Blood clotting during blood donation?!
Question: I tried to donate blood, but it was clotting and wouldn't come out. I've never had this before. Lately I've eaten more lettuce and taken calcium supplements. Does anyone know about this and is it dangerous that it wouldn't come out during donation- thanks
Answers: I tried to donate blood, but it was clotting and wouldn't come out. I've never had this before. Lately I've eaten more lettuce and taken calcium supplements. Does anyone know about this and is it dangerous that it wouldn't come out during donation- thanks
Personally, I do not think that your blood was "clotting"...
I think they had the needle in a valve...
Veins have little valves in them to prevent backflow... remember the job of the vein is to push the blood back to the heart... the valves clamp down sometimes to keep it from going back the wrong direction.
Anything can cause the valves to close... just having a needle in one is enough... also being nervous or cold may do it. When your valves do clamp down, the blood will flow very, very slowly or even stop flowing all together.
Once this had happened to me... It also hurt alot... and took about an hour and a half for me to complete the donation which should have only taken 20 minutes.
Next time try drinking more water before you go... and relax!!! If you tense up, so do your veins.
Good Luck to you,
Nurse Angie