Blood Spatter

So after the drama of doing the high blood pressure monitoring thingummy on Monday and Tuesday, on Wednesday, I had an appointment to donate blood... for the needy, well, for the bleeding I suppose.

I beat a hasty retreat from work and travelled, in my own time and using my own fuel, to the destination.  I had an appointment booked, I arrived 10 minutes early. 

Twenty minutes later, when I was still sitting there, after negotiating the poorly signed system they had going on, I could feel myself getting wound up.  Despite my negotiations with myself, the fact remains that years ago, blood donors over here were encouraged to make an appointment to donate, rather than wait for over an hour, as I have done, to donate, out of the good of our hearts for no more reward than a coffee or a weak cordial and a biscuit.

And so, I was there early by 10 minutes and 10 minutes after my appointment time, I was still waiting and feeling agitated.  Shortly afterwards, my name was called, ran through the usual, name, d.o.b. address, last time I gave blood.  Minutes later, I was laying down on a bed.

I rolled up shirt sleeve and looked away, I'm not squeamish but I prefer not to watch the needle going in.  Male nurse did a great job, hardly felt a thing.  Then I heard, "sorry, some splash back and there is some blood on your top."  I looked down and to the left and there were four drops of blood on my shirt.

Reassured the nurse it was fine as I dabbed with a wet wipe, but this has never happened before, is it because I was worked up at my appointment running late?  Is my BP really high?

Bearing in mind that the alarm used to sound a couple of years ago because I was so slow at donating, (you have to give your donation within 15 minutes or they can't use it, and I always struggled to complete on time,) today, I'm at 4.something minutes, while I am a bit glad, I am a bit worried.

Another nurse arrives to extract needle, make sure that I stop bleeding and sit me up before I head for my coffee.

8 minutes and 4 nurses later and my arm has just about stopped bleeding.  This is not normal.  I have to get this under control.  I don't mention my BP and when the head nurse is satisfied that I won't bleed to death in my sleep, I head for a coffee.

I get home, take off the tape across my arm and hit the shower.  I need to gain control of my body, I need to work at relaxation.  This is ridiculous.