If your blood center did take you and your iron level were below this minimum, the FDA should be notified as this is cause to be fined. To help prevent this, they can leave their bandage on for a minimum of 4 hours after a donation. This is because of the temporary lowering of blood pressure. Chest pain that gets worse. I often tested at the low end of normal for iron when I went to give blood, and was turned away twice. I can't believe these comments giving blood in the UK is much more regulated than this and is totally run by volunteer nurses. Those with the antibodies have a higher chance of developing these transfusion reactions. Sudden swelling in your feet, ankles, or legs. I was just wondering if anyone else felt the same after donating blood. health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health Nevertheless, blood recipients need our blood donations, and I donate for them. The doctor told me in the mean time not to even think about donating any blood until my stores come back. Treatment depends on the severity of the symptoms: According to a 2012 article, most cases typically resolve within 4872 hours. I was kind of peeved at my doc. Perhaps doing it every 8 weeks was the problem? Met multiple doctors and all give medicine for acidity. 1998-2023 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). Wondering if there's a cutoff age? Severe symptoms include: spasms vomiting shock irregular pulse cardiac arrest Arterial puncture An. somewhat like nerve pulling. I hope FDA/AMA will recommend this soon. Donors must continue to donate in order to have a supply for our community. 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. Afterward, a person can apply a warm compress four times a day for 20 minutes. Hemolytic transfusion reaction. But if you have more than one of these symptoms, even if you haven't been diagnosed with any heart problems, report them to a healthcare professional and ask for an evaluation of your heart. As a frequent donor over the decades, I have met some highly qualified, professional, well-trained phlebotomists. My local blood center comes to my office park every eight weeks for a blood drive. 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. this post is from 4 years ago i believe and it saddens me to see that not much has changed with the red cross. A person can learn more about the potential risks and complications here. 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. I don't donate now because I had prostate cancer in 2015, although surgery cured that. Not a doctor but blood donation can cause tiredness, since you've lost some red blood cells, which transport oxygen around the body. information submitted for this request. that night i slept at about 1am. I'm glad you're doing ok now. It's pretty easy to test BP. For more severe cases, a. Not sure if that's a problem or what to do. Iron Toxicity is dangerous. Have been turned away often due to low BP and/or low hemo, but am at nearly 4 gallons. Paid employees of the blood centers are called phlebotomists, or "bloodletters," and they can help determine your eligibility. You can lie down and rest if you feel dizzy. 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. https://www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/blood-donation-process/before-during-after/iron-blood-donation/donors-deferred-forlowhemoglobin.html. Blood centers block the FDA from doing so by lobbying the FDA to let blood centers self-regulate and then fail to self-regulate. 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. Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Mayo Clinic School of Continuous Professional Development, Mayo Clinic School of Graduate Medical Education. If symptoms do not improve, people can contact their doctor. I am a healthy 34 year old and very energetic. Pain and tingling may be a serious effect. Yellow, green, or rusty colored sputum or phlegm or blood in the sputum. If you have any enquiry regarding post-donation matters, please call (insert the telephone number and time when this service is . i feel constantly tired. i researched about ferritin levels and got tested for that and what do i find..my ferritin is a level 5! Everyday we have patients who need blood which only generous donors can provide. We look into which foods to eat, which activities to avoid, and any adverse effects to watch, Almost everyone can donate blood. Giving blood is a fantastic selfless way of giving back, but it doesnt suit everyone. But its uncommon to vomit after the donation. The shortness of breath may be related t some type of a lung issue, which I'm sure the pulmonologist is aware of at this point. Read now for more information on causes and treatment options. For more severe cases, a person may require artificial ventilation. Could a monthly antibody injection be a promising endometriosis treatment? They get our blood free, why can't they provide this necessary test ? It's minimum 12 weeks for men and 16 weeks for women between donations. Bruising, or discoloration of the skin, is normal following blood donation. Blood clots can be life-threatening and require immediate medical attention. If you have signs and symptoms of a low hemoglobin count, make an appointment with your doctor. 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. 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. HubPages is a registered trademark of The Arena Platform, Inc. Other product and company names shown may be trademarks of their respective owners. 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. Examples include a fever, chills, itching, or breathing difficulty. Don't trust the blood center to save your life; they almost took mine away. It's sad what happened to you, I would have been very angry, upset. As a multiple-gallon donor, who hopes to donate again someday, I believe we deserve this level of safety. 