My wife Teresa, who has been terrified of needles her whole life, decided to give blood yesterday. I went with her and provided moral support the whole time but it was her decision and she got through it like a pro.
It's a casual thing for a lot of people -- like me, for example -- but I know how much this cost her to do and I am incredibly proud of her.
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
She has overcome something I have been unable to overcome yet.
Posted by Synesthesia (Member # 4774) on :
Go her! That is mega brave!
Posted by Dagonee (Member # 5818) on :
Posted by jexx (Member # 3450) on :
Kudos to Mrs. Bridges!
Last time I gave blood (my first time in many years), I passed out right at the very end so they couldn't use it for actual patients (but they assured me it could be used for research, etc).
I'm very proud of anyone who overcomes such a fear. My hugemongous (6 foot, 250 lb) little brother passes out at the sight of needles. So tell Teresa that she is braver than a knight! (he's a tournament fighter)
Posted by Storm Saxon (Member # 3101) on :
Way cool.
Posted by Goody Scrivener (Member # 6742) on :
Congrats to Teresa!!!
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
Very cool. What porter said.
Posted by Leonide (Member # 4157) on :
More power to your wife, Chris!
I was absolutely fine with needles all my life, until I went to the hospital for a scan a few months back and had to get an IV. I don't know whether it was the nurse's fault since she couldn't get the needle in my left arm after poking around for a while, so she had to switch, (which worried me,) or just a sudden anxiety attack.... I almost passed out and then proceeded to throw up. Since I've never had any problem with needles (and had an IV earlier last year for my wisdom teeth extraction) i feel like there must have been *something* the nurse did wrong... my dad says there is a needle-allergy condition...hmm..
that being said, i want to go give blood, but i'm worried about a reoccurrence. At least i don't have a life-long fear like Teresa!
Posted by Vadon (Member # 4561) on :
I'm a weirdo, I like needles, a bit of pain... it's quite a contradiction but a little pain feels good.
Problem with me is that I stop bleeding if they poke me... I need poked in three different veins just to get one bag filled.
But congrats, that's quite a feat!
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
Chris, I have been suffering with the guilt of the non-giving of blood for years. Now, as soon as I feel up to it, I am going to give blood every chance it is safe for me to do so. I had so many needles poked into me, so many times a day, that I am over my fear. I understand Teresa's terror, and her courage.
Go Teresa!
[ January 09, 2005, 11:50 PM: Message edited by: Elizabeth ]
Posted by BotaLadyG (Member # 7053) on :
Congrats to your wife....
I always had a huge fear of needles too, but the funny thing is that when I got pregnant with my first daughter the whole needle thing became moot...
seeing as how you have to give blood for this test and that test...
Posted by Anna (Member # 2582) on :
Go Teresa, go ! I used to be terrified by needles too. Now that I give my blood and my plasma and my plaquettes, I'm sort of used to, even if I hate that. I guess that could help one day or another.
Posted by Lady Jane (Member # 7249) on :
That's really cool, Chris. I am currently too freaked out to give blood because the last two times I did, they either never found the vein after five minutes of digging, or else I have too little blood and the bag didn't fill up completely so they had to toss it.
Tell her congratulations! Posted by dabbler (Member # 6443) on :
Wooh! Congrats to her.
I'm also a stress-case when I give blood. My success/failure is something like 5 versus 3. Much better now that I go to the actual blood center instead of the gymnasium set-ups.
I've been meaning to go, but last semester I was doing so much lub-dub training I was afraid of losing practice days. And right now I have a very sore throat. So as soon as I'm healthy, I'll troop on over. And chatter incessantly with the nurse trying to forget about that large large needle poking me.
Posted by ludosti (Member # 1772) on :
Congrats to her!!!
I've never been terribly fond of having blood taken. Up until a couple years ago, it was always really difficult for them to get a vein. Now that the process is easier for me enough that I'd actually want to donate, I can't - since I lived in Europe they won't take my blood. Posted by Mrs.M (Member # 2943) on :
That is awesome. I'll think of her when I'm doing my injections in a couple of weeks.
Posted by Belle (Member # 2314) on :
I am also proud of her - I understand it completely. When I was 18 I had to have a shot and I hyperventilated. My phobia about needles was extremely severe.
