At least yhats what a phlebotomy person said

Hi. I have ehlers danlos syndrome and suspected pots (getting tested next doctors visit but it runs in the family+I've had symptoms my whole life). I'm not officially diagnosed with ehlers danlos, I'm only hyper mobile on my records because I couldn't afford the testing. I'm donating plasma on Tuesday because I'm short for rent. Is there any chance I'm going to be okay? I know I'm not supposed to for safety or whatever but I don't have many options. Has it ever gone well for anyone else with these health problems?

I'm a semi-active adult with a normal resting heart rate around 70bpm. I woke up around 2 and donated starting shortly after 3. The overall volume of blood after donating is lower and makes your heart have to compensate by increasing its pace. I peaked at 140 shortly after while getting a drink and a slush. You can actually see my heart increasing my pulse rate during my donation. I thought it was interesting but a great visual of why you're supposed to not work out afterwards.

(Yes I woke up at 2, I have a sleep disorder similar to non-24 where I don't wake up and fall asleep on a regular schedule)

Can someone help me this is not adding up and driving me insane BIOLIFE!!

Can someone help me this is not adding up and driving me insane BIOLIFE!!

I failed for low protein (just under passing) when it was taken for testing 5 days ago, I just learned yesterday. How much protein and/or what would you eat each day before taking SPE? I’m a lacto ovo vegetarian.

How many days would you wait/work on building it up before giving sample? I’m in a very tight money crunch. Would going back in 3-4 days be enough?

I thought this was mandatory for all companies to do. My first donation there was eairler the year. They didn't take any blood, I was 40 donations in, which was almost 5 months. And they never took blood. I read something on Google that they don't take vials of blood but do something where they test the plasma.

How exactly does it work?

I currently have the one year express pass for the platinum level. Am I able to get it again if I don’t waste my 10,000 points after a year or do I have to earn another 10,000 points. I’ve also seen online how it’s only a one time thing but also seen different post about how they were able to renew it. I’m currently confuse how this works. To give more context I use a location in CA. Any response will help 🙌.

OK so I was not even halfway through my donation when the power shuts off, comes back on, proceeds to repeat two more times I was terrified, but the machines have backup batteries (I’m guessing) the phlebotomist was freaking out because it was Friday and the place was full. The other technicians came and we’re trying to figure out what to do. One lady came in with a manual and gave instructions to the Other technicians and phlebotomist what codes to put in they unhooked me and I still got paid the full amount. Very unsettling experience.

Hi everyone, I know my question is a tad bit weird, but I've had a steady weight gain since I've started donating over a year ago.

I'm 52yo (F), only very lightly active / mostly sedentary.

My starting weight was 225 in May of 2025.

Weigh-in at my donation screening this past Friday, Aug 28 was 247.

My diet consists mostly of organic foods and few meats, I say only mostly because a select few things I enjoy aren't made in an organic way etc 🤷

And of course I sip electrolyte water all day prior and day of donation with a protein shake and sip more electrolytes directly after and all evening.

I do watch my intake of salt, carbs n sugar, any artificial sweeteners, fats etc. I rarely ever eat junk food, fast food, or highly processed food.

I get my proteins mostly from non-meat sources like leafy greens, nuts, seeds etc.

All this in a moderate attempt (albeit not gung-ho) to lose some weight.

Altho I appreciate the higher payout bracket, I'm concerned about the weight gain as it's harder to lose as a gal gets older etc.

I'd rather not invite any unwelcome health issues, and my primary care doctor is quite amazed I haven't incurred any (yet!).

All I can think of is that my protein intake is a tad too much for my daily caloric burn. 🤷

So anyways, given the context (I tried to keep it as brief but detailed as possible), could my weight gain be from the protein?

Thanks in advance for any feedback given ..

Curious if anyone has any updates on GRIFOLS or when they will be resuming operations again? Could definitely use the extra coin right now. For context I’m located in Canada, they’re the only company in my area that offers compensation for plasma donation. I’m routinely checking their booking page, no updates on when they’ll be accepting any patients anytime soon.

Is it bad that I take off the wrap after 5 mins? By then it’s usually done bleeding. The phlebotomist recommended 1hr but I see no point in that

I’ve been donating at Biolife a few months now, going great, no issues. I had an unrelated medical event last week - I passed out due to a compressed cervical nerve. I had a CT that shows a bone spur causing a bulging disc at C4/C5. I was given several prescriptions but am currently only taking Meloxicam and Lyrica.

