(XP) Almost Passed Out Today ...

I went to donate blood today - this is my second time since my surgery five and a half months ago, and I was cleared by my surgeon's office and the staff at the blood bank to do it.

I followed their post-donation instructions AND I WAS FINE! I stayed in the canteen area for 15 minutes, I ate two peanut butter cracker sandwiches (not ideal, I know, but they didn't have anything else that I deemed acceptable) and drank a little cranberry juice, and I WAS FINE! When I was done there, I decided to go to Fashion Bug because I need bras and I wanted to see what they had and how much they cost. BECAUSE I WAS FINE!

So I wandered around FB for a while and I picked up two bras and went to the dressing room. I got a little lightheaded while I was trying on the first one, so I sat down on the bench for a minute. Then I got up and tried on the other one and got lightheaded again, so I sat down again. When I decided I was okay enough to get myself out of the store, I went up to the register to purchase a shirt and a pair of pants (the bras were a no-go).

While I was waiting for the guy to ring me up, I suddenly got REALLY lightheaded and everything started to get kinda fuzzy. I've always had a hard time describing what it's like when this happens to me, but today it occurred to me that it's like I'm looking through a kaleidoscope. Except I can't make out what I'm looking at because it's blurry and moving around ... Anyhow, I told the guy that I was feeling lightheaded and asked if I could sit down, and when I turned to walk to the chair sitting outside of the dressing rooms (which was probably ten feet from where I was standing), it got worse and I kinda freaked out.

I made it to the chair, thank God, and sat there for a few minutes with my head between my knees (or as close as I could get it ... I'm less fat, but I'm still fat), and they gave me a bottle of water. Once I was pretty sure I had recovered, I finished paying for my stuff and made it out to my truck without anymore problems, and drove myself home. I was pretty lightheaded coming up the stairs, but I flopped on the couch as soon as I walked in the door and it didn't get as bad as it was in the store. It happened once more this evening, when I got up from the couch at my sister's house, but that episode wasn't nearly as bad and it hasn't happened anymore since.

I am curious why this is happening ... I've been off my blood pressure medication for two weeks, so I know it's not my BP dropping too low ... I've been taking the iron pills for two weeks and my iron level was good at the blood bank, so it's not that ... I had food in my stomach, so it's not that, either. This happened to me occasionally before my surgery, but it was never as bad as it has been since the surgery, and today was the first time I really thought I was gonna go down in a public place.

Thoughts? Suggestions?

(cross-posted to the RNY board.)

Did you get in enough water today? Could be dehydration!! Sounds scary, I would let your surgeon know just to be on the safe side!! Glad you didn't get hurt sweetie!!! 
I LOVE FB!!!! I'm so glad they have 2 sides to their store!!! lol
hope it is nothing serious!!    bigg huggs, Becky

I've told them about it, and at the time they thought it was my blood pressure. Now that you've mentioned the dehydration thing, you reminded me - that was the other thing they said it could be. I really haven't been that great about my water lately ... I try - I really do - but I know I need to do better. That probably is the problem. I DO NOT want to pass out - especially not in a public place ... Hopefully I can count today as my "lesson learned the hard way" and start drinking more water before I have to learn the lesson in an even harder way!

FB is awesome ... The first time I walked in, I went to the wrong side ... I was looking at all these clothes that only went up to 1x and thinking, "WTF?" Cuz everyone I know who shops there is bigger than a 1x ... They just didn't tell me which side of the store to shop on, but I figured it out eventually! Hehehe! Their regular-priced stuff is mostly way too expensive for me - especially during this "transitional" phase ... But their clearance racks are AWESOME and I like the "Priced Just Right" pants.

Probably the combo of dehydration with the blood giving!! Getting in all the water is a toughy for me too!!  Drink your water!!!! lol that was for both of us!
I live in the "Priced Just Right" pull on pants and capris!!! And I shop the clearance racks too, their regular prices are high. Kohls is that way too, love it but can only afford their clearance racks. Thank God both stores have great clearance racks!!!
Sweet dreams, I'm off to night night!!!   bigg huggs, Becky

"Priced Just Right" pull on jeans have kept me thru 10 years of slacks needs.  When the FB coupons come, I just throw them away cuz the "PJR" are never included.
I am hoping for the joy of donating blood, I've always wanted to but couldn't becuase of the insulin use.  I am hoping after WLS I can give"the gift of Life"  I will remember good hydration after seeing this post..thank you!
Kim in Fontana

The only bad thing about the Priced Just Right stuff is that you can't use coupons ... But I haven't been able to find knit pants anywhere else that cheap, and it's hard to find that particular style in stores, so I think they're worth the money. You can send me your coupons! I might not always use them, but I might get some use out of them!

I lived in their pants and tops because they were the only place that carried higher than a 3X top!!! Now it's fun to shop there on the other side of the store! You will love it too very soon!!!!

On the blood donating issue, I always wanted to too and now that I can, I still can't because I'm on Coumadin!!! I feel guilty EVER time I pass a blood mobile!!! lol  Never done it and probably never will be able to now! :((    

bigg huggs, Becky

Personally I thought Kohl's was a little too pricey - even the clearance racks! How is it that other people I know can get clearance stuff at Kohl's for two dollars, and I can't find anything on clearance there for less than $10-15?

Part of the problem at Kohls is that their clearance racks are always over full, so it is hard to go through and find the good buys.  I think they have more clearance stuff than regular stuff sometimes! lol      I use to work there!
Sounds like we are 2 bargain hunter twins!!!! I LOVE cheap!!!!

I HATE digging through messy racks! At least at FB, everything is organized by color. I'm not good at hunting through the messes ... That's why I don't like stores like Ross and Marshall's. Even Target's clearance racks are a disaster and I get irritated before I can find anything.