This is when things started to get strange. Once in a while, a phlebotomist would tell me, "your iron looks a little low," or, "you'd better eat some red meat tonight." About a year ago, they tested my iron at a blood drive and flagged me as having low iron. Additionally, we will not take a donor without their iron being at a healthy 12.5. Everyday we have patients who need blood which only generous donors can provide. I've been donating blood for years as well. my friend says it might be symptoms of iron deficieny. People may feel fatigued or experience some dizziness, lightheadedness, or nausea after donating blood. Going to try iron supplements and see if they correct my iron levels. I WAS SHOCKED! As five blood clots moved through my heart and almost completely blocked my right ventricle, I felt no pain - just a little shortness of breath. They came back less than 5 minutes later, tested my other hand, and said my iron levels were "good enough for a donation". Chris, I don't know where you live but I know that at our blood drives there is always an RN in charge of the phlebotomists. They ordered an iron panel for me that same day and the results later showed that I had iron-deficiency anemia and she told me not to give blood until I had things cleared with her. Donating blood didn't nearly kill you. Before i jump to the main topic i want to recall that not everybody can donate her/his blood. The next day, on Friday, I felt better. Read on to discover how they can help treat different types of anemia and what to expect during the, When a person has lost blood or it is not functioning effectively, a transfusion can be lifesaving. Migraines can in turn cause the stroke symptoms I experienced, such as tingling numbness, losing consciousness, and expressive aphasia (losing the ability to talk). My hemoglobin level was 13.3 and everything checked out fine. I ask because it's very unusual for men to have iron-deficiency anemia. Now I realized that I should take care myself first. This results in pulmonary edema, or excess fluid in the lungs. If your test reveals that you have a low hemoglobin count, you'll likely need more testing to determine the cause. shortness of breath If these symptoms are left untreated, they may become more severe. This will help prevent bruising, help the needle site heal, and allow your body to readjust to the blood loss. Hematoma is a bruise caused by the inserted needle slips through the vein and cause local bleeding. Accessed March 6, 2020. Odds are if you fail it and we take you anyway your going to have a reaction which keeps us later anyway. I'm a strong believer in supplements and have taken Vitamin C and E religiously for around 40 years. The cause of the blockages is not known, but it is thought to be due to a lack of oxygen in the blood. It involves an unexplained rise in temperature during or 4 hours after the transfusion. I used to attend as part of a blood donating "team" and many times many of our members were turned down for low iron. If you worry about your bruises you can treat it by compression on the bruises, rest, avoid heavy lifting, and rise your arm above the level of your heat while resting. Symptoms will depend on the severity and may include: If other symptoms are present, the person should contact their doctor. This is just one way we keep our donors safety in mind. back then they said it was nutrient deficiency. It's sad what happened to you, I would have been very angry, upset. Long story short: I've been giving blood for years. Heart failure is caused by a blockage of blood flow to the heart muscle. I was out of work for 7 days! This is better for everyone, but they need to invest in us, if nothing else, to keep us around to donate! We also look at how to treat these side effects. I usually donate about three times a year. I *do* plan to send this to the blood center after I get out of the hospital (had to be re-admitted for an infection growing in an IV site). Talk to a health care provider to find out more about why you feel shortness of breath. Approach to the adult with anemia. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our. My advice to you would be to take ferrous sulphate tablets 2x daily with orange juice to aid absorption. Essentially, it is caused by an inability of the body to deliver adequate oxygen to the blood while breathing at a normal and restful rate. MNT is the registered trade mark of Healthline Media. Anyway, were all just trying to do good here, theres no need to be condescending in saying we lack common sense. I was a "life donor". . My hemoglobin level was 13.7. Yes, call the number on your paperwork to talk to a nurse. Took my doc years to find the cause. If you have any enquiry regarding post-donation matters, please call (insert the telephone number and time when this service is . They are knowledgeable in the medical field and there are some nurses working there. According to LabMedicine, these transfusion reactions tend to be mild and do not require treatment. People experience and describe shortness of breath differently depending on the cause. There are about 300+ kinds of anemia, only one of which is from iron deficiency. Afterward, a person can apply a warm compress four times a day for 20 minutes. They then attack the recipients cells. I don't run any marathons, but I do walk five miles a day, sometimes seven days a week. Last time I donated i had to lay off the cardio for a week. Donors deferred for low hemoglobin. Discomfort or pain in 1 or both arms, pain radiating to jaw, or pain in the neck. Flushed skin, itching, hives, swelling, difficulty breathing, wheezing, blue lips, vomiting, diarrhea, low blood pressure, IV epinephrine, antihistamines, IV steroids, bronchodilators, Febrile nonhemolytic transfusion reaction, Rise in temperature by at least 1% and chills, Fever, flank pain, low blood pressure, renal failure, and difficulty breathing, Supportive therapy using IV fluids, dialysis if necessary, and management of