[NinjaPoodle]

Originally Posted by Jen

Bumping this up because I recently donated platelets for the first time (I've had low iron sometimes and been deferred from whole blood, so this was suggested to me because of that and the fact I'm CMV negative).

The platelet donation is way different from blood donation. They take out some blood, spin it around a centrifuge, then give it back to you mixed with blood thinner. The "giving back" part was really weird ... I got shivery (despite the blankets and numerous hot water bottles they give you), and felt a weird almost burning feeling in my arm on the return. It took me NINETY minutes to donate lol. Apparently I was a bit of a slow poke. That wasn't fun for my back, I can tell you that.

I felt really weird afterward too ... and here I was thinking it'd be easier than whole blood because I wasn't losing red blood cells. I find donating whole blood a lot easier for me, so I'm not sure which program I'll stick to.

But the snack table is win in both places, so it's all good lol.

That's the one thing I don't miss about donating platelets.