I would also suggest keeping away from caffeine and alcohol as it inhibits iron absorption. Sudden shortness of breath. 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. So quit saying their iron checks failed you because you never got your iron checked. "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 . Dr. Fritz: Shortness of breath is a symptom of an underlying problem or problems, not a disease of its own. I seldom go to the Dr but if you donate--you do have to watch out for yourself regarding your iron because many blood banks won't. Thanks for all the comments. https://www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/blood-donation-process/before-during-after/iron-blood-donation/donors-deferred-forlowhemoglobin.html. Not sure if that's a problem or what to do. I would recommend you donate blood and support your local blood center if your doctor says you are able to do so. Because there are risks of blood-borne infections. Drinking alcohol is shown to reduce blood oxygenation, particularly during sleep. I will not give blood ever again. But it can also be a sign of other conditions like asthma, allergies or anxiety. I hopped on the next bus, got home 5 minutes later and didnt move a muscle out of my bed. 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. He did the drop test and after shacking it a while he said it was fine and rushed me through. And I already booked the next appointment July 2018. If so, how long did it take for the feeling to go away? First time I am still not feeling well after donated 3 weeks back. I'm now 45 and had not donated for about 15 years until this past May. Before donating it was at 14.1, as I was told. 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. On behalf of blood banks, I apologize for your experience. Chris, after your accident and when you were in the hospital, were you diagnosed with anemia, based on your hemoglobin or hematocrit level then? Your fingerstick hemoglobin test may be normal, even if your iron reserves are low. donation gives my great feeling That's really true. According to the American Red Cross, people can drink an additional 16 ounces (oz) of water before they donate blood, and an extra 8 oz of fluids afterward. This is better for everyone, but they need to invest in us, if nothing else, to keep us around to donate! Also, keep in mind that the safety of exercising after blood donation also varies depending on the type of donation you're making. AMA?) Blood donation can cause temporary drop in blood pressure, but it is generally considered safe. The internal medicine doctor told me the "prick test" my blood center uses to test iron content is inaccurate, but still would have shown I was dangerously low before I donated. We avoid using tertiary references. I don't run any marathons, but I do walk five miles a day, sometimes seven days a week. Yellow, green, or rusty colored sputum or phlegm or blood in the sputum. Learn more, Some people believe that they cannot donate blood after having a tattoo. Shortness of breath can result from a range of problems, including an allergic reaction, an anxiety attack, or anemia. I just gave 2 pints about 7hrs ago and have a migraine. Bacterial infections may occur during the blood donation if the needle is not sterilized. One waved to me walking on by and I responded "who are you?". It's also one of the most common reasons people phone 999 for an ambulance. If symptoms do not improve, people can contact their doctor. * a small bleeding ulcer can cause low iron, even one that doesn't show up in a EGD (Upper Endoscopy). Wondering if there's a cutoff age? However, TRALI can be fatal and has a mortality rate of between 525%. Shortness of breath, fatigue, constant headaches and muscle pain. Post-transfusion purpura: Current perspectives. still working on getting my ferritin back up. Read now for more information on causes and treatment options. It is normal to feel a little bit tired after donating blood because theres less circulation of blood to the brain. 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. Minimum for females to be able to donate is 120g/L. Everyone needs to know this and it should be sent to the blood donation center for the staff there to see! 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. This could have easily ended my life. Keep in mind, I'm a healthy 40-year-old male with no history of anemia or other blood problems. How can blood transfusions treat anemia? 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. You had a harrowing experience! Not good. these side affects hit me so hard! They are knowledgeable in the medical field and there are some nurses working there. I get migraines too and I'm a healthy female. 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. I used to donate all the time in my 20's. The DNA test wasn't a good means to determine if I should give blood. Healthful nutrition and eating iron-rich foods can help to replenish iron stores. privacy practices. I hope FDA/AMA will recommend this soon. All rights reserved. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. Been donating blood regularly (usually six times a year) for about eight years. Our training is extensive and we are forced to follow fda testing policies. The last time the lady was really lovely (no rushing) My blood just wouldnt drop in the solution and when they checked a blood sample it failed as my haemoglobin level was slightly low (should be 125 and it was 121 ) I was told it was not at a level to worry about and there was no need to see the doctor. 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. This includes your lung tissue. Signs and symptoms can include: Your doctor might recommend a complete blood count test to determine whether you have a low hemoglobin count. I, myself have experienced a traumatic experience from donating blood. Blood-borne infection is infections that are transmitted through the blood. I now will need to do IV iron probably for the rest of my life. That information would be much more useful to donors looking at this post. I was a "life donor". 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. What to do before, during, and after your donation. Everyday we have patients who need blood which only generous donors can provide. Inflammation of lungs after radiation therapy, called radiation pneumonitis. Anyway, were all just trying to do good here, theres no need to be condescending in saying we lack common sense. Febrile nonhaemolytic transfusion reactions (FNHTR). https://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatments-and-side-effects/physical-side-effects/low-blood-counts/anemia.html. 