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. Took my doc years to find the cause. Some procedures and criteria are made even more strict by the medical directors of the organization. Shortness of breath is a common symptom of allergy, infection, inflammation, injury, or certain metabolic conditions. I would never have thought that in America, a developed country, that donating blood sounds so primitive. It is normal for bruises to spread before fading even if it may look dramatic. Some other possible causes include: Carbon monoxide poisoning Heart attack Low blood pressure Asthma flare-up Pneumonia Pulmonary embolism (blood clot in the lungs) Emotional distress or a panic attack If your shortness of breath symptoms last for four weeks or longer they may be considered chronic. Can diet help improve depression symptoms? 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. A summary of the blood transfusion reactions are as follows: The outlook depends on which reaction a person is experiencing. Shortness of breath is often a symptom of heart and lung problems. Every 8 weeks for whole blood, unless they need plasma instead. I had a full blood count down at my doctor's just a month ago (for a check up) and my hemoglobin and hematocrit were fine. 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. My wife called 911, and an ambulance soon found me. Therefore the hemoglobin test. Did you ever find the specific cause of your anemia? You should never donate blood without this information being TOLD to you. Ferritin levels are not measured on blood donors. Acute Shortness of Breath. If FNHTR occurs during the transfusion, the healthcare professional will stop the procedure. 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. Learn more about how to recover after donating blood here. They were so busy saving a life (to borrow their drive slogan) that they almost snuffed me out. i drove myself to the hospital. Chris Hibbard (author) on August 30, 2012: Thanks for your concern BR, I'm back on track so far, back up to healthy #s all around after taking iron supplements and now off them. information highlighted below and resubmit the form. If the reaction is significant, hydration is important. Woozy, Normally, the cardiologist would prescribe a blood thinner when a patient has been diagnosed with AFIB. In Conversation: Is the ketogenic diet right for autoimmune conditions? On the twelfth day, my body seemed very fatigued. However, blood centers choose to not self-regulate to reduce the harm to blood donors of iron deficiency or anemia with blood donation or taking blood from already anemic donors. 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. Today, I got up and felt very dizzy, and stayed dizzy all day- still am! I waited for hours in the ICU for a heart attack or lung infarction to happen but fortunately it didn't. The alteplase did its job and I survived. I wish I did my research before donationg. Hematoma is a bruise caused by the inserted needle slips through the vein and cause local bleeding. I went to meet a new physician about a month ago and she had a general blood test since I was a new patient and she noticed that I had general anemia. Lung infection (pneumonia). (I do, in fact know what I was talking about. 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.). So quit saying their iron checks failed you because you never got your iron checked. Treatment depends on the severity of the reaction and may include: According to a 2012 article, septic transfusion reactions typically occur due to bacterial contamination of the donor blood components, most commonly from the platelet products. I had seen the lights before a few years ago, but never so extreme while my head was throbbing. 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. You should have got a hotline number on a piece of paper when you were done donating. Thanks so much for giving it a try! That is one mistake I will NEVER make again. Blood banks are regulated by the FDA. I actually was so debilitated today I forgot a client appointment I missed, so it's a very serious issue. Today i woke up still very dizzy, weak and with a horrible headache. I got over it and informed the blood bank since they email me reminders and know my history of donating--they claimed that you can't give too much--after much research I realized they actually lie about it. Sat I gave and my iron was on the min side 13.0, this was using a meter as it didn't pass the sink test. 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. When my doc finally tested for iron, I was at 11 ng/ml. The second time they were running late and I was the last one to donate. My PE was painless. I was a healthy female age 45 walking 9 miles a day to getting tired just doing yard work or filing at work. For a short while, I thought I was merely dreaming of driving, and didn't have any conscious control over my vehiclestill at 60MPH in the fast lane. I have been told, though I am not positive, buckwheat has higher iron content. The paramedic will definitely check your health and measure the effects for you before you can donate. Once in a while, a phlebotomist would tell me, "your iron looks a little low," or, "you'd better eat some red meat tonight." (n.d.). I have been giving blood for years . After this, they will address the specific symptoms, which can include: According to the CDC, a febrile non-hemolytic transfusion reaction (FNHTR) is the most common reaction. If you have a problem with how tests are done contact the fda as they are the ones who set guidelines. since then its been like this. A blood clot in your lungs, known as pulmonary embolism. Yes, I would do it as soon as possible as you are already experiencing symptoms. It involves an unexplained rise in temperature during or 4 hours after the transfusion. Or if your heart isn't working as well as it should, this could cause a build-up of fluid in the lungs, making it difficult to breathe. There is a problem with It's an easy job to get into, with a national average starting salary near $30k, and training available for as low as a few hundred dollars (subsidized) that can be as short as six weekend classes. I wrote it off to the marathon heat wave we were going through, and never thought there was a medical reason. A 2013 study consisting of 82 male and female participants found an improvement in cholesterol levels in blood donors. When we eat a large meal we require more energy to digest what we eat and experience more pressure on our chest and