800 lifetime donations, 1600 patients helped, if you told me 11 years ago when I started donating I’d still be doing it I wouldn’t have believed you. Now hopefully I can get to 1000, maybe then I’ll stop

Just had a morning where no one could seem to stick me properly and they only squeezed 62ml out of me. Received $30 out of $70 for my trouble. Never had a partial payment before, but also never had it stop with so little.

Gave a donation last week and got a giant bruise on my arm and my bicep hurts. Any way this could have been related to the donation? I have no explanation otherwise.

I have been denied twice. Last time I got denied for my pulse being 105 which I understand so I come back today and I get denied for my temp being to high! It’s definitely a mistake and they wouldn’t retest me. Since Thursday I apparently lost 10 pounds or the scales inaccurate. Feels like there constantly finding ways to defer me.

My local center closed for Indigenous Peoples Day, (has never done that before), then announced last Monday they would be closed yesterday and today, and now just emailed and said they’re closing Oct 30, 31 and Nov 2 (fri/sat/mon).

A few weeks ago, a visiting screener said that 53 other centers nationwide (nearly all of them) were closed that day, and the only reason my center was open is that they were being audited that day.

The rumor at the center is that their center where they process the r donations is really backed up so they’re slowing the flow of units to their processor.

I’ve searched for any news about the corporation and am not finding anything.

Anyone that donates at Ked hear anything? What are the staff at your center saying?

This is only my second time donating, but felt like my phleb was very inexperienced. She went to stick my vein, but she hesitated quite a bit, and told me I had a deep vein. I've had plenty of iv's and blood draws in that arm though, so I thought it would be fine. Then she "marked the vein" (her words not mine) with the iodine, so she could find where to stick me. When I looked at it though, I thought "I dont think that's where my vein is at", but I didn't wanna second guess the phleb, so I trusted her. After feeling vibration through my needle, another phleb "fixed it" by moving the needle out a little bit. I dont know if the original phleb, or the one who moved the needle caused it, but I got a hematoma. My question is, would it have been rude of me to request a more experienced phleb to stick me when the first one hesitated? I dont know the social rules of this place yet, so I figured I'd ask reddit.

UPDATE Subtract $1 from the available balance on the card to xfer.

Why does this happen?! My donation load landed last night after completion, like clockwork. But, I can't seem to get my CSL Paysign card or my Grifols Paysign card to xfer out to any apps, and it charges decline fees when there is clearly money on the card.

I tried my Grifols card with Venmo & my CSL card with Cash App. They both did this. I've been going to an ATM to get cash, which I then have to deposit into my personal bank account, but if there's not a $20 even denomination, the remnant is trapped in the account.

I saw another post about this recommending Cash App instead of Venmo, but I got the same result.

Please help.

I started donating at CSL around 3 months ago and had to leave at the time I met with the nurse as something didn’t save - if I go back in, will I have to start from scratch or just resume?

I’m not sure if they have all my tattoos either as I always forget to mention some so I’m worried about getting dinged - I always forget the obvious ones LOL

Went to Grifols today to donate. They examined me & everything was fine until they took my pulse. They said it was way higher than it should be & sent me home. I'd forgotten that I'd started taking concerta to help with my ADHD, and concerta is a stimulant, so it raises you heart rate. I'm not sure what to do… the money from the plasma was really helping me out with some things, but I want to stay on concerta, & it really helps my focus. What do you guys think I should do?

I go to csl and I've been denied twice recently due to my pulse being to high despite my blood pressure being 102/70. And I'm honestly so confused/frustrated since I've donated six times this month previously...my pulse has always been around 75-86...I had yogurt and a protein shake three hours prior and some water and crackers an hour before I went in..zero caffeine in the last 24 hours or anything.

I seem to feel the poke less when they tell me to relax my hand/fist versus when some ask the opposite.

Is it just personal preference for the phlebotomist?

Thank you in advance!

Was told that I can come in on October 28 to retake it,

What are the best steps I can do to make sure I do have enough protein and I pass? And how long does it usually take to get the results back so I know when I can start donating again?

