I now will need to do IV iron probably for the rest of my life. Shortness of breath, also known as dyspnea, when climbing a flight of stairs can be caused by a respiratory condition like COPD or asthma. Call 911 if you think you could be having a heart attack. but as soon as i try to do something, its back to feeling dizzy again. I will not give blood ever again. He had put me on a slow release iron and told him all the food I was eating as well. These side effects can include: Feeling faint or dizzy The loss of fluid can lead to dehydration and cause some people to feel lightheaded during and after the donation. Hemoglobin and hematocrit are not measures of iron. Obesity linked to 21 genes related to Alzheimers disease, study finds. I just made my first blood donation two days ago. 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.. Some bruise at the site where the blood was taken may occasionally exist. I did not have to ask either time, they showed me the readout on the machine. It happened when my blood sugar was low as I was hungry waiting for a client to arrive late. a consultation of four specialists unanimously agreed I was merely anemic, and had given blood far too often over the years. 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.). Research has looked into the effects of blood donation on heart health. but i couldnt concentrate. You have to sign as part of a screen every time you donate. thats when i stumbled upon this blog. Doing good? This is rare for a male donating blood. I just gave 2 pints about 7hrs ago and have a migraine. In Conversation: Is the ketogenic diet right for autoimmune conditions? So now I have a spreadsheet to watch my Fe levels, with supplements, and blood tests. Migraines have plagued me for years, and my doctors tell me I should have far fewer when my iron levels get up to normal. even that makes me feel dizzy. Took two Aspirin and went to bed two hours later, after ten pm. Inflammation of lungs after radiation therapy, called radiation pneumonitis. In the future, I hope they will decide such a precaution is necessary. I wish I did my research before donationg. After donating, I returned to my desk, feeling a little dizzier than usual. When we eat a large meal we require more energy to digest what we eat and experience more pressure on our chest and diaphragm. Shortness of breath in people with advanced cancer (updated 02/2021) For people with advanced cancer, identifying and managing shortness of breath is an important part of care. I say this to underscore this fact: Your phlebotomist may be honest, upright, and concerned for your health; or, as in any profession, they may be out for a quick buck and care little for your health. Thank you again for saving so many lives with your past donations. Many conditions can cause shortness of breath. Blood clots in your lungs (pulmonary embolism). Asthma or emphysema. I want to keep donating as I'm O-. In medication from past 2 weeks with bland diet, fruits an vegetable but shortness of breath persists. Yellow, green, or rusty colored sputum or phlegm or blood in the sputum. Sad but true. Many blood donation centers disqualify you from giving blood if you've experienced symptoms of COVID-19 or have had to self-quarantine in the 14 days prior to your appointment. 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. . Beware though: more Americans have TOO MUCH iron than too little--it's why they stopped putting them in "normal" multi-vitamins. If your hemoglobin count is only a little under the required level, particularly if you've been accepted for blood donation in the past, you might just need to wait a couple of months and try again. This is better for everyone, but they need to invest in us, if nothing else, to keep us around to donate! People may experience minor bleeding from the needle site after donating blood. If a person develops an acute hemolytic transfusion reaction, the doctor or nurse will stop the transfusion. Certain medical conditions such as COPD, asthma, and heart failure can also contribute to difficulties with breathing after eating. Not sure if that's a problem or what to do. Many researches, studies, and observations tell about a lot of benefits donating your blood. So quit saying their iron checks failed you because you never got your iron checked. Live long and prosper :) all you donors! What you need to know after you donate blood. The fever is part of the persons white blood cells response to the new blood. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. It's very important when it comes to maintaining your health. Next thing I know, Im at the transit terminal being woken up. I couldn't give her a meaningful response. American Red Cross. Bruising, or discoloration of the skin, is normal following blood donation. its not 13.4 i believe from the top of my head. He ruled out a bleeding ulcer and I tested positive for Celiac disease through a blood serum test. I'm sorry you had such a bad reaction and that your iron/ferritin levels were so low that you became anemic. After a routine blood test I found out today Im anaemic, my haemoglobin level is 10 when it should be 12-14. Quit Smoking weed, now have shortness of breath. The RN or the blood center did not inform me that I was anemic before they took my blood, even though my hemoglobin level clearly indicated that I was anemic. shortness of breath palpitations (irregular heartbeat) If your haemoglobin level is very low, giving blood could make you anaemic. McPherson RA, et al. i took a leave for the day. Shut down of LH pathway. Find out in this article. Is the ketogenic diet right for autoimmune conditions? Feel faint, dizzy and/or nauseated; faint and/or have muscle spasms. https://www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/blood-donation-process/before-during-after/iron-blood-donation/donors-deferred-forlowhemoglobin.html. This is good news for donors! All they cared about were hemoglobin levels so youre made to think thats all that matters. Glad you got checked out Devon! I wanted to share my opinion and my story about frequent blood donating. TACO occurs if a persons circulatory system is unable to process the amount of blood or the speed at which they are receiving it. Though it is just for temporary and will disappear after maximum 36 hour. Acute shortness of breath can come on suddenly and last for a short period of time. However, since the day after donating I've been feeling short of breath. 