Then, when I decided to get married, I had to have a blood test at the county health department. I went in, bared my arm, and told myself that I was about to be an adult, married woman and I had to get past this.
Sitting still and not getting upset was one of the hardest things I ever did! But, like Teresa, I got through it, and I've been able to tolerate needles reasonably well ever since.
Congrats to Teresa - she shouldn't only be applauded for overcoming a very tough fear to overcome, but she did it for the sake of others.
Posted by sarcasticmuppet (Member # 5035) on :
I was really nervous the first time I was going to give blood (I had just turned 17--the minimum age), and was trying really hard not to cry when they put the needle in. My RA was holding my hand the whole time, and after a minute or two after they stuck me I remember saying, "hey, this isn't so bad."
My RA said, "Well, you're not feeling anything. They had to take the needle out."
>.<
My dad told me about how he has elusive veins that are kind of off to the side instead of right in the middle of his arm. They needed two different needlepokers on both arms to try and put the thing in me, only to find that no blood came out when they finally managed it. So it seems that unless my people were particularly inept, I have the same tendency as my dad.
[ January 10, 2005, 01:34 PM: Message edited by: sarcasticmuppet ]
Posted by Chris Bridges (Member # 1138) on :
After two pregnancies and assorted health problems, Teres is no stranger to needles. Doesn't change the fact that she gets cold sweats as soon as the nurse comes towards her. It also doesn't help that she has teeny veins that always result in a gaggle of nurses huddling around her, trying to find or create one.
She seemed OK with it afterwards and will probably do it again. It didn't hurt that it was at a bloodmobile in front of Chik-Fil-A and by donating she got free breakfast coupons Also I brought lunch and dinner Saturday and let her build up her strength. Positive conditioning is a powerful thing.
Posted by Brian J. Hill (Member # 5346) on :
I've been a "problem donor" ever since I was 17. It seems my veins don't exist in either arm, so they have to poke around with a needle until they happen to hit something that bleeds. Then my blood clots before the bag gets filled, so they have to coax the blood out. I imagine it's quite humorous to see three nurses in white coats surrounding my blood donation chair cheering on my blood donation to finish within 18 minutes so they can use it. "Come on, blood, you can do it! Just a few more millilitres to go!" and "Push it out, push it out, waaaay out!" aren't phrases often heard at blood drives, but I get it every time. But I do try to go every 56 days or so. I guess that even with all the trouble I don't need it as much as others do.
Anyway, congrats to Teresa! Posted by Sara Sasse (Member # 6804) on :
What a brave soul!
We have a lifetime of growth open to us. Posted by Trisha the Severe Hottie (Member # 6000) on :
Way to go. I know they have really been seeking donations. I can't because I lived in Europe too long. Even though I was a vegetarian for much of the time I was there.
Posted by Ryuko (Member # 5125) on :
I remember how good it felt the first time I got to give blood. I was like! WHOA! I'm a blood-giving machine! Sure you don't want a few more pints?
But I'm sure your wife wasn't like that, which makes it a hundred times better. Congrats Mrs. Bridges!!
Posted by Teshi (Member # 5024) on :
Cool .
I'm also under the "can't because I lived in Europe" category .
Posted by DocCoyote (Member # 5612) on :
Many congrats to your fine woman! I'm can pretty much donate the way a soda machine dispenses Cokes, but I'm always left in awe of the people who come in to donate, shaking and wondering just what the heck they're doing in that little motor home with extra recliners. Next thing you know, they're sipping on the little juice cups. Getting past the first few times is so inspiring.
I got lucky as a kid. My mom was a Med Tech who drew blood for a living. I was raised with the understanding that as soon as I hit 110lbs I WOULD be donating. Kinda makes it easy to make the ?choice?.
I'll buy her lunch when she marks her first gallon!
Lisa
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
Good for Teresa! *applauds* And Chris, good for you for being so supportive. Posted by Chris Bridges (Member # 1138) on :
Doc - I'm the same way. Never a problem, no dizziness, nothin'. But one of the first times I donated I went with my boss at the time, who was a big muscular guy, and he passed out the second he stood up afterwards. Ya just never know...
Posted by dread pirate romany (Member # 6869) on :
Go Teresa!!
I haven't gotten over that fear yet either, though I hope to someday.
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