Single hen

[jlo]

I just wondered whether anyone else is having problems donating blood.

 

I used to do it all the time and then, for various reasons, stopped for a while. I started again a couple of years ago but the last three out of four sessions my iron count has been too low for them to take a pint of the red stuff out of me.

 

I wouldn't mind but, after the last one, I have been really watching my diet and taking vitamin and mineral supplements which should include 100% of my daily iron needs. I went along today, quite confident that I would be able to give blood and the count was lower than the last two times at 117 (whatever that measurement is!) Goodness knows what it would be like if I had not taken the supplements!

 

I have decided to stop going along as it is wasting their time and mine. I don't think that it is anything to worry about and I know that they are a lot more careful than they used to be about iron counts. It would be interesting to know if it is quite common is all. I am sure that there are some knowledgeable omleteers who could reassure me and perhaps offer a little advice....

[chickenanne]

I was similar position to you: used to give blood, then couldn't for a long time (I caught malaria etc); when I next went back i couldn't because of low iron, then I couldn't because of lower blood pressure, now I can't becuase of a medical condition....

It worried me slightly that I wasn't "healthy" enough to lose a pint or whatever of blood; went to GP and all was fine. I'd suggest goign for a medical if you're worried, but otherwise I don't think it's a problem.

[MadMitch]

Mines ok to use but they just cant get it out. The last couple of times I've been they haven't been able to use it as they cannot get even half a pint out in the allocated time they have to take it from you.

[ali-s]

I started to give blood 2 years ago and went to every session I could. Last year I didn't donate once. Every time I was due to attend I was either not well or just getting over something. Twice I went along and waited for over an hour and was then told I wasn't allowed to give blood because I had recently been ill with a cold or a chesty cough. I know the staff have to be so careful incase something is passed on through the donated blood but I found it very frustrating.

 

I haven't been ill since christmas so hopefully I can donate soon, although come to think of it I do not received the reminders anymore. Maybe they think I don't want to donate blood anymore

[Redwing]

I can't give blood anymore according to my doctor I 'can't spare it'

 

I am a BIG lady so am very surprised by that but its all to do with my cell count or something

 

Have you tried Fersaday tablets? (I think thats what they are called) they are iron tablets you can get from the chemist, they contain more iron than the multi vits

[bronze]

when you up your iron do you up your vit v too

 

my problem giving blood is logistical. I did refuse a transfusion though when I was just the wrong side of borderline as they had just saved dds life and I wanted to be able to give something back

[Mrs Webmuppet]

It might be wise to pop along to the docs for a quick once over in case there's an underlying cause especially as you are taking multi vits with iron. I got rejected by the donor people the other year for low iron, the docs quickly identified the cause and promptly fixed it.

[laurmurf]

I had the same problem at a blood giving session so I went to my doctor for a full blood test and it turned out i was anaemic and needed a full course of high dose iron tablets. Not only can I give blood again, but i FEEL SO MUCH BETTER!

[AJuff]

The only problem I have in giving blood is that the appointment system they introduced is not flexible enough for me!!! It makes me very cross. OH is called out to work frequently on weekends and I used to just pop in and give blood if he was about. However you have to ring for an appointment at least a few days in advance now which is just not flexible enough for me. I can't really go along with three children in tow!!!

[BeckyBoo]

I can't really go along with three children in tow!!!

 

I have that problem too. Before I had the children I used to go regularly but sometimes you ended up waiting for ages. Now even though there's a blood donor van that comes to work, I'm just always at the end of the big queue so it never happens. Once I get the tattoo done ( ) I won't be able to go for another year (I think?)

My Nan gave over 50 pints and got a gold pin!

 

BeckyBoo

[McChook]

I gave blood when I was 19, 20 and 21 - since then, my iron levels have been too low and they just haven't wanted it I think it's quite a common problem

[PapaJuliet]

They won't take mine any more because I'm a mad cow

 

Well...

 

I had a MAJOR operation when I was younger which included a blood transfusion. This was a few months before the "cut-off" date where they won't let you give blood in case you pass variant CJD on to the person who receives your blood.

 

They seem to think that because I had a blood transfusion during the "danger" period I am at risk of passing on vCJD but doesn't that mean they think I am at risk of developing it myself? "Ooops, word censored!"ody seems particularly bothered about THAT aspect of it.

 

In any case, I have "given back" far more than the blood I received before they decided they didn't want any more.

 

Sorry for the rant.

 

PJ

[Saronne]

EeeK!! I faint at the thought of blood letting

[Olly]

How disappointing Jlo - I've had that problem a few times, oddly enough during the 8 years when I was vegetarian I never had a problem, then I started eating meat again and kept being anaemic! It might be worth getting a check-up, but I know that they set their standards quite high, to protect donors - so you might be too low for them, but still absolutely fine.

 

I have had a couple of years when for various reasons I didn't meet their criteria (tattoo, had acupuncture, on medication) but I went back again just before Christmas and I'm so glad I did. Please don't give up, they need all the blood donors they can get!

[Rhapsody]

Your iron count is far more to do with how your body absorbs the iron you consume rather than how much you put in. Which is probably why Olly wasn't anaemic as a vegetarian, a wide variety of veg in the diet will 'fix' iron into the system. And stay away from spinach troops- the iron count is not what we have been told and the phylates block calcium absorption.

 

I really must give blood again

[mostin]

Some people just don't absorb iron very well through their diet. I work in the hospital labs where we test blood for haemoglobin levels, iron levels, and cross match all the blood for transfusions. As you can imagine I am very pro as many people donating as possible as we are always very low on stocks. Sometimes we have to make medical decisions dependent on the national blood stocks, surgerys can be cancelled etc. Ironically after giving blood successfully 10 times myself the 11th and 12th times were a fiasco and I got a nice letter from the blood service saying thanks, but no thanks .

 

Back to the question at hand though, some people just find it very difficult to absorb iron from diet alone and end up being treated with I.V. iron which works. It may be worth a trip to your GP and ask them to check your full blood count, Ferritin levels (it carries iron around the body) and iron levels, as you keep getting turned away by the blood service despite taking supplements.

[theherd123]

I gave blood once and upon leaving the centre fainted in the main foyer of our public library - could have died of shame!

[Olly]

Thanks Rhapsody, you've just explained it - that's puzzled me for years!

 

I love spinach though.

[HENthusiastic]

They won't take mine any more because I'm a mad cow

 

me too

 

I have told to leave and never darken their door again. This is because I had a blood transfusion in the years before they screened for it. They were very nice as they explained this to me, and offered me a leaflet all about mad cows disease!

OH is concerned that "Ooops, word censored!"ody would notice the symptoms in me!!!