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| - I made my appointment with the Central Blood Bank online several days in advance. On the day of donation, I filled out a health history questionnaire online while I was home. I first did the questionnaire in my Firefox browser, but then I could not get my donation pass to print. As a result, I filled out the questionnaire a second time in my Explorer browser. This time the donation pass was able to print. I headed on over to the Central Blood Bank's downtown location. When I showed up, I was greeted by a phlebotomist. She took me back into a small office. She asked me some questions and then started up a health history questionnaire for me on her computer. I told her that I already did the questionnaire at home, and I showed her my donation pass. She said that I had to fill it out again, because she had already started it up. I was annoyed that I was filling out the questionnaire for the third time that day. Given my blood type, platelets are supposed to be most beneficial for me to donate, but the phlebotomist looked at me and said that my body was "too tiny" to donate platelets. With all of her questions and comments about my weight, I sort of felt like she thought that I was lying about my weight. I do weigh enough, based on my weighings at home before and after the donation. Maybe the center should have a scale so they can weigh people. So anyway... I donated whole blood instead. The phlebotomist continued to talk to me, maybe just to be friendly, but I was uncomfortable telling my life story in an open room for other people to hear. After donation of the blood, I was not dizzy at all, but I sat for several minutes to rest and to eat food and drink before I walked back home. I do have another appointment a few months from now. After six donations, you are supposed to get a $15 Visa gift card, which is not much money but is a bit of a thank you.
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