Question for Frequent Blood Donors - - Wierd Reaction

mom2my2cuties wrote: So I did my civic duty and donated blood yesterday which I do every I don't know it's like 6 weeks. Well I have never had a problem aside from the usual bruising that makes me look like I'm a drug addict for a few days.

Well yesterday everthing went perfectly, even my normally rambuncious 2 year old was on her best behavior which should have clued me in that something was going to happen. Well anyway almost immediately after the donation I noticed that about 1 1/2 to 2 inches above and then to the right of the donation site I started having some muscle type of pain. And then by the time we got home, it was so swollen and hard. This morning it's the same way and very warm to the touch.

Has anyone else had this - I am planning on calling the Red Cross center once they open, but i was just curious!

Thanks!


Tish

(Oh and PS - Why didn't you guys tell me I never used my name I thought I had a signature set up. )

C&K*s Mommie replied: You should be able to see your siggy every time you post. Even when you change your siggy, all the posts you made previously will reflect the new change.

Nice to meet you Tish

mom2my2cuties replied: I know - I just hadn't paid that much attention I am a little space cadety sometimes.

punkeemunkee'smom replied: As one who has major problems with just getting bloodwork done it sounds like you have a colapsed vein or an infiltrated one (they punctured the top 2x-think in across and back through the top) anyway I have had it happen and while they are drawing sometimes the suction will keep the vein open but once the needle is removed you get the swelling and pain-call them or your local ER there are some complications they are probably going to want to check for You are very lucky to have good enough blood to donate so often! I have never heard of a woman that can do that!

amymom replied: Thank you for donating. I am glad that you do that for society.

I do not know what it could be but Abbie's explanation sounds like it. Good Luck. Sorry it happened.

mom2my2cuties replied: Thanks Abbie - I thought about that, since I have had that happen A LOT! (Can we say that my phelebotmy class really enjoyed trying to find my hide and seekers in my arms) I have good veins usually - deep, but good. The center just opened so I am off to call them right quick.

Tish

cameragirl21 replied: Hi Tish,
Glad to finally know your name, I felt so rude calling you by your screenname all the time. Anyway, you should definitely get that checked out. I can't give blood because I have asthma and take meds for it which kind of messes up my blood (for donation purposes) but I get blood drawn quite a bit and when there is a reaction like that they take it seriously.
Go back to the place that drew your blood and show them what happened and if you can't get back there, like if it's a mobile blood bank that has moved or something, go to the er.
I doubt it's something to get too alarmed about but it's definitely a sign that something went wrong in the process of the blood draw so why take chances?
Take care and Keep us posted....

mom2my2cuties replied: Well they were no help

I dont have my blood number (the number tagged on the blood donation) so she couldn't check into it fully, but she said it sounds to her like a nerve injury but that I should go see my doctor, however if it's a nerve thing, it will take weeks to heal.

cameragirl21 replied: can you move your arm properly and painlessly? pain is the calling card of a nerve injury, and if there's no pain, then the other calling card is numbness or tingling....
First of all, that is a load of crap (what she said). You were treated by the place when they took your blood and they are responsible for whatever happens to you as a result of that.
If you don't have the tag number then go to the er and when they ask how this happens, tell them the place, location, and give the phone number.
you never know if they're doing something shady and I promise you that if a doc calls this woman, she'll be a lot more helpful and forthcoming in answering his/her questions....
Whatever it is, you do need to have it looked at, something obviously went wrong and the sooner you treat it, the easier and faster the recovery should be.

mom2my2cuties replied: Jennifer -

There is a lot of pain, which is why she thinks it's nerve related. And I understand her reasons for not being able to do much, It's thier regional office - and without that tag number, with just my last name and date of birth, because of hippa they can't really talk much about about the procedure.

When it comes to medical stuff - I am a hippa fanatic - I learned the hard way that you check, double check and triple check who you are dealing with to keep your butt out of the fire.

I will call my doc later - First I gotta get my house Augie proofed and cleaned

cameragirl21 replied: i totally understand about the hippa thing but you were treated there and something went wrong! she can't just dismiss it because you discarded the tag number!
nerve damage can be permanent, at the very least she should ask you to come in, see if you can identify who drew your blood and try to get to the bottom of what happened.
i just hate the attitude--you do something nice for mankind, get hurt and/or injured and the lady tells you to screw off.
that's just not right.
congrats on the new baby btw, since i'm a diehard animal lover and deplore the daily killings of animals in shelters because there aren't enough homes for them all, i have to say that i hope very much that you get Augie fixed, that is another civic duty IMO....
Take care and be well.

mom2my2cuties replied: Oh Augie isn't coming from a shelter - A couple is moving out of the country. His fixed, housebroken etc...

Anyway - They can't see me in thier office - And I wouldn't drive the 2 hours to go be seen in thier office today. You have to call the regional office for donor health questions, And the local place where I had the blood drawn, the only have MA's in thier office, so I would rather just wait until 11 when my doctors office opens Nothing went abhorently wrong, bumping a nerve is a common effect of drawing blood. Most people do it at some point - it's just painful for the recipient. It's even worse in the hands. I have had people jump out of chairs because of it when I would bump thier nerves.

PrairieMom replied: It sounds like a blood clot to me. Called a DVT. they cause swelling, pain and for the area to feel warm. I would call your doc just to be safe.

mom2my2cuties replied: Prarie Mom - Would the blood donation cause that though?? Because this started litteraly 10 minutes at most after I finished my donation. I have never had a reaction like this before so I have never really though much about it.

punkeemunkee'smom replied: Yes it can cause a clot....when your vein narrows after they withdrawl the needle your blood can pool-I had it happen with an IV that was left in overnight...I am surprised they did not cover that in your classes

mom2my2cuties replied: My classes were a while ago - And I missed quite a bit because of Andy and them thinking she had leukemia. I probably missed about 1/2 the class.

punkeemunkee'smom replied: That must have been so scary! I am glad she is OK!

mom2my2cuties replied: Scary - YES! Especially when the doctor calls me at night - and says - I need you to come into the office first thing in the morning, dont bother setting up an appointment - we need to discuss her test results. And he had been such a part of our lives, that even when it was bad news - (i.e - Tish you have to have surgery right away or you will die from the infection eventually) He has never called us in the office for that.

Thankfully turned out she had a REALLY bad case of Cat Scratch Disease...But since they show up similar in the blood, it's hard to tell for a while.

PrairieMom replied: Yes, a blood draw can cause a DVT. I suppose it is more likely when drawing arterial blood vs. venous blood, but it is still possible.