The doctor told me in the mean time not to even think about donating any blood until my stores come back. Usually the amount of blood that be taken is about 250 to 500 cc. Shortness of breath, fatigue, constant headaches and muscle pain. Naturally, the blood center loved me. I was a healthy female age 45 walking 9 miles a day to getting tired just doing yard work or filing at work. (n.d.). It's not horrible, but it feels like having a cold or being sick. Just now checked on the app and it was 128g/L. He found that my iron stores were completely depleted. This is all so familiar. Keep in mind, I'm a healthy 40-year-old male with no history of anemia or other blood problems. as well. Before being able to donate blood, the center staff will check that it is safe for donors to do so. 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. Thank you, this was very helpful in making a decision whether or not to donate. 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. other information we have about you. Acute Shortness of Breath After Transfusion A 74-year-old man with a three-month history of worsening anemia was admitted for a transfusion of two units of packed red blood cells, I had shortness of breath, heart palpitations, continue to drink water and eat, shortness of breath on exertion (SOBOE I'm warning all my friends who donate regularly to GET CHECKED and DON'T trust the Blood Centers. Any use of this site constitutes your agreement to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy linked below. I'm sorry you had a terrible reaction but to say it almost killed you is insane. I will not give blood ever again. I have been so tired, dizzy and sever headaches. Your valued donation is a vital contribution to our community, and we sincerely hope that you have found it a worthwhile experience. Thanks for all the comments. I don't donate now because I had prostate cancer in 2015, although surgery cured that. It's every 12 weeks for men in the uk and every 16 for women. 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. I go in this month to see how if his plan to get me back to normal is working so far :D, i donated blood on the 5th of july and have been weak for several weeks and what i found was that i needed the ferritin of liver (grass fed here in tasmania, australia). I never would have become so anemic if I had bloodwork done in the past few years. I recently gave blood at work, the needle felt as it was inserted wrong, as the pain was excruciating. Got out of bed to tell someone but collapsed after a few steps. Answers represent the opinions of our medical experts. 1998-2023 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). Other things you might ask your hematologist about: * Some meds affect absorption, including proton pump inhibitors (for ulcers/ GERD). A 2013 study consisting of 82 male and female participants found an improvement in cholesterol levels in blood donors. This is just one way we keep our donors safety in mind. I couldn't give her a meaningful response. and now 2 days after donating blood im also having my periods. What happened in your case is rare and has nothing to do with the phlebotomist. A few years ago, I became anemic and my doctor told me I should check in to the hospital it was so bad. Today i woke up still very dizzy, weak and with a horrible headache. 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.). Obesity linked to 21 genes related to Alzheimers disease, study finds. I was told by these doctors that I could never give blood again. I WAS SHOCKED! Do not smoke. Wow. I just gave 2 pints about 7hrs ago and have a migraine. 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. I decided to call my wife and keep her on the phone with me while I drove. 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. Read this article to learn about the different types of blood. Using irradiation can help prevent the chance of a person developing TAGVHD. i could only imagine what it was when i donated. Harewood, J., & Master, S. R. (2019). Felt very dizzy and confused and dry tongued. If this happened very often, I'm sure they'd have some real litigation on their hands. information highlighted below and resubmit the form. (We thought it was asthma at first.) I hopped on the next bus, got home 5 minutes later and didnt move a muscle out of my bed. Ferritin is an acute phase reactant and can be elevated due to many reasons this is why it is done in conjunction with other specific measures of iron if anemia or iron overload is being evaluated. Shortness of breath after blood donation. We link primary sources including studies, scientific references, and statistics within each article and also list them in the resources section at the bottom of our articles. Not a doctor but blood donation can cause tiredness, since you've lost some red blood cells, which transport oxygen around the body. Everything you need to know about blood types, Advantages and disadvantages of donating blood, greater sense of belonging and connection, citrus fruits, such as oranges and lemons. I would never have thought that in America, a developed country, that donating blood sounds so primitive. It usually takes 3-5 days to recover from donating. Many people with this condition experience shortness of breath or coughing only when . even that makes me feel dizzy. Wondering if there's a cutoff age? 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. This is important to know because there is no doctor or nurse at the driveno one with expert medical credentials. Shortness of breath is often a symptom of heart and lung problems. There is a Registered Nurse in charge of the phlebotomists where I donate blood, but the minimum required hemoglobin or hematocrit for males is set too low and allows blood centers to take blood from male donors who are already anemic. A phlebotomist certainly didn't follow procedures in the article above, if it's to be believed. 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). Hyperventilation: Can intensify feelings of panic, stress, and anxiety. Migraines can in turn cause the stroke symptoms I experienced, such as tingling numbness, losing consciousness, and expressive aphasia (losing the ability to talk). i called the donor hotline which wasnt much help. Sometimes it . As of now, even if I get clearance from my physician, I am a bit apprehensive to the idea of ever donating blood again. He told me he was concerned and wanted to send me to a hematologist to let them sort this all out. By the time the meeting was over, I was even dizzier. It is especially important to drink extra fluids in the first 4 hours following a donation. At times, your hematocrit can be fine but your ferratin could be low which could have caused your delayed reaction. What happens to your body when you donate blood? People will rest at the donation center after they have given blood. Could a monthly antibody injection be a promising endometriosis treatment? 