Hi! On Saturday, I donated blood (via the red cross). They told me to eat a good breakfast, which I did. I had a 9:00 appointment, but I needed to push it a few hours back. They finished taking my blood around 12:30, and at that point, I hadn't eaten since breakfast. They strongly encouraged me to eat some cookies and drink water immediately afterwards (which they provided and which I did). They told me to drink plenty of water and eat good that day and to not skip any meals, and I did all of that. I ate lunch when I got home, around 1:00, but at that point, I was already feeling weak and woozy. Even though I ate lunch, I did not feel any better. I also did not feel any better after dinner, either. I had to lay down the rest of the day because I felt so weak. For sure I thought I would feel better on Sunday, but I did not. I still felt weak and woozy. Just today, I am starting to feel like myself again. Has this happened to anyone else? I cannot understand why it took me almost 2 days to start to feel better? I was told that blood replenishes quickly, so why didn't I feel better quickly? My only mistake (that my friend told me) was not eating a half hour before they took my blood. Since I pushed my appointment back a few hours, I did not eat a half hour before, because I was so busy. However, had I known to do that, I would have. Do you think me not eating a half hour before is why I felt so lousy for so long? They pricked my finger to check my blood for anemia before they took my blood, and my iron levels were perfect! I am a healthy person, which is why I am baffled as to why it is taking so long to feel 100%. Any guesses as to why? Thanks!
Yes, this was my first time donating. I will definitely do it again, and I will make sure I eat within a half hour of donating, and then immediately afterwards. Thanks for your replys!
Do you think this was psychological, or coincidence?
I used to give blood quite often for the Red Cross. I always felt fine about 5 minutes after the juice and cookies.
I donate regularly. Over the years it has taken me longer to recover. I am usually zapped the whole day I give blood. I go home and take a nap and or go to bed. But yes definitely eat before and after and drink plenty of water.
I donate blood every 3 months. I have never felt poorly afterwards. I just go on about my day.
I DO make sure that I eat a good breakfast, meal, snack...what have you, before I go. I drink a TON of water for the day before and the day of my donation. Seriously, from the time they stick my arm until the time I am off the table it takes me all of 5 minutes!
Have you donated before? Has this happened to you before? Did you read the little paper that came home with you when you were done? It tells you things to watch for and when to call them back if you are feeling crappy.
While you may have felt "not yourself" for a day or two, your blood is a lifesaver for as many as 3 people. Totally worth it, in my opinion!
L.
Chances are you had a little bug. It is quite unusual for you to not be feeling better after eating a full meal and certainly after eating two full meals and having a good night's sleep.
I have given blood many, many times, and the only time I experienced anything like this was when I had a stomach bug. I just didn't realize it until a couple of hours after I gave blood.
Sometimes these things just happen at the same time. Try not to read too much into it. That's just the way it goes, but hopefully the timing will be better next time.
Good for you for saying you'll do this again. It's so important.
I have donated almost 10 gallons through the years. The only time I feel odd is if I donate platelets so I no longer donate them.
I would give it one more time. Make sure you drink orange juice the day before, a really good breakfast.. no coffee and afterwards take it easy eat a good lunch and drink water. If you still feel odd or bad, maybe it is just not for you.
Honestly, I think most people feel pretty normal.
Eat iron rich foods.
I have a hard time donating, because my body doesn't replenish iron levels like it should. Even if my iron levels are fine before hand, afterward it can take me a week or two before I am back to normal. Heck, I had a major hemorrhage after giving birth to my dd and lost a lot of blood, and it took 3 months of being on a prescription iron supplement before I was able to be on my feet long enough to be medically cleared to return to work. Otherwise, I am completely healthy.
You can take a supplement afterward, or just make sure that on donation days you eat red meat for dinner. :)
The first time I donated blood I felt very weak and tired for about 2-3 hours after giving blood. I also ate cookies and drank juice after I was done but the more I do it the less I feel that way. I just feel weak during the actual blood taking, so I just lay back and close my eyes and relax because sometimes if I think about it to much, I freak myself out. If this was your first time maybe you just put to much thought into it.
Try it once more and if you have the same reaction maybe it just isn't for you.... good luck!
I have given close to 20 gallons in my life and never experenced this. However, all three times my husband (6 ft 220lbs) has donated, he has passed out in the chair. Different folks, different strokes. I'm glad your experience hasn't discouraged you from donating again:-).
Was this your first donation (ever? in a while?)? I also give blood regularly (every 56 days, unless I'm sick or pregnant) and have never felt bad afterwards. I usually donate around my lunch time and just have a snack between breakfast and the donation (like a granola bar, pb&j sandwich, etc), then eat a good lunch right after. I also chug the water before (makes the donation go much faster, too). Usually after donation, you should eat something sweet (blood sugar) and salty, my favorite combination is a juice box and popcorn! I avoid strenuous activities, lifting, and alcohol for the rest of the day.
