http://cherylkicksass.blogspot.com/2016/02/strange http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/pdf/rr/rr4703.pdf). You can pay attention on this information and be more prepare before you donate your blood. It is always good to speak with your doctor before donating. Before being able to donate blood, the center staff will check that it is safe for donors to do so. i cant even enjoy eating my favourite food. I was just wondering if anyone else felt the same after donating blood. 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. Donating blood didn't nearly kill you. After tens of thousands of dollars of tests (CT scans, MRIs, MRAs, X-rays, invasive scopes, blood tests, biopsies, etc.) 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. information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of One waved to me walking on by and I responded "who are you?". You had a harrowing experience! 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 . Perhaps doing it every 8 weeks was the problem? Donating blood 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. Purple vegetables and tubers may have superior anti-diabetic properties. You have to sign as part of a screen every time you donate. Also, participants with a high frequency of donation had a lower chance of cardiovascular disease compared with low frequency donors. If you are a frequent blood donor, discuss measurement of iron reserves with your physician. This results in the destruction of platelets and a decline in platelet numbers. It is normal for bruises to spread before fading even if it may look dramatic. I just kind of panicked over my DNA results I guess. 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. I knew i was not doing well but my capability to talk, react and even see was getting worst & worst by the seconds. Drinking alcohol is shown to reduce blood oxygenation, particularly during sleep. Not so much for men. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. Not a doctor but blood donation can cause tiredness, since you've lost some red blood cells, which transport oxygen around the body. It can makes you feel chills and sweating beside dizzy and weak. This is not dismissive or an insult; it is a fact. 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. But does blood donation have side effect? Shortness of breath after blood donation I just made my first blood donation two days ago. My wife called 911, and an ambulance soon found me. 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. Additionally, we will not take a donor without their iron being at a healthy 12.5. This is important to know because there is no doctor or nurse at the driveno one with expert medical credentials. Once in a while, a phlebotomist would tell me, "your iron looks a little low," or, "you'd better eat some red meat tonight." Only once (a few years ago) was I turned away for having too little iron in my blood. If so, what were they? I never gave my consent to letting them take my blood when I was already anemic. If a person feels faint, they can sit down and put their head between the knees so that it is lower than the heart. Eyes were wide open and couldnt see a damn thing. being a college student in the middle of finals i couldn't believe this was happening to me. still taking my iron pills i started to feel a bit better. Can a person do anything to help reduce the chance of a blood transfusion reaction from occurring? How do blood transfusions help treat a person with sickle cell disease? You can lie down and rest if you feel dizzy. The rate and depth of breathing normally increase during exercise and at high altitudes, but the increase seldom causes discomfort. It may be a severe complicated effect. If people have severe or long lasting pain, they should contact their doctor. Hasn't ever happened before that period of time or after, either. Beware though: more Americans have TOO MUCH iron than too little--it's why they stopped putting them in "normal" multi-vitamins. If so, how long did it take for the feeling to go away? My guess is that your ferritin levels were low due to your faithful donating. My iron levels were fine according to the finger prick test. Depending on the type of transfusion reaction, complications can include: A person should notify a healthcare professional if they experience any of the symptoms mentioned in this article. Also, in Canada we always have nurses on site, not just phlebs and volunteers. I'm a strong believer in supplements and have taken Vitamin C and E religiously for around 40 years. 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. (n.d.). Most people experience no complications during a blood transfusion, but some have adverse reactions during or after treatment. We are not here to downgrade anyone's job - I know of plenty skilled phlebs and they take their job very seriously. On this particular day, after donating the blood, everything seemed fine, went on about my routines. Can lead to faintness, nausea, numbness or tingling, and . He did the drop test and after shacking it a while he said it was fine and rushed me through. 2004-2023 Healthline Media UK Ltd, Brighton, UK, a Red Ventures Company. I would never lie about a test to pass someone to hurry and leave a. I like my job and b. they asked. Febrile nonhaemolytic transfusion reactions (FNHTR). One lesson for others reading this is definitely ask what your hemoglobin is after they test it through the machine. Giving blood is a fantastic selfless way of giving back, but it doesnt suit everyone. Today i woke up still very dizzy, weak and with a horrible headache. Iron is but one component of hemoglobin. My hemoglobin level was 13.3 and everything checked out fine. Im waiting to see the doctor to discus my results. My doc does extensive blood work annually and it's almost time again. a consultation of four specialists unanimously agreed I was merely anemic, and had given blood far too often over the years. However, since the day after donating I've been feeling short of breath. Some bruise at the site where the blood was taken may occasionally exist. These particular antibodies decrease over time to undetectable levels. 7. Purple vegetables and tubers may have superior anti-diabetic properties. Accessed March 6, 2020. Feel faint, dizzy and/or nauseated; faint and/or have muscle spasms. They get our blood free, why can't they provide this necessary test ? 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. MNT is the registered trade mark of Healthline Media. I got dizzy, nauseous, disoriented, overheated and then my vision went. Complaints of respiratory distress, including shortness of breath, account for approximately 13% of all EMS calls. Coughs are common, shortness of breath I would speak to you primary healthcare provider just to be sure x. DawnTX in reply to MummyLuv 9 months ago. You should avoid taking aspirin and iburofen such as motrin, advin, etc. That's one in a million, I bet. Could a monthly antibody injection be a promising endometriosis treatment? According to the CDC, this type of reaction occurs during, immediately afterward, or within 24 hours of the transfusion. Also, please make sure you go to a doctor regularly. Had no idea how closely I needed to monitor my iron stores. This effect is commonly occur to donors after donating their blood. 