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. Donating blood helps save lives and has positive benefits for donors, such as improving their emotional and physical health. We link primary sources including studies, scientific references, and statistics within each article and also list them in the resources section at the bottom of our articles. I HAD AND ERUPTED BLADER TRAUMA OPRATION,AND I LOST ALOT BLOOD.2REASON IS THAT I HOPE THAT MY BLOOD CAN HELP SOMEBODY. privacy practices. Suddock, J. T., & Crookston, K. P. (2020). Common causes of shortness of breath after eating include acid reflux, food allergies, or inhaling food particles. After being diagnosed, I researched and found that not only can frequent blood donation cause or contribute to iron deficiency or anemia, but that the FDA also allows blood centers to take blood from donors who are already anemic without informing donors. Please also report your symptoms to Canadian Blood Services by calling 1 888 2 DONATE. Up to now I am still poorly, bed bound most of the time due to the same headaches, dizzy, high pulse rate and just feeling weak in general. 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. If I could safely give blood today, I would still be donating--AND getting checked by my doctor. I was just over halfway, driving 60MPH in the fast lane, when I lost the ability to talk. I used to attend as part of a blood donating "team" and many times many of our members were turned down for low iron. * a small bleeding ulcer can cause low iron, even one that doesn't show up in a EGD (Upper Endoscopy). New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. Speaking of which, this happened nearly a year agoI need to make an apt :D. Jmillis2006 from North Carolina on March 16, 2013: This is how our health care systems operate all on numbers, most of these organizations could care less about the people the serve. I didn't faint or anything during the process, but felt lightheaded which I thought was just a normal reaction. If so, what were they? It is really helpful to make a decision whether or not to donate. 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. All content is strictly informational and should not be considered medical advice. Thanks God nothing major happened to you. I feel tired all the time but cannot fall to sleep right away. Once people have rested and have no adverse symptoms, they can leave. i didnt feel much tiredness right after then. Thanks for sharing. I used to donate all the time in my 20's. Learn more about how to recover after donating blood here. Usually the amount of blood that be taken is about 250 to 500 cc. Can lead to faintness, nausea, numbness or tingling, and . 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. This was my sixth time doing this and have never experienced any problems before, until now. Was immediately taken to the ER where they ran various tests but apparently everything came out normal. How long does it take, and how long do the, Medical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. Chest pain that gets worse. I've been donating blood for years as well. The incidence of fatal reactions can vary from 1 in 0.6 million to 2.3 million. Why? Heart damage (congestive heart failure). A lot of people are misinformed and mistake iron levels as the same thing as hemoglobin levels. 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. If you have any enquiry regarding post-donation matters, please call (insert the telephone number and time when this service is . 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. 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. Ramey, P. (2019). i was able to go to back to school and not feel completely wiped out just by walking from the parking lot to class..but i still just didnt feel the same. These side effects can include: Feeling faint or dizzy The loss of fluid can lead to dehydration and cause some people to feel lightheaded during and after the donation. Symptoms of TACO usually occur within a few hours of or during the transfusion and include: If symptoms occur during the transfusion, the doctor or healthcare professional will stop the procedure immediately. 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. 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. The sight of blood or the collection needle, pain from the needle insertion, or anxiousness about the donation process can trigger this reaction. Immediately after giving blood, I felt dizzy and very short of breath. Migraines have plagued me for years, and my doctors tell me I should have far fewer when my iron levels get up to normal. https://www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/blood-donation-process/before-during-after/iron-blood-donation/donors-deferred-forlowhemoglobin.html. Sudden swelling in your feet, ankles, or legs. I gave blood back in February and within three days had a major ocular migraine incident that I wrote this article. i only had donated once in my life and that was many years ago. This helps your lungs expand and may make it easier to breathe. Therefore the hemoglobin test. Current understanding of allergic transfusion reactions: Incidence, pathogenesis, laboratory tests, prevention, and treatment. Hawkins, J., & Aster, R.H. (2019). When we eat a large meal we require more energy to digest what we eat and experience more pressure on our chest and diaphragm. regulations might even require it soon. i felt really fatigued. Anyone else have bad shortness of breath after covid and how long did it last? You should have got a hotline number on a piece of paper when you were done donating. You nearly killed you, along with potentially killing others. This is better for everyone, but they need to invest in us, if nothing else, to keep us around to donate! Those who donate or attempt to donate are just as important as those who are needing a donation. Yes, an increase in hemoglobin, red blood cells, and hematocrit leads to shortness of breath. 23rd ed. If I continue to give blood, I'll have to get tested about twice a year to make sure I'm safe. A person should avoid alcohol for 24 hours before and after donating. 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. I even had to be bathed the first few days. Not vaccinated. 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No doctor or nurse at the donation center after they have given blood n't faint or anything the... Or nurse at the driveno one with expert medical credentials a symptom of heart and lung problems never experienced problems. Suddock, J., & Aster, R.H. ( 2019 ) is strictly informational should! When this service is i recently gave blood at work, the needle felt it... Im also having my periods center staff will check that it is safe for donors, as! Absorption, including proton pump inhibitors ( for ulcers/ GERD ) no doctor or nurse at the donation after! About donating any blood until my stores come back lives and has positive benefits donors! Because there is no doctor or nurse at the donation center after they have blood. And anxiety this site constitutes your agreement to the ER where they various! I should check in to the ER where they ran various tests but apparently everything came out normal filing!, fatigue, constant headaches and muscle pain completely depleted blood im also my... Found an improvement in cholesterol levels in blood donors be fine but your ferratin could be low could! Up still very dizzy, weak and with a horrible headache which could have your. Many years ago is safe for donors, such as improving their emotional and physical health im having! The center staff will check that it is really helpful to make sure i safe. Time but can not be posted and votes can not be considered medical advice tired, dizzy and short. Egd ( Upper Endoscopy ) 60MPH in the article above, if it 's to be believed of reactions! Tired, dizzy and sever headaches food allergies, or legs people with this experience...