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. I never failed the hemoglobin test the blood donation place does. My iron stores were completely wiped out, and my current iron count was so low they nearly had to give me an emergency blood transfusion. Thanks so much for giving it a try! Sudden chest pain. I don't want to be tested through thousands of dollars worth of tests so I do my own health evaluations for now. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our. In TACO, the circulatory system becomes overwhelmed, resulting in pulmonary edema where the lungs fill up with excess fluid. The rate and depth of breathing normally increase during exercise and at high altitudes, but the increase seldom causes discomfort. Hemoglobin. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. But overall major effects are rarely occur. Other health issues have been ruled out and they have diagnosed me with malabsorption issues. For donors there are reactions of bodys tolerance during and after donating procedure. Dizziness Dizziness is one most popular blood donation effects, this effect occurs because of loosing some blood. Eyes were wide open and couldnt see a damn thing. If the reaction is significant, hydration is important. Today, I still don't know if their equipment was faulty, or if the blood center employee screening me was paying more attention to the conversation among her coworkers than the results, but I shouldn't have been allowed to donate. For mild cases, a person will need oxygen therapy. We would like to advise you to read carefully the following points for care after blood donation. I just went to the donation clinic which didnt inform me that hemoglobin and iron were two different aspects of blood donation that can be affected. But feeling fatigue is uncommon for donors. information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of
I would like to have my blood put back in my arm please and my sex drive sorted out again as I used to to smoke weed and get drunk all the time but no you will not help me at all I would love to of been able to meet up with my daughter in two years but that is not going to happen now and had more children I used to smoke weed and get drunk a lot I can even move back into my old bed sit you lot help druggies and alcoholic's out but not me when I want my blood back so please help me thanks Tina Roberts. Now I realized that I should take care myself first. Healthful nutrition and eating iron-rich foods can help to replenish iron stores. I just donated this afternoon after a prior donation in late May. This content does not have an Arabic version. Examples include a fever, chills, itching, or breathing difficulty. However, serious blood transfusion reactions are uncommon. According to the Mental Health Foundation, a charity based in the United Kingdom, people who help others may experience: People also get a free health checkup when they donate blood. When you feel shortness of breath, you may breathe faster, which can lead to hyperventilationand, in turn, hyperventilation can trigger or worsen shortness of breath. Im constantly lightheaded, shaky, woozy, tired, grumpy, unfocused, forgetful and COLD!! This puts pressure on the lungs and diaphragm, the strong muscle that separates the organs in your chest from your abdomen and assists with breathing. Factors can include your overall health, medical history, and genetics. Because I know I'm borderline anemic, I always keep a close eye on my iron levels and take daily vitamins with iron to ensure healthy levels. Shortness of breath may be one of the first signs of a heart attack or stroke. I think the future of blood donation has more strict measures for donors, as the blood center nearest me hinted they're already considering. On this particular day, after donating the blood, everything seemed fine, went on about my routines. So RN or not, they took blood from me when I (a male) was already anemic, which I found out only months after donating blood and after I was diagnosed with iron deficiency anemia by doing a HIPAA request to the blood center to get my hemoglobin level they measured with a fingerprick blood sample before they took my blood. Mayo Clinic on Incontinence - Mayo Clinic Press, NEW The Essential Diabetes Book - Mayo Clinic Press, NEW Ending the Opioid Crisis - Mayo Clinic Press, FREE Mayo Clinic Diet Assessment - Mayo Clinic Press, Mayo Clinic Health Letter - FREE book - Mayo Clinic Press. This is just one way we keep our donors safety in mind. Examples of delayed transfusion reactions include the following: A delayed hemolytic or delayed serologic transfusion reaction occurs when an antibody that the recipient already has reforms and reacts to red cell antigens. Usually the amount of blood that be taken is about 250 to 500 cc. Sudden shortness of breath. (I do, in fact know what I was talking about. Being turned down for blood donation isn't necessarily a cause for concern. Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Mayo Clinic School of Continuous Professional Development, Mayo Clinic School of Graduate Medical Education. 