Giving blood donation after WLS

I was asked to donate blood today. I used to do it all the time in honor of my brother who died of leukemia at age 35. I was hesitant since I am taking in so little food, although the vitamins, calcium and B-12 make up for it. I guess the questionaire would have addressed this and the pre-donation blood test might have given me the answer. What do you think? I didn't go, went home and mowed the grass instead. Hope I am not as sore as last week but so happy I am able to do it myself now. Barbara

Good question. I would call and ask my surgeons office or maybe put it to the main forum on OH. Donna 338/235 -103

Barbara, I checked with my surgeon's office afther my three month blood work-up and they said it was ok to donate blood. I donated two weeks ago and everything went fine. I was a little bit more nervous about donating than before the surgery because of the unknown factor. I would check with your surgeon to see what he says first. MMary

I'm sure most surgeons would say to wait at least 3 months after surgery AND after you get a normal CBC. But, I know I'd not give for a year. We need all of our iron stores our body has saved for us. When we give a unit of blood, our body has to work at replacing it, plus its an extra 400cc of fluid loss. I think we need to take care of ourselves as best we can right now. Most surgeons say your first year is the year of your major weight loss, hair loss, body changes and adjustments. After your year is donate your time, money, blood, resources, etc... but this year is ours. We're taking our lives and our body back! (This is just my opinion) Karen - 76 lbs