I donated blood and now my arm is swollen and firm at the needle site with intense pain. What's going on?!
Question: I donated blood and now my arm is swollen and firm at the needle site with intense pain. What's going on.?
From 1-2pm today I donated blood. It took two technicians 5 minutes to get the needle in properly (lots of digging around, the needle was intensely painful and I have a high tolerance for pain) and after my arm was in a decent bit of pain. I figured it was normal, it was my first time donating blood. It is now just over 2 hours later and I can't move my arm at all (1-handed typing), the pain is so intense that I'm holding back tears and the needle site is bulging and hard.
What the heck is going on.? Should I go to the hospital or will this go away on it's own.? I'm hoping for the latter as I just started my new job a few weeks ago and while I know I'm covered as of the first of this month, I don't have a health insurance card yet.Health Question & Answer
What the heck is going on.? Should I go to the hospital or will this go away on it's own.? I'm hoping for the latter as I just started my new job a few weeks ago and while I know I'm covered as of the first of this month, I don't have a health insurance card yet.Health Question & Answer
Answers:
I'd go back to the place that you donated the blood honestly. Only because you don't have insurance and see what they have to say. There may be a way for the donor clinic to get you in because they had something to do with it. I've only donated blood a couple times and the most I got was a bruise. It's possible they hit a nerve. For your insurance, you can get the bill and give it to your human resources dept and they can let you know how to go about getting the money back or having insurance pay directly. Health Question & Answer
The muscle in your arm might just be reacting from the technicians poking around trying to find a vein. The fact that you are in that much pain is not good though. I would try icing the area, but if you're still in a lot of pain tomorrow I'd go to the doctor, because it might be infected.Health Question & Answer
I'd call and ask someone at the emergency room and see what they say. I think this should be passed back on to the Red Cross if that is who you donated for. I'd try and call American Red Cross Hot line. I'd do something soon as this does not sound good. Good luck.Health Question & Answer