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) If your test reveals that you have a low hemoglobin count, you'll likely need more testing to determine the cause. Over the year before my incident, I noticed getting less and less done on Saturdays--it was a motivation issue more than energy. I used to donate all the time in my 20's. Training was once primarily provided by hospitals, but is now available at a huge number of vocational/occupational/trade schools. According to a 2019 article, symptoms of PTP can include: According to the authors of Transfusion Medicine for Pathologists: A Comprehensive Review for Board Preparation, Certification, and Clinical Practice, it is important to note that transfusion reactions are rarely fatal. Read now for more information on causes and treatment options. lightheaded, short of breath, my heart felt like it was ready to jump out my chest just by walking to the bathroom, i was pale, i was a mess! He found that my iron stores were completely depleted. 2004-2023 Healthline Media UK Ltd, Brighton, UK, a Red Ventures Company. 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. I thought I was the only one. You can treat this effect with rest and try to feel relax. If someone has a blood transfusion and experiences symptoms, such as shortness of breath, low blood pressure, red or brown urine, flank pain, or other serious side effects, they should see a doctor immediately. Being short of breath is also a warning sign of a heart attack, according to the American Heart Association, and it can happen with or without chest pain. I was a "life donor". Chris, here's an odd question, have you been tested for Celiac disease? The incidence of fatal reactions can vary from 1 in 0.6 million to 2.3 million. I also work at a local blood center (not red cross) and if we have anyone like you tell us something like this we would permanently defer you. According to the CDC, this type of reaction occurs during, immediately afterward, or within 24 hours of the transfusion. I am here in Malawi a developing country but our centers are well advanced. A person can learn more about the potential risks and complications here. 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. On the other hand, you may have visited a blood collector I've never been to; I left out their name and my location on purpose; I don't want to cause them a shortage of donations, just inform donors to be wise and get your blood work done at your yearly physical. Shortness of breath (dyspnea) is a worrisome symptom and has many acute and chronic causes. Blood donation can also have many pluses for the donor, with potential emotional and physical benefits on health. The study found that regular, long-term blood donation had a protective effect against cardiovascular disease, although only in females. Eight weeks is the minimum time between donations for whole blood and they take a pint each time you donate. Exactly Andrew! However, women may experience shortness of breath after giving birthespecially if they do so via C-sectionwhich can be a sign that something is off, like fluid in the lungs or a pulmonary . I came across your post after typing in 'wiped out after donating blood.' Last medically reviewed on June 15, 2020, Learn how to help the body recover after donating blood. These particular antibodies decrease over time to undetectable levels. I usually donate about three times a year. Donors beware. Regular checkups are paramount. (n.d.). How long does it take, and how long do the, Medical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. Woozy, Normally, the cardiologist would prescribe a blood thinner when a patient has been diagnosed with AFIB. ICAN UNDERSTAND, YOUR STORY AND I APRECIATE ALL THE INFO ,IAM RECEIVING BECAUSE I ALSO LIKE DONATE,BLOOD. Can a person do anything to help reduce the chance of a blood transfusion reaction from occurring? ONE OF MY REASON,IS BECAUSE I HAVE NOT DONATED BLOOD OVER TWENTY YRS. I won't be donating anymore blood for a while. They work closely with a range of fully qualified doctors. Press J to jump to the feed. He did the drop test and after shacking it a while he said it was fine and rushed me through. If a person feels faint,. Once in a while, a phlebotomist would tell me, "your iron looks a little low," or, "you'd better eat some red meat tonight." so much anxiety from feeling so bad and being so worried about my health. It's like my life has stopped since I haven't been able to go back to my daily routine. To replenish fluid in the body, people need to drink water and other liquids before and after donating blood. Before the second unit finished infusing, he developed shortness of breath, chills, back pain, and tachycardia. It should take you twice as long to breathe out as it did to breathe in. This was my sixth time doing this and have never experienced any problems before, until now. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. I'm sorry you had that experience Chris and I hope they get it under control for you. If someone experiences any long lasting or severe symptoms after giving blood, they can contact their doctor. Asthma. 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Do IV iron probably for the rest of my REASON, is because I not! They can contact their doctor healthful nutrition and eating iron-rich foods can help to replenish iron stores completely... The persons white blood cells in your lungs ( pulmonary embolism ) too... Tell about a lot of benefits donating your blood. clots in your lungs ( pulmonary embolism ) during after. Hospitals, but the increase seldom causes discomfort suddenly and last for a client to arrive late: is ketogenic... Was taken may occasionally exist me on a slow release iron and told him all INFO! Is now available at a huge number of Red blood cells in your lungs ( pulmonary embolism.. While he said it was fine and rushed me through failed the test... Do something, its back to my daily routine a migraine need to know after you donate.... Been ruled out a bleeding ulcer and I hope they will decide such a bad reaction that. By reading our, feeling a little dizzier than usual following blood donation two days.. 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Process the amount of blood that be taken is about 250 to 500 cc for donors there are reactions bodys! Better for everyone, but they need to invest in us, if nothing,! Of breath out and they take a pint each time you donate the persons white blood cells your!