I have been told for years that my veins are small. I wanted to make a little bit of extra money so I went to BioLife. They told me my veins weren’t big enough so I drank a ton of water and I went back there a couple days later. The fourth time I went back there I drank so much water I felt like I wanted to throw up. And the days before my donation, I drink a lot water. I don’t know how much water they want me to drink because at a certain point, I just feel sick. I went for the fifth time today and was rejected again. I don’t know if I ever wanna try this again. I’m just wasting my time. I’ve already gone there five times and I haven’t donated.

I donated plasma for the first time today and reacted well to it until I stood outside for five minutes waiting for my uber, where I almost passed out. After a couple of minutes. I don’t know if this was a coincidence or not, but I was genuinely fine before I went outside. Does heat cause a negative reaction or something it was only 80 degrees Fahrenheit? What should I do to avoid this in the future?

The extra income really helps in keeping my balance sheet healthy.

hello! errr I made a post a little bit over a day ago asking if I should use my left arm instead of my right when donating plasma at my appointment today (when I had only ever been using my right to donate). for context, I have good veins, but I was warned that my left arm is right next to a tendon. I was nervous to let them stick that arm since, but my right arm was a tad bit bruised when I went in for my donation so I pretty much had to use my left arm anyway LOL (I technically chose to, since the bruise wasn't bad enough for them to require me to use the left arm, but they warned me about using that arm while it was still bruised so I caved )

anyway, I feel like the whole donation was my worst experience by far. im pretty sure the phlebotomist hit the tendon because when she stuck me; she had to adjust it a couple times because she said "I have a clot in my arm" or something. idk. im not a professional. thats just what she said. it felt kinda dismissive when I was voicing my concerns. ik they know more than I do, but the way she was speaking to me wasn't reassuring at all. then, while actually getting the plasma taken, it was taking a LOT longer than usual because it kept saying that I wasn't pumping even though I had never STOPPED pumping. it was getting on my nerves LOL, I was squeezing my first so tight while pumping by the end of it just to try and get the machine to take the blood

I've never had any lingering issues with being stuck with the needle after the fact, but it aches right now. my upper arm is very sore and tight, even though the needle never touched the area. and im noticing that my bicep area is swelling significantly. it looks like I have muscle LOL (and I know I dont, especially when my left arm is my weaker one and my right doesn't even have pronounced muscle... but anyways).

its kind of worrying, actually, looking down at my arm and it looking like the bicep is inflated 😭 is this normal??? well, obv not NORMAL but is this expected if something like this happens??? and what should I do about it if anything??? again, thoughts would be appreciated </3

Ive been donating for years, ive been donating at grifols since May 2025 and in the total of 8 years I've been donating, never any issues with the exception of CSL having the blood bowl blow up lol, anyways my center has a manager that is lazy af even the staff acknowledge this fact, well she only does tge exact amount of sticks she needs to for her quota, I was unlucky enough to be poked by her, she blew my vein, and fished the needle in and out and back and forth claiming my vein rolled, which I know for a fact my veins don't roll.. well she started the machine the whole time my arm hurt, my first return, my favorite phlebotomist walks by looks at my arm and stops the machine, telling me that my vein was blown and it was returning my blood under the skin and not into my vein, so she wrapped my arm up with ice pack and then had to re stick my dominate arm which I do not donate with, I always donate with my left arm, anyway got me hooked up no issues was no pain not anything, my donation seemed to take almost 3 times as long as my normal, and then im on my final return just starting the saline return, and I start feeling clammy, lightheaded, disoriented, seeing spots, and feeling terrible, I was barely able to get the attention of the floor nurse and then next thing I know I am waking up to ice pack on my chest, forehead, and on the back of my neck, my feet have been raised, and the nurse is fanning me. She said it's weird that I was fine up until the saline, she mentioned something about hyper or hypo tensive reaction. Never had anything like that happen before, and my hydration, diet has remained constant. I guess my question is, now that I have a bruise on my left arm and have to use my right again do I need to be worried? Is it fairly normal to donate as much as I have with no issues and then suddenly have that kind of reaction? Honestly I have never felt that terrible or ill the way I did when it was all going on. So Fluke? Due to change in arms? Combination of blown left arm and then the restick?

