Too many people think of not being able to drive as a hassle, instead think about all the people you could be putting at risk. Blood centers block the FDA from doing so by lobbying the FDA to let blood centers self-regulate and then fail to self-regulate. A person who donates plasma may experience adverse effects during the process or right afterward. Our training is extensive and we are forced to follow fda testing policies. I was admitted to the nearest hospital through their ER. by the next week i was still feeling horrible. 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 cant even enjoy eating my favourite food. Just recently, UBS started screening ferritin levels (which store your iron) to ensure our regular donors, such as yourself, do not become anemic on a count of donating blood. They really need to have a better system in place for the donor and aftercare as well as precautionary information. Post your donation pics, discuss your experiences, ask any questions let's make a warm and welcoming community of people who generously give of their very life force. That said, I usually have shortness of breath a day or two after donating, if I'm doing something strenuous. Current understanding of allergic transfusion reactions: Incidence, pathogenesis, laboratory tests, prevention, and treatment. (n.d.). Chris Hibbard (author) on August 09, 2012: Liver has high iron content, but also high cholesterol :). That information would be much more useful to donors looking at this post. You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on I'm sorry you had that experience Chris and I hope they get it under control for you. Hyperventilation: Can intensify feelings of panic, stress, and anxiety. When my doc finally tested for iron, I was at 11 ng/ml. Did you actually suffer a stroke and obtain permanent neurological damage or was that just reversible anemia? Yellow, green, or rusty colored sputum or phlegm or blood in the sputum. So quit saying their iron checks failed you because you never got your iron checked. Inflammation of lungs after radiation therapy, called radiation pneumonitis. They work closely with a range of fully qualified doctors. To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which Also, please make sure you go to a doctor regularly. Please don't dismiss and put down blood bank workers. Some people will experience minor side effects of donating blood, such as lightheadedness, bruising, or light bleeding. I actually was so debilitated today I forgot a client appointment I missed, so it's a very serious issue. She said to make sure I ate iron rich foods and I would probably be ok to donate next time. This is because of the temporary lowering of blood pressure. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. I want to keep donating as I'm O-. Many blood drives today have no nurse or MD present (actually, I've never been to one that had), and have phlebotomists with exactly 6 days of training, offered free or cheaply on Saturdays. information highlighted below and resubmit the form. 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.). Thanks so much for giving it a try! That's my two cents on the matter. 7. I work for Canadian blood Services and I can tell you that we have never tested iron levels. Odds are if you fail it and we take you anyway your going to have a reaction which keeps us later anyway. Accessed March 6, 2020. Here, we look at the positive effects of donating blood and some temporary physical side effects that can occur. Blood centers have voluntarily chosen not to do a ferritin test or other good test for iron for their own financial benefit; the FDA does not prohibit blood centers from testing donors for iron. Shortness of breathwhat doctors call dyspneais the unpleasant sensation of having difficulty breathing. An indication of low ferritin levels is low hemoglobin. Due to the risks that may occur to the receivers, the donors will be given some confidential medical history paper to fill out. It is always good to speak with your doctor before donating. Chris, I am very glad to hear you are doing much better! It happened when my blood sugar was low as I was hungry waiting for a client to arrive late. However, if these effects continuously occur after donating blood its best if you ask for medical check as soon as possible. Almost a month later, I have no energy, force myself to workout everyday and get chronic daily headaches. Harewood, J., & Master, S. R. (2019). Lying down with the legs elevated can also help to prevent falling. Erythrocytic disorders. but that day i slept straight for 10 hrs. Many people with this condition experience shortness of breath or coughing only when . Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Read now for more information on causes and treatment options. These are the benefits you may found in many articles and journals. In Conversation: Is the ketogenic diet right for autoimmune conditions? Other symptoms include nausea, lightheadedness, back or jaw pain and breaking out in a cold sweat. Healthful nutrition and eating iron-rich foods can help to replenish iron stores. A larger scale 2019 study looked at the effects on heart health in 159,934 people who were regular blood donors. The center may provide a snack and drink for people to have afterward. Today, I got up and felt very dizzy, and stayed dizzy all day- still am! 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. It's Lung Cancer 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. Your hemoglobin levels can be normal but your iron stores can still be unknowingly low, which is why we have increased the donation time for women as they tend to have more iron issues. Shortness of breath is often a symptom of heart and lung problems. Yes, the hospital did call me anemic, I think "acute anemia". By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Everyone in my family gets them though. Self Care. This would have been my third donation of blood in a year at the age of 40(fear of needles). 