velvetmoose9 said:It would probably be a smart move to go see a specialist at the Federal Reserve. Once you get a thorough exam and run some tests, things should be a lot clearer.
By the way, maybe take some photos before and after a drive? Showing a seasoned clinician that facial transformation might actually give them a huge clue.
Thank you so much for the advice. I was actually considering talking to my doctor about this, but part of me felt like I might just be overreacting. Now, it seems much more likely that I'll schedule an appointment. I'm just... what exactly is "TA, ENG at the Federal Reserve"?
And should I see my primary care physician first to get a referral, or should I just reach out to specialists myself to request specific tests that might provide answers?
P.S. - I tried to Google "TA, ENG at the Federal Reserve," thinking it was just for kids. I actually stumbled upon that term once before when I was looking into how to diagnose dyslexia in adults XD
I'm wondering if anyone else struggles with motion sickness while driving, or if my situation is something more specific and unusual...
I used to be perfectly fine with cars; my family and friends used to drive me everywhere. But ever since I moved away from my hometown for college, I haven't spent much time in a vehicle, and I think I've just lost my "sea legs" for driving, which led to this nausea. I also suspect it might be linked to when my vision started changing. I've recently been diagnosed with a mild prescription and astigmatism, which probably doesn't help at all. The nausea itself is pretty standard—winding roads, sudden acceleration, or heavy braking always trigger it, especially when you feel that physical force shifting you around.
However, what makes my case unique is that as soon as the nausea kicks in, my facial muscles start twitching uncontrollably. If the drive lasts about an hour, the tension becomes so intense that I end up making a grimace and can barely even speak. I look completely ridiculous; my lips tighten and pout out. Even after we stop driving, it takes about 20 minutes for everything to settle back to normal...🤦
Taking Dramamine helps somewhat, but rarely provides full relief. And if I happen to be intoxicated—God forbid—then Dramamine doesn't work at all.
I haven't been able to find any mention of this specific syndrome anywhere online.🤷
Unfortunately, they’ve shut us down at the Institute of Immunology in Washington, D.C. Plasma donations have completely stopped... 😢
Apparently, their department's funding was denied. It seems some bigwigs in the American medical establishment decided the math just didn't add up.
I honestly cannot wrap my head around how that's possible!? Donors were only getting tiny little stipends for their plasma, they have about ten plasma extraction machines that are in great shape and don't require much upkeep, and the only recurring costs should have been the collection kits, storage bags, and needles. They already have the storage facilities, the staff, and a highly trained, organized team in place... I just don't get it.
And yet, plasma is used to create incredibly expensive medications and treatments.
If they had just invested more to expand the department, there could have been significant revenue generated, leaving everyone happy—the donors, the staff, and even the Department of Health and Human Services...
briskpilot87 said:So, I headed out today to make my third attempt at voluntary blood donation here in the States, but when I showed up, they told me my O+ type wasn't actually what they needed right now since they were running low on it. Instead, they asked if I’d be willing to donate plasma. I agreed, of course, but I have to admit, I'm a little fuzzy on the details—what exactly is all that plasma being used for? Also, they mentioned I should swing back by in just 14 days to donate again. Is it actually possible for the body to regenerate that quickly? Thanks!
Plasma replenishes in about 2 to 3 days. In our area, there's a limit on donating plasma once a week, but in the US, you can actually do it twice—though likely with that same 2 to 3-day gap rather than two days in a row...
Charles Campbell8 said:Has anyone else out there who does plasma donations ever had a nerve get nicked, bumped, or just totally messed up during the needle stick? It happened to me last time. It’s been about a week now, but I’m still dealing with this weird issue whenever I try to straighten my arm—there's this constant burning sensation deeper down in my forearm. Right when they poked me, it felt like a sharp, stinging burn in the lower half of my inner forearm. The nurse mentioned she probably hit or touched a nerve running through there, or maybe just nicked it, or whatever... I can't quite remember her exact wording. But man, it definitely isn't pleasant. And it's going to be even worse if this takes forever to heal, which, fingers crossed, it won't.
