Any Self Phlebotomy Input From The Bro's?

[EJR]

So I had some cranial pressure and a bit of a headache which I don't normally get. Had ACL surgery in October, so I'm not eligible to donate blood for 1 year. I could get a script for a phlebotomy but I believe I wouldn't be able to donate blood anymore because of it. I've pulled out blood before and it's not a pleasant experience. So what I did this time is take an 81mg aspirin with each of my first 4 meals and a 325mg aspirin with meal 5. I went low fat with meals 4 and 5 to lower blood lipids and hopefully thin it up a little. Added citrulline to my water all day to expand the vessels a bit. 1 hour after meal 5 I had a couple big glasses of red wine with some vodka added to each (also not pleasant). This put the veins on display more than usual and I was ready to go. Used a 24oz water bottle that I marked at 16oz. Drilled 2 holes in the cap, 1 for the hose and 1 to vent. Used a short length of vinyl hose that fit nicely into a syringe barrel, other end into the cap. Screwed on an 18ga needle and pierced a large vein on my inner right elbow (left handed). This as you donators know is not a quick process. The blood seemed to flow better than on previous attempts and once I got to 16oz I decided to get a bit more since this time worked better than previous attempts. Ended up pulling ~20-21oz. Cranial pressure was relieved, headache gone and I woke up today feeling better for it. I'd like to know if anyone has any other techniques or input in general on this. It went very well but for all I know some or much of what I did may not have been necessary or a good idea. The amount of alcohol used might be too much for some but I used to drink heavily so I was just a little light headed (and prepared for the unpleasantness). Thanks for any input.

[TEPENEX]

thats sounds about right, with a hand pump correct?

[EJR]

thats sounds about right, with a hand pump correct?
I knew I could learn something from the Bro's with this 'taboo topic'. Just gravity and patience man. Not sure about a hand pump but it sounds like something that could speed up the process. Got through a whole old school episode of The Hulk while drip drip drip drip.

[Electromass]

So I had some cranial pressure and a bit of a headache which I don't normally get. Had ACL surgery in October, so I'm not eligible to donate blood for 1 year. I could get a script for a phlebotomy but I believe I wouldn't be able to donate blood anymore because of it. I've pulled out blood before and it's not a pleasant experience. So what I did this time is take an 81mg aspirin with each of my first 4 meals and a 325mg aspirin with meal 5. I went low fat with meals 4 and 5 to lower blood lipids and hopefully thin it up a little. Added citrulline to my water all day to expand the vessels a bit. 1 hour after meal 5 I had a couple big glasses of red wine with some vodka added to each (also not pleasant). This put the veins on display more than usual and I was ready to go. Used a 24oz water bottle that I marked at 16oz. Drilled 2 holes in the cap, 1 for the hose and 1 to vent. Used a short length of vinyl hose that fit nicely into a syringe barrel, other end into the cap. Screwed on an 18ga needle and pierced a large vein on my inner right elbow (left handed). This as you donators know is not a quick process. The blood seemed to flow better than on previous attempts and once I got to 16oz I decided to get a bit more since this time worked better than previous attempts. Ended up pulling ~20-21oz. Cranial pressure was relieved, headache gone and I woke up today feeling better for it. I'd like to know if anyone has any other techniques or input in general on this. It went very well but for all I know some or much of what I did may not have been necessary or a good idea. The amount of alcohol used might be too much for some but I used to drink heavily so I was just a little light headed (and prepared for the unpleasantness). Thanks for any input.
My wife helps me out when I do this. Except, we use a butterfly syringe and a 10ml barrel. it works pretty well, especially with an assistant. It still takes awhile to do, I think 35-45 minutes. I've done aspirin before, but not alcohol.

[BobbyJake]

Just one piece of advice. Make sure you have someone there because you can pass out even if you haven't before. Hate for you to bleed out.


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[EJR]

Just one piece of advice. Make sure you have someone there because you can pass out even if you haven't before. Hate for you to bleed out.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Thanks for the reply. The wife insists she be there for the process. Very supportive considering people have probably been committed for less 'crazy' practices.

[TEPENEX]

I knew I could learn something from the Bro's with this 'taboo topic'. Just gravity and patience man. Not sure about a hand pump but it sounds like something that could speed up the process. Got through a whole old school episode of The Hulk while drip drip drip drip.

you can make a kind of 'cup' with one side pulling. If its tall enough it will be your draining cup/collector just figure out how much you want to pull out and mark it on the OUTSIDE this will make it quicker.

Make sure everything is sterile.

[Lorenzo]

Last time i had to pay to have my blood let this sounds much better

[Tigar]

I just stab my self in the neck.