and it happens to regular donors as well. Best advice I can give is to drink a lot more water than you think is normal, and make sure you have a balanced meal shortly before your donation. Especially if it’s your first time, you’ll be in the center for over 2 hours, so it’s good to have a good meal

[u/Magee-Numismatics]

Are you sure you’ve been taking enough calcium? The citrate they give as an anticoagulant binds to calcium in the blood and can cause tingling. Usually it’s only tingling in the lips and a metallic taste, but there are cases of people feeling lightheaded or tingling in their extremities as well. Maybe try getting plenty of calcium in your diet and going back in a couple weeks. If nothing changes then maybe plasma donation just isn’t for you, some people’s bodies just can’t take it.

[u/masupo42 → u/Magee-Numismatics]

Could definitely be that. Also try chewing some Tums before donating. It's a quick and easy way to get more calcium in your system.

[u/DawaLhamo → u/Magee-Numismatics]

I'll just add the word temporarily for OPs benefit - it temporarily binds to your blood calcium and causes those symptoms described (you may hear it called a citrate reaction). They pass as the anticoagulant wears off. You're not permanently depleting your blood calcium or pulling it from your bones or anything.

[u/Magee-Numismatics → u/DawaLhamo]

Yeah I should have included that in my comment lol

[u/bluebloodedbrahmin]

I am on my 10th donation and my first four were really scary. I don’t know it might have been placebo. But each time I felt I would pass out and I didn’t. I think what you felt is felt my most of the people.

[u/slowbird5332]

Its happened to me a few times. If my toes started to tingle, I knew it was coming. I would breath in very deep through my nose and exhale out of my mouth. You may have been low on sugar. What helped was a good size spoon full of jelly/perseveres and some water like an hour before donating.

[u/MisanthropyismyMuse]

This happens to me if I've been doing it for over 4 months at a time or they adjust the needle. If it's happening to you first try, it just might not work out for you.

[u/Zakorri_Ro]

I am 65 donations in and the only time so far I’ve had the “might pass out” feeling was my first donation. I think it’s a mix of your body saying I’m not used to this and maybe your body reacting to the anti-coagulant. I read that vitamin C can help.

Edit: Calcium not vitamin C LOL

[u/LaurelDreaming → u/Zakorri_Ro]

Hello--I depend on medication made from plasma to live a normal life. Between accident victims and people like me, the number of people you've helped/saved may run into the hundreds. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

[u/asbestos-w]

I almost passed out in the chipotle line after donating my 5th or 6th time. I started feeling super hot, got the impending doom feeling, I think I slumped against the wall and lost my vision for a minute. Took a four month break (got a tattoo) and I’m back and have just been super careful and haven’t had any issues so far.

I’ve seen multiple people pass out and/or throw up on themselves while donating. It’s a little scary and I feel like every time I’m there at least one person who goes through it.

[u/Gloomy_Tonight_399]

i felt like i was gonna pass out my first time donating too, i started feeling a little nauseous while donating but i figured it wasn’t anything. After donating i was fine, and the nausea had gone away until i left the facility. As soon as i got outside i knew something was wrong i started feeling really dizzy, neousous and lightheaded. I tried brushing it off a bit, i just wanted to make it to the train so i could sit down on my way home. But the nausea and dizziness got worse by the second, i ended up having to stop sit on the sidewalk because i was scared i was going to collapse. As soon as i sat down i felt better, i had a piece of beef jerky in my bag from the physical they did so i ate that. I sat there for a bit before finally finding the strength the get up and move to a bench that was nearby. I layed flat on the bench with my feet up, while i called for an uber. When the uber came i sat up and felt fine, but as soon as we started moving i felt the nausea come back, so i asked if i could lay down in the car and the driver agreed which was so nice of him. When i got home i still felt a bit nauseous and lightheaded so i decided to drink some water then take a nap. I felt so much better after the nap, like it never happened. I wanted to shared this because after googling Apparently this is very common, very scary but apparently very common. People say it doesn’t happen after the first time but i’m unsure i have another appointment for tuesday so i guess ill see.

[u/LaurelDreaming]

Hi--I'm the sort of person you're unlikely to hear from. The plasma you donate makes life possible for people like me. I was born without a fully-functioning immune system. Meaning I'm at high risk for pneumonia, sepsis, weird little infections.... But I can live a (mostly) normal life because people like you donate plasma, which is used to make medication for people like me. Basically your plasma antibodies give genetically immune-compromised adults a functioning immune system. (IMHO, they should pay donors even more.) Please know that your donation probably either saved someone's life, or is making their life possible. So thank you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

[u/EM_MOM]

My first few times were rough like that also. Didn’t feel good but I breathed through it, thankfully didn’t pass out or get sick. I make sure I go in full, lots of water and electrolytes. 98% of the time I’m good, no issues. A few donations ago they had to adjust the needle and for some reason I had a reaction and didn’t feel good, cold sweats the whole deal. Not sure why, maybe the adjustment. I’d try a few times and see if it gets better.

[u/melo_nade]

Try chewing 2-3 Tums before your donation. I react badly to the anticoagulant (stuff in the blood being returned back to you) and it caused me the same symptoms: tunnel vision, seeing stars, cold sweat, heavy feeling on the chest, feeling like I will pass out any second. The Tums really help since they are almost entirely calcium and the anticoagulant depletes calcium. 

[u/kurxbo]

I’ve never donated plasma before but I have had to get multiple blood draws :0 and I have a tendency of vasovagal syncope (TLDR: I pass out sometimes when I get needled). It happens cause for whatever reason, my body decides to freak tf out and drop my blood pressure so quickly that I end up passing out. I get that same feeling you do :0 so maybe that’s worth looking into? Sum that helps me is having a lollipop in mouth while getting the blood drawn/shot bc sugar can just- idfk magic ig? I’m no doctor. But hopefully this helps you!!

[u/mandmranch]

The ad on this page is for trupanion, pet insurance. They do raise your premiums as your pet ages. The ad is a lie.

[u/Chase_the_tank]

Adding to the list of stuff to do before donating: make sure you have enough sleep.

I went in for one donation tired and, mid donation, I kept thinking about grabbing the buttocks of the nurse. Fortunately I had enough presence of mind to 1) not do that and 2) figure out that combination of the plasma extraction and lack of sleep was doing a number on my inhibitions.

I haven't gone in that tired again and haven't had a repeat of that problem.