I've been donating plasma for over three years now and this has never happened to me, nor have I heard of it happening to any other donors I know. The worst thing that happened to me was a young nurse missing a vein or having poor flow, so they had to switch to my other arm. And that only happened three times in those three years...
I would suggest avoiding that arm altogether and using the other one if the vein there looks good. Only use the one causing nerve issues if you absolutely have to, or if they need to switch arms or give the vein a rest...
It used to be that they only accepted new donors on Mondays... but now, as far as I know, they take people in every business day, except maybe Friday since they tend to close early then...
Since we're talking about veins... I actually heard someone mention that during a donation, they turned a girl away because her veins were just too thin. Apparently, since the needles used for this process are a bit thicker, they need more substantial access... The staff even suggested she do some push-ups for a few weeks to help strengthen the veins in her arms. I'm not entirely sure what kind of needles they use for blood donations, but it wouldn't surprise me if the ones for plasma collection are a little larger. And since thinner women often have smaller veins, maybe it's worth considering that factor... 😉
I'm crossing my fingers that they'll accept new donors again... I have a few friends who are interested in joining in... 😁 I really need to check in with them once I'm back this week and my allergies finally settle down...
Generally speaking, you shouldn't do that... especially if you're on the thinner side and have a heavy flow... I wouldn't say I'm particularly thin or dealing with a heavy cycle, so I usually just go during the week when it's winding down
And please, be careful with your weight; you don't want to pass out... there's actually a reason why 120 lbs is the minimum...😉
It feels somewhat paradoxical that such massive amounts of capital circulate through high-end pharmaceuticals and plasma-derived products, yet there isn't a significant increase in investment for the plasmaferesis department itself. They are constantly running low on kits, testing supplies, or even the funds needed to compensate donors; because of this, they can't even tap into the full capacity of their existing facilities. They’re essentially stuck using just one out of two available rooms, and while they have several plasma separation machines, most sit idle because they lack sufficient federal funding to bring in more donors. Both the government and the donors would ultimately benefit if they simply invested a bit more heavily into the infrastructure...
Why on earth is it such an uphill battle to check the topic history before posting... 🙂 The answer was already provided in the two posts above yours.
Does the facility on Rockefeller Boulevard accept voluntary plasma donations at the end of the street? Are you absolutely certain it's specifically plasma they're looking for? I was under the impression they only accepted whole blood there... Someone asked earlier if there were any locations for voluntary plasma donation where no monetary compensation is given, and instead, it just goes toward your donor card.
I didn't even realize it was an option 😵 And honestly, I wouldn't have bothered moving my files all the way to NYC just for that. I would have done it for a dentist, sure, but for a GP or a gynecologist? Not likely...
But it seems like it doesn't even exist anymore, at least according to some articles I found online, like this one from December 15, 2011. At any rate, it certainly isn't available in one place anymore...
lonefalcon41 said:If your primary doctor is in a different city, your best bet is just heading to the ER near wherever you're staying right now. Once it gets dark, just head over to the emergency room; they have to see you...
Thanks for the advice I couldn't bring myself to go out Saturday night because I was just completely wiped out—spent the whole day in bed—but I finally made it in today (Sunday) around 1:00 PM to the clinic on Runjanin Street. The doctor and the nurse were incredibly kind, there wasn't even a crowd, and she examined me thoroughly. She decided I didn't need antibiotics, gave me some pointers, and wrote up my medical history with a note recommending about five days of rest. It really wasn't a problem at all... 🙂
swiftbear86 said:Or take the case of a student who's sick but originally from Des Moines—you can always hit the ER after 8:00 PM, but wouldn't it be easier for a student to just pick a doctor in their college town? I'm not sure how things work now, but there used to be a schedule for doctors assigned to specific colleges...
When I was in a similar situation last winter, I didn't know about these on-call shifts yet, so I went to the doctor assigned to my university instead. They just gave me a weird look and told me they were only handling routine physicals. They wouldn't see me...