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. CA as a law against buying blood; they're donor-supplied as well. 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. Hemoglobin and hematocrit are not measures of iron. Shortness of breath can be a symptom of normal bodily functioning during exercise, lung disease, cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, and liver disease. I think the future of blood donation has more strict measures for donors, as the blood center nearest me hinted they're already considering. Find out in this article. Those with long-term anemia have problems with energy and even with motivation. You may feel shortness of breath for many reasons. Examples of vitamin C-rich foods include: Regular donors may also find taking a multivitamin that contains iron helps to replenish iron stores. Exactly Andrew! Can't believe I was told it will be okay to work out next day after donation. Dizziness Dizziness is one most popular blood donation effects, this effect occurs because of loosing some blood. This results when air gets trapped in damaged areas of the . Doesn't help. 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. However, they may need to wait 12 months before doing so, Blood types depend on the content of the blood cells and are inherited from parents. It's day two and I'm out of breath, lethargic and slow all the time. Acute Shortness of Breath. 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. Learn more about how to recover after donating blood here. A lot of people are misinformed and mistake iron levels as the same thing as hemoglobin levels. 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 . They now give me dextran which is a strong form of iron that last longer in my system. Anyone else have bad shortness of breath after covid and how long did it last? 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. 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. Talk to a health care provider to find out more about why you feel shortness of breath. The doctor told me in the mean time not to even think about donating any blood until my stores come back. If you feel fatigue and about to faint you should immediately lie down and rest. Over time, these elevated levels of blood glucose can cause damage to the network of blood vessels and nerves throughout the body, especially the delicate blood vessels and nerves around the heart. Smoking is a reason for Shortness of breath after quitting smoking. they ran some tests and i was anemic. 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. Shortness of breath Dizziness or lightheadedness Chest pain Cold hands and feet Headaches At first, anemia can be so mild that you don't notice it. I wonder if that had anything to do with my iron levels as I try to stay clear from heavy red meats and eat more fish and vegetables. When you smoke, you inhale a toxic gas, which is carbon monoxide. Those who donate or attempt to donate are just as important as those who are needing a donation. I used to attend as part of a blood donating "team" and many times many of our members were turned down for low iron. Why? 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. The causes of shortness of breath range from very strenuous exercise and extreme temperatures to obesity and higher altitude. This effect is commonly occur to donors after donating their blood. Iron supplement overdose is the LEADING CAUSE of FATAL POISONINGs for children under 6. BIG MISTAKE! This is not true. Wow. And cold! People may experience temporary physical side effects of donating blood. The reasons include feeling pain of venipuncture, when the donor seeing his or her own blood and seeing another donor unwell, when the anxiety and state of tension of undergoing the donation, etc. Chris Hibbard (author) on March 20, 2013: That is frightening information. DreamerMeg from Northern Ireland on April 29, 2012: Amazing! For example, if you're making a double red cell donation donating twice the usual amount of red blood cells your medical professional may tell you to avoid strenuous exercise for more than a day. It's like my life has stopped since I haven't been able to go back to my daily routine. i feel constantly tired. The CDC state that PTP is rare. This helps your lungs expand and may make it easier to breathe. We look into which foods to eat, which activities to avoid, and any adverse effects to watch, Almost everyone can donate blood. The rate and depth of breathing normally increase during exercise and at high altitudes, but the increase seldom causes discomfort. I feel tired all the time but cannot fall to sleep right away. During this particular blood drive, the phlebotomists were instead engaged in a heated discussion over whom among them was the laziest employee, citing many recent examples of each other's poor work at the blood drive that day. Sudden onset of shortness of breath may indicate something quite serious requiring immediate medical attention, such as a heart attack, a blood clot in the lungs or a problem with the aorta. Press J to jump to the feed. The patient tolerated the first unit without difficulty. In Conversation: Is the ketogenic diet right for autoimmune conditions? Last medically reviewed on June 15, 2020, Learn how to help the body recover after donating blood. If the reaction is significant, hydration is important. . 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 after blood donation I just made my first blood donation two days ago. Dyspnea is one of the most common symptoms associated with CKD. why are the headaches only one sided, why so many things. My blood specialist told me neither has enough iron to help me, I need quite a bit more, either pills or IV. should i be worried? . If a person develops an acute hemolytic transfusion reaction, the doctor or nurse will stop the transfusion. "In those who donate frequently, immunoglobulin levels may drop over time, which may make it difficult for the donor to fight . 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. It usually takes 3-5 days to recover from donating. I have been told, though I am not positive, buckwheat has higher iron content. Perhaps doing it every 8 weeks was the problem? If people have severe or long lasting pain, they should contact their doctor. when i told this to my mom, she assured me that this could be expected since i lost blood. I never would have become so anemic if I had bloodwork done in the past few years. 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