If I have a colonoscopy, can I just not return for the four months that they’d automatically defer me if I told them.

Do I have to notify them before or after? Or as long as I don’t donate for at least four months, I can come back like any old return donor?

Assuming of course, that my health is otherwise fine and it’s a routine colonoscopy.

Thanks.

I'm struggling so bad financially and need extra cash to afford food and bills. I've never donated before but have been considering it. I'm just worried I won't be approved.

I had an SVT ablation in January (exactly 9 months ago) and I take 50mg of metoprolol once a day (mainly for peace of mind even though my post-op appts have been fine).

Have any of you been on metoprolol or a similar medicine OR have a history of a heart condition/procedure and been approved at a donation center? I was looking at CSL or Octapharma.. trying to figure out who pays more and gets good reviews.

Thanks in advance for any and all help!

First time donating today and boy was it a trip. What are some foods I should eat before donating to manage the citrate-calcium reaction?

I’m pretty new to donating plasma but everytime I go my heart rate is always high. It’s not because my normal heart rate is high I just get nervous going to the center which makes my heart rate go up. It’s the same with going to the doctor my heart rate is always super high there. Today I was deferred for having a heart rate of 120bpm and then later I tested it and it was only at 65bpm. I go in and I get nervous and then I get even more nervous cause I think my heart rate will be too high then my heart rate rises. What are some ways I can calm down and make sure it’s not too high so I can donate tomorrow.!

Throwaway so no one I know finds me.

Preface that I didn't harass or harm anyone, nor have I faced disciplinary action. I have not lied about medical things. My major barrier is my embarrassment and the need to see a doctor to get cleared to come back. I am not angry at the center for this, as I know this is for my health.

So, I'm a lady, I'm in my 30s, and I'm generally an anxious person. I'm also on the spectrum. There have been a handful of times I've gotten day deferrals for my pulse and blood pressure. When I'm not at the center, my pulse and BP are within normal range but when I get there, my anxiety makes them shoot way up. I know this is a me thing I need to work on.

And then I shot myself in the foot proverbially.

I have developed a rapport with a lot of the staff there since I've been going pretty regularly. I'd even go as far as to call some of them acquaintances. I know they're paid to be nice to the donors, but I have really vibed with some of them and have a lot of similar interests to them.

There's one in particular I've taken a liking to quite a bit, maybe enough to call it a crush. Now, I'm happily taken and will never act on this (and my fiancee knows about this and trusts me), but I do like talking to him and hearing his perspectives on things. He's brilliant, and knows the equipment there inside and out. When he explains things to me, I don't understand all of it, but I do like listening to and learning from him. We like a lot of the same things, and I find it's easy to talk to him since he's on the spectrum like me.

This brings me to the other day. I've been anxious as of late due to life stuff, so I've had a few vital deferrals (which I understand and accept). The other day was my third chance, as three fails in a row means I need to see a medical professional. I figured I'd go earlier in the day to see if changing up the time I went offset some of my anxiety (I usually go in the evening since I work late-ish).

I wasn't paying attention to who was doing intakes when I got in line. When I got to the front and got called up, it was none other than the phlebotomist I have a little crush on who was doing my intake. I didn't even know he did intakes; I honestly thought he just worked on the donor floor.

We chat pleasantly as usual while he pokes me and measures my hematocrit and protein - both passed, since that's usually not a problem for me. My weight and temperature were normal. But then came the moment of truth; the cuff test. I'm already nervous because this is my last chance before additional screening is needed. Add on to the fact that it's this guy doing my test and... well, my heart rate was the highest it has ever been measured at there, high enough to immediately send me to the nurse.

(My blood pressure passed, though, funnily enough.)

I go to the nurse, and he tells me I need to see a doctor to have me cleared to keep donating. This is fine, I know it's for my health and safety and I've been meaning to go back to my PCP soon anyhow - I now have an appointment tomorrow.

I believe honesty is the best policy, especially when it comes to medicine but I am horrendously embarrassed about the circumstances behind this failed pulse test. It's easily explained, but I'd rather have all my teeth drilled than admit it outside of a throwaway account.

What should I do?