Pleiades

Today I gave platelets at the blood center. There, they have little televisions that you can watch while you are donating. On the TV was a news segment about aspirin, the miracle drug. Aspirin will help you avoid heart attacks because it keeps the platelets from clotting and cloging the veins.

So....I'm wondering. I can't take aspirin if I'm giving platelets (within three days) because platelet recipients want platlets that do stick together (I think?). But I want platelets that don't stick together.

So, I decided that maybe I'll take some aspirin during the month, and then stop taking aspirin a week before donating.

I'll have to think about that.

I successfully donated today. My blood level was 12.9, just barely over the 12.6 minimum. The "draw" needle was quite painful in the beginning. It didn't look like it was going to work at first, but the head nurse came over and repositioned it so that it fit more nicely in the vein. Then I was fine. One thing I've learned---suggest that they lower your arms. It's So-o-o-o much nicer. I don't have those aching and painful arms when they bend them back up after taking out the needles. Also, when your arms are lower, they don't fall asleep as often. For me, at least.