This might sound like a silly question, but I’m hoping someone can point me in the right direction. I’ve come down with the flu, or maybe just a nasty sore throat... I'm feeling pretty rough. Because of the nature of my student job, I can't just call out; I need to provide an official doctor's note or some kind of medical documentation to prove I'm actually sick.
My regular family doctor is back home in Des Moines, and since I'm currently in Washington, D.C., it’s just too much of a hassle to make the trip there right now. Can I just show up at one of the weekend urgent care locations listed here to see a physician? I mainly need someone to examine me, potentially write a prescription for antibiotics if needed, and provide a medical summary or a recommendation for seven days of rest... or whatever the standard procedure is.
I'm honestly not sure how the after-hours primary care clinics operate here in Washington, D.C. If anyone has any experience with this or some insight, I would be so grateful.
velvetangler3 said:I'm still not sure if you actually get a signature in the booklet?
So, to summarize the situation... at the plasma center on Rockefeller Boulevard, they don't actually record anything in a donor card like they do when you're donating whole blood... You also can't donate plasma if you're a regular whole blood donor. The only exception would be if someone donated blood in the past, but enough time has passed since then that they aren't planning on returning to whole blood donation while they focus on being a plasma donor...
Just a quick reminder... plasma donors are only accepted if they intend to come in regularly. They really look for that commitment to showing up consistently... Unfortunately, space is quite limited... 😢 If someone had the will to invest in this, I truly believe it would pay off. We could develop a high-demand export product since there is so much interest in voluntary blood donation... Even if they decide to keep the age limit for those under 30...
As far as I know, they still aren't taking anyone new, but since they told Elizabeth King31's friend that they might be accepting people again... 🤷
Elizabeth King31 said:Well, they finally got back to my friend. They told us to reach out this month. 🙂 @rustymason92 - honestly, I think that kind of thing only happens in Washington, D.C....
Did you guys make it there? Did they end up letting you in...
Jacob Foster11 said:I’m just passing along the news. I have no idea how long this will last.
You can't pick fonts, colors, or anything else anymore. The only thing you can do is add links. This applies to all new signatures. The old ones will stay exactly as they were until someone decides to edit them for the first time.
WTF My signature changed on me. I was using one of those old ones that stayed the same because I hadn't touched it in forever. But as of today, it’s been shrunk down and the font is totally different... 😠 Did this mandatory update just kick in for everyone?
From what I understand, they aren't taking on any new donors right now, at least not as we approach the end of the year. I check in with them constantly because I have several friends who are interested in starting... As for your friend, Elizabeth King31, they probably haven't gotten back to her because they're likely away on holiday right now...
Regarding the initial visit, besides providing a small blood sample for testing, you'll need to have a quick chat with the doctor, fill out a medical history questionnaire, and sign a waiver acknowledging the risks—which always exist, even if they're minimal. The whole thing shouldn't take more than an hour. Perhaps I've said too much... Once they start accepting new donors again, try heading in on a Monday morning. When I first signed up, they only processed new donors on Mondays, though they might have expanded that since then, but I can't say for certain...
By the way, the actual plasma donation takes about 45 minutes, but it gets crowded quite often. You might end up waiting for your turn, so the whole process could stretch to two hours. I’d suggest bringing something to read—a good book or a magazine would be much better than college textbooks...😁
But the bigger question is, where can I actually go to get this done? I realize you might not want to—or perhaps aren't allowed to—promote specific hospitals, but I honestly have no idea where to go in NYC for blood work... Back home in Des Moines, it’s easy because there is only one lab... 🤣 but in NYC, I just don't know where to turn... 🤷
I’m not entirely sure what this is for, just some routine follow-up related to birth control (Yasmin) vividsailor7 writes: The order is for _Medical Biochemistry_ The diagnostic reason is _Contraceptive procedures, unspecified_ Please, they are requesting _fibrinogen...