I recall you mentioned this before, but I can't find where. It was great to see that there is a fancy name for what seems to be my experience, what I was calling a phobia. It is strange because I don't feel fear; the donation process is barely uncomfortable and I believe it is very safe. I have been in hospital rooms with people who have IVs and had no reaction. But once the weirdness starts, it seems inevitable that I will have an episode. Yes, these were both on the questionnaire. I am pretty nearly an ideal donor: O positive, monogamous heterosexual, no recreational needle use, no prescription drugs, no history of disqualifying illness. I have the most boring blood possible. My only red flag is for travel, and I feel obligated to spell out all the places I have visited even though it means a lot of follow-up questions. It was 45 minutes after my appointment before I finally got jabbed, and the whole process was about 90 minutes. I skipped breakfast last time, so this time I was careful to eat well before my appointment. Didn't seem to help, but couldn't have hurt. If/when I go again, I'll try something salty with water just before.I had a vasovagal reaction
body modifications like tattoos and piercings
drinking more water and consuming more salt
Can you feel these episodes coming on? I usually can. Sometimes my vision seems "sharper" than normal and I feel odd. Then, I will find myself becoming very warm. My vision will start to black out. I will feel dizzy. When this happens, I have found that if you get down on the ground or in a chair, it helps a lot. I often still go through much of the physical effects by this point - I go from being so hot I break out into a sweat, to my temperature plummeting and becoming very cold - and often momentarily lose my vision, but remain consciousness. Apparently part of the problem is blood pooling in the legs and not getting to the brain. So if you can get down, and elevate your legs, it will help. My biggest problem with these episodes is always that they bring me to the ground or incapacitate me, so sitting became a natural reaction. I also try to consume food if I feel it happening as it does seem linked with blood sugar for me personally (but not always - a video of in vitro fertilization knocked me on my ass once, for instance). I don't think it's a phobia because I don't think it's all in your head, especially if you don't really feel fear. Syringes and eyes have always made me feel icky so it didn't surprise me that I seem sensitive to/around both, physically. But I've also nearly passed out while exercising or after not having enough to eat, which is why for me I suspect it is linked to blood sugar. My doctor said about as much when I brought it up to her.