Platelet Donation Via Apheresis (Plateletpheresis)

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Platelet Donation Via Apheresis (Plateletpheresis)

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Stats:
Pulse rate: 76
BP: 94/64
Temperature: 98.7 F
HCT: 38

Monday, February 20, 2006
A little over a month after my last plasma donation, I was sitting there watching the first season of Lost on DVD back to back on a Sunday night and the phone rang. Now, normally when we are watching a movie we won't answer but, Marc told me it was United Blood Services on caller ID so of course I picked up. A really nice lady named Nadine asked if I would be interested in "another type of donation." I said of course without knowing what it is since I know they don't call for kidneys or anything. She mentioned platelet donation and I said I was going to call that upcoming week to donate anyway and that I was going to do it before but the center I went to only handled whole blood and plasma. She was glad to hear it as she told me I had an exceptional platelet count Cool! She said I had about 100,000 MORE than the average low. I was at 269,000 per unit when I gave last time. So I made an appointment for the following Thursday for myself and handed the phone to Marc for his whole blood donation appointment.

She told me to let her know if anything changes whatsoever, and gave me her direct number, so I am wondering if they are depending upon it for something specifically? Whatever the case, no alcohol, no aspirin or Ibuprofen and now anything but Tylenol until two days after my donation. I had been taking Viactiv 500 Calcium+D+K chews every day so I stopped, as instructed, as she wanted to be sure it would not affect me until they got further information. I will ask them when I get there if I can continue taking it next time. I did continue to increase my calcium only, however, as is instructed when giving platelets. I started drinking more water to help my veins be more resilient and palpable. of course that made it so I had to go to the bathroom every 20 minutes. I rarely drink much fluid at all, unfortunately.

As I said, I had originally intended to donate platelets last month but the facility could not accommodate me. Nonetheless, I would get my chance now. Platelets are needed by those with leukemia and others who cannot produce enough of their own. Those who undergo a bone marrow transplant may need a transfusion every day of donated platelets in order to survive and not bleed out. My unit could help save someone's life.

Thursday February 23, 2006
I made sure to eat before I left, as instructed. I had a can of tuna and half an apple with a bottle of water. Marc and I arrived on time and signed in. This facility was nicer, it had a bunch of cool pheresis machines in the middle of the room in an oval. I call this the "blood pit." They soon took me into an office to perform my pre-interview. The interview was the same as the last one, do I have HIV, have I slept with anyone for drugs, have I been to Africa, etc., etc. I guess it is a necessary step they must take and have to ask you every time. However, I was told if after my 4th donation I would get the shortened version.

I got my finger pricked again for the hematocrit test (HCT) like I did for plasma and it barely stung. The phlebotomist, Mark, pricked the side of my finger instead so it was less likely to hurt and impact me the rest of the day with normal use of my fingers. I was at 38, the lowest I could be to donate. I was at 42 last time. I need to up my protein and green leafy veggies I think.

I signed some papers, picked out a movie, my favorite, 'The Princess Bride!' grabbed my book and waited to be hooked up to the machine. In the meantime, my Marc was finished with his interview and was about to give 2 unites of whole blood via pheresis and would have a few returns. His blood was going to be separated into its components: RBC, WBC, plasma, platelets and cryoprecipitation. Because of his weight he was able to give 2 units. He got hooked up before I did and I could see him on the other side of the blood pit. He seemed to be doing fine. I took a picture of him for his journal and then he relaxed and listened to his iPod during his procedure.

I went to the restroom two times while waiting (darn water!) because I did not want to be uncomfortable during the procedure. I was eventually brought over to my machine and hooked up. They couldn't use my left arm AGAIN! So they used my right arm, ugh. I got to squeeze a cute little duck this time. Far better than the old red ball at the other facility. The machine was cooler too, it was all computerized and had a monitor to let you know if you were withdrawing or returning, at what level of platelets were collected, the time you had been hooked up to the machine and the time you had left. Also, it had a meter that let you know if your withdrawal pressure was adequate. Mine went to low and stopped at least 25 times and they had to keep resetting me. It was going to take 73 minutes total at my set flow rate to donate a full unit of platelets.

My withdrawal pressure kept dropping and stopping so he put an electric heat pad on my arm to keep the veins from constricting from the cold. it helped a bit but occasionally still occurred. At one point I felt that my vein was getting really hot. So I peaked under the pad and saw that my gauze square had shifted and the heating pad only had a thin barrier sheet separating it from the needle. The needle was heating up nice and uncomfortably hot. I called Mark over and explained to him what happened and he lifted up the pad so I could lay the gauze back across the needle. Ahh much better!

I watched my movie with my headphones on and concentrated on squeezing the duck every 3-5 seconds during withdrawals. I could stop during the return. I could feel when it was returning, like a burning sensation, so I didn't have to pay too much attention for that part. After the return my lips would tingle and I was given some Tums with calcium. I was also given a blanket because I soon got cold. 73 minutes later and I was good to go. The machine started on a "blood rinse return" cycle after the unit of platelets were collected and automatically shut off when it was finished completely. The photo to the right was after I was finished with the withdrawals completely, as you can see the platelet target amount is full.

my platelets!

Now it was cookie time! *I did it all for the cookies, the cookies...* I gathered my belongings and met Marc in the refreshment, recovery area. I chose two large, soft oatmeal raison cookies, two Oreos, an orange juice (5.5 oz) and a grape juice (5.5 oz). I liked the grape juice so much I took another for the road. I was so thirsty, but I felt like I was freezing! I had my jacket on and sat there shaking for a bit, then I was fine. Marc was even cold and had his jacket on. I finished my snacks, went to the bathroom one more darn time and then we left. It was so much warmer outside, it was lovely.

This time they are going to send us two $50. off vouchers for a cabin at Mt Charleston and 2 tickets each to see Gordie Brown at the Golden Nugget. Let's hope the show is good. But I am thankful for the free tickets anyway :) The last show tickets were to see Bite at the Stratosphere and was worth seeing.

So we left and we went and ate pizza a few hours later and decided to sit at home and watch TV all night. We both felt very tired but very good about our donations!

How Often Can You Donate Platelets
Donating platelets and plasma is easier on your body than donating whole blood because they give you back your red and white blood cells. You can donate whole blood every 8 weeks, plasma about every 28 days, platelets every 2 to 3 days but only up to 24 times per year. They said that I could donate again in two weeks since I just gave platelets. However since Marc gave a double unit of whole blood he can't donate again for 4 whole months.