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does anyone give blood on a regular basis? - 8/27/2011 10:44:24 PM
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dianerene
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I have been giving blood every 8 weeks, on the nose, for over a year. I have O+ blood and I also have that blood factor (I can't remember the name of it at the moment) that makes my blood viable for newborns.
I have had no issues with it other than some funky iron readings ... in my right hand I will read higher than my left hand and sometimes it's just on the border of being acceptable.
oddly, the last two times I have gone to donate, I have actually been turned away because my iron is too low ... I read a 12.3 this last time and passing is a 12.5.
it's so frustrating! I've done nothing differently ... I make sure to eat before I head in, I always schedule my appointment for the same time and nothing in my diet has changed.
the really strange thing is, they say it takes 2 weeks to change the iron level in your body and I can be denied one day and 2 days later I am accepted. I just don't get it!!
I have never had issues with my iron accept when I am pregnant (an NO, I'm so not pregnant). I have a strong dislike (and distaste) for iron pills, but I am beginning to wonder if my fluctuating levels have anything to do with my lack of energy. maybe it will be enough if I add a multivitamin with iron in it??
I dunno - any thoughts??
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RE: does anyone give blood on a regular basis? - 8/28/2011 10:51:20 PM
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fiery
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Iron deficiency can make you tired, diane. I had to take iron tablets years ago when I was on the anemic side and they never got to the bottom of what was causing it. I think it's because when I'm run down, I don't feel like eating or cooking, so I eat more junk than usual. I would say it does affect your energy levels.
Could be iron deficiency anemia.
Initially, iron deficiency anemia can be so mild that it goes unnoticed. But as the body becomes more deficient in iron and anemia worsens, the signs and symptoms intensify.
Iron deficiency anemia symptoms may include:
- Extreme fatigue
Pale skin
Weakness
Shortness of breath
Headache
Dizziness or lightheadedness
Cold hands and feet
Irritability
Inflammation or soreness of your tongue
Brittle nails
Fast heartbeat
Unusual cravings for non-nutritive substances, such as ice, dirt or starch
Poor appetite, especially in infants and children with iron deficiency anemia
An uncomfortable tingling or crawling feeling in your legs (restless legs syndrome)
If you or your child develops signs and symptoms that suggest iron deficiency anemia, see your doctor. Iron deficiency anemia isn't something to self-diagnose or treat. So see your doctor for a diagnosis, rather than taking iron supplements on your own. Overloading the body with iron can be dangerous because excess iron accumulation can damage your liver and cause other complications.
Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/iron-deficiency-anemia/DS00323/DSECTION=symptoms
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RE: does anyone give blood on a regular basis? - 8/29/2011 9:14:19 AM
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ChristineB
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I give blood alot. I come up low on Iron about half the time. I usually pep up my red meat and I start feeling better right away. Come to think of it I'm exhausted, I always forget about Iron!
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RE: does anyone give blood on a regular basis? - 9/6/2011 10:30:30 PM
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dianerene
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thank you ladies. I added a daily vitamin with iron in it. I had slacked off on my vitamins and was just taking calcium (I hate pills ... have I mentioned that before? - lol).
I'm trying to make a habit of it, but it's hard. I have to take it 4 hours after my thyroid medication which puts it right smack in the middle of my day. I may need to set an alarm for it like I do my night time meds 
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RE: does anyone give blood on a regular basis? - 9/7/2011 3:26:04 PM
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fiery
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quote:
ORIGINAL: dianerene
thank you ladies. I added a daily vitamin with iron in it. I had slacked off on my vitamins and was just taking calcium (I hate pills ... have I mentioned that before? - lol).
I'm trying to make a habit of it, but it's hard. I have to take it 4 hours after my thyroid medication which puts it right smack in the middle of my day. I may need to set an alarm for it like I do my night time meds
Hubby hates them too. He grumbles every day about how many he has to take, but heck, it's better to have them than not. :) It makes him feel old he says.
An alarm is good. You're online so much you could set up an email alert with a reminder. I use the Backpack free account for reminders all the time because I forget things easily when there's a lot going on. It landing in my inbox is often the only chance something has of being seen and acted upon. You can set them all to reoccur daily, weekly, annually etc. if you want and/or just set it for a single specific time/date. I use it for birthday reminders and stuff too. So you could set one to repeat daily at 4pm or whenever.
You can set ones that don't reoccur too to be notified of in a couple of hours, or the following morning, or whatever, or a set time on a set day. There's lots of options. I send myself some that are really basic like " is the dinner on yet?" or " don't forget the laundry needs done" LOL. I'd be lost without it, honestly. I've used this for at least five years if not more. Probably closer to 7. I have ones that remind me to remind hubby to take his medicine too. You can just set it and forget it.
You can have 2 users and get 5 individual pages for different to-do lists, etc with that free plan. Reminders are unlimited. (The sign up's in small type at the bottom of the Plans and Pricing page, under the Max Plan box.)
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RE: does anyone give blood on a regular basis? - 9/13/2011 2:04:11 PM
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ChristineB
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My iron was a-ok when I gave last! I was shocked!!
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RE: does anyone give blood on a regular basis? - 9/13/2011 4:11:28 PM
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fiery
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That's good it's back on track. Hubby was at the dr's this morning and his iron's dropping, so he's to take supplements too now. Must be something in the air! Seems everybody's on them.
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RE: does anyone give blood on a regular basis? - 9/14/2011 9:36:28 AM
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dianerene
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I may need to look into that, Kay! I need reminders for everything these days
the good news ... the red cross called and asked me to donate before my next scheduled appointment. I went in, even tho I hadn't been regular with the multi vitamin yet and my iron came back at 13!! I think that's the highest it's ever been - lol! and it only took ONE POKE!
so hopefully this is a sign that it's working. I enjoy giving blood and I'm O+ so it's always needed, and I have some sort of thing going on with my blood that it's given to infants?? I haven't looked into what that's all about yet.
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RE: does anyone give blood on a regular basis? - 9/29/2011 2:19:52 PM
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fiery
Posts: 5730
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quote:
ORIGINAL: dianerene
I may need to look into that, Kay! I need reminders for everything these days
the good news ... the red cross called and asked me to donate before my next scheduled appointment. I went in, even tho I hadn't been regular with the multi vitamin yet and my iron came back at 13!! I think that's the highest it's ever been - lol! and it only took ONE POKE!
so hopefully this is a sign that it's working. I enjoy giving blood and I'm O+ so it's always needed, and I have some sort of thing going on with my blood that it's given to infants?? I haven't looked into what that's all about yet.
That's great news! Sorry I overlooked your post before. Yeah, I'd forgotten that was one of the things the Red Cross checked before taking it.
On the newborns, it could be to do with you being Rhesus negative maybe? I know that if the mom's Rhesus negative and the baby's Rhesus positive, her body will treat it as if it's a virus or something and make antibodies to attack the baby's red blood cells and it gets into their system and can cause more damage. So maybe your blood's used to replace the baby's blood when it's born. Or perhaps it's the other way round: if you were Rh positive... they'd give that to the mom to help prevent her body trying to reject the baby I believe but I think that's more during pregnancy or to help future pregnancies. I'm just guessing here obviously. :)
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RE: does anyone give blood on a regular basis? - 10/5/2011 5:02:46 PM
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dianerene
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I think that's it. all I know is they ask me if I need the "baby pack" which means I get a special collection bag. I dunno, I'm just happy to donate :)
My mom had that issue when my brother was born, I wonder if it's related to my having being Rh+??
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