If this was your first, I'd say to give it another try in 3-4 months and see if you feel crappy again. Some people just have a harder time with the donation process (and temporary reduced blood volume). If you feel fine after your next donation, this time may have just been a shock to your system. If you feel crappy again, you may want to hold off on donating for a while.
usually this happens to women who barely weigh 110 pounds the weight limit for donation..
or folks that barely have enough iron to donate.
I would encourage drinking a lot of water before you donate.. at least 24 oz. before.. make it 30-60 minutes before so you are well hydrated..
I'm sometimes slightly dizzy afterwards, but usually fine by the next day. One time I got really nauseous and lightheaded, but it seems to have been a one-time fluke.
But I often test too low in iron to donate, so I haven't been going as often as I should. I get annoyed having to get through a lengthy health questionnaire and a finger stick just to get turned away.
If you are not near the weight minimum also consider salt. I am salt sensitive and avoid it except when donating. If I don't eat something like pretzels after I feel funky for days.
Are you near the weight cut off? If you are a very small person then it may just take you longer to replenish your blood volume/iron to a level that doesn't make you feel yucky. The amount of blood they take in a donation is the same, regardless of how big of a person you are. Which is why there is a minimum limit (I'm not sure what it is, but I think it may be somewhere around 100 lbs).
Be sure to hydrate yourself before and after (not just immediately after, but pretty continuously for the entire day). And eat iron rich foods, also.
If you ever donate platelets, like another poster mentioned, drink some milk right before and/or after. My husband donates on a regular basis (I think he has donated nearly 30 gallons at this point) and often he donates platelets (he is a blood type that really limits his whole blood's usefulness). One of the techs once told him that getting a metallic taste or feeling nauseous from the platelet donation can be resolved by drinking milk. Not sure why. But he did it the next time and it worked.
Good luck.
I gave up years ago. Even though I felt absolutely fine the few times I have actually successfully donated, the majority of the time I have tried, they said my iron was too low to donate. I'm not anemic, but it didn't meet the standard they have for donation. I got tired of pricking my finger (the most painful part of the whole procedure) for nothing.
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The information I just googled said if you are over the age of 22, then the minimum weight is 110 lbs. There are different requirements if you are between 16 and 22/23. There is a weight/height correlation that you need to meet apparently.
Make sure that you drink plenty of water the day and night before. It's not just enough to hydrate the beginning of the day when you give blood.
Now you know to eat before you go. But I do wonder if you had a vaso-vagal response to giving blood. You might talk to your doctor about that.
If you happen to have a rare blood type, like AB positive or AB negative, you might think twice about donating. Your blood is only good for 30 days (or something like that) and if they don't have someone who needs your rare blood type, it will actually be thrown away.
If you have low blood pressure, that can make you feel woozy afterwards (at least until your volume of blood replenishes). My blood pressure has always been on the low side, and my "trick" for that is to donate blood after I've done a workout. That way my blood pressure is a bit higher, and I feel better afterward. :) The other thing I've learned is not to be afraid to eat some red meat right afterward. That seems to help with iron levels right away, and gets a good meal on board. Also, make sure you go into it fully hydrated. If you were a bit dehydrated before you donated, it would have been very hard for your body to recover. I hope your next experience goes smoother!
I've given blood but never had that reaction and have donated on pretty much an empty stomach, then feel a little light headed afterwards but within a few hours felt fine. Also have given plasma too, again only right afterwards felt a little weak, but fine after that.
Nope, I've never had a reaction like that.
Was your iron ok?
My whole family donates and no one has ever had that reaction. Chances are you had a virus of some sort.
I donate blood as often as I can, and many times I have had to hang out at the donation center for a while eating cookies and drinking juice because I get so dizzy and woozy. I've even passed out once! It's because I'm not very big (I'm not tiny by any means, 5'2" and 130 lbs) and not a big water drinker. I need to be, but I just seem to have a hard time making myself drink water! So I make sure my appointment is after lunch and I have at least half a gallon of water in me before I go. Then after the appointment I drink another half gallon of water and snack on salty snacks like pistachios and pretzels. But don't go crazy on the salty snacks! A little goes a long way. Your body needs both water and sodium to maintain healthy cellular metabolism. In other words, without both your body cannot replenish the blood lost.
I hope this experience doesn't discourage you from donating blood in the future. Try taking some of the tips given to you in the replies and donate again before deciding it's not for you.
It's never happened to me but I always eat breakfast so the lack of food might have been the problem.