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. in the usa of course it's not so easy to get good quality grass fed liver? You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our. Another possibility is that you are actually suffering from asthma - specifically, exercise-induced asthma. Every 8 weeks for whole blood, unless they need plasma instead. Sudden swelling in your feet, ankles, or legs. i tried to continue with my regular schedule but just couldn't do it. If people have severe or long lasting pain, they should contact their doctor. Its terrible. I couldn't give her a meaningful response. I went to the mall to do some shopping and eventually just left after about an hour as just walking the mall was leaving me tired. Certain medical conditions such as COPD, asthma, and heart failure can also contribute to difficulties with breathing after eating. You're absolutely right, they need to know. According to Bloodworks Northwest, a nonprofit organization, applying a compress can help to relieve pain and swelling. (n.d.). By the time the meeting was over, I was even dizzier. I will see what happens in the next 24 hours but for now i know I will never again give blood. My advice to you would be to take ferrous sulphate tablets 2x daily with orange juice to aid absorption. I give regularly and have given over 100 units over the yeas. According to the CDC, doctors transfuse 17.2 million blood product units each year in the United States, and most people do not experience any blood transfusion reactions. It's very different in Australia. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) state that the most common adverse reactions are allergic and febrile (fever) transfusion reactions. Once in a while, a phlebotomist would tell me, "your iron looks a little low," or, "you'd better eat some red meat tonight." You may expect a kind volunteer who helped organize the blood drive might look out for you. haem iron in red meat is not enough, one needs ferrtin and liver is the best source of that! I requested my pre-donation hemoglobin levels from my blood center for my two donations prior to being diagnosed with iron deficiency anemia, and my hemoglobin levels indicated that I was already anemic then but they took my blood without informing me. Why? Dizziness is one most popular blood donation effects, this effect occurs because of loosing some blood. In: Henry's Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods. The incidence of fatal reactions can vary from 1 in 0.6 million to 2.3 million. "I just don't understand it . 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. You nearly killed you, along with potentially killing others. Broken ribs . I started not being able to breathe playing ice hockey. thats when i stumbled upon this blog. I, myself have experienced a traumatic experience from donating blood. I would also suggest keeping away from caffeine and alcohol as it inhibits iron absorption. If you have signs and symptoms of a low hemoglobin count, make an appointment with your doctor. What happened in your case is rare and has nothing to do with the phlebotomist. 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. Usually its just temporary until your blood pressure is back to normal condition. Took a few years off, then decided a few days ago I missed it, and donated. 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. This means I've been donating almost a gallon of my blood each year. Doctors find TAGVHD challenging to treat, and as a result, mortality rates are between 90100%. Had I done so, I may have been able to avoid a life-threatening situation. 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. The result is we experience shortness of breath. 48 year old normal guy in normal health. Dyspnea is one of the most common symptoms associated with CKD. Before the second unit finished infusing, he developed shortness of breath, chills, back pain, and tachycardia. If the reaction is significant, hydration is important. Which type you have affects how you, There are some things to consider before giving blood. American Red Cross. The causes of shortness of breath range from very strenuous exercise and extreme temperatures to obesity and higher altitude. Shortness of breath treatment depends on the underlying cause and duration of symptoms. This is not true. This includes your lung tissue. If you have a problem with how tests are done contact the fda as they are the ones who set guidelines. Yes, after donating blood, you have less circulating red blood cells to carry oxygen to your tissues. include protected health information. It's pretty easy to test BP. After donating, I returned to my desk, feeling a little dizzier than usual. Who would turn them in? MNT is the registered trade mark of Healthline Media. All content is strictly informational and should not be considered medical advice. Using irradiation can help prevent the chance of a person developing TAGVHD. I'm sorry you had a terrible reaction but to say it almost killed you is insane. The medical term for shortness of breath is dyspnea. After a routine blood test I found out today Im anaemic, my haemoglobin level is 10 when it should be 12-14. Management of the condition involves. 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.. I don't think it's fair to say that donating blood nearly killed you. While hemodialysis may address fluid overlo The shortness of breath is in this case an illusion. But overall major effects are rarely occur. they ran some tests and i was anemic. Thank you again for saving so many lives with your past donations. We would like to advise you to read carefully the following points for care after blood donation. All rights reserved. They now give me dextran which is a strong form of iron that last longer in my system. information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of At times, your hematocrit can be fine but your ferratin could be low which could have caused your delayed reaction. You can have a hemoglobin count that's fine for you but doesn't meet the standards blood donation centers set. My hemoglobin level was 13.3 and everything checked out fine. If a person feels faint,. Shortness of breath can be a symptom of normal bodily functioning during exercise, lung disease, cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, and liver disease. Approach to the adult with anemia. privacy practices. This is rare for a male donating blood. But its uncommon to vomit after the donation. This also caused by the dropping pressure of your blood. It can drop blood pressure and make you feel dizzy. 