diaphragm. I have been donating 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. when i donated they checked my hemoglobin and it was 14.8 a week later at the emergency room is was around 10.2 or something like that. Iron is but one component of hemoglobin. According to the CDC, this type of reaction occurs during, immediately afterward, or within 24 hours of the transfusion. Not good. However, serious blood transfusion reactions are uncommon. (n.d.). This can occur as a result of a heart attack, a stroke, or other heart problems. This effect is commonly occur to donors after donating their blood. So, the lesson is listen to your body and take it easy at least for the first 2-3 days after donating. Been feeling very tired every morning this week when getting up for work, thinking it's the blood donation hangover since it's only been 5 days since I donated. regulations might even require it soon. Altruism and wellbeing in an age of austerity. They should not feel guilty about it. 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 ! A person may feel faint or dizzy after donating plasma. If I had yearly physicals (with a *doctor*), I would've known I wasn't able to safely give blood. Just in case. How Viagra became a new 'tool' for young men, Ankylosing Spondylitis Pain: Fact or Fiction, Debra Sullivan, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., CNE, COI, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28797569/, https://www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/how-to-donate/how-blood-donations-help/blood-needs-blood-supply.html, https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/publications/doing-good-altruism-and-wellbeing-age-austerity, https://www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/blood-donation-process/before-during-after/iron-blood-donation/iron-rich-foods.html, https://www.oneblood.org/media/blog/donor/what-happens-to-your-body-when-you-donate-blood.stml, https://www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/blood-donation-process/donation-process-overview.html, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3663474/, https://www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/blood-donation-process/before-during-after.html, https://www.bloodworksnw.org/donate/need-to-know/after-donating, https://www.notifylibrary.org/sites/default/files/Donor%20fainting%2C%20Wieling%2C%20.pdf, Skipping breakfast and fasting may compromise the immune system. Okay assuming that you were not experiencing consistent breathing problems when you were still smoking and this has only started to happen on your quit then yeah this can be a symptom when quitting. If obesity or poor health is the cause, you will need to make lifestyle changes to manage your shortness of breath. 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. ONE OF MY REASON,IS BECAUSE I HAVE NOT DONATED BLOOD OVER TWENTY YRS. Helping others can have a positive effect on the people performing the good deed. 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. First time I am still not feeling well after donated 3 weeks back. Current understanding of allergic transfusion reactions: Incidence, pathogenesis, laboratory tests, prevention, and treatment. I didn't faint or anything during the process, but felt lightheaded which I thought was just a normal reaction. When I realized what was happening, I laid on the horn and started moving across three lanes of traffic to the shoulder. Im 48 and its been maybe like 4-5 years I dont donate so idecided to donate yesterday afternoon. A person should avoid alcohol for 24 hours before and after donating. The donor who is dedicated to help saving lives, and supports the blood donation center with his very own life's blood? This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here. People may also experience some pain or tenderness at the site of the needle insertion, and possibly some minor swelling. If an individual experiences any severe symptoms, they should contact their doctor, or call 911 in an emergency. I had thoughts in my head, but I didn't have any words I could put them into. Everyone in my family gets them though. 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 . For a while I donated every 6 months, but when my new company accepted donations every 2 months I was on board to follow that schedule for 5 years and felt good about my donations. I wanted to share my opinion and my story about frequent blood donating. How can blood transfusions treat anemia? While volunteers may help show you to your seat in a waiting area, or cross your name off the sign-up list, they do not have the training to determine if you're healthy enough to donate. Hirayama, F. (2013). Yes, an increase in hemoglobin, red blood cells, and hematocrit leads to shortness of breath. In TACO, the circulatory system becomes overwhelmed, resulting in pulmonary edema where the lungs fill up with excess fluid. 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. Shot 3 Booster | 31st December - Better than 2, worse than 1. A compress may ease any tenderness until the pain goes away. I even had to be bathed the first few days. Factors can include your overall health, medical history, and genetics. I donated over a month ago (MLK Day) and the needle hit a nerve. Excuse the "all-caps rage" there, I really wanted that info to stand out :D, that link didn't come out so here's a tiny url one to the same. They test hemoglobin. And yes you can have high hemoglobin and low iron. The causes of shortness of breath range from very strenuous exercise and extreme temperatures to obesity and higher altitude. People may experience some minor bruising due to blood under the surface of the skin. Eyes were wide open and couldnt see a damn thing. There are times where my iron has been a couple points too low and I've been told "maybe next time." Dr. Fritz: Shortness of breath is a symptom of an underlying problem or problems, not a disease of its own. Transfusion reactions. I asked them politely to take my name off of their calling list but because of my blood type that everyone wants, O negative, I was simply ignored, called continuously, and even told I was wrong, that it was impossible to suffer adverse effects. Also, participants with a high frequency of donation had a lower chance of cardiovascular disease compared with low frequency donors. If a person feels faint,. This is a Subreddit for blood donors, existing and potential. The shortness of breath is in this case an illusion. 