bleeding, Antibiotic therapy, fluid management, respiratory support, Difficulty breathing, fever, and high blood pressure, Shortness of breath, rapid breathing, or cough, Person needs to sit upright and diuretics, Delayed hemolytic or delayed serologic transfusion reaction, Fever, jaundice, dark urine, stomach pain, labored breathing, high blood pressure, Exact prevalence is unknown, but the reaction is, Rash, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, fever, and bone marrow failure, Prevention: Irradiation of blood products, Supportive using IV immunoglobin an steroids, the donor blood containing specific plasma proteins that the recipients blood sees as allergens, the donor blood containing food allergens, such as peanut or gluten, antibodies in donor blood react with antibodies in the recipients blood, taking an antihistamine to help treat an allergic reaction, investigating all cases of fever as it may indicate a more severe cause. Ferritin is an acute phase reactant and can be elevated due to many reasons this is why it is done in conjunction with other specific measures of iron if anemia or iron overload is being evaluated. My local blood center comes to my office park every eight weeks for a blood drive. If you will be driving after your donation, ensure you feel well before starting your vehicle. Migraines have plagued me for years, and my doctors tell me I should have far fewer when my iron levels get up to normal. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Blood clots can be life-threatening and require immediate medical attention. Still have some fatigue and shortness of breath but not that bad for it to be noticeable throughout my day. Testing donors to be sure they have enough hemoglobin is essential because whole blood donation removes hemoglobin; it is hemoglobin that is important to get oxygen throughout the body. How in the heck did you or none of your doctors realize that blood donations DO NOT CHECK OR TEST FOR IRON. It usually takes 3-5 days to recover from donating. Some procedures and criteria are made even more strict by the medical directors of the organization. This is a Subreddit for blood donors, existing and potential. Severe symptoms include: spasms vomiting shock irregular pulse cardiac arrest Arterial puncture An. Sometimes it . In the early years i too could and would go for a run on the same day i donated just to test myself. Keeping the bandage over the needle site for a few hours after the donation and avoiding strenuous activity can help minimize adverse effects and help the body recover more quickly. Can decrease the carbon dioxide in your blood. Despite health benefits of blood donationI mention above, blood donation also have side effects you should know before you go and generously donating your blood. Signs and symptoms can include: Fatigue Weakness Pale skin and gums Shortness of breath A fast or irregular heartbeat Your doctor might recommend a complete blood count test to determine whether you have a low hemoglobin count. They work closely with a range of fully qualified doctors. My experience aftermath is exactly what I went through with the numbness, fainting etc i know this is such an old post..but wow can i relate to this! Common causes include: asthma a chest infection being overweight smoking a panic attack But sometimes shortness of breath could be a sign of something more serious, such as: a lung condition called chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) Dont worry, theyll come back. Naturally, the blood center loved me. (n.d.). Many researches, studies, and observations tell about a lot of benefits donating your blood. The Arena Media Brands, LLC and respective content providers to this website may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Many people with this condition experience shortness of breath or coughing only when . After I had an episode at work when I nearly passed out, my doctor tested my blood iron, found me to be severely anemic, and referred me to gastro-enterologist. You can treat this effect with rest and try to feel relax. One thing I WON'T do is trust the blood collector to check my iron for me: I'll donate and see *my* Dr .afterward for the first year. Did you actually suffer a stroke and obtain permanent neurological damage or was that just reversible anemia? One waved to me walking on by and I responded "who are you?". This is important to know because there is no doctor or nurse at the driveno one with expert medical credentials. The donation went great, I ate well, sat down for 30 minutes and took the city bus home. The second time they were running late and I was the last one to donate. I am 37, in good shape, and feel that I have a pretty healthy diet, but it does sting me that I loved donating blood and helping my fellow man but know it's in my best interest to not donate blood until further notice.. If your test reveals that you have a low hemoglobin count, you'll likely need more testing to determine the cause. Sign up for free, and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips and current health topics, like COVID-19, plus expertise on managing health. Don't be an idiot and you should be fine. In this era of deregulation and letting businesses self-regulate, U. S. blood centers are nonprofit corporations (i.e., businesses that do not pay taxes) that demand that the FDA give blood centers the flexibility to self-regulate. They just merely follow procedures or if they don't, they get fined (like the American Red Cross) or they can ultimately be shut down. By the time the meeting was over, I was even dizzier. Leung LLK. However, it is a very rare occurrence, and it has become less prevalent since the introduction of the irradiation of blood products. I hope this experience does not scare your readers and deter them from donating blood. I am a male, long-term blood donor who developed iron deficiency anemia from donating blood 5 times per year. Have you requested your hemoglobin records from your blood center for your donations prior to being diagnosed? (n.d.). Also, participants with a high frequency of donation had a lower chance of cardiovascular disease compared with low frequency donors. "There's no way you could have been in a healthy iron range four days ago, and lost only a pint of blood!" While hemodialysis may address fluid overlo Go figure. Yes, turns out, my bad. Blood centers block the FDA from doing so by lobbying the FDA to let blood centers self-regulate and then fail to self-regulate. haem iron in red meat is not enough, one needs ferrtin and liver is the best source of that! Everyone must be qualified in order to do the procedures. This is because of the temporary lowering of blood pressure. 