Drawing Blood . . .

Today I went in to get something checked out at a walk in clinic and they asked me to get some tests done. One was to get a urine sample (seriously, is there anything more embarrassing to announce in a crowded waiting room? Oh yeah there is, when she asked me to collect stool samples over the next few days!) and they also wanted to take some blood. I hadn't planned on giving any blood that day, but I thought I'd better go along with it. Anyway, the student (alarm bells, alarm bells!) told me I had "nice veins" and then proceeded to take out 3 large vials of my precious red stuff. It didn't actually hurt very much but it took him a long time to come back and left me just sitting their waiting. Somehow, I started not feeling right and when I went back to the lab waiting area I was feeling a little queasy and light headed. One of the nurses told me I was looking a little green and asked me if I would like some water. I said yes and put my head between my knees. . .

I actually don't remember that happening. I remember music (the radio?), feelings of peace, and various thoughts about my life and then all of a sudden I heard several voices asking me if I was OK. Then I realized that my eyes were closed and that I was very tired and sluggish. I slowly opened my eyes to find a concerned looking medical team all around me. They had put a pillow behind my head, a cold cloth on my neck, and a "puke" pail beside me. I guess I had passed out.

After a minute or so, I sheepishly convinced them I was OK and they left me with some water and my puke pail to await the next test (an EKG test). In truth, I felt great, like I had just had a very long and relaxing sleep. I felt curious and peppered the nurses with questions. I found out that I had only been unconscious for a few moments, that I had shaken a little (which apparently is common), and that I had been talking to the nurse up until the second I passed out. I wish I could have seen it! I'm not sure why I passed out - I think it had something to do with the unfamiliar feeling of having something foreign stuck into my body. I'm not really afraid of needles.

Anyway, the dream like state I was in seemed different then the previous times I had passed out (over a decade ago) and was what interested me the most. It seemed so . . . nice actually. I had sweet, vivid dreams in those moments but sadly can't remember any of them. I look forward to giving blood again soon! It felt quite therapeutic . . .

May Light increase!