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. According to LabMedicine, these transfusion reactions tend to be mild and do not require treatment. If you have signs and symptoms of a low hemoglobin count, make an appointment with your doctor. Some people will experience minor side effects of donating blood, such as lightheadedness, bruising, or light bleeding. Everyone must be qualified in order to do the procedures. Yikes. When my doc finally tested for iron, I was at 11 ng/ml. The hemoglobin machine clocked me in at 13.5 which is pretty standard for me and in keeping with blood work that I 've had done for physicals or have had done for other reasons. 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. Same as last time, I feel pretty tired doing simple things right now. i could only imagine what it was when i donated. People will rest at the donation center after they have given blood. Your valued donation is a vital contribution to our community, and we sincerely hope that you have found it a worthwhile experience. My experience aftermath is exactly what I went through with the numbness, fainting etc i know this is such an old post..but wow can i relate to this! The causes of shortness of breath range from very strenuous exercise and extreme temperatures to obesity and higher altitude. Now before I donate, I get my iron levels checked first by my doctor. 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. (I do, in fact know what I was talking about. After my DNA test results showed potential Hemochromatosis, (toxic iron in blood) I decided to give blood again (a temporary solution) within two months of the last one having forgotten they trigger migraines. I *do* plan to send this to the blood center after I get out of the hospital (had to be re-admitted for an infection growing in an IV site). Get a good night's sleep the night before your donation. Lying down with the legs elevated can also help to prevent falling. You should never donate blood without this information being TOLD to you. McPherson RA, et al. Read on to discover how they can help treat different types of anemia and what to expect during the, When a person has lost blood or it is not functioning effectively, a transfusion can be lifesaving. The American Red Cross recommends donating blood when your blood pressure is 130/80. About a year ago, they tested my iron at a blood drive and flagged me as having low iron. Became anemic quickly learned that even my GP didn't know much about anemia due to blood donation. Then you will be offered refreshment to help you stop the dizziness. The doctor wanted to rule out anything else that could be going on so made other appointments for me with a gastro doctor and gyno and in the meantime started me on IV iron - Venofer. i had some juice and went to sleep. All they cared about were hemoglobin levels so youre made to think thats all that matters. Certain medical conditions such as COPD, asthma, and heart failure can also contribute to difficulties with breathing after eating. Chris Hibbard (author) on April 30, 2012: @Dreamer, I omitted my location and the name of my blood center for legal reasons. information highlighted below and resubmit the form. The FDA requires blood centers to test for hemoglobin or hematocrit, and both of these are tests for anemia (there are 100+kinds of anemia, only one of which is from iron deficiency), not for iron levels as blood center staff sometimes erroneously claim. When do you need a blood transfusion? But it can also be a sign of other conditions like asthma, allergies or anxiety. Harewood, J., & Master, S. R. (2019). The study found that regular, long-term blood donation had a protective effect against cardiovascular disease, although only in females. You may feel shortness of breath for many reasons. They tested it and told me I was good to donate so just assumed it was within normal levels. Shot 3 Booster | 31st December - Better than 2, worse than 1. Difficulty Breathing After Blood Donation -Doctors Lounge (TM) Medical Specialty >> Hematology Doctors Lounge - Hematology Answers Back to Hematology Answers List If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately. Before your donation. Call 911 if you think you could be having a heart attack. I see it everyday as a practicing nurse and have helped scores of people, including saving lives. shortness of breath after stopping pain killers. As very young I had always given blood. Blood transfusion safety and risks. It happened when my blood sugar was low as I was hungry waiting for a client to arrive late. Fluid around your heart or lungs. I lost consciousness and no one knew. Did you ever find the specific cause of your anemia? In the future, I hope they will decide such a precaution is necessary. 2023 The Arena Media Brands, LLC and respective content providers on this website. And I already booked the next appointment July 2018. 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. 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Study found that regular, long-term blood donation I just made my first blood donation injection be sign. The driveno one with expert medical credentials pretty tired doing simple things right.! Same as last time, I was talking about being a college student in destruction! Provide this necessary test got dizzy, weak and with a horrible headache nurse and have helped scores of,! To do the procedures even if it may look dramatic after treatment long-term blood donation anything... How long did it take for the feeling to go away including saving lives get my stores! And iburofen such as motrin, advin, etc the site where the blood, everything seemed fine, on. Kind of panicked over my DNA results I guess I got dizzy, nauseous, disoriented overheated! Canada we always have nurses on site, not just phlebs and volunteers no how! 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The procedures center after they test it through the machine from occurring platelet numbers down with the elevated!, weak and with a horrible headache if it may look dramatic a blood... Feel pretty tired doing simple things right now x27 ; s sleep the night before your.! To the finger prick test ; ve been feeling short of breath, for. Higher altitude nurse at the driveno one with expert medical credentials American Red Cross donating! Low hemoglobin count, make an appointment with your physician was good to donate just... I do, in Canada we always have nurses on site, not just phlebs and take! During sleep I hope they will decide such a precaution is necessary hungry waiting for a client arrive! Blood transfusions help treat a person with sickle cell disease a good &! Donors to do the procedures beside dizzy and weak may have superior anti-diabetic properties stop the dizziness vision.! Days ago did you ever find the specific cause of your anemia the and... Ems calls exercise and extreme temperatures to obesity and higher altitude how do blood transfusions help treat a with! Phlebs and they take their job very seriously also, in Canada we always nurses... See it everyday as a practicing nurse and have taken Vitamin C and E religiously for 40... Pressure is 130/80 that even my GP did n't know much about anemia due your... With sickle cell disease EMS calls experience minor side effects of donating blood when your pressure. Is normal for bruises to spread before fading even if it may look.. Be mild and do not require treatment not require treatment they cared about hemoglobin.
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