I've been giving whole blood at the local Red Cross chapter for a few years now. Back in October, they handed me a pamphlet on apheresis, or platelet donation. I sent in the response card, and after a few problems with low iron levels, I finally made it to my first session early this morning.
After completing the paperwork, they asked me to pick out a movie, and we got started. With apheresis, blood is drawn from one arm, passes through a machine that separates out the "product", and the remaining blood is sent back through the other arm. Apparently the anti-coagulant used during processing reduces your calcium level, so I was given a couple of over-the-counter Tums to chew and swallow before they started. (A by-product of the reduced calcium levels is a tingling sensation around your lips and mouth - which I definitely noticed at the end.)
They started the movie - Two Weeks Notice - and after a short delay the nurse inserted the two IV's. I normally donate whole blood from my left arm without much discomfort, but this time the left arm insertion area stung quite a bit. The right arm was no problem, after the initial sting. (The prick on my left ring finger was still the most painful part of it.)
Then, I just relaxed and watched the movie, while the machine did it's thing. With about 20 minutes left in the movie, the nurse told me I was done, and they closed everything up. I got bright red wrapping over the gauze on both arms - whoo-hoo.
All in all, it took about an hour and forty-five minutes, and it was actually pretty pleasant. Two Weeks Notice is on HBO this week, so I'll catch the end of it in a day or two. I'd seen it in the theaters, so I wasn't too stressed about missing the ending.
I'm scheduled to go back on the Monday after Christmas.