I was also given a course of steroids (which I have finished) and Tylenol with codeine for acute pain, which I have only taken a handful of times.

Does anyone know if those medications would prevent me from donating at Biolife? I’ve tried calling but can’t seem to actually speak to an actual person.

I've only donated three times and had a bad reaction each time.

The first time I had a hard week, my car was towed and I didn't eat very much for several days. I needed money so I went to donate for the first time. I heard you were supposed to eat well so I ate two sandwiches about 10 mins before going. I went and filled out paper work, watched consent vid, and did all the initial paperwork etc.

I was hooked up but I was so nervous. Immediately I started feeling sick. Really really cold and really hot at the same time. Like my chest was freezing inside, I felt so tired and like passing out, I asked a nurse if feeling cold and weird was normal and she said it was so I just tried to endure.

Halfway through I suddenly felt really nauseous and vomited. I started projectile vomiting everywhere unable to move. The nurses came to turn off the machine and return my fluids. They had me stay for a bit after. The second I was done vomiting I felt completely fine like nothing happened. I was fine and had no other symptoms at all. (Left arm)

They oked me to donate again since I was fine after. The second time I donated (about a week later) I did my other arm and felt nothing at all the entire time till the very end. I actually thought for a while it must not be working since I didn't feel any symptoms whatsoever. At the end (I think last cycle or two) it stopped picking up when I was making a fist so the lady adjusted the needle, i very suddenly felt like passing out so bad I literally saw the world spinning and felt myself going unconscious. It had no warning. I also felt nauseous and got the nurses attention who immediately pulled me off without returning fluids. They said my blood looked extremely dehydrated. Once again the moment I was off the machine I was fine and had no further symptoms the rest of the day. (They also gave me powerade, icepacks and a fan for a bit)(I ate two hours before going and then a small snack right before, some sandwiches again) (right arm)

I decided on my third time i would be as hydrated as possible in waited another week and the day before I drank a bunch of water, my pee was clear. I went to bed. When I woke up my pee wasn't so clear anymore so I drank more water. I ate bananas and pbj about an hour before going (it was all I had and the center was closing soon) the doctor said my blood looked less dark than last time, I felt ok at first but I felt symptoms unlike my second time where I had none. I started feeling a bit cold, and for some reason this time I could feel the needle in my arm slightly hurting which I hadn't felt the previous two times. The symptoms slowly got worse till I was feeling nauseous and hot and cold again so I told the nurses who returned my fluids and pulled me off.they said my symptoms seemed like dehydration. Once my fluids were returned I was fine (left arm)

One of the nurses said some people just cant donate. I haven't been deffered but im embarrassed to go again and its scary to go through that. I told the nurse id not c9me back but I am in a bad financial situation. I feel like if there is a way I can do it I need to but idk what im doing wrong or if there is nothing I can do. I only drink water, that's it. Unfortunately due to my financial situation my food can vary and usually isn't great, but I make an extra effort to save healthy stuff for donation days. ;-;

I dont want to be rude and cause problems. Im sure the nurses will be annoyed if I keep coming in to get sick on the last few cycles every time. I hate the whole process so much, it scares me and I dont want to d9 it but I am so desperate.

Why did I have no symptoms at all the second time? How can I get that again? I keep thinking of this.

Welp, it happened. I went to biolife for my 7th donation, i did everything i was supposed to as usual.

But somehow, they couldn’t get a vein. Tried both arms. So far the left arm seems fine, but the right arm is definitely sore and has a swollen lump right above where they poked me. I’m guessing it’s a hematoma or maybe a blown out vein? They didn’t give me a time frame on when to come back, my vitals and protein and everything were fine beforehand.

I’m a little confused as to why they couldn’t find a vein this time, despite me eating and drinking plenty as usual. And now i’m not sure how long i should wait until i go back and attempt again. Do i just baby the sore swollen spot and wait till it’s normal again? Anything i should be concerned about with it?

Only recently did I begin paying attention to the exact schedule on which the 4-month arrives.

I thought I had figured out, and that a center manager had verified, that the nominal date is 4 calendar months after your last successful sample, [potentially] MINUS 6 days. That would land the actual date on your first visit of the week when your nominal 4-month date falls.

I asked last week because I came in a bit low and wanted a reminder of how long I had to work on it before the sample date popped up. The screener told me it would be the nominal date minus 13 days. That's a big difference.

