OK. I have been donating blood since I was 17 and a junior in high school. On Tuesday, I was turned down for the first time ever. Needless to say, I was a bit bummed out. I had a blood pressure reading of 176/110 and they turned me away. I immediately called my doctor to see about getting in and of course they can’t get me in until sometime in December. Why is it that doctors schedule you so far out when you are calling for something you think is important? Oh well, I digress. I went out last night after worrying all day about having high blood pressure and bought a digital testing machine to keep track of my blood pressure until I am able to get in to see the doctor. I tested it several times last night and then again this morning and could not get a reading near the one they gave me at the blood drive. Either I was just freaking out at the blood drive for some unknown reason or the girl doing it made a mistake. Either way, this mornings reading was 110/79 well within the normal 120/80 range. I will keep testing it until I see my doctor, but it seems the blood drive was an anomaly rather than a decisive “You have High Blood Pressure” reading.
Funny thing about the blood drive, even after being declined for donating that day, the lady in the cantina still gave me a coupon for two free tacos from Del Taco. You give blood or not, here are some artery clogging tacos. Or maybe they are just for lubricating your veins.