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. THANKYOU SO MUCH ABOUT THE IRON , WHEN I WAS IN MY EARLY TEEN YRS IWAS ALSO, ANEMIC, AND MY MOTHER CURE WITH BLENDED BEEF LIVER, IWAS NEVER AGAIN ANEMIC.GOD BLEESYOU KEEP UP THE GGOD THEE. DreamerMeg from Northern Ireland on April 29, 2012: Amazing! Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. I felt giving blood was a good thing to do that took a small bit of time. The ferritin checks I was getting at the blood drives failed me--for whatever reason. I want to keep donating as I'm O-. shortness of breath If these symptoms are left untreated, they may become more severe. According to LabMedicine, treatment for TACO depends on the severity. We are not here to downgrade anyone's job - I know of plenty skilled phlebs and they take their job very seriously. You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on my friend says it might be symptoms of iron deficieny. I just kind of panicked over my DNA results I guess. It can drop blood pressure and make you feel dizzy. These particular antibodies decrease over time to undetectable levels. Maybe the Red Cross can do a little more to test people before donating (although I do understand how that can put non-profit agencies in a pinch.). The most common causes of short-term dyspnea are: Anxiety disorders. If you feel nausea it is usually follow by vomiting. still taking my iron pills i started to feel a bit better. Shortness of breath after blood donation. And on a side note I had education to do what I do and am nationally certified. I recently gave blood at work, the needle felt as it was inserted wrong, as the pain was excruciating. Shortness of breath, fatigue, constant headaches and muscle pain. I was told by these doctors that I could never give blood again. 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. Use pursed-lip breathing any time you feel short of breath. If someone experiences any long lasting or severe symptoms after giving blood, they can contact their doctor. Healthcare providers, blood banks, and hospitals take many precautions to help reduce the chance of a transfusion reaction from occurring. 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. At times, your hematocrit can be fine but your ferratin could be low which could have caused your delayed reaction. It's highly unusual for a healthy male donor to become so anemic as to need an iron transfusion. For donors there are reactions of bodys tolerance during and after donating procedure. And I'm hoping a rare one. If a person develops an acute hemolytic transfusion reaction, the doctor or nurse will stop the transfusion. The center may provide a snack and drink for people to have afterward. We also look at how to treat these side effects. Took a few years off, then decided a few days ago I missed it, and donated. 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. bleeding of the gastrointestinal tract and urinary tract. My hemoglobin level was 13.7. But it can also be a sign of other conditions like asthma, allergies or anxiety. I guess what I'm getting at is that if you want to donate blood you should have a blood panel run every 6 months (if you can). but that day i slept straight for 10 hrs. Long story short: I've been giving blood for years. In this article, we discuss the potential reactions a person may experience due to a blood transfusion. Last ferritin level was 19. I've had constant shortness of breath almost 4 weeks now after covid, 49 male, non smoker, no asthma or cold etc. back then they said it was nutrient deficiency. He found that my iron stores were completely depleted. It took me about three months to recover from that ordeal. I called to share my experience with the blood drive cehnter & ask if I should see a doctor..who would undoubltedly tell me to go home and rest. Shortness of breath after blood donation I just made my first blood donation two days ago. As very young I had always given blood. I decided to leave for home while I could still drive. Do any symptoms still linger and did you actually suffer a stroke? If symptoms continue or worsen, lower yourself to the floor, prop feet at a level higher than heart, and summon help. Migraines can in turn cause the stroke symptoms I experienced, such as tingling numbness, losing consciousness, and expressive aphasia (losing the ability to talk). Thank you again for saving so many lives with your past donations. I kept on with my regimen of iron pills and foods until I could see the doctor. Hasn't ever happened before that period of time or after, either. This week I decided to go to the doctors and ask for a general check up after feeling unwell for what seems like weeks. Who would turn them in? Shortness of breath, also known as dyspnea, when climbing a flight of stairs can be caused by a respiratory condition like COPD or asthma. I was barely informed of what to do and not to do before my donation, let alone after. Still have some fatigue and shortness of breath but not that bad for it to be noticeable throughout my day. 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. 48 year old normal guy in normal health. This could have easily ended my life. the unsubscribe link in the e-mail. Yes, this is pressing so just get in there and donate asap and put this behind you. Usually the amount of blood that be taken is about 250 to 500 cc. I wanted to do my part helping others not hurt myself. Examples of vitamin C-rich foods include: Regular donors may also find taking a multivitamin that contains iron helps to replenish iron stores. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. In the future, I hope they will decide such a precaution is necessary. Those effects above is highly because a dropping in your blood pressure. However, if you have had one previously, then you should let your doctor know before receiving another transfusion.
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