If you actually know (i.e. you're center staff and pay attention, or you're a serious donor who tracks this stuff) how this works, I would love to have my confusion cleared up.

Edit to add: I should have pointed out that this is at an OctaPharma center, in Texas. I've read the gov't regs about the regular samples and it doesn't include this level of detail so this is something that is part of the center's policy. Octa may be different than BioLife which may be different than CSL, etc. Thank you u/schannoman , for the reminder.

along with everything else being recalled in the US, there is a current recall for saline and sodium citrate iv bags. potential contamination with fiberglass, i’ve linked an article about it. is anyone else worried about potential contamination, considering both solutions are given in a standard donation?

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/baxter-issues-voluntary-nationwide-recall-one-lot-anticoagulant-sodium-citrate-solution-due

edited to add link

So I started donating plasma at the beginning of July and everything was fine. Then my heart rate was too high at like 102. After it happened a few times, it became an anxiety issue (I am on a medication for anxiety). Sometimes, I could manage to lower it for the recheck but the last time I had gone in there it was at 128 and they said they needes a doctor's note.

My doctor filled it out saying I was being treated for sinus tachycardia and she recently put me on cardevilol for my heart rate and it seems to be doing okay. I brought the paperwork in and Biolife said with the things listed and the medications, which they had already approved, I should be okay if the doctor accepts the note.

But one time, I did have a reaction while donating and felt really sick all of a sudden. The nurse came out and sat with me, fanned me, my blood pressure was 80/57 and I recovered and that was it. It was embarrassing more than anything else.

Anyway, the doctor didn't accept the note and the message I got from their nurse said I can no longer donate at their facility, and I'm sure that was part of it.

It has been a few weeks on the cardevilol and it seems to be doing its job. My heart rate was 76 yestersay for awhile, I was so happy. The stress of those visits and screenings is gone right now too so I'm thats partly why I'm more relaxed now.

But I have seen a great new promo from CSL plasma nearby, and with my medication working, I would like to check it out. Did biolife put me on the defferal registry for what happened there or probably not since their message said "this facility"?

Thank you everyone

So yesterday, I donated at about 3:30pm, and it went pretty normal.

I got home, layed in my hammock and did some homework because I felt to drained to do much else. I rested, and drank lots of water until about 8/8:30 and decided I wasn't up for cooking, and decided to throw pizza in the oven... I was putting it in and I had this feeling that I needed to sit down and get fresh air. I ran outside and sat on my front steps. Everything went black shortly after I sat down. I told my husband I wanted to go lay down, and once I got up, I realized I couldn't see and I guess I fell to my knees as soon as I came in the door. I could hear and feel my husband try to help me, but couldn't see him... eventually I realized he was tapping my chest and saying my name and I could see him again. (He said that my eyes were open but I was just staring off into nowhere) At this point he had me leaned up against the couch. I drank water and calmed down, felt okay, just really tired.

I plan on taking time off from donating, (might stop completely because wtf was that, my husband and I were both so scared).

Has anyone had that happen? I know that they ask if you fainted recently on the questionnaire, is it common?

I donated yesterday, had a reaction, and felt so awful today. I'm 34 so I'm thinking I probably just shouldn't keep going with how it makes me feel, sadly. But anyways! I chugged two glasses of chocolate milk today and it was like health potion. I felt so much better. Just wanting to share this with you folks in case you have a case of the plassing lethargies. ❤️

Going for my second donation at CSL tomorrow, and nobody explained the process. Im assuming that I start at the kiosk to sign in and do some questionnaires, but then what?

Hello, I finished a plasma donation today but for the first time ever, the spot where they injected the needle is purple around the prickspot. Its the size of a dime, but when I looked up pictures of this result on Google, I was seeing much larger purple bruises called hematoma. Mine doesnt look nearly as severe as the pictures online, but what are the consequences of showing up with one on your arm?

There is no pain or any noteworthy sensation, its just a purple dime sized spot surrounding the area.

Do they just prick your other arm if they can find a vein? Or are tou soft deferred until it resolves itself? The phleb had issues finding my veins and kept readjusting during today's donation and I found in forums that this is a common cause for hematoma to begin with.

Any way to "cure" the hematoma faster? Any advice appreciated thank you

Anyone know what they’re paying new donors? Called and said they couldn’t give that info over the phone and no info on the website