I made a platelet donation (apheresis) at the Red Cross this afternoon. BP 122/80. I walked there from work and back to the bus stop afterwards, so I got some exercise in the process.
Apheresis
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Tag Archives: apheresis
Back at apheresis
I made another platelet donation at the Minneapolis Red Cross today, for the first time since May. They went back to the vein I have used for 35 years of blood donations (almost exactly–I first donated at Stanford in the summer of 1973) and were able to complete the procedure. In fact, I was able to donate two units. There was some trouble with the needle at the beginning and the end, but it was mostly painless and I managed to nap for an hour in the middle of it.
Another ice pack
For the second time in 48 hours I am wearing an ice pack. The nurse at the Red Cross decided to try a different vein for apheresis (platelet donation). It did not work. Two other nurses tried to adjust it. No joy. In fact, considerable pain. They had to unplug me.
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Progress on various fronts
Apheresis by the Bridge
Despite my management’s best efforts….
My blood pressure is still OK. I had an apheresis (platelet donation) appointment this afternoon at the Red Cross, and as part of the procedure they checked my BP: 112/76.
It was a particularly good experience. We in colgaffneyis are all worried about our friend M, who has been in the hospital for a week and will be going to the Mayo Clinic tomorrow. And there is nothing we can do to help her. At least this way I could help somebody.
Not that I did anything heroic in the process. They stuck the needle in my arm, and I just dozed off for two hours while they extracted the platelets.
Doing good in my sleep
I made another platelet donation (apheresis) at the Minneapolis Red Cross this morning. The procedure takes about two hours, and I ended up taking a nap during more than half of it. By Friday I am usually short of sleep, so this is not surprising.
Apheresis
At the Minneapolis Red Cross finishing an Apheresis (platelet donation) session. My right arm is completely immobilized for the procedure, but I can use the left. The Red Cross has wifi and I have my Nokia 770. It is enough.
Apheresis
Just finished another apheresis (platelet donation) session at the Minneapolis Red Cross. It is nice to be able to lie back and doze off for a couple hours, knowing that it is actually doing some good for the world.
As part of the procedure they took my blood pressure. It was 122/74. A pleasant surprise. I expected much worse after all the recent stress at work.
A nice convenience
I discovered that the Minneapolis Red Cross has wi-fi access. So when I went there this afternoon for apheresis (platelet donation) I was able to get to the web using my Nokia 770. Apheresis means being immobilized and unable to move one arm for two hours, so it is nice to have another option for passing the time.
From Hilbert Space to Dilbert Space, and beyond 