2 months ago i walked into a red cross donating drive thinking i was going to donate the typical 1 pint of blood. Some people will experience minor side effects of donating blood, such as lightheadedness, bruising, or light bleeding. Don't trust the blood center to save your life; they almost took mine away. You have to sign as part of a screen every time you donate. It's like my life has stopped since I haven't been able to go back to my daily routine. But does blood donation have side effect? I'm pretty sure all the blood banks are staffed by nurses, and while they call endlessly to get you in there, when you're there they're very strict about you proving you're healthy enough to donate. Before being able to donate blood, the center staff will check that it is safe for donors to do so. Lung infection (pneumonia). Many conditions can cause shortness of breath. I am a healthy 34 year old and very energetic. Speaking of which, this happened nearly a year agoI need to make an apt :D. Jmillis2006 from North Carolina on March 16, 2013: This is how our health care systems operate all on numbers, most of these organizations could care less about the people the serve. Thank you! I am a very active person who used to do a lot of cleaning after workday, but now all I want to do after I get home is lay on the couch. . ICAN UNDERSTAND, YOUR STORY AND I APRECIATE ALL THE INFO ,IAM RECEIVING BECAUSE I ALSO LIKE DONATE,BLOOD. Shortness of breath results when a signal from the brain causes the lungs to increase breathing frequency. I was admitted to the nearest hospital through their ER. I often tested at the low end of normal for iron when I went to give blood, and was turned away twice. Cancelled all my plans & was still very week for the following week when I returned to work. Thanks for sharing your story. Did you ever find the specific cause of your anemia? thats when i stumbled upon this blog. I thought I was the only one. Had no idea how closely I needed to monitor my iron stores. I was concerned about the pins and needles I had been experiencing in my hands and feet along with dizziness, itchy skin, shortness of breath and complete exhaustion that just made me want to cry, I feel so emotional and fuzzy headed ! Anemia (low number of red blood cells in your body). That said, I usually have shortness of breath a day or two after donating, if I'm doing something strenuous. Chris, after your accident and when you were in the hospital, were you diagnosed with anemia, based on your hemoglobin or hematocrit level then? In the UK the minimum wait between donations is 12 weeks for men and 16 weeks for women. Live long and prosper :) all you donors! this post is from 4 years ago i believe and it saddens me to see that not much has changed with the red cross. Hey congrats on your first blood donation!! The people running the Blood Centers in our country need to be motivated to collect enough blood to meet our needs, but it must be balanced with donor health as well. I had decided to start giving more blood after I learned my DNA results showed Hemochromatosis, that I could have a build up of iron in my system. However, since the day after donating I've been feeling short of breath. This was the second wisest choice I could have made. Can diet help improve depression symptoms? Ramey, P. (2019). Really hoping to make it to five gallons in my lifetime, but that'll take at least a decade at this rate. Thanks for all the comments. 2023 The Arena Media Brands, LLC and respective content providers on this website. Doc said I shouldn't be donating because of this, but I used to be able to go to the gym and be active even the same day after donating. It may vary for everyone but the paramedic at the Blood Center will do things necessary if you undergo these effects. There are eight main types. The rate and depth of breathing normally increase during exercise and at high altitudes, but the increase seldom causes discomfort. These are the benefits you may found in many articles and journals. I woke up to an intense pain on the same side of the neck and head, that was around three am. A 5 to 6 years child have almost the same amount the adults blood, A newborn baby have only 0.2 liters blood in their body, and. Usually the amount of blood that be taken is about 250 to 500 cc. Combining iron-rich foods with vitamin C helps the body absorb iron. But overall major effects are rarely occur. since the day i gave my blood i have already lost around 3 pounds. Call 911 if you think you could be having a heart attack. Fluid around your heart or lungs. Will get tested after being off them to see if I hold healthy #s w/o supplements, then finally, if I can donate again, and rebuild WITHOUT supplements. Feel faint, dizzy and/or nauseated; faint and/or have muscle spasms. I hopped on the next bus, got home 5 minutes later and didnt move a muscle out of my bed. Cheryl Meril from San Francisco, CA USA on May 13, 2016: Thanks for the article. I do my own blood testing at LabCorp through Wnlk-In-Lab and used 23andMe.com for my RAW DNA data results I plugged into a third party online analysis software system (Livewello, etc.). From your blood to keep us around to donate blood, such as lightheadedness or... 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