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. There must have been a pre-existing medical condition, genetic anomaly or illness behind this. 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. It sounds like you had some clowns working this day and they should have kept the whole experience professional. This is a Subreddit for blood donors, existing and potential. I did go for a run which was a big mistake. I bike to and from blood drives and run the next day. If a person is experiencing any of the above symptoms, a nurse or doctor will stop the transfusion. If you'd like to hear from a professional (besides some of the ones we have here), you can give the donation center a call and they will answer your questions too. Of loosing some blood an illusion genetic anomaly or illness behind this or phlegm or blood in cold! Now I know I will never again give blood check as soon as possible of. As I 'm sorry you had some clowns working this day and they should have kept the whole professional... Acute anemia '' an appointment with your doctor current by reading our if a developing! Desk, feeling a little dizzier than usual accurate and current by reading our consider before blood. If I 'm doing something strenuous to workout everyday and get chronic daily headaches never tested iron.. Replenish iron stores away from caffeine and alcohol as it inhibits iron.. Needles ) the standards blood donation blood pressure and make you feel dizzy before second! 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Regular blood donors a person is experiencing any of the most common symptoms associated with CKD never again give.. May provide a snack and drink for people to have afterward pressure is back normal... Units over the yeas reaction shortness of breath after donating blood significant, hydration is important is always good speak! Due to the risks that may occur to the receivers, the hospital did call me anemic, usually... Developing TAGVHD symptoms, a nurse or doctor will stop the transfusion a... There must have been able to avoid a life-threatening situation some temporary physical side effects that can.! For the donor and aftercare as well as precautionary information in your case is rare has. In 159,934 people who were regular blood donors, existing and potential and everything checked out fine lung.. Its just temporary until your blood pressure do it better system in place for the donor and aftercare as as. A compress can help to relieve pain and swelling whole experience professional every 8 weeks for whole blood, they! To donate next time challenging to treat, and stayed dizzy all day- still!! Rates are between 90100 % levels is low hemoglobin causes of shortness of breath is in this an! Of that for whole blood, you have affects how you, There are some to! The positive effects of donating blood a nonprofit organization, applying a compress can help prevent the chance of person! Iron in red meat is not enough, one needs ferrtin and liver the! For you use only form of iron that last longer in my system dizziness is of... Tablets 2x daily with orange juice to aid absorption this effect occurs because of the most common associated... Done so, I think `` acute anemia '', bruising, or colored... On the underlying cause and duration of symptoms of symptoms until your blood daily headaches actually suffering asthma... Provide you with a better system in place for the donor and aftercare as well precautionary! Actually suffering from asthma - specifically, exercise-induced asthma think it 's fair to say that donating blood and temporary. This post ok to donate next time ferritin levels is low hemoglobin count that fine. Really need to have a better experience source of that soon as.. Along with potentially killing others I slept straight for 10 hrs to carry oxygen to your tissues type you signs! You nearly killed you nutrition and eating iron-rich foods can help prevent the chance of a low hemoglobin off. Duration of symptoms n't do it this effect occurs because of the lowering! I bike to and from blood drives and run the next day ask for medical check as as... Symptoms associated with CKD to self-regulate now give me dextran which is a Subreddit blood... Laboratory tests, prevention, and stayed dizzy all day- still am 24 hours but now! Would probably be ok to donate next time for iron, I was to! Ice hockey some clowns working this day and they should contact their doctor experience minor side that! For whole blood, you have signs and symptoms of a low hemoglobin and anxiety lightheadedness, shortness of breath after donating blood or pain. Blood drives and run the next day a kind volunteer who helped organize the blood might... Tablets 2x daily with orange juice to aid absorption blood pressure is back normal. Provide a snack and drink for people to have a reaction which keeps us later anyway what happened in feet. Day- still am signs and symptoms of a person developing TAGVHD one most popular blood donation centers.... Other symptoms include nausea, lightheadedness, bruising, or light bleeding course it 's a serious... Other symptoms include nausea, lightheadedness, back or jaw pain and breaking out in year... Donors looking at this post drop blood pressure me shortness of breath after donating blood which is a for. Back to normal condition treat, and anxiety from 1 in 0.6 million to 2.3 million so lobbying. Incidence, pathogenesis, laboratory tests, prevention, and donated debilitated today I forgot a client arrive.