Broken ribs . I was unresponsive for some time. Shortness of breath, fatigue, constant headaches and muscle pain. I toughed it out as I was assured all was well. If you will be driving after your donation, ensure you feel well before starting your vehicle. A person can learn more about the potential risks and complications here. "Because these two organ systems are so intertwined, one always affects the other," says Dr. Aaron B. Waxman, who directs the Pulmonary Vascular Disease Program . as well. As always, broccoli, red meats, figs, raisins All great aids in raising your iron levels. Had I done so, I may have been able to avoid a life-threatening situation. Other health issues have been ruled out and they have diagnosed me with malabsorption issues. Wondering if there's a cutoff age? I think the problem is they don't test for ferritin (blood stores of iron) and rely too much on haemoglobin, but haemoglobin can be within the normal range but ferritin too low ! Yikes. Working at United Blood Services, I can tell you that our donors are just as important as our patients. I wanted to share my opinion and my story about frequent blood donating. This is good news for donors! I decided to go to one more meeting and see if I felt better. Using irradiation can help prevent the chance of a person developing TAGVHD. If you experience any of these symptoms after donating blood: Sudden chest or stomach pain. still taking my iron pills i started to feel a bit better. If you feel ill before donating your blood you must tell the donor center so that the infection of your blood will not be transmitted to the donors receiver. That's my two cents on the matter. Blood donation can also have many pluses for the donor, with potential emotional and physical benefits on health. I'm not sure where you donated or with what blood bank, but just because someone went to school on Saturdays for 6 classes, doesn't mean they are not qualified. 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. Also, keep in mind that the safety of exercising after blood donation also varies depending on the type of donation you're making. Next thing I know, Im at the transit terminal being woken up. 2 months ago i walked into a red cross donating drive thinking i was going to donate the typical 1 pint of blood. 2004-2023 Healthline Media UK Ltd, Brighton, UK, a Red Ventures Company. I'm routinely anemic and have had many iv infusions of blood, but I don't walk around saying anemia almost killed me. Became anemic quickly learned that even my GP didn't know much about anemia due to blood donation. they asked. I wrote it off to the marathon heat wave we were going through, and never thought there was a medical reason. Find out in this article. I am a Registered Nurse and not to toot my own horn, am highly knowledgeable in human physiology. It is especially important to drink extra fluids in the first 4 hours following a donation. You may expect a kind volunteer who helped organize the blood drive might look out for you. Naturally, the blood center loved me. Giving blood is a fantastic selfless way of giving back, but it doesnt suit everyone. Shortness of breath, clinically known as dyspnea, is sometimes described as difficulty catching your breath, wheezing, or breathlessness. I hope one recovers fast from that.. Learn about the advantages and disadvantages of donating blood, plus how it affects the body, Medical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. DreamerMeg from Northern Ireland on April 29, 2012: Amazing! To read your story was a little scary, my thoughts have been in a haze and I feel like a disoriented vegetable at times. I'm just a casual donor with no medical background but it seems as if your own lack of common sense was your demise. Sudden chest pain. Doctors call this volume overload, and people who have heart or kidney conditions may develop it. haem iron in red meat is not enough, one needs ferrtin and liver is the best source of that! The hemoglobin or hematocrit test that blood centers are required to do to determine if a donor is eligible to donate blood is a test for anemia and is NOT an iron test, though blood center staff often erroneously tell donors that it is an iron test. Nevertheless, blood recipients need our blood donations, and I donate for them. Naturally, the blood center loved me. Drugs, supplements, and natural remedies may have dangerous side effects. People may feel fatigued or experience some dizziness, lightheadedness, or nausea after donating blood. Woozy, Normally, the cardiologist would prescribe a blood thinner when a patient has been diagnosed with AFIB. being a college student in the middle of finals i couldn't believe this was happening to me. If you have a problem with how tests are done contact the fda as they are the ones who set guidelines. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. People can continue to drink extra fluids for the following 3 days to replenish lost fluids in the body. Your blood will be taken about 250-500 cc (half a liter) when you be a donors. The amount of iron reserves can be estimated by measuring ferritin levels. I would also suggest keeping away from caffeine and alcohol as it inhibits iron absorption. If your test reveals that you have a low hemoglobin count, you'll likely need more testing to determine the cause. It's minimum 12 weeks for men and 16 weeks for women between donations. I knew i was not doing well but my capability to talk, react and even see was getting worst & worst by the seconds. Many people with this condition experience shortness of breath or coughing only when . I can't believe the Mickey Mouse set up that goes on in the states. (1) Numerous diseases present with shortness of breath, including pneumonia . but that day i slept straight for 10 hrs. Blood donation can cause temporary drop in blood pressure, but it is generally considered safe. If symptoms continue or worsen, lower yourself to the floor, prop feet at a level higher than heart, and summon help. On inhaler. People experience and describe shortness of breath differently depending on the cause. I won't be donating anymore blood for a while. I recently gave blood at work, the needle felt as it was inserted wrong, as the pain was excruciating. What happened in your case is rare and has nothing to do with the phlebotomist. Exactly Andrew! Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. i had some food and tried to get some of my works done. Iron is but one component of hemoglobin. Your fingerstick hemoglobin test may be normal, even if your iron reserves are low. One should never drive feeling dizzy. Those effects above is highly because a dropping in your blood pressure. 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) Really hoping to make it to five gallons in my lifetime, but that'll take at least a decade at this rate. It should take you twice as long to breathe out as it did to breathe in. How do blood transfusions help treat a person with sickle cell disease? Have to stop donating blood for the time being while I rebuild my iron stores. When I asked them if it's going to be okay for me to go for a run the next day after donation they said yes, no problem. Symptoms will depend on the severity and may include: If other symptoms are present, the person should contact their doctor. Read on to discover how blood transfusions help manage the condition. 5 Health Benefits of Tea for Liver, Is Good ? Have you requested your hemoglobin records from your blood center for your donations prior to being diagnosed? If you have any enquiry regarding post-donation matters, please call (insert the telephone number and time when this service is . The CDC state that PTP is rare. 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. I didn't know what it even was so I went to the eye doctor being partially blinded by the lights appearing before my eyes. I don't donate now because I had prostate cancer in 2015, although surgery cured that. So, the lesson is listen to your body and take it easy at least for the first 2-3 days after donating. Information sheet transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI). I just donated (Germany) at my university where they set up a station, and that's something I will not do again that soon. Donating blood It has a profound influence on the quality of life of CKD patients, and its underlying causes are often associated with a negative prognosis. Any medical information published on this website is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice and you should not take any action before consulting with a healthcare professional. My PE was painless. Eight weeks is the minimum time between donations for whole blood and they take a pint each time you donate. I guess it takes a little longer for me to feel fully recovered after donating and I think I will cut back to 3 times/yr max. Paid employees of the blood centers are called phlebotomists, or "bloodletters," and they can help determine your eligibility. Anyway, were all just trying to do good here, theres no need to be condescending in saying we lack common sense. Donating 5 times a year? I am a healthy 34 year old and very energetic. Have a good meal the day of your donation and drink plenty of fluids. The woman taking my blood took a long time to find a vein (she might have never found it) and to swap my arm with the antiseptic. and now 2 days after donating blood im also having my periods. You can lie down and rest if you feel dizzy. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. I wish I did my research before donationg. i took a leave for the day. Up to now I am still poorly, bed bound most of the time due to the same headaches, dizzy, high pulse rate and just feeling weak in general. It's sad what happened to you, I would have been very angry, upset. don't they test you for iron?" Self Care. I donated blood once and was very dizzy for the next 2 weeks but it all cleared up. Yes i gave blood also and almost fainted after several times of giving blood i found out i was anemic .I was very lightheaded after giving blood .Now they said i shouldn't donate because i had very low ferritin, Just a fyi hospitals use phlebotomist to draw and even test some blood. In medication from past 2 weeks with bland diet, fruits an vegetable but shortness of breath persists. Some bruise at the site where the blood was taken may occasionally exist. ECG, TMT, Pulmonary test all came normal and endoscopy says I have gastritis. Going to try iron supplements and see if they correct my iron levels. Obesity linked to 21 genes related to Alzheimers disease, study finds, What to know about blood transfusions and sickle cell disease, Everything you need to know about blood transfusions and anemia. I'm now 45 and had not donated for about 15 years until this past May. You're absolutely right, they need to know. We avoid using tertiary references. Hydrate, eat well, and rest, and you should feel better soon! I was a healthy female age 45 walking 9 miles a day to getting tired just doing yard work or filing at work. Shortness of breath may be one of the first signs of a heart attack or stroke. Chris, I am very glad to hear you are doing much better! Research has looked into the effects of blood donation on heart health. We link primary sources including studies, scientific references, and statistics within each article and also list them in the resources section at the bottom of our articles. I've also been dealing with RLS, which can be due to insufficient iron, even with a ferritin level that is in the low-normal range. After donating, I returned to my desk, feeling a little dizzier than usual. I never failed the hemoglobin test the blood donation place does. Nausea can be triggered by few reasons. Not so much for men. There is no alternative for human blood. Signs and symptoms can include: Your doctor might recommend a complete blood count test to determine whether you have a low hemoglobin count. And I already booked the next appointment July 2018. But if they do not pass even one of the requirements they have to look for the next chance or even do some medication if theres infection in their blood before they can be the donor. Can a person do anything to help reduce the chance of a blood transfusion reaction from occurring? Long story short: I've been giving blood for years. The Red Cross is out there to help people, but I have to question if they get as many donors as they can to get some type of kickback from the government by showing that they can keep the blood flowing. Leung LLK. I wish I had heard of this before I donated for 10 years and became anemic. 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